GEORGETOWN — New Mayor Dennis Lucas took the helm in Georgetown Monday night and wasted no time in making appointments to vacancies on the city council.

Lucas, Ward 2 Alderman Tom Seilhymer and Ward 3 Alderwoman Wilma Wilming were swore in by Vermilion County Clerk Lynn Foster.

Lucas and the new council then approved the appointments of Cathy Jenkins as Ward 1 alderwoman, Sherry Serd as treasurer and Cheryl Pearman as clerk. The three positions were left vacant after the recent election for a lack of candidates. The three were also sworn in by Foster.

An alderman in Ward 4 is the only open spot remaining.

“I’ve been considering these people and talking to some since the election,” said Lucas regarding his lack of hesitation to fill the vacancies.

Jenkins, who was defeated in the recent race for mayor, said she was enthusiastic when Lucas approached her about the alderwoman opening in her ward. She is a senior manager at Blue Cross Blue Shield and has been there for 22 years.

“I’m just going to really get my feet wet and learn the ins and outs of how the city is run and meet people in my ward and learn what they want,” said Jenkins.

Seilhymer is a retired chemical operator from Honeywell where he worked for 36 years. He now works part-time maintenance in the Georgetown-Ridge Farm School District.

He said he doesn’t have an ax to grind, but is tired of complaining about the issues, so instead decided to get on the council to see what it’s all about.

Wilming, a retired lunch supervisor, worked in the Georgetown-Ridge Farm District for 29 years. She is eager to see the sewer plant upgrade and separation of the sanitary and storm sewers.

“I just would like to see the things that mayor (Darrell Acord) started, continue,” said Wilming. “He’s done such a good job with it.”

Lucas also thanked Acord for his many years of service to the city, said he did a fine job and thinks the city will continue to keep moving forward.

Serd said Lucas encouraged her to accept the treasurer position, one she has held before for a total of six years. She said it was good to be back on the council.

Pearman returns to the council as clerk, though she did not run for re-election. She said she accepted the appointment because she didn’t want to leave the city without a clerk. She has served as clerk for eight years.

Lucas said he was encouraged by his first evening in office.

“I think overall that I got a good feeling tonight that the council is going to work with me and we’re going to move forward,” said Lucas. “

In other business, aldermen:

-- Denied a request by the Georgetown Ladies Community Club to go forward with a $900 Keep Vermilion County Beautiful grant application.

The group had plans to continue landscaping at the All Other Wars and World War II Memorial on the downtown square. Another tree, two more bushes, stepping stones, a cement trash can, urns and fencing on the north and south side of the monuments was planned.

Alderman Tom Smith said he felt the plan as proposed would take away from the monument itself.

Serd, a GLCC member, said the group will meet on May 14 to consider whether to give the grant money back to the program or to propose it again to the council.

-- Will allow the Georgetown-Ridge Farm Destination Imagination teams to collect money at the square on either May 9 or May 16.



WHAT’S NEXT

The Georgetown City Council will meet at 7 p.m. May 18 at Georgetown City Hall.