There's a new face on the Prescott City Council as of Tuesday night. Mayor Terry Oliver swore in Wava Fitzhugh to complete the unexpired term of Dennis Pruitt for Ward 3, Position 2.

Mayor Oliver explained that a person would need a majority vote of the remaining council members in order to fill the vacancy. Board members moved that Wilson and Fitzhugh be voted on during the meeting. Fitzhugh won after receiving five votes. Wilson received two.Pruitt resigned last month after moving out of his ward. A search for Pruitt's replacement started last month and four names of people living in Ward 3, Position 2 were brought before the City Council for consideration Tuesday night, including Julian Beasley, Wava Fitzhugh, Ann Stockton and Jerry Wilson.

Following the vote, Fitzhugh was sworn in by the mayor and took her seat with the council voting on matters that came up during the remainder of the meeting.

Mayor Oliver also explained that Fitzhugh, along with the other three considered for the position, would be eligible to run for the office when the current term expires at the end of 2012.

Water rates for the City of Prescott and the rural water systems served by the city are going up. The City Council approved a 10 percent increase during Tuesday night's meeting. The increase is to bring the water department back into the black as costs of operating have increased but water rates haven't in many years. While the increase will affect both city and rural water users, it won't apply to the portion of the bill that rural users pay toward the debt of their water system.

The City Council also agreed to allow Police Chief Brian Russell to hire a new police officer to fill a vacancy that occurred on the force before a recent hiring freeze went into place. Russell introduce the council to the new officer, Jackie Thomas.

William Colbert was hired to mow the grass in downtown Prescott along the railroad tracks. The request was made by Chamber Director Judy Duke for Economic Development Organization Director Mary Godwin, who was not at the meeting. Godwin's father-in-law passed away this week.

Duke updated the council members on recent activities of the Chamber and gave them a calendar of activities planned for March. The big activity for the chamber next month is the annual Chamber Banquet, scheduled for March 22. The banquet will be held in the McRae Middle School cafeteria this year and will feature a live auction. Duke said Jack Daniels of Bodcaw would be singing the National Anthem at the banquet. Daniels is the musical director for David Phelps and recently had the opportunity to play in Carnegie Hall.

The City Council also approved a resolution and contract with Century Link on utility pole rental rates. The previous rates of $3 per pole will be raised to $10 per pole over a period of years. The immediate increase put the rate at $7.50 per pole

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