City Council Certifies Election Results; Nominates Mayor Pro Tem

At the regular meeting of the Holden City Council on April 13, members of the old administration voted to certify and accept the April 6 election results.

Mayor Doyle Weeks called the meeting to order and council motioned to accept the results.

Council results were as follows: Ward I – Robin Watkins, 25 votes; Ward II – Renee Rahe, 16 votes; Ward III – Jim McDaniel, 41 votes; and the only contested seat was for Ward IV, in which Julie Fields edged out Allen Mensche by a vote of 32 to 23. Newly elected council members then were administered the oath of office and the newly formed administration convened in regular session.

In new business, Mayor Weeks asked for nominations to fill the position of mayor pro tem.

Councilman Rusty Kephart motioned to nominate McDaniel, and there was a second to the motion.

Council Member Watkins made a motion, followed by a second, to nominate Council Member Elizabeth Weeks as mayor pro tem.

Mayor Weeks asked for a vote and both McDaniel and Weeks received four votes.

In the case of a tie, the mayor must cast the deciding vote and he instructed that Council Member Weeks be named mayor pro tem.

In recognition news, Mayor Weeks presented resident Patty Nipko with an award for her late husband Jim Nipko, for his 20-plus years of service as a councilman.

Mayor Weeks commented on how Jim was a great man who served his community and country, and he will be greatly missed.

In a follow-up to old business, council took up the issue of changing Market St., between McKissock and 3rd Streets, to a two-way thoroughfare.

The first reading of Bill No. 04-01-21 to change Market Street from McKissock to 3rd Street from a one-way to a two-way, was considered.

It is and has always been a one-way street.

Council is discussing the issue now at the request of a local business.

Mayor Weeks and Street Superintendent Ron Heinemann have measured the roadway and report there is room to make the street a two-way, but the parking would have to be changed.

The Mayor said he had also spoken with business owners on Market St. who would be affected by the change.

Audie Mulanax, owner of Holden Hair Care, said that there had been a parking issue on this street before, and if the street becomes a two-way, businesses will have shared client parking and that will hurt business.

Mulanax said he believed that parking should be left as it is on the west side by the Northside Assembly Church and he added that parking in front of the businesses on the east side of the street should be left as it currently is.

Mayor Weeks told Mulanax that there is not enough room on the street to leave parking as is if the city changes it to a two-way roadway.

Before council voted on the bill, the Police Chief and Fire Chief were consulted.

Both said they didn’t see a problem with the change to a two-way street. Mayor Weeks reported there would be a public notice put out on the issue and asked for a vote on the first reading of the bill.

Council voted to approve the measure, with all voting in favor except for Fields, who opposed.

In other street business, council moved onto the subject of putting a four-way stop at 4th and Market Streets.

Councilman Jeremy Knox shared that Jamie Shipp, owner of All About Kids Daycare, had come to him about how busy the traffic is at 4th and Market, where her business is located.

Knox said he agreed with her because he lives in the area also.

He said his preference would be a speed bump to help slow traffic down.

After further discussion, a motion was made and seconded, to put in four-way stop signs at 4th and Market Streets.

All voted to approve the measure.

See next week’s Image for further council news, including Cruise Night request, liquor consumption permits, roofing bids, committee reports, and more.