Tillman named mayor

GATEWAY -- Andrew Tillman was named mayor of this small northeast Benton County town during the regular September City Council meeting.

Council members also filled position 4 naming Chris Jones to the seat vacated by Diana Nichols. Both Nichols and former mayor Frank Hackler resigned.

The first order of business, following the prayer and pledge of allegiance, was to find someone to sit in position 4.

"Since Chris is running in the next election unopposed," alderman Michael Johannsen said, "he should take the seat."

Jones joined the council with no opposition from sitting council members, however, the paperwork was unavailable for him to be sworn in, meaning he could not vote during the meeting.

Two candidates to replace former mayor Frank Hackler, Denise Guck and Tillman, each spoke before the council.

"To imply that because I'm a woman, I can't fulfill all the duties of mayor is just ludicrous," Guck said, referring to comments made by Johannsen at the special meeting the previous week. "And quite frankly, downright insulting."

Guck said that, as mayor, she was particularly interested in ensuring better internet access was available to Gateway.

Tillman said that, as mayor, he would try to "keep it calm and let everybody live in peace."

He didn't see the need for law enforcement in town, he said, because the county can handle it. Furthermore, he said, he doesn't believe the town needs a sewer system, and that such a system could become very expensive for residents before long.

Johannsen made a motion to nominate Tillman, which passed with three votes. Alderman Cheryll Tillman (wife of Andrew Tillman) abstained from voting.

Andrew Tillman also asked that he not be paid for the rest of this year, until he has a good idea of how much work the position actually requires of him.

"I don't want to get a bunch of money for doing nothing," Tillman said.

Alderman Carol Frost made a motion to honor this request. The motion was passed and, again, Cheryl Tillman abstained.

Near the end of the meeting, Cheryl Tillman made a motion to reduce the council members' pay from $200 per month to $25 per meeting, an amount she said should cover fuel.

The council agreed to discuss their pay, as well as the mayor's, in December when they're constructing the new budget.

"You gotta look at what the people you're representing are making an hour," Andrew Tillman said. "I don't think any of us is worth $200 an hour."