City Commission Reorganizes — Elects Mick McCallister Mayor

The Junction City Commission held it’s annual re-organization Tuesday night, and elected Junction City’s new Mayor and Vice Mayor.

SANDS FITZGERALD LANDES — Commissioners (Left to Right) Jim Sands, Phyllis Fitzgerald and Pat Landes take the Oath of Office.

Mick McCallister was named Mayor for the coming year. He was nominated by James Sands and was approved on a 5-0 vote. McCallister succeeds Mike Ryan. Commissioner Ryan then nominated Sands for Vice Mayor, and Sands was approved on a 5-0 vote.

Mayor McCallister outlined three goals of his for the coming year,”Obviously the first thing is the Land Bank, we need to keep moving forward on that so we can get those lots back on the tax rolls, that’s pretty important. The next goal coming up here real soon is working on the budget, and that is always a tedious time of the year that takes a lot of time, a lot of thought and a lot of research.”

The third goal was to continue focusing on Regionalism and finding funding for the Flint Hills Regional Council.

Also during the re-organization Commissioners Pat Landes and Jim Sands, along with incoming Commissioner Phyllis Fitzgerald took their oaths of office. Landes and Fitzgerald were recently elected to four year terms and Sands was elected to a two year term in the April 7th election.

Outgoing Commissioner Cecil Aska did not elect to run for a second term on the governing body. Before parting the Commission Aska said that before coming involved with the Commission four years ago he only knew so much, and it wasn’t until after he became apart of the Commission did he realize the state of the City, and now how far they have come.

“We can’t go backwards. I know that I will be there anytime to give you my perspective on things. Give you my perspective from the folks that I deal with, where they are coming from on stuff,” said Aska. “I guess I just want to send the message that I trust you and I trust the new City Commission to do what is going to be in the best interest of Junction City.”

The Commissioners were then named to the various boards that they will serve on for the coming year. They include:

Pat Landes-Library Board, Land Bank Advisory Committee.

Phyllis Fitzgerald-CVB, Housing Board.

Mick McCallister-Military Affairs, Chamber of Commerce Board of Directors, Flint Hills Regional Council.

Jim Sands-CVB, EDC Advisory Committee, Flint Hills Regional Council.

Mike Ryan-Animal Shelter, EDC Advisory Committee, Flint Hills Regional Council.