Mayor & Council Members

Mayor

The mayor occupies the highest elective office in the municipal government, and provides the leadership necessary to keep the city moving in the proper direction. The Mayor has a special set of long-term responsibilities as a community leader and political leader, while dealing with important policy issues and long-term future concerns and goals. All meetings of the council shall be presided over by the mayor or in the mayor’s absence, by the mayor pro tempore. The mayor shall have a vote only in the case of a tie in the votes of the council members.

Council Members

The Council consist of 5 members which serve 4-year terms. The council sets policies, which is a course of action for a community. Policy making such as passing ordinances and resolutions. After the passing of a policy, others perform the administrative task of implementing the policy. The council relies on ideas from many sources, including the staff, community groups, advisory committees, chambers of commerce, and others. The mayor may veto ordinances but the mayor's veto can be overruled by two-thirds vote of the council.

The mayor pro tempore

The mayor pro tempore (also called the mayor pro tem or the deputy mayor) is appointed by the council to serve in the absence of the mayor. The mayor pro tempore presides at meetings of the council, administers oaths, and signs instruments in the absence of the mayor. A council member acting as mayor pro tempore generally retains his or her council manic vote. The mayor pro tempore generally serves only when the mayor’s absence is temporary. When a vacancy occurs in the office of mayor, the council appoints a new mayor. The authority of a mayor pro tempore varies somewhat according to the city classification.