InstantNewsKaty.com

During Monday’s meeting, the Katy City Council made quick work of electing a mayor pro-tem, as well as appointing host of city officials and board members.

Veteran council member Hank Schmidt, who currently serves as Katy’s mayor pro-tem, was returned for another term as the city’s number two elected official by a unanimous vote of the council.

Mayor Don Elder placed Schmidt’s name in nomination.

“This is the nomination and confirmation of the mayor pro-tem, and my nomination for mayor pro-tem would be Hank Schmidt,” Elder told the council.

Council member Carol Adams formally made the motion to re-elect Schmidt to the position. Her motion was promptly approved by the rest of the council.

The council also unanimously approved an ordinance reappointing city department heads. All were recommended by Elder.

Those reappointed included:

-         City Administrator Johnny Nelson

-         Asst. City Administrator William A. Drohan

-         City Attorney Joe Hegar

-         Municipal Court Judge Jeffrey C. Brashear

-         Municipal Court Judge Beverly Oliver

-         Associate Judge Jack R. Ray

-         Municipal Court Clerk Elaine P. Brown

-         Police Chief William Hastings

-         City Secretary Melissa A. Bunch

-         Asst. City Secretary Linda Vourazeris

-         City Treasurer Byron J. Hebert

-         Fire/EMS Administrative Director Marc Jordan

-         Tax Assessor-Collector Charlie C. Shafer

-         Local Health Authority Mark L. Bing, M.D.

In separate action, council members approved an ordinance appointing four regular members and one alternate to the city’s seven-member Planning and Zoning commission. Commission members serve staggered two-year terms.

Appointed for terms running through 2011 were Hal N. Cardiff, David Frishman, William M. Lawton and Frank Tucker. Dan D. Burris was approved to serve as an alternate member.

Frishman is the Planning and Zoning Commission’s current chair.

The council also made appointments to the Zoning Board of Adjustment. Chosen for two-year terms were Steven J. Hauck, Herman C. Meyer, Beverly Oliver and Otis M. (Mike) Sadler. David Minze and Jo Ann Tilton were appointed as alternate members.

Appointments were also made to the Katy Heritage Park Board. Linda Mikeska was reappointed as the Katy Heritage Society representative on the board. Linda Ferris was approved to serve as the City of Katy and Katy Heritage Society joint representative, while Trish Johnson was appointed as the City of Katy representative.

Ferris and Johnson were both new appointments.

Council Member Carol Adams, who serves as executive director of the Katy Heritage Society, recused herself from the vote on the Heritage Park Board.

All other appointments were made by a unanimous vote of the council.