By Valerie Baldowski
vbaldowski@henryherald.com

The makeup of the McDonough City Council has changed.

Rufus Amis, a retired Georgia Power field service representative, was sworn in as an at-large council member during ceremonies Monday night.

During the same session, Sandra Vincent was elected mayor pro-tem, replacing Wayne Smith in the position.

Amis joined Mayor Billy Copeland, along with Vincent and Rufus Stewart, as the officials took the oath of office Monday from State Court Judge James T. Chafin. Amis is filling a council seat formerly held by Gina Riffey.

Stewart was re-elected in November to represent District I, and Vincent was re-elected to represent District II. Both were unopposed. Copeland was re-elected as mayor, a position he has held since 2006. Counting a previous tenure, he has been in office for a total of 21 years.

Amis said he will spend his first few days as a council member meeting city employees and reviewing the 2010 budget the city adopted in December.

“I’m new at this,” said Amis. “It’s going to be a learning process the first year.”

Amis voiced hope that the mayor and council can be united in the common goal of providing strong leadership for the city.

Copeland said his priorities for this year will include working with City Administrator Billy Beckett to market McDonough to the public, and working with the Henry County Commission to promote greater industrial growth.

Copeland expressed a desire to work with the Henry County Board of Education to support education programs in the community, and pledged his support for efforts to bring a technical school to the area. He also vowed to schedule quarterly town hall meetings, to encourage communication between residents and the city.

Vincent compared the City of McDonough to a puzzle, with many pieces making up a picture.

“In order to put the puzzle together, we have to first all work as a team,” she said. “Secondary to that is, it’s necessary for there to be a master picture of what the puzzle pieces look like when they’re assembled.

“I view our role as being the role of putting the infrastructure in, so that all these different pieces can come together, and create this picture of wonderful diversity,” she added.

Stewart said he hopes to beautify his district by either restoring, or tearing down, vacant homes in need of repair. “We want our city to look clean,” he added.

He said he has spoken to other city officials about the possibility of securing grant funding to help with home-renovation projects, and efforts to preserve McDonough’s green spaces. Additionally, he said he hopes to work with public safety officials to ensure residents’ safety.