During a special meeting of the Perryville City Council on Nov. 9, the present councilors unanimously voted to appoint Rob Kernodle as mayor. Kernodle will serve out as mayor until the next city council election in 2024. State law required that the appointed mayor be a member of the council.

“This is a big surprise,” Kernodle said. “My primary goal right now is to serve the people to the best of my ability and work with our council.”

Former mayor Carlos Miller resigned from his position at the request of the city council due to comments he made during an executive session at a meeting on Oct. 5. State law prohibits those present during the executive session from commenting on or disclosing what was said during the session.

The council voted to appoint Drew Reynolds to fill Kernodle’s vacant seat on the council.

“I was born and raised in Perryville,” Reynolds said. “If there is something I can do to help Perryville I want to do it.”

Discussion for both appointments were held during executive sessions. The special called meeting was held due to the regularly scheduled meeting on Nov. 2 being canceled for failure to meet quorum due to lack of present councilors.

In other news from the meeting:

• The Housing Authority of Danville has received a total of $282,700 in federal grants that will go towards a five year infrastructure improvement plan at the Coyle Manor housing complex.

• The council approved a bid of $68,086.20 from the Allen Company for the paving of Anderson Street, Liddell Street, Cox Street, 3rd Street, and part of Sleet Street.

• A city owned Certificate of Deposit at Raymond James matured with a value of $118,777.32. The council voted to bid on interest rates to reinvest the funds.