The Brookings register. [volume] (Brookings, Brookings County, S.D.) 1903-1971, 1913-05-08
MAYOR JOHNSON
TAKES OFFICE
NEW EXECUTIVE AND ALDERMEN
TAKE UP THEIR DUTIES
ON MONDAY
CITY OFFICERS AND EMPLOYEES NAMED
Several Ch-ngss Are Made in the List
For the Coming Year-C. O. Tryg-
stad Appointed City Attorney

c. A. Johnson, the new mayor, took
up the duties of his office at the regular
meeting of the city council on Monday
evening. With him were installed
four aldermen for the two year term.
Two of the aldermen, H. H. Hoy Of the
First ward, and F. E. Youngburg of the
Second. have served the past two
years, but r. H. Bartlett of the Third
and f. l.. Simmons of the Fourth, are
new to the joys and sorrows of an
aldermanic job. The other aldermen
who make up the new council are, A.
Hoover, First; o. o. Jermstad, Second;
w. H. Conklin, Third, J. H. Roberts,
Fourth.
The old council met promptly at
eight o'clock to clean up the unf1nish
ed business of the year, which includ-
ed the customary grist of claims and
n or two other matters. The cement
work contract was let to John Dokken
for the coming year, although there
was not much difference in the bids
opened at this meeting and those
which were turned down a couple Of
weeks ago. Mayor Leighty thank
ed the members of the council for their
courtesy and cooperation during the
past two years, after which the new
mayor took charge.
Mayor Johnson gave a short, but
very good address, outlining the poll.
cies of his administration. He said:
Having been elected to the Office of
mayor of this city, | feel grateful to
the people for the honor they have thus
conferred upon me, but at the same
time l also fully realize the large
amount of responsibility that necessari-
ly goes with an office of this kind. This
office has, in the past, been held by
able men, of sound business judgment,
and it is largely due to the efficiency
of our mayors and councilmen of the
past that we have one of the cleanest
and best governed cities in the state.
at shall be my endeavor to see that
this city maintains this high standard,
but l am not in favor of going to ex-
tremes in any direction. for the reason
that our city ontains more than n
class of people, and sometimes a give
and take compromise is advisable.
GAS to the policies of the administra-
ton for the future, I will merely state
it is my intention to manage all city
affairs in the manne that will serve
the best interests of the people. I will
frankly admit that I do not expect or
even hope to be able to satisfy all the
notions and whims of every individual,
as all communities have their chronic
kickers,-by that mean men who are
always against the government, no
matter what that may be-hence they
cannot be satisfied. I shall not aim to
please or displease any particular class
my policy shall be to take the course
which | believe to be the right, and my
position is that if any person, whether
connected with the city government or
not, has any suggestion to make or
complaint to enter concerning the man.
ner in which the administration ham
dies it's affairs, rather than have him
continually relate his tale of woe to
his neighbors and friends, / would
much prefer to have him com to me
personally and state his version and
thus give the city council and myself
the benefit of his ideas and knowledge
if he possesses either one.
"Of course the person who holds the
Office of mayor a. accomplish very
little in any direction unless he has the
cooperation of the members of the
city council. In unity there is strength
and if the forces that drive the ma
chinery work in opposite directions
your working power Is diminished.
81 hope and believe that the pres
ent city council and I shall work in
hearty cooperation. While l have no
more voice in the selection of council
men than any other e~lector, l believe
that the people have chosen a set of
clear-thinking, representative men for
their council, whose purpose it Is to
serve the people.
"At the present time I have no state.
ments or promises to make concern
ing the reduction of taxes or the num-
Der Of public improvements that we
expect to make. I shall merely state
that it is my intention to give this city
the best and most economical admins
tration that the circumstances and
good business policy will permit"
Mayor Johnson made his appoint
ments of city officers and employees
as follows: City attorney, c. o. Tryg-
stad; city auditor, @. H. Stoddart; su.
perintendent Of light and power plant,
A. w. Morton; superintendent of tele-
phone plant, Chas. Shea; chief of po-
lice, Nels Gullick; assistant police, M.
s. Thayer; city engineer, ]. A. Hege-
man; city health officer, DR.. B.. T.
Green; street commissioner, Chris
lynch; assessor, Homer Rexford.
All of the appointments were con
firmed unanimously with the exception
Of Mr.. Morton and on his name the
council divided evenly, the mayor
casting the deciding vote in his favor.
Aldermen Hoover, Hoy, Jermstad and
Simmons voted favorably and Alder
men Conklin, Bartlett, Roberts and
Y%oungburg were recorded against him.
The appointments as a whole, are
excellent and we believe the men will
prove satisfactory and efficient. Most
of the men have served the city well