Melissa Hunt

Councilwoman Melissa Hunt Melissa Hunt was appointed by the Anderson City Council at its regular meeting on Jan. 16 to fill the unexpired term of Shasta County Supervisor Les Baugh.

Hunt emerged the winner out of five candidates, who included Ken Briggs, John Day, Debe Hopkins, Willard Hunter and Hunt. Day had run in the November election in a bid for a city council seat.

Hunt, a manager at the Curves fitness center in Anderson, served on the Federal Grand Jury in Sacramento from February 2005 to May 2006.

There were originally seven candidates, with Geoffrey Smith and Stan Wangberg withdrawing before the council meeting.

The selection process involved three rounds of written ballots, with City Manager Scott Morgan tallying votes on a blackboard. After voting narrowed the choice to Hunt and Day, the four councilmembers, Keith Webster, Butch Schaefer, Norma Comnick and Phil Burnett used the regular procedure of making a motion, making a second and a vote to make the final determination.

After two ties (2-2) using this process, Webster broke the tie on the third round by changing his vote from Day to Hunt.

Burnett and Schafer were the other councilmembers who voted for Hunt.

"I am looking forward to learning all kinds of things and to the growth of Anderson. I'm excited - it's a new adventure," said Hunt.

Hunt began serving her term immediately after being sworn in.

In other business, Rod Evans, a member of Citizens for Smart Growth, presented the group's concerns about the auto mall proposed to be built at the intersection of Interstate 5 and Knighton Road. Evans said the group is not opposed to having an automall - just not at the proposed location. Evans also requested that the city council tell the Shasta County Supervisors that the council is concerned that the mall would entail a substantial departure from the county general plan and that the zoning changes would be undesirable. The council did not come to any agreement on whether to bring this to the county's attention.

The council also approved a Shasta Dragonwood Celtic Renaissance Faire to be held in the Anderson River Park in October. The tentative dates for the event are Oct. 4, 5, 6 and 7.