Wood River City Council Meeting
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WOOD RIVER – Wood River City Council members approved the appointments and reappointments of several city officials at their May 4, 2026 meeting.
With little discussion, councilmen unanimously approved the appointments of new and existing members of the city’s Traffic Commission, Planning Commission, Board of Zoning Appeals, Fire & Police Commission, Parks & Recreation Commission, Library Board, Police Pension Board, Appearance Board, and Vaughn Hill Cemetery Commission.
Aside from the city’s various boards and commissions, council members also approved the reappointments of Karen Weber as City Treasurer and Danielle Sneed as City Clerk.
Traffic Commission
Two new appointments were approved to the city’s Traffic Commission. These include Victor Hill, whose term will expire in May 2027, and Kenny Beachum, whose term will expire in May 2029.
Five of the commission’s members were reappointed. Chairman Joe Freeman, Brad Whetzel, and Terri Yerkes will go on to serve terms expiring in May 2028, while Jonna Palmer and Mark St. Peters are set for terms expiring in May 2029. Dettmers will serve as ex-officio.
Planning Commission
No new appointments were made to the Planning Commission, which will see four returning members serve additional terms. These include Chairman Jesse Daniels, Marilyn Maul, and Mary Cox, who will serve terms expiring in May 2030, and Sandy Shaner, whose term will expire in May 2031. Dettmers will serve as ex-officio.
Board Of Zoning Appeals
Shelly Fitzgerald and Steve Scroggins were both reappointed to the Board of Zoning Appeals. Fitzgerald’s next term expires in May 2030, followed by Scroggins, whose term is set to expire in May 2031. John Smith will serve as the board’s chairman, while Councilman Jeremy Plank will serve as ex-officio.
Fire & Police Commission
Steve Alexander was reappointed to the city’s Fire & Police Commission for a term expiring in May 2029. Adam Tassinari will serve as chairman of the commission, while Mayor Tom Stalcup is set to serve as ex-officio.
Parks & Recreation Commission
Mike Beachum marked the only new appointment to the Parks & Recreation Commission, with a term expiring in May 2030. The commission also saw two members reappointed, including Jenny Johnson and Bob Patterson, both of whom will serve terms expiring in May 2031. Robert Kasten will serve as chairman, while Councilman Scott Tweedy will serve as ex-officio.
Library Board
Three members were reappointed to the Wood River Library Board, including Plank, who was initially appointed in February of 2026 to replace former member Maggie Dillinger with a term expiring in May 2026.
After Plank voted in February to approve his own appointment to the board, Dettmers questioned whether the vote was legally allowed; the city attorney later found there was no law preventing Plank from doing so. His reappointment to the board for a term expiring in May 2029 drew no further debate at this week’s meeting.
Board President Steve Scroggins and Mike Anderson were both reappointed for terms expiring in May 2029, and Councilman David Ayres is set to serve as ex-officio.
Appearance Board
The city’s Appearance Board gained one new member, Karen Carroll, whose term will expire in May 2028. Three current members were reappointed, including Jeni Timmins, Dan Dona, and Karen Carroll, all of whom will serve terms expiring in May 2028. Valerie Freeman will serve as the board’s chairman, and Plank will serve as ex-officio.
Vaughn Hill Cemetery Commission
Five members of the Vaughn Hill Cemetery Commission were reappointed, including Gary Conrad and Jan Sneed, both of whom will serve terms expiring in May 2028.
Other returning members include Robert LaMarsh, whose term expires in May 2028, as well as Dianna Blasa and Gene Blasa, whose terms both expire in May 2029. Ayres will serve as ex-officio.
Police Pension Board
William Webber was reappointed to the Police Pension Board for a term set to expire in May 2028. No appointments or reappointment were up for consideration for the city’s Fire Pension Board and Airport Authority.
A full recording of the May 4, 2026 Wood River City Council meeting is available at the top of this story or on Riverbender.com/video.
