MONROE - Dan Henke was elected president of the Monroe City Council on Tuesday as the recently elected aldermen were sworn in at Tuesday's meeting.
Incumbents in Wards 2, 4, 6, 8 and 10 each were re-elected April 7.
Also nominated to be the council president were Aldermen Charles Koch and Mark Coplien. Coplien's nomination failed to receive a second, and was not included in the vote.
Coplien requested a paper ballot bote for president - meaning individual members' votes are not made public. A paper ballot vote for electing officers of a governmental body is the only exemption to a public vote allowed by the state's open meetings laws. Henke won the presidency on a 6-4 vote.
After the vote, City Attorney Rex Ewald informed the council that nominations did not need to be seconded, and that Coplien's name should have been included in the vote. Mayor Ron Marsh asked council members how they wanted to proceed. At that time, Coplien withdrew his name as a nominee, saying he was happy with the outcome.
Aldermen sworn in were Paul Hannes (Ward 2), Jan Lefevre (Ward 4), Keith Ingwell (Ward 6), Dan Henke (Ward 8) and Charles Schuringa (Ward 10).
Alderman Keith Ingwell, council president for five years, said it was time for him to step down and nominated Henke.
"It's been a good five years," he said, "and I want to thank the council and department heads."
Incumbents in Wards 2, 4, 6, 8 and 10 each were re-elected April 7.
Also nominated to be the council president were Aldermen Charles Koch and Mark Coplien. Coplien's nomination failed to receive a second, and was not included in the vote.
Coplien requested a paper ballot bote for president - meaning individual members' votes are not made public. A paper ballot vote for electing officers of a governmental body is the only exemption to a public vote allowed by the state's open meetings laws. Henke won the presidency on a 6-4 vote.
After the vote, City Attorney Rex Ewald informed the council that nominations did not need to be seconded, and that Coplien's name should have been included in the vote. Mayor Ron Marsh asked council members how they wanted to proceed. At that time, Coplien withdrew his name as a nominee, saying he was happy with the outcome.
Aldermen sworn in were Paul Hannes (Ward 2), Jan Lefevre (Ward 4), Keith Ingwell (Ward 6), Dan Henke (Ward 8) and Charles Schuringa (Ward 10).
Alderman Keith Ingwell, council president for five years, said it was time for him to step down and nominated Henke.
"It's been a good five years," he said, "and I want to thank the council and department heads."