by TaLeiza Calloway
news@thenewsleaders.com
St. Joseph residents Troy Goracke and Matt Killam didn’t let defeat in the November general election deter their efforts to serve the community. The two will serve for the next three years on the city’s park board and planning commission.
St. Joseph City Council members unanimously approved several new appointments to the planning commission, park board and economic development authority Jan. 3. Those appointments include adding Gary Osberg to the EDA lineup, Goracke to the park board and Killam to the planning commission. The park board also gained new leadership with the addition of Jodi Keehr. Planning commission members will see a familiar face as Ross Rieke was reappointed. Chad Hausmann and Killam were also welcomed. Dale Wick will serve as acting mayor, city administrator Judy Weyrens said.
There were three open seats on the city’s planning commission. Those seats are held by commission chairwoman Sister Kathleen Kalinowski and member Rieke, whose terms expired this month; and one additional open seat that ends in 2014. Planning commission members serve for three years.
The planning commission meets at 7 p.m. the first Monday of the month at city hall. It’s an advisory board that manages city growth through implementation of the city’s comprehensive plan and zoning ordinance.
The St. Joseph Park Board had two vacancies to fill. Sharon Young and Lonnie Abbot’s terms expired this year. The five-member board is charged with helping the city provide well-maintained parks, open spaces and trail systems to the community. Park board members serve three-year terms and meet the fourth Monday of the month at 6:30 p.m. at city hall.
Osberg was the only appointment to the EDA. The EDA is a five-member board appointed by the mayor and city council. Members meet at 5 p.m. every fourth Wednesday of the month at city hall. Board members serve for seven years. The areas of focus for the EDA include infrastructure development, business recruitment, workforce development and market development.
