Cuba aldermen elected newly sworn-in Alderman Ward 2 Russell Crocker.

Crocker, who was appointed with a 5-0 vote to take the seat that Mayor Pitts Lesesne held, and reelected City Collector Kim Roedemier were sworn in at the beginning of the meeting.

All committee appointments were approved with a 6-0 vote.

Alderman Ward 1 Ray Mortimeyer was appointed to the airport, city hall, natural gas and tourism committees. 

Alderman Ward 1 Louis Raineri was appointed to the animal control and police, Emergency Operations Center (EOC), and parks and recreation committees.

Alderman Ward 2 Jeremy Rosemann was appointed to the planning and zoning and public works committees. 

Alderman Ward 2 Russell Crocker was appointed to the EOC, electric, natural gas and parks and rec committees.

Alderman Ward 3 Joyce Hartzell was appointed to the airport, animal control and police, city hall, planning and zoning and tourism committees. 

Alderman Ward 3 Jeff Bouse was appointed to the electric and public works committees.

All aldermen are a part of the budget and salary committee.

City Clerk Lainie Garbo, Treasurer Jessica Baker and EOC Director Greg Hubbell were approved to keep their positions with a 6-0 vote.

A motion to approve Rosemann as the new Meramec Regional Planning Commission representative was approved with a 6-0 vote.

There was some debate over approving Colton Johnson as the Cuba Natural Gas Supervisor.

Raineri pointed out that he has experience as a supervisor, but Mortimeyer made the point that he is unfamiliar with natural gas.

“I want to note in the record that if we hire this man, he has absolutely no natural gas experience,” Mortimeyer said. “I am very reluctant to hire somebody that doesn’t know natural gas.”

Hartzell added that when they went out for applications, the advertisement said that an ideal candidate would have natural gas experience.

“Only one of them has natural gas experience,” Hartzell said. “I mean, almost anybody could be a good supervisor, but we need a natural gas supervisor, and that’s our second most dangerous department.”

Crocker pointed out that there are training processes, and Johnson would have six months to get to a certain level. If he fails, the board could make a different decision at that time.

Johnson was approved as the natural gas supervisor with a 5-1 vote, with Hartzell against.

A motion to approve going out for advertising for a natural gas technician and a journeyman lineman or apprentice lineman was approved with a 6-0 vote.

The board approved internally advertising for a public works supervisor with a 4-2 vote. Hartzell and Bouse voted no.

Bouse said that they need a job description before going out for the position.