Belpre students shadow city officials
BELPRE — Students from Belpre High School received firsthand knowledge of how a small municipality operates as they shadowed city officials Monday during the annual Student Government Day in Belpre.
The students spent time Monday morning and afternoon shadowing city officials and council members. At Monday’s final Belpre City Council meeting of 2019, the students handled city business by voting giving reports and voting on ordinances in tandem with the elected officials.
The students involved in the government day program included:
* Mayor: Connor Baker
* Council President: Cody Daugherty
* City Council First Ward: Emma Matheny
* City Council Second Ward: Walker Feick
* City Council Third Ward: Evan Wells
* City Council Fourth Ward: Morgan Lamp
* City Council At Large: Matt Bayne, Tyce Church and Lindsie Johnson
* Council Clerk: Brady Clem
* City Treasurer: Logan Lowe
* City Auditor: Domanick Smith
* City Law Director: George Carter
* Safety Service Director: Cy Varner
City Law Director Tom Webster said he received information from a state official regarding the two council seats that will be vacant on Jan. 1.
Following the resignations this past year of the council president and the First Ward council member, the seats were filled by appointments through Dec. 31. Larry Martin has filled in as council president and Bill Locke has served as First Ward council member.
Webster said both seats will be filled by an election by the new council which takes office Jan. 1. Council can take action on Jan. 1 or schedule a later date to vote on filling the seats, he said. Anyone wishing to express interest in either seat can contact Mayor Mike Lorentz or Martin.
A swearing-in ceremony for the newly elected and re-elected city officials will be 8 a.m. Jan. 1 in council chambers. A special meeting will be 9:30 a.m. for the new council to discuss and possibly vote on the seats, said Martin.
In other business, council approved the final readings of the temporary appropriations ordinance for 2020 and a bridge inspection agreement with the Ohio Department of Transportation.