Serving O'Brien & Clay Counties
Serving O'Brien & Clay Counties
Annual appointments approved by Royal council
Annual appointments made by mayors of small communities are generally routine. But as the makeup of the Royal City Council has changed as a result of the 2021 election, Mayor Josh Toft used the opportunity to assign members to positions that fit their particular abilities.
“I’m trying to put people with the experience that best matches their appointments,” Toft said.
The mayor’s appointments approved on Jan. 12 include: Jeff Van Westen – Mayor Pro-Tem; streets and alleys; Jim Virelli – water, sewer, sanitation and landfill; Matt Goyette – emergency management, police, and fire department; nuisances; Sara Ricke – new business; social media; Mitch Fahnlander – maintenance; parks and recreation.
Social media is a new area. Council members discussed having city notices and announcements posted on Facebook. Ricke suggested those items also be posted on Twitter, which is generally favored by younger residents. She sees benefits to the community with an expanded social media presence.
“There are a lot of things that would be helpful,” Ricke said.
Annual council appointments include: Barbara Fletcher, city clerk; Sherman Nielsen, street, sewer and maintenance superintendent; The Sentinel-News, official newspaper; Home State Bank, official depository; and Montgomery, Barry, Bovee & Davis, LLC (Jill Davis), city attorney.
Toft noted the council has a good mix of age and experience that should benefit the community.
“Most city councils are not in our age bracket. I think we can go forward together for quite a long time,” he said.
• Mower is ordered, lighting installed
After months of discussion, searching and waiting, a new mower has been ordered. Nielsen said the price of the Grasshopper 335B with a 61-inch deck and extra blades is $12,636. The amount falls under the $13,000 spending limit approved by the council in December.
According to discussion, the mower is ordered for spring delivery. Galen’s Pro-Mow does not see a problem with that deadline being met.
All lighting in the community building has been converted to LED, and lights on the crown at the entrance to town will be updated with the cooperation of Royal Community Action and the Lions Club.
