After nine years as a council member — and more than two years as mayor — Mark Kennedy has passed the gavel of the Ellsworth city council to mayor-elect Dan Finnegan.

Kennedy slid into the mayor's seat after Alan Stefek submitted his resignation Nov. 11, 2019 due to health reasons. Kennedy presided over Monday’s council meeting during the consent agenda and old business. Before leaving, he thanked the previous and current governing bodies and noted it has been a pleasure to work with everybody. He also thanked all the city staff and the citizens for working with him while he came on the council straight out of college not knowing anything.

It was also council member Steve Magette’s last meeting and he echoed Kennedy’s thoughts of thanks. Magette did not run for re-election. Aaron Johnson won his seat in the November election. Also re-elected in November was council member Tyler Rennard.

Both Finnegan and Johnson were sworn in by city clerk Brittany Rohr.

In other business:

· A bid from Kyler and Sons of Kanopolis was accepted for the concrete work at the airport hangar directly south of the gazebo at the entrance to the airport. Cost is not to exceed $20,000 with project not beginning until the money is received from Congress’ infrastructure bill. A total of $159,000 should be received during the 1st quarter of 2022.

· Beginning Phase III of the renovation at the Ellsworth Health and Recreation Center, which includes flooring and lighting, was approved at a cost not to exceed $40,000. There was $60,000 approved for wiring in the new city shop, however, only $11,500 was used when that project was reduced to meet basic needs leaving $48,500 in funds. Staff had discussed whether to use that money to address the shortfalls in the electrical downtown but it was decided it would be better to do that project when Douglas Avenue is reworked since sidewalks will need to be torn up. Staff recommended Phase III at the recreation center be completed instead.

“By the end of next month, the center will look like a completely new facility,” city administrator Varnado said. “I’m pretty proud of it.”

Recreation director Ron Tenbrink updated the council on the hiring of a part-time employee, the plan to purchase software so all recreation program registration and memberships can be completed on-line. More information will be provided at the next meeting.

· Resolution 22-0110 was approved for the mayor to sign a Memorandum of Understanding to receive a share of the opioid settlement funds from the State. Local governments should receive around 25 percent of the settlement funds; in order to receive those funds, the MOU and resolution must be passed by Jan. 31.

· Requests by the Ellsworth County Council on Aging, the Ellsworth Area Arts Council and the Ellsworth County Economic Development to release the 2022 budgeted funds to the agencies were approved. The council on aging received $11,000; the arts council $5,000 and ECED $32,500. These funds were approved during the budget process.

· No action was taken after a five minute executive session with the city attorney to discuss non-elected personnel.

The next meeting of the Ellsworth city council is at 5:30 p.m. Monday, Jan. 24, at city hall.