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SAN ANTONIO - With little discussion, zero controversy and plenty of smiles, San Antonio city commissioners this week named Roy Pierce to his 10th consecutive term as mayor.
Pierce, 54, has served on the commission since 1993. In San Antonio, the five elected commissioners select a mayor from their ranks each May. The mayor has no additional powers and all positions are unpaid, but he conducts the monthly meetings.
The mayor also is called upon to speak for the city at regional meetings, such as quarterly Municipal Association of Pasco gatherings where Pierce has been a regular contributor.
Pierce and Commissioners Heiskell Christmas, 41, and Wendi Merritt, 36, won re-election in April. Pierce and Christmas were sworn in at Tuesday's meeting, and Merritt, who was out of town, will be sworn in at the next meeting, in June. As commissioners unanimously returned Pierce to his post as mayor, Christmas noted, "He's done a great job."
Panel members retained the same areas of responsibility they held last year. Dennis Phillips will oversee roads, Sharron Madden will continue her work on parks and recreation, Edwards will oversee building permits and Christmas remains the water commissioner.
In other business Tuesday, commissioners gave tentative final approval to the plan for resurfacing streets across town. With some final details to be ironed out in coming days, the work could begin by the end of the month, commissioners said.
Streets on the list for a total of $300,000 worth of work are: Elm Street, Joe Herrmann Drive, Second Avenue, Orange Street, Main Street, Jesse Jones Avenue, Fourth Avenue, Magnolia Street, McMullen Drive and an area behind City Hall. If it's possible, commissioners also hope to repave part of Pennsylvania Avenue and will see if grove owners along Third Avenue would be interested in sharing the cost of repaving that street.
Once started, work is expected to take about three weeks.