Wednesday, September 11, 2024
A new member was appointed to the Granbury Cultural Arts Commission during a regularly scheduled Granbury City Council meeting Aug. 6.
City resident Alison Southern Ullom was unanimously chosen by the council to fill the vacancy left by Micky Shearon, who recently submitted his resignation to the board.
During the council meeting, Mayor Jim Jarratt noted the Granbury Cultural Arts Commission had requested a delay in filling the vacant seat, suggesting the opportunity could be bigger and better than they had initially anticipated.
Mayor Pro Tem Steven Vale inquired whether the commission intended to expand its membership or if they simply wanted to submit additional applications for the council to consider. Jarratt clarified it was the latter.
"There is some restriction now for in-city and out-of-city (members) and we're maxing that at this point in time,” Jarratt explained. “They felt they needed some more time. But it's our appointment.”
According to section 9.03.102 of the City Code, at least four of the seven members on the commission must be residents of the city. With remaining members Chair Cora Werley, Cheshe Langford, Barbara Loyd, Stacey Martin, Mickey Parson and Mary Ella Riley, the vacant role had to be fulfilled by a Granbury resident.
“I was just thinking, if we have an open spot and we have applicants, they could always come back later and say they want to add more positions,” Place 3 Councilman Bruce Wadley said. “We can still fill the position tonight if we want to.”
Other applicants for the position included city residents Jerry Allen and Phil Groeschel. However, the council ultimately chose Ullom, with Place 4 Councilman Skip Overdier being the first to recommend her for the role.
“I've known Alison," Overdier said. “She's in the Granbury Opera Guild with me, and she's actually the fundraising chairman for that organization. She's done a fantastic job for them, she's a lifelong resident of Granbury, and I think that she'd be a great addition to the Granbury Cultural Arts Commission. So, I would like to make a motion to accept her as our nominee.”
Following a second, the motion passed unanimously 5-0. Place 2 Councilman Eddie Rodriquez was not present at the meeting.
Ullom will serve the remainder of Shearon’s term, which will expire January 2026.
