Two apply for mayor’s seat

GATEWAY — Two people submitted applications for mayor of this small northeast Benton County town.

The position, vacated by the resignation of Mayor Frank Hackler, who moved out of state, is a part-time position.

Denise Guck and Andrew Tillman both applied and both attended the special City Council meeting Tuesday, Aug. 30.

Guck, whose husband, Steven, is running for a City Council seat, said she is extremely interested and has good customer service skills.

“I think it would be an honor to serve my community, to give back to my community,” Guck said.

Council member Cheryl Tillman asked Guck: “Do you know the people?”

“No,” Guck said. “I know some.”

“Do you have concerns if your husband gets elected as an alderman,” Michael Johannsen, council member, asked.

“I have no concerns. I don’t think that will be a problem,” Guck said.

Guck, who said she had not attended any city council meetings said she raised six children and worked full time, but is now retired.

“How much time would you be willing to devote?” Johannsen asked.

“A couple of hours every day, depends on how much time you want me here,” she said, adding that she has good administrative skills, can manage a web site and Facebook page and is “really good with social network.”

The other applicant, Andrew Tillman, now works on the town’s roads and with the Water Department.

“How many hours do you work at the water department,” Johannsen asked Tillman.

“Today was an hour. Some days it’s none. If a water main busts, it may be five,” Tillman said, adding that he currently works 15 days on and 15 days off but is usually available.

Ordinance 1113, adopted in July 2013, set the duties and compensation of the mayor and requires the mayor to “respond to the concerns of the citizens and to provide guidance to and supervision of the town employees.” It states that the mayor shall return phone calls from citizens within 24 hours. Compensation was set at $500 per month and includes reimbursement of expenses incurred in performance of duties. The ordinance states the town will provide a cell phone for the mayor.

Sherry Robinette, city clerk, told council members that they could interview the candidates but not vote on them at the special meeting. Selecting the mayor is planned for the Tuesday, Sept. 13, City Council meeting.

“I do have concerns about husband and wife being in the two positions. That really does bother me,” Johannsen said. “It hasn’t worked well in the past.”

Alderman Carol Frost pointed out that Tillman knows the roads in the town and Johannsen said Tillman knows the people.

“I think the council is running the meetings. The mayor is just here to keep peace and order,” Frost said. “The council makes the decisions; the only time the mayor can vote is when we’re in a tie.”

Frost said, “We don’t have that many people in Gateway.”

“We need somebody willing to step up, get out there, try to get grants,” Robinette said.

City employee James Appleton pointed out the council could call a special election.

“A special election would cost too much money,” Frost said.

According to the Benton County Clerk’s office, there are 199 active and 45 inactive registered voters in the Gateway city limits.