At the May 21 meeting, the Sewanee Community Council appointed Charles Whitmer to serve as election officer for the upcoming council member election. Each of the four districts has two representatives, with one seat coming open in each district as well as two at-large seats.

Potential candidates should submit a petition signed by 10 registered voters in their district. For at-large candidates, 10 signatures from any Sewanee registered voter suffices. Contact Whitmer for details <charles.whitmer@gmail.com>.

Scheduled for Tuesday, Nov. 6, the election coincides with the voting times and location of the General Election held at Sewanee Elementary School.

It’s not yet known whether the current incumbents will seek reelection: Flournoy Rogers, District 1; Pam Byerly, District 2; Charles Whitmer, District 3; Richard Barrali, District 4; and at-large representatives Annie Armour and Kate Reed.

“We need more young people on the council,” Byerly said. Byerly acknowledged the complication family demands posed for young residents, but she stressed the importance of their voice in council decisions, “especially since oversight of the ball fields is under the council’s umbrella now.”

Whitmer suggested the council consider offering childcare during council meetings. “I see the council as a mechanism to improve things is what got me involved,” Whitmer said.

Council representative Cindy Potter called attention to the dead brush on Kentucky Avenue, Mikell Lane, and South Carolina Avenue. She asked if Duck River Electric could cut and remove the brush rather than spraying with herbicide and leaving the dead residue in place.

“In the past you could request Duck River to cut rather than spray,” Potter said.

Superintendant of Leases Sallie Green will check with Duck River on the options.

“It might help if community members phoned Duck River and asked them to cut rather than spray,” Byerly said.

Council representative Louise Irwin pointed out the grass hadn’t been mowed on a lot on Hwy. 41A recently purchased in conjunction with the Sewanee Village project. Frank Gladu, Special Assistant to the Vice-Chancellor oversees the project. Green will contact Gladu about the unmown lot.

Council representative Phil White said the May 5 clean up on feeder roads entering Sewanee was a “huge success and will become an annual event.” White thanked Mary Priestley for coordinating the effort, the Sewanee Police Department for providing safety vests and cones to divert traffic, and Facilities Management for collecting the trash bags filled by volunteers. “More than 25 bags of trash were collected,” White said.

The council does not meet in the summer. The next scheduled meeting is Aug. 27.