Newly-appointed Second Precinct City Commissioner Emmanuel Nieves was sworn in during Wednesday evening’s Sturgis City Commission meeting. The commission had previously voted unanimously 9-0 on April 26 to appoint Nieves to the seat left vacant by former Second Precinct Commissioner Travis Klinger.

Fellow commissioners welcomed Nieves with words of encouragement with Commissioner Brandon Kinsey saying, “I’d like to welcome our new commissioner. Thank you for your willingness to serve, it’s going to be great to get to know you, and I’m looking forward to seeing a fresh set of eyes and younger eyes.” Commissioners Robert Hile and Richard Bir agreed, with Bir laughing as he said, “You will learn a whole lot of stuff that maybe you never even wanted to know about the City of Sturgis.”

Mayor Jeff Mullins said he had been invited to speak recently at Sturgis High School for its Youth in Government class, and told Nieves he spoke to the students about Nieves’ recent appointment as commissioner. “I encouraged them to follow in your footsteps and think about this kind of stuff at a young age. Just as I told you when you were in your interview process, at 20-years-old I didn’t even know what a city commissioner was…so congratulations for being here. I hope that you do inspire young kids behind you.”

Beca Welty is a staff writer and columnist for Watershed Voice.