The meeting can be seen in its entirety below this article.

Councilman Maurice Grant made the motion to appoint Otwell, which was seconded and approved without opposition. Otwell, who has previously served as mayor of Emmet, was selected to complete Booker’s term through Dec. 31, 2026. He said he may run for a full term.

Otwell outlined his view of the mayor’s role, emphasizing that policy decisions rest with the council. “I think that the council is supposed to make the decision as to what goes on in the city, and the mayor is obligated to carry them out,” Otwell said. He added that while he would advocate for his own ideas, “if I can’t [change your mind], then I will do it,” referring to the council’s wishes.

Otwell also stressed the importance of transparency and financial clarity, telling council members he expects them to be fully informed. “If somebody in the city asks you something about this city hall, and you can’t tell them, it’s because you didn’t look on your paper when you got your report that week,” he said. “I want you to be that informed.”

Earlier in the meeting, the council approved the agenda and minutes from the previous meeting, though discussion briefly returned to a previously approved six‑month trial period and pay rate for a city employee to oversee the water and sewage departments. Otwell questioned whether the council should commit to long‑term financial decisions without first reviewing the city’s budget. “I haven’t seen last year’s budget,” he said. “Some way or another, I want to talk somebody into us, the council, knowing what we’re doing.”

Councilman Grant Cox noted that the pay arrangement included a trial period, saying, “You put a stipulation of a six‑month trial period, so we’re not stuck to it.” Cox suggested allowing the agreement to remain in place while the council reviewed budget information.

The council later approved a request from the Nevada County Election Commission to allow a key to City Hall to be stored in a secure safe at the courthouse for use during elections by poll workers setting up machines. Otwell said the arrangement would prevent delays and posed little risk. “Anybody that wants in here doesn’t have to have a key anyway,” he said, adding that election officials could be trusted with access.

City Recorder Rosalind McBride updated the council on a new state law requiring municipalities to transition to a .gov website and email system. McBride said the city has begun working with an outside vendor but that state funding for the transition is temporarily frozen. “It’s just something we have to do,” she said. 

In old business, the council approved a request from the Emmet Vision Association to donate and install a community message board near City Hall at no cost to the city. EVA member Deanna Allen said the board would replace informal postings that have damaged existing city property. “Our intention was not to tear anything up,” Allen said. “We were just trying to inform the community.”

Council members discussed guidelines for what could be posted on the board, agreeing it would be limited to community information and subject to city oversight. Cox said the city should retain final authority. “It has to come to the city,” he said, “either yes or no.”

Later in the meeting, EVA member and grant writer JoAnn Muldrew requested permission to proceed with a Great Strides grant application to improve the walking trail at Fireman Park. Muldrew explained that engineering work and design plans were already completed and that the grant would cover construction costs, though the city would be responsible for a $600 grant‑writing fee.

Otwell said the council could not approve the request without confirming whether the expense was included in the current budget. “We can’t spend money that we don’t know was in last year’s budget,” he said. The council agreed to table the request until the next meeting, by which time budget documents could be reviewed.

Throughout the meeting, Otwell and other members repeatedly emphasized that the absence of a written budget in time for the meeting limited the council’s ability to commit to funding requests, resulting in several items being postponed until financial information is provided.

The meeting adjourned with multiple issues scheduled to return for discussion once the council has reviewed the city’s budget.