New council members recited the oath of office in New Richmond Dec. 31 after being elected Nov. 5. From left are Mayor Ramona Carr and council members Richard Hilt, Mary Allen, Amanda Davidson and Gary Skeene.
New council members recited the oath of office in New Richmond Dec. 31 after being elected Nov. 5. From left are Mayor Ramona Carr and council members Richard Hilt, Mary Allen, Amanda Davidson and Gary Skeene.

By Kristin Rover
Sun staff

Four council members took their oath of office and began their duties in New Richmond Dec. 31.

One new council member, one returning member and two incumbent council members were elected to council Nov. 5.

Mary Allen will serve her first term as a councilwoman, Gary Skeene will return to serve on council and incumbent candidates Amanda Davidson and Richard Hilt will continue their duties on council.

Mayor Ramona Carr swore in the council members during a short ceremony Dec. 31.

Carr said she is looking forward to working with the new council.

Councilwoman Mary Allen said she was excited to be elected to council. She said she has lived in the village for 40 years.

“I am looking forward to using my experience and skills to help my hometown,” Allen said.

Prior to the election, Allen said she has experience working in management at Proctor and Gamble. She also has served on the village Financial Advisory Task Force.

Councilman Gary Skeene said he is looking forward to serving on council again and working with the new members.

“The last couple of years, council has struggled to agree,” Skeene said. “Now I think we can talk over our differences and get along.”

Skeene said he believes it is important for council to work together in the next four years to try to solve some of the financial problems that the village faces.

Skeene has previously served four years on council. He also helps organize several events in the village.

Councilwoman Amanda Davidson will continue to serve on council.

“I am excited about working with new people,” Davidson said.

She said she has enjoyed serving the village for the past year and is looking forward to continuing her duties.

“I enjoy trying to come up with solutions to a problem,” Davidson said. “I want to make sure residents voices are being heard.”

Davidson said she was happy she was elected and was impressed by a lot of the candidates who ran.

Richard Hilt, an incumbent council member, said he is looking forward to working with the new members as well.

Hilt said he believes council will be able to come up with ways to increase revenue in the village and find solutions to the financial challenges the village faces in the coming years with the closing of Beckjord Station.

Hilt said this is his third consecutive term as a councilman. He said he has been on council off and on since 1992.

The next council meeting in New Richmond is scheduled for 7 p.m. Jan. 9.