GARFIELD -- Teresa Vining is the new city recorder/treasurer. She is the first new recorder/treasurer in Garfield in 24 years. Merlene Snoderly, who resigned Dec. 31, 2014, without notice, had served for 23 years.
Mayor Gary Blackburn read the minutes from the Monday, Feb. 16, special meeting during which the council members whittled the 12 names down to three. Those three were invited to the Thursday, Feb. 19, meeting for interviews.
"It is really encouraging to look out in the audience and see citizens who are interested enough, especially on a night like tonight," Blackburn said.
Three applicants were selected for interviews, but at the beginning of the meeting, one, Stella Higginson, said: "I would like to retract my application."
The two remaining -- Vining and Pat Cranford -- were interviewed by the council members. After the interviews, council members wrote down their votes and placed them in a hat. Three times, the vote was tied.
"By law, I don't have a vote and I've worked very, very hard to keep myself out of the aldermen's way," the mayor said. "I respect them and I believe they'll make a good decision."
After the third tied vote, the council members adjourned into executive session, returning after about 25 minutes to vote again. The voice vote was a unanimous election of Vining.
"I've never seen four people agonize so much. It was a tough decision coming to a conclusion," Blackburn said, adding to Cranford: "It's nothing short about you at all.
"We consider ourselves extremely blessed to get the caliber of candidates we received. I applaud both of you for a job well done."
Vining was a dental office manager for Smiles by Crisp Dental Office in Fort Smith from 2008 to 2013. She and her husband moved to Garfield to prepare for retirement.
When asked by council member Kathy Shook why she was interested in a part-time job, she said: "I want to work at the church ... with the youth, with missions, plus my husband works a full-time job, is in the military and runs two businesses from home. If I do more, I think I'm taking away from him. And, my daughter is about to have a baby."
Vining began work Monday at Garfield City Hall.
General News on 02/25/2015