Council members sworn in, officers elected, committee appointments approved

By Kim McDarison 

Three newly elected members of the Fort Atkinson City Council took the oath of office Tuesday, after which council elected a new president and president pro tem. 

Also during Tuesday’s meeting, the city manager appointed and the council approved two new members to the city’s Historic Preservation Commission and one new member to the city’s Plan Commission. 

The city’s official newspaper was also designated. 

Oath of office

At the conclusion of business associated with the first 10 agenda items on Tuesday’s city council meeting, the meeting adjourned. 

City Clerk Michelle Ebbert next administered the oath of office to three city council members who won seats during the April 6 election. 

Taking the oath were returning council members Mason Becker and Chris Scherer, and Megan Hartwick who began her first term as a Fort Atkinson City Council member.  

President and president pro tem elected 

City Manager Rebecca LeMire next called to order the first meeting of the 2021-2022 city council, presiding over the meeting until a new council president was elected. 

Council elected Chris Scherer as its new president, and, with Scherer presiding, Councilman Brandon Housley as president pro tem. 

Committee appointments

With the 2021-2022 council seated, first items among its order of business included approving the city manager’s appointment of Becker as the city council representative on the city’s Plan Commission. 

Council named the Daily Jefferson County Union as the city’s official newspaper. 

Among the last actions undertaken by the 2020-2021 council before it adjourned was the appointments of two new members to the city’s Historic Preservation Commission. They are Mark Bardenwerper, who was appointed to fill an unexpired term through 2023, and Brandon Thornton, who was appointed to a five-year term ending in 2026. 

After new council members were installed, the 2021-2022 council continued Tuesday’s meeting, taking action on several items under “new businesses” and “miscellaneous” before it adjourned.