By: Dwayne Page
The City of Smithville has a new mayor and a new alderman.
Josh Miller took the mayor’s oath of office Friday afternoon at city hall. City attorney Vester Parsley administered the oath.
Miller succeeds Jimmy Poss who served as mayor for six years. For the last five years, Miller has been alderman. A successor will soon be named to fill Miller’s unexpired two year alderman term
Meanwhile Aldermen Gayla Hendrix and Brandon Cox were also sworn into office by Parsley. Hendrix begins her second consecutive term, and third term overall as alderman. Cox is taking office as alderman for the first time.
Mayor Miller said he is honored to serve the people of Smithville.
“I am very excited and grateful for this opportunity. I have never been involved with the day to day operations of the city but I am looking forward to getting in and seeing what needs to be done,” he said.
“One of the first actions we will have to do is to name someone to fill my alderman seat. That seems to be a very hot topic right now. Of course there are other positions, appointments and reappointments that have to be made to various boards throughout the city,” said Mayor Miller.
The mayor said he plans to seek out more grants for the city to help fund various projects, including a new parallel runway at the airport.
“We cannot do everything that needs to be done right away but we have to go after more grants and take advantage of those we can get. I think a parallel airport taxiway is very important to the airport. I would also like to see us create a parks and recreation advisory board so we can start getting more grants for the recreational areas and parks in the city,” added Mayor Miller.
Meanwhile Alderman Jason Murphy, whose term expired Friday, was presented a plaque by Mayor Miller for his 6 years of service. Alderman Cox is replacing Murphy on the City Council.
The new make-up of the city’s elected leaders includes Mayor Josh Miller and Aldermen Shawn Jacobs, Gayla Hendrix, Danny Washer, and Brandon Cox with a new alderman to be named soon.
The next regular monthly city council meeting is set for Monday, September 10 at 6 p.m. at city hall.