By Melanie Patterson

The North Jefferson News



Expecting an overflow crowd, the Town of Kimberly’s new mayor and council held their first meeting inside the Kimberly Fire Department Tuesday.

The crowd did not disappoint. Guests filled almost every chair and there were also people standing to witness the first meeting conducted by Mayor Ralph Lindsey and council members Craig Harris, Bob Ellerbrock, Brad Stark, Donna Smith Cude and Lowell Holland.

Ellerbrock is the only returning councilman, having run unopposed in the August election.

Tuesday’s meeting ran smoothly as the council set up boards, approved bank accounts and took care of other administrative matters.

“We will do our level best to never disappoint you,” Lindsey told the crowd. “We promise transparency. We want to make Kimberly as good as it can be.”

The new council established two new traditions for council meetings: An opening prayer and reciting the Pledge of Allegiance. The Rev. Willard Davis of Liberty Baptist Church said the opening prayer Tuesday.

Municipal Judge William Wise then administered the oath of office for the mayor and all new council members.

The council elected Stark as the mayor pro tem.

The council then appointed committee members. Each committee includes two council members, with the mayor serving on all.

Committee members are:

• finance: Harris and Ellerbrock

• city services (police and fire): Stark and Cude

• public works and park and recreation: Ellerbrock and Holland

• communications, marketing and special events: Holland and Stark

In other business, the council:

• adopted Roberts Rules of Order as the rules of procedure

• voted that all administrative officers and employees will continue in their duties temporarily, for 60-90 days, until the council makes permanent appointments

• adopted an organizational ordinance for the 2008-12 term of office

• named Superior Bank as the depository and authorized signatures for all bank accounts

• appointed Lindsey to the board of directors for the Cullman Jefferson Gas District

• appointed planning and zoning board members

• appointed zoning board of adjustment members

• announced a “meet and greet” to be held on Nov. 14, 6:30-8:30 p.m., at the Kimberly Senior Center for the new council

• set the next Kimberly council meeting for Nov. 18, 6:30 p.m., at Kimberly Town Hall because Veterans Day falls on the council’s next regular meeting day.