Ferron City appoints new mayor to fill vacancy

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It may seem a bit unusual, but the choosing of the Ferron mayor came down to a coin toss. Current council members with the exception of anyone vying for the office of mayor voted on the mayor position. It came out to be a tie with council member JoAnne Behling receiving two votes and former council member Rod Toomer receiving two votes.
Acting Mayor Trent Jackson said the proper procedure at that point was to flip a coin to determine the new mayor. Behling called heads and heads came up and she was sworn in as the new mayor by Adele Justice, city recorder. The applicants for mayor included: JoAnn Behling, Eric Howes, Kathy Jenkins,
Dale Roper Lou Sansevero and Rod Toomer. Behling during her introduction said, “I would like to do the job. I have been a city recorder, county treasurer and I love the city and I love the people. I feel like I could contribute. I love Ferron and am grateful to be here and for the association of the people here.”
Mayor Behling then took the mayor’s chair and her first official act was to call for the meeting to go into executive session to discuss pending litigation.
Jackson conducted the meeting to this point as the approval of the new mayor was near the end of the agenda. The council heard reports from each member. Behling reported she attended the special service district meeting where they said the final inspection of the Molen Road was upcoming. There will be a cut in the number of streets to be paved. There is also a reduction in the curb and gutter. These projects will still be done, but not as much area will be covered. Behling also said the CVSSD requested Ferron prepare a list of future projects they wish to accomplish in the city.
Jackson reported Tab Weihing has been hired as an employee in the recreation district. Ferron City still has its recreation money from the district which hasn’t been spent this year. Jackson is waiting to see who will take over the baseball program because it has been requested the money be used for a pitching machine.
On Dec. 1 will be the Ferron Town Christmas party. Jackson will contact the youth council and begin the plans for the celebration. He also reported the public hearing previously scheduled on the sale of a piece of city property has to be advertised four consecutive weeks before it can be held.
Joe Trenery reported concrete work is expensive, but he has had Precision Concrete look at his project and it will get done. He has also been looking at where to put up the Christmas lights.
Ron Bloomer said they had the first meeting of the fair grounds committee. They had a good turn-out but he would still like more people to get involved. The committee will have its first cleanup on Oct. 24 at the fairgrounds. Also some roofing on the barn blew off during the last wind storm. Bloomer thanked Lane Justice for getting rid of the old wooden bleachers.
Tami Bennett attended the treasurers conference and received a lot of good training. She also thanked the council for the flowers at the time of her father’s death.
The new planters have arrived. The council approved a business license for Max McCourt putting up a storage building.
Lou Sansevero spoke to the council about a Shop Emery County 2008 campaign which the Emery County Progress, Emery County Economic Development Council and Emery County are sponsoring to encourage people to shop at home. Prizes are being gathered to draw for in the promotion. They will include a TV, family swim pass for a year and other prizes. Sansevero asked Ferron City if they would donate a golf pass for a year to the promotion.
The council members spoke favorably about the project. They said they would like to offer their support. They suggested the other cities in the county be approached as well. They will place the item on the agenda for their next meeting and approve the request at that time. The drawing will take place right before Christmas.
The council approved the request to fix the fence on the Ralph’s property. Fill dirt was placed there for curb and gutter and now the fence needs to be fixed as agreed upon because they want to keep animals in there.
The planning and zoning is still working on revisions and a new form for business licenses. The idea was to approve as many as possible in planning and zoning and only bring those before the council which need additional review. Bloomer will still read a list of any business licenses that have been granted to the council. Any solicitor type businesses need to come into city hall for a permit.
The council talked about the risk management assessment. Work is being done to meet all the items which were pointed out that needed to be fixed. The work at the golf course is almost complete with the exception of the bridges. Behling pointed out the limbs at the cemetery will be cut and the fence on the north side of the cemetery will be completed. A barricade of some sort also needs to be installed where the water comes into the cemetery. The yellow slide at the park was also listed as a safety hazard and the council voted to remove it, because it would cost more than it’s worth to fix it. They will look into the cost of a replacement slide.
The council discussed the anti-fraud policy. They determined that the local businesses need an updated list of anyone allowed to charge items to Ferron City. During Peach Days the list might need to be expanded. This list will safeguard the city against anyone claiming to have authority to charge items to the city.
The next Ferron City Council meeting will be on Nov. 13 at 7 p.m.