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Statesville council honors outgoing members, presents state awards and swears in new mayor
Summary
At a Dec. 1 ceremonial session, the Statesville City Council honored outgoing members, accepted presentations of the Order of the Longleaf Pine, approved routine minutes, swore in Mayor-elect Doug Hendricks and elected David Jones mayor pro tem.
STATESVILLE, N.C. — At its Dec. 1 meeting, the Statesville City Council held a ceremonial session to honor departing members, receive a state award presentation, approve routine items and formally swear in the incoming mayor and council.
The session began with an invocation from Reverend Jeremy Canada of First Presbyterian Church in Statesville and a reading of the Pledge of Allegiance. Walter L. Bowers Jr., director of the governor’s Charlotte office, presented the Order of the Longleaf Pine — which he described as “one of the highest civilian honors that can be granted by the governor of North Carolina” — and called up three recipients for recognition.
Mayor Kosta Kutay and several departing council members were acknowledged for long service. Kimberly Watson, who served from 2022 to 2025, thanked voters and colleagues and pointed to recent local projects and affordable-housing outreach as notable accomplishments. A long-serving council member who began municipal work in 1986 accepted a service plaque and reflected on four decades of municipal work. Steve Johnson, recognized for years of county and city service, offered parting remarks and a series of leadership aphorisms urging decisiveness and careful preparation.
Kutay, concluding a 36-year elected tenure that began in 1989, recounted the city’s recovery from the Great Recession, thanked staff and said the council built infrastructure that positioned the city for future growth. “We are very fortunate, and I hope the new council members … will find that out pretty soon,” he told the chamber.
At the start of business the council approved the meeting agenda and unanimously adopted the consent agenda to approve the Nov. 13 pre-agenda and Nov. 17 regular meeting minutes.
The council recessed the formal ceremony, reconvened for new business and Judge Crosswhite administered the oath of office to Doug Hendricks as mayor. The council then handled internal organization: a member nominated David Jones for mayor pro tem; the nomination was seconded and Jones was elected by voice vote with no recorded opposition.
Votes at a glance - Adopt agenda as presented — motion carried by voice vote (unanimous). (SEG 086–096) - Approve Nov. 13 and Nov. 17 minutes (consent agenda) — motion carried by voice vote (unanimous). (SEG 243–253) - Elect David Jones as mayor pro tem — nomination and voice vote carried with no opposition recorded. (SEG 1212–1234)
The meeting was adjourned after the swearing-in and brief organizational actions. City staff asked newly sworn members to sign their oaths and return them to the clerk.
Quotes used in this story are drawn directly from remarks recorded in the council transcript. Reporting is limited to statements and actions recorded at the Dec. 1, 2025, meeting.
