On June 21, Henderson Mayor Ken Bergen passed away after serving in the position for 5 1/2 years. In a unique situation clarified in the city council minutes below, the previous recent resignation of the City Council President who was to be next in line for the mayor position led to a special meeting where new elections had to be conducted to fill the vacant mayor position. In the end, Jim Mestl was elected as the new Henderson Mayor and Mike Wall was selected for the the position of the City Council President.
Jim and his wife Gina have lived in Henderson for 20 years and have three children. Jim is the Vice President/Manager at Cornerstone Bank in Henderson. As the new mayor, Jim said, “I want to continue to make Henderson a place where families want to move to and raise their families.”
City Council Special Meeting Minutes
A special meeting of the City Council was held on Friday, June 27, 2014 at 12:00 p.m. at City Hall. This meeting was posted at City Hall, Post Office and Mainstay Communications and was published in the June 26, 2014 Henderson News. The purpose of this meeting was to fill the mayor and president of council positions.
Due to the resignation of the President of the Council, Scott Erb, at the June 10, 2014 meeting and the death of Mayor Ken Bergen, City Clerk Connie Brown called the meeting to order at 12:00 p.m. Connie Brown declared the meeting to be legal and properly advertised with all members having been informed of the nature of the meeting and having received related information. Connie Brown also referred to the open meetings law poster at the back of the council chambers.
The roll vote showed the following present: Mike Wall, Jim Mestl, and Lee Thiessen. Also present were Connie Brown, Kelsey Bergen, Milan Mierau, Corbin Tessman, and Jeb Mierau.
Mike Wall made a motion to elect Jim Mestl to fulfill the vacancy of council president. Lee Thiessen seconded. Roll vote: Ayes – Mike Wall, Lee Thiessen, and Jim Mestl. Motion carried.
Jim Mestl made a motion declaring the vacancy of the mayor position. Mike Wall seconded. Roll vote: Ayes- Jim Mestl, Mike Wall, and Lee Thiessen. Motion carried.
With the declaration of the vacancy of the mayor position, the council president is designated as the major. City Clerk, Connie Brown, administered the oath of office to Jim Mestl as mayor.
Lee Thiessen made a motion to elect Mike Wall to fulfill the vacancy of council president due to mayor designation of Jim Mestl. Jim Mestl seconded. Roll vote: Ayes- Lee Thiessen, Jim Mestl, and Mike Wall. Motion carried.
The mayor will present two names to the council at the July 8 meeting to fulfill the two vacant council positions.
Mike Wall made a motion to adjourn. Lee Thiessen seconded. Roll vote: Ayes- Mike Wall, Lee Thiessen, and Jim Mestl. Motion carried.
Connie Brown, City Clerk
