PRESCOTT – At the April 21 Prescott Common Council reorganizational meeting, Alderperson Dar Hintz nominated Bailey Ruona to fill the at-large alderperson vacancy, which was approved at the April 27 regular meeting. The position was vacant due to Mike Gerke’s election to the mayoral position, an office for which Ruona also ran. Each received 397 votes, resulting in a coin-flip tiebreaker.

Hintz nominated Ruona because of the number of votes she received and her previous experience on the council and Plan Commission.

City Administrator Matt Wolf made the council aware of its options for the alderperson vacancy.

“When a vacancy occurs in the office of mayor or alderperson, the common council may either call a special election to fill the vacancy or appoint an individual to serve the remainder of the term,” Wolf said. “In this case, that at-large position is up for re-election in 2027.”

City staff suggested filling the vacancy by appointment, to save on the cost of holding a special election.

“It doesn’t make sense to hold a special election only to turn around and have them be up for election again in April of 2027,” Wolf said.

The council elected Ben Bettis as council president and approved the mayor’s appointments of council members to the following standing committees:

Parks & Public Works: Lindsey Sorenson (chair), Dar Hintz, Ben Bettis (taking Gerke’s spot)

Health & Safety: Dar Hintz (Chair), Maureen Otwell, one vacancy

Personnel: Maureen Otwell (Chair), Dar Hintz, Adam Granquist

Board of Review: Dar Hintz, Lindsey Sorenson, Ben Bettis

Friends of Freedom Park: Mike Gerke

Library Board: Adam Granquist

Plan Commission: To be determined

Fire & EMS Commission: Lindsey Sorenson

The council also approved the following citizen member and other appointments:

Plan Commission: Kate Otto

Library Board: Susan Oney, Penny Peterson

Police Commission: Tom Gotzinger

Prescott Housing Authority: Audrey Johnston

City Engineer: Greg Adams, Cedar Corporation

City Attorney: Christopher Gierhart, Weld Riley

Municipal Court Attorney: Kevin Urbik, Heywood, Cari & Anderson

Public newspaper: Pierce County Journal

At the April 27 meeting, Ruona was appointed to the Plan Commission (as an alderperson) and the Health & Safety Committee.