Ronan fills two vacant council positions

RONAN — Councilmembers reviewed candidates and voted Tuesday night to fill two open council seats, two weeks after the positions were initially vacated.

Dick Jungers passed away earlier this month and Keoki Lopezdevictoria resigned, leaving both the Ward Three and Ward One seats, respectively, open.

Both positions garnered a fair amount of interest. Ann Brower motioned to appoint Ellen Kaphammer in Ward One. Cal Hardy seconded the motion and she was approved three to one. Kaphammer ran for the position during November’s election, but did not win.

In Ward Three, Brower motioned to appoint Paul Soukup to the seat. The motion was seconded by Marcia Ganieany and passed three to one. Soukup also ran in November’s election, but did not win the seat. Both newly appointed members will be sworn in at the next council meeting on Feb. 8.

Many members of the Ronan Volunteer Fire Department and its board were on hand at the meeting to discuss a possible increase of a mill levy to pay for the Fire Department’s Disability and Pension fund. Fire treasurer Alan Unruh said the fund currently has approximately $60,000 but should have  up to $127,000. He and the rest of the firefighters hoped the council would approve a 10 mill levy per household to raise the remaining funds in the next decade or so. A 10 mill levy would increase taxes $29.86 a year on a house worth $100,000 and $59.72 on a $200,000 home. The council voted to approve the full 10 mills, but noted that money from the tax would not come in until the end of this year or early next year.

In other news, the council expressed frustration with the spending of the library. While reviewing bills, the council noted that the library has spent 74 percent of its fiscal year’s budget when they should be at 58 percent. Marcia Ganieany said she was frustrated because of the library board’s talk of big donations and fundraising, which hasn’t materialized, while spending continues unabated. The council agreed they would need to speak with the library to discuss this issue.

The next council meeting will occur on Monday, Feb. 8.