Timmermans takes over Ward-2 council seat, Nuss begins new term as council member
In a quick 35-minute meeting to reorganize the Sutton City Council, along with other positions and committees the Sutton leadership saw a new member join the council, as Clancy Timmermans took over the Ward-2 seat that was occuppied for nearly all of the past 26 years by councilman Jeff Schelkopf.
Timmermans, along with Larry T. Nuss, her father, took their respective oaths of office Monday, Dec. 9, in the council chambers, as both settled in for new four-year terms with the council, with Nuss representing Ward-1.
Following the swearing-in of Timmermans and Nuss, councilman Mike Newman, out of Ward-1, was elected to retain his leadership role as president of the board, as unanimously approved by Timmermans, Nuss, and Reed Stone, the other Ward-2 councilman in Sutton.
Appointments to city positions were also approved Monday night, including the approval of Tracey Landenberger as police chief, Ken Rauert as the city attorney, and Marla Newman as the city clerk and treasurer.
Additional appointment approvals were given to Steve Parr of JEO Consulting to continue to serve the City of Sutton as its street superintendent; as well as to JEO Consulting to serve at the engineer firm for the city.
New committee appointments that were approved include:
• Brett Freese and Lakyn Bloom (Mau) to the Park Board;
• Linda Schroetlin and Todd Nuss to the Cemetery Board;
• AJ Bergen to remain on the Planning and Zoning Commission;
• Merlyn Haight to serve on the Board of Adjustments;
• Jon Pedersen to serve on the City of Sutton’s CRA Board;
• Tree Board appointments included: Rita Johnson, Joyce Brown, Vanessa Higby-Villareal, and Barrett Epp;
• Sherrie Bartell was approved to serve on the Housing Agency;
• Keshea Freese and Morgan Catania were approved to serve on the Library Board;
• Halden Clark will serve as a member of the LB840 Citizen Advisory Committee; and
• Jon Zoucha was approved to continue serving on the LB840 Committee.
OTHER BUSINESS
Council members approved the purchase of 12 new decorative light poles, six of which will be used in the newlydeveloped Schwab Housing Development in southeast Sutton, with another six poles to eventually be used in Sutton’s downtown business district after the north end of Saunders Avenue business district is revitalized.
The bid for the poles was awarded to Signature Streetscapes of Muskegon, MI in the amount of $18,842.
Five Rule Rural Planning had their service agreement approved for 2025. The Kearney- based firm has served the City of Sutton since 2021, and serves as the administrator of the Vacant Property Registry for the city.
Since beginning its service to the city, according to a letter to Mayor Tim Anderson, Five Rule Rural Planning has managed 17 properties within the city limits, and shared that 12 of those 17 properties are now exempt or have been removed from the registry, with three of the properties being demolished or have been removed from said properties. Nine others have been reoccupied, rehabilitated, have consistently paid utilities, or have been attained by the City of Sutton.
The annual fee to retain Five Rule Rural Planning comes at a rate of $5,000 per year.
In unfinished business council members reacted to an email from Ellen Sheridan requesting that the Sheridan property, which has been on the Vacant Property Registry for several years, be eliminated from liens that have been filed on the property located at the intersection of Highway 6 and Road X in Sutton.
During the November council meeting, Brian and Patrick Sheridan met with council members asking that the $45,000 worth of liens against the property be reduced, of which, the council agreed, and reduced the amount of liens to $20,000.
Patrick Sheridan was again on hand Monday night to field any questions that council members might have related to Ellen Sheridan’s letter.
With few questions asked, council members held their ground and retained their November decision that the $20,000 worth of liens will remain against the property for the owners of the property to pay and make right, officially taking no action Monday night to change their November ruling.
