New Springfield mayor to be sworn in Tuesday

(From the City of Springfield)

Mayor-elect Ken McClure will be sworn in as Springfield’s Mayor at a Special City Council meeting at noon, Tuesday, April 11 in Historic City Hall Council Chambers. Mayor Bob Stephens did not run for reelection. Five additional City Council members will join McClure in retaking their oaths of office. McClure is the 18th mayor to serve since the City Charter was adopted in 1953.

Returning Council members are: General Seat A Councilwoman Jan Fisk; General Seat B Councilman Craig Hosmer; Zone 1 Councilwoman Phyllis Ferguson; Zone 2 Councilman Tom Prater and Zone 4 Councilman Craig Fishel.

Councilwoman Kristi Fulnecky continues to serve in the General C seat, which has two years remaining in its current term. Councilman Prater’s term will end in 2019, as he was appointed to the unexpired term vacated last year by Justin Burnett before being elected to continue in that term. Zone 3 Councilman Mike Schilling’s term continues through 2019.

The April 11 meeting will begin with the current Council conducting second reading action on items that were first reading bills at the Monday, April 3 meeting. Following the oaths of office, McClure will lead the remainder of the meeting. The April 11 meeting agenda includes a couple of measures that were tabled until this date, including a rezoning request to allow for a 72-unit micro-efficiency studio apartment complex on property located at 1040 and 1110 N. Sherman Avenue and a rezoning request that would facilitate the development of a multi-family apartment complex at property generally located at 3411 S. Kansas Avenue.

A vacancy announcement for McClure’s vacant General D seat will also be posted April 11, with applications due back to the City Clerk’s office by 5 p.m., Tuesday, April 25. City Council will review the applications and is expected to conduct finalist interviews on May 1. As is laid out in the City Charter, Section 2.5, the City Council will appoint an individual to fill the unexpired term until the April 2, 2019 election.

A new Mayor Pro Tem is expected to be elected by Council at the Monday, April 17 City Council meeting.