Orting council names Melody Koenig deputy mayor, updates signatories and approves city administrator contract

Orting City Council on Jan. 8, 2025, appointed Council Member Melody Koenig as deputy mayor, adopted a resolution updating authorized check signatories, and authorized an employment agreement for City Administrator Scott Larson during a meeting held in person and via Zoom.

The council voted unanimously, by roll call, to appoint Melody Koenig as deputy mayor after a nomination and a brief acceptance speech. Council members then approved Resolution 2025-02 to add and update financial signatories following the departure of the city's finance director, and authorized the mayor to execute an employment agreement with Scott Larson for the city administrator position. The council also approved the consent agenda, which included claims and payroll vouchers totaling $412,618.13 in claims and a $242,670.75 payroll period total.

The appointment drew brief remarks from both the nominating and the nominee. Deputy Mayor Gunther, opening the nomination process, encouraged sharing the role among council members; Koenig accepted and said she would work to 'close some gaps and have a great year.'

Why it matters: The deputy mayor role affects committee leadership and the council's internal process for assigning standing committees. The signatory update ensures the city's financial instruments remain operable as staff changes, and the administrator's contract formalizes the terms of the city's chief executive officer for operations and intergovernmental relations.

What the council approved

- Deputy mayor appointment: Following nominations and one three-minute acceptance speech by Melody Koenig, the council called a roll-call vote and appointed Koenig unanimously. The clerk recorded the roll call as all members voting yes.

- Resolution 2025-02 (designation of signatories): The council adopted Resolution 2025-02, authorizing updated check signatories under OMC 1-7-3 to account for the departure of the finance director, and to include current officials and staff as listed in the resolution. Council Member Hogan made the motion; Council Member Koenig seconded. The motion passed on a voice vote.

- City administrator employment agreement (Agenda Bill 2513): The council authorized the mayor to sign an employment agreement with Scott Larson for the position of city administrator. Council Member Hogan moved the authorization and Council Member Holland seconded. The motion passed on a voice vote.

- Consent agenda: The council approved the consent agenda, which included the claims voucher list dated Dec. 26, 2024 (vouchers 56677'through'56779) in the amount of $412,618.13 and electronic fund transfers of $112,658.17; and payroll checks 24292'through'4293 for $15,542.36 with electronic deposit transmissions of $227,128.39 for a payroll period total of $242,670.75. The motion to approve the consent agenda was made, seconded and approved by voice vote.

Committee assignments: The agenda item on council committee assignments (Agenda Bill 2512) was informational only; the mayor said committee assignments are determined by the incoming and outgoing deputy mayors and the mayor, and the council deferred final assignments while the newly chosen deputy mayor and outgoing deputy mayor finalize recommendations. Deputy Mayor Gunther indicated a recommendation to study adding a finance committee would be brought to a future study session.

Quotes

'I will do try and do everything I can to make sure that we close some gaps and have a great year,' Council Member Melody Koenig said after accepting the nomination.

'There will be a revisit once we have a new finance director,' a council member said about the signatory list; the council noted the list will be updated again when a new finance director is hired.

Meeting context and next steps

The meeting opened with a pledge of allegiance and roll call; seven council members participated, with one attending remotely. The council handled nominations and several administrative agenda bills in a meeting of approximately 20 minutes of recorded remarks. Council members said they will revisit the signatory list when a new finance director is in place and will continue the committee-assignment conversation at an upcoming study session. Melody Koenig is scheduled to assume her council seat Feb. 1, as noted during the meeting.

The meeting record shows no other formal policy actions, and the council adjourned after the listed agenda items.