When Iola’s city council members and Mayor Bill Shirley are sworn in Monday evening, it will be a step back in time.
In 1910, Iola switched from an eight-member council and a mayor to a two-member commission and a mayor form of government, which had held forth until last November.
At that time, Iola had about 10,000 residents. Today Iola’s population is a touch over 5,700.
Of 927 voters who went to the polls — a little less than half those registered — 570 favored the change; 357 were opposed. Women of that era did not have the right to vote.
Gaylord Robinson was elected mayor. Frank Smith and G.C. Glynn were elected commissioners.
Today’s new council has two members from each of the city’s four wards and all, including the mayor, were elected to two-year terms on April 5. During the next two years they will decide how council seats will be filled, for how long and in what rotation.
While it was an error when the Register reported that seating the new council would be a historic event, no one alive today remembers when local municipal decisions were made by a city council.
In addition to Shirley, council members are: First Ward, Scott Stewart and Kendall Calahan; Second Ward: Joel Wicoff and Beverly Franklin; Third Ward, Don Becker and Jim Kilby; Fourth Ward, Ken Rowe and Steve French.
The council’s initial meeting will be in the New Community Building in Riverside Park Monday evening at 6 o’clock. A reception for the outgoing Commissioners Shirley and Craig Abbott and Mayor Bill Maness will precede the council session at 5 o’clock.
New Iola council won’t be unique
