By SUSAN BERG

Managing editor

April is the time of year when city appointments are made.

Following executive sessions Monday afternoon, Marion City Council approved the reappointment of all city officials. Newly re-elected Mayor Mary Olson recused herself from discussion of or any action regarding the re-appointment of administrator David Mayfield and attorney Dan Baldwin.

When it came time in the meeting for the council to consider the appointments of administrator, attorney, clerk, treasurer and assistant city clerk, chief of police, municipal judge, and fire chief, Olson called for a five-minute recess and exited the council room with her personal attorney Tim Hodge.

When the meeting reconvened, Olson said she would recuse herself from the appointments of administrator and attorney, putting newly elected vice mayor Chris Meierhoff in charge.

Councilman Bill Holdeman asked to pull the city administrator appointment off the agenda. Councilman Steve Smith countered the request with a request for a 10-minute executive session — the first five minutes with just the council, the second five to include Mayfield.

When the meeting reconvened, Mayfield was reappointed with Holdeman opposing and Olson abstaining.

The council then entered a five-minute closed session to discuss the city attorney. When the meeting reconvened, Baldwin was reappointed with Smith voting against and Olson abstaining.

Angela Lange was reappointed as city clerk but later in the meeting, the council went into another closed session for 10 minutes with Lange, Mayfield, Baldwin, and the council.

When the meeting reconvened Olson announced, regrettably, that Lange had resigned, effective May 14.

Becky Makovec was reappointed as city treasurer and assistant city clerk, Josh Whitwell as chief of police, Bryson Mills as municipal judge, and Mike Regnier as fire chief.

The appointments are effective for one year.