The Hilliard Town Council welcomed newly elected Councilman Jared Wollitz to the board Jan. 5.
He and councilmen Kenny Sims and Lee Picket were sworn in for new terms with Town Clerk Lisa Purvis reciting the oath. Council President John Beasley held the Bible for the ceremony.
Mayor David Buchanan was absent.
Wollitz thanked the town council for the well wishes.
He looks forward to working with the council and citizens for the next four years, Wollitz said.
As part of his initial actions as councilman, he and fellow councilmen discussed commissioner duties, unanimously approving the item.
Councilman Cris McConnell asked to assume parks and recreation while Beasley will oversee the water and sewer department, switching from their former roles for 2017. Sims will serve as Council Pro Tem and streets commissioner while Pickett retains his role as fire commissioner. Wollitz will serve as air park commissioner.
Also, the town will receive $500,000 in funds from the Florida Recreation Development Assistance Program. Town officials gained fund approval after submitting a grant application in August.
The funds will be used for upgrades at Oxford Street Park, including renovating playground equipment, the basketball court, swimming pool and parking lot. A new walking trail, splash pad, covered picnic facility and new security lights will be added for a total of $470,000, according to information from Purvis.
In another matter, the council voted unanimously to approve a septic tank exception for residents Terry and Tanya Higginbotham. The couple plans to have a home built on a two-acre subdivided plat from landowner Harry Pickett.
The property lies nearly 1,400 feet from public water and sewer access. The town council considers septic tank exceptions whenever a building or trailer is 1,000 feet away from public water and sewer access.
The council also approved the Concerned Citizens of Hilliard’s request to hold a peace walk in Hilliard Monday morning in observance of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Day.
The parade route avoids U.S. 1 this year. It begins at 9:30 a.m. at the former town hall on County Road 108. Participants will proceed on Oxford and West Sixth streets and end the walk at Hisbon Baptist Church where a service is planned.
Before the meeting’s close the council voted unanimously to accept the resignation of Alyson Gordon. The Parks and Recreation Department administrative assistant submitted the request Dec. 12. She has since moved on to other employment, according to Director Kyle Malucci, who plans to soon hire a replacement.