Beverly Gray, the new face on the Fulton City Council, said she was “totally shocked†to win her 3rd Ward seat, but said she’s ready to get to work on economic development and other issues.
“This is my very first job in an elected position,†said Gray, who works as a cashier at the William Woods University cafeteria.
Gray defeated incumbent Lindsey Pace-Snook, 190-87. In the 4th Ward, Steve Moore beat Helen Jarvis, 156-126, to retain his seat. Those two, along with 2nd Ward Councilwoman Mary Rehklau and 1st Ward Councilman Mike West, both incumbents with no opposition, were sworn in at Tuesday’s council meeting.
Gray said she has priorities on the council, such as economic development, but said she’ll wait until she gets settled into her council position before discussing any in detail.
“I just want Fulton to continue to grow,†she said. “I want the betterment of Fulton. And I want my grand kids to be able to stay here.â€
Also at Tuesday’s meeting, representatives of the local library, as a part of this week’s National Library Week, gave the council an update on library programs.
They touted a 2014 community survey showing 77 percent of the residents surveyed were satisfied with value of library services received for their tax dollars — a figure that is 26 percent higher than national average.
“The library is not just about educating and entertaining kids…we encourage all our cit. to continue to learn throughout their lifetime,†said Tonya Hays-Martin, president of Callaway County Library District, which is part of the Daniel Boone Regional Library System.
The library had 103,811 visits during 2015.
In other action, the council:
• Elected Richard Vaughn to deputy mayor for the next year.
• Certified results from the April 5 election.
• Approved a bill accepting the Osburn sanitary sewer improvements of Helm’s Subdivision.
• Changed the council work session, when needed, to the end of council meetings.
• Approved a request to again hold the Fulton County Street Fair, this year on June 17-18. Event chairwoman Dawn Smith said the fair will have several new features and will bring back the popular “balloon glow†event.
• Approved a request by the Callaway County Foster Parent Association to allow the organization to hold a 5K Walk/Run on Sept. 24 and wave the fee for use of a park pavilion near the splash pad.