Morgan County Council elects Chip Keller president, Brian Culp vice president; approves two staff replacements

Morgan County’s council reorganized its leadership and approved two staffing replacements at its first meeting of 2026.

Council members nominated and then elected Chip Keller as council president for 2026. The chair closed nominations and announced the voice vote carried 7–0. Melissa Green nominated Brian Culp for vice president; the motion was seconded and the council approved Culp by the same voice vote, 7–0.

The council then addressed staffing. Anna Voyles, who identified herself as the county recorder, told the council that Karen Brummet will retire on Jan. 30 and requested permission to fill the recorder’s position. Voyles said the position is paid from the recorder’s perpetuation fund, not the general fund, and that she hoped to hire and cross-train a replacement in the next couple of weeks. “Karen Brummet is retiring on January 30, and I would like permission to fill her position,” Voyles said.

A council member moved to approve filling the recorder position for the remainder of 2026; the motion was seconded and members voted in favor by voice.

Separately, the council heard that the veteran service officer had resigned effective Dec. 28. A presenter explained the post is full time (40 hours), that the county has a deputy and an administrative assistant with training, and that the appointment is a commissioner hire. The council agreed to post the vacancy and to have the three commissioners and Kyle conduct interviews. A motion to allow the replacement was made, seconded and approved by the council.

The meeting closed after the chair invited public comment (none was offered) and members moved to adjourn.

What happens next: the recorder’s office will begin recruiting with funding coming from the recorder’s perpetuation fund; commissioners will schedule interviews for the veteran service officer vacancy and report back as hiring progresses.