A familiar face has joined the Iola City Council.
Joel Wicoff, who has twice served as a city councilman, as well as serving two terms as Iola’s mayor, will fill the vacated seat of Max Grundy.
Grundy resigned earlier this summer and has moved to Utah.
Wicoff was one of two Ward 2 residents seeking the seat, alongside Iolan Chi Wiggin.
Both spoke briefly about their desires to serve the community.
“When Max announced he was leaving, I had several people ask me if I was going to put my name in,” Wicoff said.
With children and grandchildren living in Iola, Wicoff said he appreciated the opportunity to serve again, “to make this town the best it can be.”
Wicoff is vice president at Deep Creek Engineering, which specializes in steel tank design and concrete foundations.
Wiggin, a lifelong Iolan, similarly expressed a desire to serve.
“This is something I’ve always wanted to do,” she said, “but maybe it wasn’t the right time.”
With both of her sons now grown and raising families on their own, Wiggin said, “This is a perfect time in my life to give back to the community.”
Wiggin was recently promoted to director of operations at Thrive Allen County.
Mayor Steve French noted her connection to Thrive, and whether she would have to recuse herself from city decisions regarding Thrive’s programs and contracts.
“I’m aware I would have to step away any time you guys discussed that,” she said. “It’s a great place to work, and we do a lot of good for the community.”
Council members voted, 4-3, to appoint Wicoff, with Nich Lohman, Jon Wells, Kim Peterson and Joelle Shallah in support, and Mark Peters, Jeremiah Ivy and Doug Kerr opposed.
ONCE WICOFF was seated, Council members tabled a pair of significant decisions.
