LAUREL HILL — Clifton Hall during Tuesday night's regular meeting was voted to fill the council's seat that has been vacant for the past 18 months.

"He is a smart man," Mayor Joan Smith said after the meeting. "He will definitely be an asset." Hall wasn't present at the meeting, but he is expected to be sworn in as a council member at the next meeting.

Hall has been listed as a potential candidate to fill the seat for the past several months. His candidacy joined that of former council member Johnny James, Charles Lennard and Mike Blizzard.

Members couldn't fill the seat due to a lack in majority votes.

All of the council members were present, except for Willie Mae Tolles. Her absence allowed council members Betty Williamson and Larry Hendren to vote in Hall 2-1 against councilman Robby Adams, who was looking forward to meeting Hall.

"I would just like to welcome him aboard," Adams said. "I'm glad we can put this behind us so we can move forward."

Also that night, the council voted in favor of lowering the transaction fees for water bill payments to $2.75. Customers were paying a $3.50 fee to use a credit or debit card to make payments.

During the meeting, city water clerk Cindy Oloughlin announced her resignation from her position. Oloughlin, who served at the position for more than a year, said her last day would be on Oct. 10.

"I just wanted to say thank you for everything that you have done for me and giving me the opportunity to serve the citizens of Laurel Hill," Oloughlin told city officials.

Oloughlin stated that she had found another job opportunity closer to where she lives.

The council voted to hold the next meeting on the second Tuesday of next month so that it wouldn't coincide with Election Day on Nov. 6.

This article originally appeared on Crestview News Bulletin: Laurel Hill council appoints new member