ELLINWOOD — The Ellinwood City Council Tuesday night took the unusual action of rescinding a mayoral appointment made last month for the Ellinwood Recreation Commission in favor of a different applicant. The decision was made for procedural reasons. The action put Mayor Irlan Fullbright in the awkward position of appointing a different applicant.
At the April 14 Ellinwood City Council meeting, Fullbright recommended the appointment of Robyn Knop to fill a vacant seat on the Ellinwood Recreation Commission that was vacated on July 1, 2019 by Angie Gunn, whose last four-year term concluded at that time. The appointment was made with no objections at that meeting. Following the meeting, however, it was brought to
City Manager Chris Komarek’s attention that the appointment went against a council resolution of four years prior to inform interested parties the next time a seat opens and ask them to apply.
According to a Sept. 13, 2016 report in The Great Bend Tribune, Kerry Ringwald was appointed to the Rec Commission on the recommendation of others on the commission. However, another applicant had expressed interest to the city manager at that time and was not informed of the opening. At that point, the council made the decision that they would make the next appointment more public.
After Komarek was reminded, the city advertised the opening in the April 23 and April 30 editions of The Ellinwood Leader. According to Komarek, two applied, Knop and Debbie McCormick. Only McCormick attended the meeting Tuesday night via Zoom.
“Honestly, we didn’t follow through with what we wanted to do four years ago,” Komarek said.
The council took action rescinding the April appointment. Fullbright noted that both were strong applicants. McCormick was asked to speak.
“I’ve had a desire to be on this board for quite some time,” she said. “I have a passion for Ellinwood Recreation. I think it’s good, but we can do better. We need to broaden and expand our reach for seniors and people with special needs and disabilities. I would also like some more financial oversight, something not brought to the table for some time.”
Jon Prescott spoke in favor of McCormick, stating that diversity is important, not only of gender but of age, and needs to be taken into consideration. He noted that one board member, Mel Waite, is the only male and the only “mature” commissioner on the board at this time.
“You have different interests as you go through life,” he said.
Komarek gave a brief overview of how the city and the USD 355 school board divide up four of the five appointments and the number of years, from 1 to 4, each position serves. The fifth position is an at-large position and always serves for four years. Following their first term, each commissioner can serve a second term for four years, he said.
Fullbright took the floor again, noting that as mayor, it is up to him to make the appointment, though he would seek the approval of the council. He asked for a motion to approve Knop, but the appointment died for lack of a motion.
City Attorney Jane Isern advised him that he could either present Knop a second time, or make a different appointment. Fullbright reluctantly appointed McCormick and Prescott motioned and Ken Lebbin seconded to approve the appointment. Fullbright thanked McCormick for her application and she in turn thanked the council for their time.
Komarek confirmed that Cari Ringwald, currently the commission president, will be up for reappointment as of July 1. The position will be announced and applicants sought and Ringwald will need to indicate her desire for reappointment as well.
