Robert Mashburn became the newest member of the Kimberly City Council on Monday night. 

KIMBERLY—The Kimberly City Council has sworn in a new member. 

On Monday night Robert Mashburn, a volunteer firefighter for the Kimberly Fire Department for more than 11 years, filled the seat left by Darnell Blankenship on July 9. He was sworn in at the end of Monday nigh’s meeting. 

“I’ve always been a public servant,” said Mashburn. “For 28 years I’ve been in the fire service and I’m not blind to the fact that I’m getting up there in years and I would like to take on a little bit bigger role in the community.”

Mashburn has been “over the volunteers” in Kimberly for years, earning $10 per call—a rate that will not be provided with his move into a council seat. 

He moved from St. Clair County to Kimberly nearly 12 years ago and immediately joined the fire department upon arrival. 

“I’ve got two years until the next election and I’ll give [Kimberly] a hard two years,” said Mashburn. 

Before being sworn in on Monday night, Mashburn gave the council an update on a bid to furnish the fire station. McCurry Furniture in Warrior provided the best bid, according to Mashburn. “They want to show their support for the local volunteer fire departments, so they have cut this price to the bone just to be able to help us out,” he continued. 

The council voted to furnish the city’s fire station with McCurry’s Furniture for a price not to exceed $5,800. The order will include beds, couches, tables and lamps, among other items. 

In other business, the Kimberly City Council also:

•passed a vote to provide annual maintenance for one of the city’s fire engines for a price not to exceed $1,200.

•heard an audit report from Matt Taylor of Carr Riggs & Ingram. “It was a successful year,” said Taylor to the council.

Erik Harris is the Sports Editor of The North Jefferson News. Email him at njnsports@gmail.com or follow him on Twitter @jeharris2.