Newly Elected Smithville Aldermen Take Office

The three recently elected Smithville Aldermen were sworn into office during a brief ceremony held following Tuesday night’s special city council meeting.
Judge Bratten Cook II administered the oath of office to W.J. (Dub) White, Aaron Meeks, and Shawn Jacobs. Their terms of office officially begin at midnight and expire in two years.
The new city council is made up of Shawn Jacobs, W.J. (Dub) White, Aaron Meeks, Stephen White, and Cecil Burger. The mayor is Taft Hendrixson. The terms of Aldermen Stephen White, Burger, and Mayor Hendrixson expire in 2010.
During the special meeting, plaques of appreciation were presented to the three aldermen, Tonya Sullivan, Jerry Hutchins, Sr., and Willie Thomas whose terms are expiring.
Mayor Taft Hendrixson, reading from the plaques, said “These plaques are presented in appreciation of two years of service to the Smithville City Council, the Smithville Mayor and Board of Aldermen would like to thank you for your years of dedicated service as alderman for the City of Smithville. We appreciate the years of service that you have given to the citizens of Smithville.”
Alderman Sullivan, in response said “I appreciate this board and the citizens for their support and I wish the new people good luck.”
Alderman Hutchins added, ” I also would like to wish the new ones coming in good luck, and congratulations to them. I hope they do a good job, and I know they will. I thank everyone who supported us.”
The special meeting was held to adopt the new six million dollar budget on second and final reading and it passed unanimously following a public hearing, in which there were no public comments made from the audience.
Under the new budget, which takes effect July 1st, water and sewer rates will remain the same with no increases. Water and sewer tap fees will also remain at the same levels and property taxes will not be increased.
The budget includes a two percent pay raise for city employees and a five dollar increase per call for the volunteer firefighters, going from $15 to $20 per call.