Taggart Wall finally arrived Monday at a place he’s been trying to get to for a few years now ? front and center at the lead table at Winfield City Hall.
The Southwestern College student was sworn in as the newest ? and, at 20-years-old, likely the youngest ever ? city commissioner on the three-member panel. Nerves and a few minor slip ups aside, Wall made it through his first meeting unscathed.
"To take an oath of office like that and then sit right down and start taking on the city’s business," Wall said. "It’s a little overwhelming. But we worked the kinks out and things worked out fine."
In less than 35 minutes it was over, even with throwing in a pause for cake and a reception to honor exiting Mayor Mike Ledy. He leaves the commission after 12 years, having come in third behind Wall and Tom McNeish in city elections earlier this month.
Phil Jarvis was chosen by his fellow commissioners to replace Ledy as mayor.
Ledy received a couple of awards honoring his service, said some good byes and left quickly just before the transition of power took place. Former Wichita mayor Bob Knight, and a number of other area leaders Ledy befriended during his time on the commission, were in attendance for his farewell.
Ledy said he had no regrets but remarked that the years "had gone by so fast."
Time must have seemed to move by in a blur for Wall, too. He shook a lot of hands, pocketed a few business cards and then took his seat as the city’s business was undertaken.
There was some awkwardness.
After eight years without a change, Jarvis and McNeish found themselves whispering cues on parliamentary procedure to the new guy. At one point Wall moved to a vote on a resolution but provided the wrong bill number.
He was corrected and the meeting moved on.
Wall acknowledged this morning that it had been a busy last couple of weeks. He spent last week touring a number of city facilities and had to miss some class. There can be considerable demands on commissioners even though the job pays just $50 a month.
"I was telling people that the emphasis is more on the word servant in the term public servant," Wall said and laughed. "There’s a lot to do."
Wall made few remarks during the meeting but did offer thanks to everyone who supported him during his campaign. A number of supporters were part of a standing-room only crowd at city hall.
"I appreciate everyone’s who’s here," he said. "They helped me to get where I am."
