Mayor's appointments approved

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Seward City Council conducted procedural business outside of a long discussion over a proposed face covering ordinance at its Dec. 1 meeting.

Council members across the city's four wards took their oaths of office, none of whom were new to the council. Council members Jessica Kolterman, Chris Schmit, John Singleton and Jonathon Wilken all won reelection on Nov. 3, some in uncontested races.

Mayor Josh Eickmeier's appointments also cleared council votes. James Kimsey was reappointed as fire chief, Jonathan Jank was reappointed to the rail campus development review committee, Rick Endicott was reappointed to the cemetery board, Mel Varner (alternate) and Dr. Dan Ellis were reappointed to the Zoning Board of Adjustment, Brad Bowen was reappointed to the Housing Appeals Board and Matt Stryson was reappointed to the Housing Authority Board.

Council members were also appointed to liaison roles for boards and committees. John Singleton (fire department, Seward and Saline County Solid Waste Agency), Sid Kamprath (cemetery board), Ellen Beck (Seward County Chamber and Development Partnership), Wilken (CDBG Application Review Board for Economic Development) and Alyssa Hendrix (tree board) all filed single-person roles.

Duos of Ellen Beck and Schmit (parks and recreation board), Kamprath and Singleton (civic center commission), Schmit and Kamprath (planning commission), Singleton and Kolterman (E911 Board) and Wilken and Kolterman (library board) were also appointed. Beck Miller, Schmit and Wilken were appointed to personal finance and audit committee; Miller and Kolterman were appointed to the Seward Foundation; and Schmit and Miller were appointed to Rail Campus Development Review Committee.

Schmit was reelected as council president.

In more standard business, the council also granted a Class C liquor license to Squire Ward's, to be located at 133 N Sixth St. for sales of liquor, beer and wine.

The council also approved an ordinance for a lease-purchase agreement with Jones Bank for the financing of a Toro Reelmaster 3555-D Mower, as well as extended the Downtown Revitalization Grant Completion Deadline to Feb. 26, 2021, because of delays in contractor availability brought on by coronavirus.