The Springfield City Council approved an ordinance establishing a historic preservation commission last week.

The commission will be made up of five Springfield residents who will have voting authority, and the council will also have the ability to appoint non-voting members who live outside the city limits.

“We had a public hearing the other day on this,” Councilman Ron Boatright said during the set time for public comment at the meeting. “We only had two citizens attend, and one of them was from Rincon.”

The council voted unanimously to approve the ordinance.

“We all need to come up with our list of people who we feel like are qualified, or educated enough to (serve on the commission),” Councilman Kenny Usher said. “It’s going to take a lot of hard work on their part, but it’s going to be a labor of love.”

Boatright said anyone who is appointed will have training provided to them.

“I’d like to get (names) in as soon as possible,” he said. “I think we need to go forward with this as soon as we can.”

The council also approved an ordinance that establishes the position of city manager.

Mayor Pro-Tem Dennis Webb said the deadline for applications for the position ends June 1.

Webb also told the council there have been numerous applications received for the position of city clerk and told the members the administration committee was reviewing the applications.

“We haven’t decided how many we’re going to narrow it down to before we call them for interviews,” he said.

Webb said the administration committee would keep the council updated as they continue with the process.

Boatright also took a moment to recognize City Clerk Cathy Rushing.

“I would like to say something,” he said. “As all of you know, this is Cathy’s last city council meeting, and I for one am going to miss her very much.”

“I don’t know how she put up with seven individual personalities, including this council and the mayor as well as the others who’ve come before us,” Boatright said. “She’s been a very valuable resource for me. She has made my job so much easier, and I’m going to miss her.”

“I want to thank her for all she’s done for all of us,” he said.

Webb echoed Boatright’s comments.

“It’s awful nice when you come in here and you say, ‘did the city council do something three years ago,’ and she says, ‘yeah,’ and out comes the file cabinet and she hands it to you,” Webb said. “We’re going to miss you.”