The thundering herds of applicants for civic positions must all be on winter break.

Monday, January 03, 2000

The thundering herds of applicants for civic positions must all be on winter break.

While both the school board and the Austin Utilities board had openings that received multiple applicants, the Austin City Council seat left open for the Second Ward has received but two applications.

The seat was left open after Todd Penske, himself an appointed councilman, was forced to leave the council because his business, Cooperative Response Center, is entering into business transactions with the city.

Five applications have been picked up, but the only returns thus far come from Garry Ellingson, former chief deputy for the Mower County Sheriff’s Department, and Roger Boughton.

Boughton is the retired vice president of academic affairs for Riverland Community College. He retired close to a year ago.

Applications are available at city offices, and may be turned in until Jan. 10. Interviews will be conducted Jan. 15, and the mayor will announce the new appointee to the council at the Jan. 18 city council meeting.

Also this week for the city, the Austin Port Authority meets at 4:30 p.m. today in a special meeting to finalize arrangements to purchase land north of 18th Avenue NW from the Joseph Co.

At 4 p.m. Tuesday, the Austin Utilities Board will meet and elect a new president of the commission, as well as swear in new commissioner Larry Pfeil.

At 5:30 p.m. Tuesday, the Austin City Council will meet for its first regularly scheduled meeting of the new millennium.