Nikki Teel (center), executive director for Golden Living Center, presents a $1,000 donation to Becky Makovec and Angela Lange at the Marion City Council meeting Monday for the Central Park Improvement Com­mittee’s new playground equipment.

Steve Smith was sworn in for a first term and Bill Holdeman for a second term at the Marion City Council meeting Monday.

Bill Holderman and Steve Smith are sworn in as members of the Marion City Council Monday by City Clerk Angela Lange. Holdeman, an incumbent, and Steve Smith, a first-time candidate were the top two vote-getters in last Tuesday’s local elections. They defeated Gerald Hnderson and Katherine DeFillipis in the race for the two at-large positions on the council.

The councilors also reappointed city officers, following 10-minute executive sessions for each, with only small dissent.

City Administrator David Mayfield was reappointed on a 4-1 vote, Holdeman against.

City Attorney Dan Baldwin was reappointed on a 4-1 vote, Mayor Mary Olson against, saying she wanted Baldwin, but also wanted more discussion.

Councilor Gene Winkler made a motion before the reappointments to do away with the executive decisions and reappoint everybody. Councilor Stacey Collett seconded the motion. The motion failed 3-2, Olson, Smith and Holdeman against. Smith said he would like the executive sessions, as a new councilor, to better understand the personnel and issues involved.

On unanimous reappointments, Angela Lange was named city clerk, Becky Macovec was named city treasurer and assistant city clerk, Bryson Mills was named city judge, Mike Regnier (with Collett abstaining as a fellow fire fighter) was named fire chief, and Josh Whitwell was named chief of police.

Holdeman asked Marion Economic Development Director Jami Williams if she thought sending e-mails favoring election of another council candidate was appropriate for a city employee.

Williams said what she did during her private time was her own business.

Holdeman said she is a city employee 24 hours a day.

Mayfield said the committee to select a successor for Williams began with a field of 12 applicants that was narrowed to eight candidates to interview. In the meantime, he said, two withdrew.

Interviews narrowed the selection down to three candidates, he said. Mayfield said the final selection will be made according to assessments of a committee made up of Marion School Superintendent Lee Leiker and two representatives from the Kansas Department of Commerce.

Regnier reported 17 fire calls since the first of the year, with two homes rated at or near totally destroyed.

Nikki Teel, executive director for Golden Living Center, presented a donation check from the center for $1,000 to the Central Park Improvement Committee.

The council approved amendments to the financial policy manual and a legal counsel opinion documentation for Kansas Department of Transportation loan requirments on Eisenhower Street.

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