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Webster City Council elects John Hawkins mayor, confirms slate of 2026 appointments and resolutions
Summary
At its Jan. 5 meeting the Webster City Council elected John Hawkins as mayor and Megan McFarland as mayor pro tem, approved multiple annual appointments and adopted a series of routine resolutions to set representatives and financial authorities for 2026. All votes were unanimous.
The Webster City Council on Jan. 5 elected Council member John Hawkins as mayor for a two‑year term ending Dec. 31, 2027, and approved Council member Megan McFarland as mayor pro tem for the same term. The council voted unanimously after motions from fellow council members; City Clerk John Harrenstein administered the oaths.
Why it matters: The new leadership will preside over the council’s agenda through 2027 and carry administrative responsibilities for meetings and council representation. The council also took a series of housekeeping actions that set the city’s official representatives and financial authorizations for 2026.
The council approved the appointment of Zach Chizek as City Attorney and named Adam Dickinson as the city’s representative to the North Iowa Municipal Electric Cooperative Association, among other appointments. The council also approved Beth Chelesvig as the Right to Know Coordinator and designated representatives to regional committees including the Hamilton County Resource Enhancement Committee and the MIDAS Transportation Advisory Committee. Several annual resolutions (No. 2026‑001 through No. 2026‑009) were passed to formalize those appointments and to authorize city finance procedures, including investment and warrant issuance rules.
Votes at a glance: John Hawkins was elected mayor (motion by John Marvel, second by Megan McFarland; roll call unanimous). Megan McFarland was elected mayor pro tem (motion by Abbie Hansen, second by John Hawkins; roll call unanimous). Appointments of city officers and representatives and Resolutions 2026‑001 through 2026‑009 were approved on unanimous roll calls.
Procedural note: The council approved the agenda and began the meeting with the Pledge of Allegiance before taking the elections and appointments. The meeting adjourned at 6:18 p.m.
