LEXINGTON — Katie Getz was brimming with excitement, and a little disbelief, after being sworn in as the newest member of Lexington Village Council on Monday night.
“I wasn’t even sure I was going to be officially voted in. I mean, I hoped so when I was told to come tonight,” she said. “I’m still kind of wrapping my brain around the fact that tonight officially happened.”
Getz described herself as a lifelong resident with a love of volunteering and serving the community. She has volunteered in the schools and spent more than a decade working behind the scenes at the Blueberry Festival. She’s also an active member and current secretary of the Lexington Kiwanis Club.
Getz was one of 15 applicants to fill the vacant seat left by Erin Underwood, who resigned last month. Getz will hold the seat until Dec. 31, but plans to run in November to retain it for the remainder of the four-year term ending Dec. 31, 2023.
“It seemed like a wonderful opportunity to serve my community better, get a little more involved and try something new,” Getz said.
“It was a tough decision for the council, but we’re pleased that we got Katie appointed. She brings some great experience with volunteering,” said council president Bob Jarvis.
Getz will chair the building and grounds committee and serve on the public utilities and rules and personnel committee. She said she’s eager to get started, but doesn’t have any specific goals for the position.
“I think I can bring a willing perspective, to learn, to grow, but to serve,” she said. “I don’t have anything on my agenda right now.”
Jarvis said there were many strong, qualified individuals for Getz’s seat. He encouraged those who applied to take out petitions and run for council in November. In addition to Getz’s term, there will be four open seats, each with terms expiring in 2026.
“We’re excited to have that much interest. There’s nothing better for the community,” Jarvis said. “We’d love to see two or three people running for each seat.”
Council member Todd Wise spoke briefly about the village’s community survey, which was sent out with residents’ February water bill. The survey is also available on the village website.
Wise said the feedback from the survey will help inform the steering committee developing the village’s updated comprehensive plan. The survey includes questions about village assets, parks and recreation, economic development, transportation and services.
“Normally what we would want to do is have some town halls, kind of do some brainstorming, breakout sessions, but with COVID it’s not possible,” he said.
Wise said he hopes to follow up the survey with town hall meetings this summer.
Mayor Brian White told council he expects the village to become a city once the results of the 2020 census are announced. According to White, a village becomes a city in the state of Ohio when it reaches a minimum population of 5,000.
White shared that due to delays caused by the COVID-19 pandemic, the results of the census are unlikely to be public around early July. Becoming a city will present new challenges for Lexington, which would be required to form a civil services commission and take over management of more of the surrounding roadways.
White said he has prepared a list of things the village would need to do to get ready.
“We’ve got new schools coming in, more people are coming into the village and want to live here because of the schools, so we are going to grow,” White said. “Eventually, we’re going to become a city, so the goal is to manage through this.”
