DODGE CITY — The Dodge City Town Council nominated its two newest council members Thursday, Nov. 7.

The town declared two vacancies last month after its two longest serving council members, Inez McDonald and Ervin Chumley, passed away within a week of each other in September. Alabama law requires municipalities to appoint replacement members within 60 days, which set its deadline for Nov. 10.

If a decision had not been reached by Nov. 10, Alabama Gov. Kay Ivey would have been tasked with appointing replacement council members.

Four candidates — Carla Scott, Chayton Grimmett, Joan Thomason and Brent McDonald — announced their intentions to apply for one of the positions during the town’s October meeting. Grimmett, a Cullman County Sheriff’s Deputy, was the only one of those to receive a nomination and was appointed to fill the Place 4 seat on the council.

Dodge City resident Robert South was nominated by council member Jerry Lynn to fill the Place 5 position and received unanimous support from the remaining council members.

Council member Heather Langley mentioned the difficulty the council faced in reaching its decision and encouraged those who were not nominated to consider running for a seat during the 2025 municipal election cycle.

“I would like to say thank you to everyone who interviewed for these positions. It was a really difficult decision,” Langley said.

The council also approved the dates for its annual Christmas in the Park event which will give its newest members their first lesson in what it means to be a part of what council member Teeara Johns has described as a “working council.”

“When we do Christmas in the Park, we do expect all of the council members to help out at least one or two nights a weekend so that it’s not all on at least one or two of us,” Johns said.

The event will take place in Ray Park, located just behind the Dodge City Town Hall, the first three weekends in December beginning with Friday, Dec. 6. Council members will begin outfitting the park with Christmas lights and decorations soon. They will also be serving hot chocolate, coffee and cookies to visitors.

In other business, the council approved to renew a certificate of deposit set to mature Friday, Nov. 15.

Patrick Camp can be reached by at 256-734-2131 ext. 238.