At Monday’s meeting of the Ellsworth City Council, Dan Moon was appointed by Mayor Dan Finnegan to fill the remaining term of council member Don Panzer, who recently tendered his resignation.
Moon’s appointment was then approved by the council. His term expires the second Monday of January, 2028.
“Given that I am a retired U.S. Army non-commissioned officer who is relatively new to the community and in discussion with Randy Moon, my brother, he suggested that given my investment and involvement within the city towards a school/park crossing and the development of a tennis/pickleball backboard, I should submit a letter of consideration for the filling of a council seat,” Moon said during a three-minute introduction to the council.
Moon said during his 25 years of honorable military service, he was a senior leader of soldiers and was second in command for numerous commissioned officers.
Moon also has 21 years of experience in the field of substance abuse and domestic abuse management. He has worked in legal services associated with the 10th Judicial District Court in Johnson County, and in the mid-1980s was a correctional officer at what is now known as the Hutchinson Correctional Facility. 
Finnegan said he appointed Moon because the council has one of Moon’s ideas on the agenda for consideration — a crosswalk across Douglas Avenue and K-14 Highway that would connect the city and USD 327 tennis courts.
“He has a proven track record of success,” Finnegan said. “It’s just hard for anyone to compete with success like that.”
Moon will take the oath of office at the Aug. 25 council meeting.
Moon was one of four candidates who applied for the open council seat. Others were George Hysong, Russell B. Allen and Bryan Ingalls.
In other business:
• Ingalls, who is general manager of the Casey’s 

General Store, Ellsworth, was appointed by Finnegan to be the City of Ellsworth’s representative on the Grow Ellsworth County board of directors. Ingalls will serve a three-year term.
Ingalls’ appointment was then approved by the council.
“Do your very best work,” Finnegan told Ingalls. “I think you will.”
“I just want to make the community the best I can,” Ingalls said.
• During the public comment portion of the meeting, Moon said he plans on visiting with the wood shop instructor at Ellsworth Jr./Sr. High School to see if the school’s wood shop students could construct the tennis/pickleball backboard.
• Approval was given to a proposal to contract with Kaw Valley Engineering, Inc. for design services for a crosswalk between the tennis courts on Douglas Avenue and K-14 Highway in the estimated amount of $1,500. 
• During a discussion of possibly reestablishing a city brush and limb pile, Interim City Administrator Allen Dinkel raised concerns about the proximity of the pile to the city’s water plant.
“You do have a basin that is open to the world,” Dinkel said.
In addition, the pile is close to large propane tanks. Ellsworth Fire Chief Ralph Doubrava raised concerns about that proximity and said the state fire marshal does not want a burn pile close to the tanks.
Council member Tyler Renard suggested the city look at the old city dump on Court Street across the railroad tracks southeast of the Ellsworth Fire Department as a possible location for the pile.
Council member Darcy Hansen said she liked the idea of having a burn pile. 
Dinkel will take a look at the new location and report back to the council.
• Dinkel said the city has participated in the National Opioid Settlement in the past. To date, the city has collected $20,556.06.  
“We have now received notice that an additional National Opioid Settlement has been reached with Purdue Pharma and its owners the Sackler family,” Dinkel said.
He recommended the city approve the Purdue bankruptcy plan to keep the City of Ellsworth eligible for those funds and authorize City Clerk Louise Blanding the power and authorization to execute the participation and release form on behalf of the city. 
The city approved the recommendation.
• Approval was given to conducting a public hearing on the city’s 2026 budget during the Sept. 8 council meeting, which begins at 5:30 p.m. in council chambers at Ellsworth City Hall.
“I am still finalizing a few items on the budget,” Dinkel said. “Naturally, we will stay at the 80.493 rate or lower. Even though we may wish to cut that some, I want to be careful to ensure all needs are properly funded.”
• Council President Jessica Kootz reminded the public to clean up after their pets.
 “Please pick up your poop,” she said.