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A new member was added to the Creston City Council during a regular meeting Tuesday with the appointment of Ron Higgins as ward 1 councilperson with a term expiring December 31, 2017.
Higgins, 45, who has lived in Creston his entire life, “thought it would be cool to be more involved with what happens in town.”
Higgins lives with his wife, Erin, and their 2-year-old daughter, Lydia. He also has a 12-year-old daughter, Morgan, from a previous marriage.
In the past, Higgins was an employee of U.S. Cellular for 11 years before moving to his current position as salesman at Stalker Chevrolet on Highway 25 in Creston. Higgins said his public contact experience from his professional history will be beneficial to his term as ward 1 councilperson.
“I’m totally comfortable talking to people and interacting with the public,” Higgins said. “I’m not afraid to voice my opinion. If someone from my ward, or anywhere in town, has something they want us to know about and feels comfortable talking to me, they sure can.”
Higgins said he has always found city council interesting and the timing was right to join.
“It’s nice to know what’s going on in the city,” Higgins said after participating in his inaugural meeting. “The meeting was more organized than I anticipated. I didn’t know exactly what I was going into but ended up feeling totally comfortable.”
Though Higgins has no formal experience in the workings of local government, he is eager to contribute to the council.
“I don’t really have any expectations other than trying to help the council out any way I can and do whatever they need me to do,” Higgins said. “You can’t really complain about things going on in town if you don’t volunteer to do something about them.”
With his appointment, Higgins has filled the vacant ward 1 position which was previously held for 10 years by the late Randy White.
In other Creston City Council news:
• The council approved the parking of the Traces For History and Culture bus on the west side of North Maple Street in front of Gibson Memorial Library during Creston’s RAGBRAI stopover.
• The council approved a request from Abundant Life Family Church for a temporary partial street closure in the 500 block of South Birch Street August 8-9 from 5 p.m. to 8 a.m. for safe usage of Rainbow Park during the church’s day camp for kids.
• The council held a discussion with Eric Green regarding possible action and cost to connect homes west of city limits on Adams Street to city sanitary sewer service.
• The council approved the hiring of Mitchell Pashek as a police officer and his participation in the City’s Certified Officer Sign-on Bonus Program contingent upon successful physical.