Grubb Is Acting Rison Mayor After Passing of Thompson

RISON - The Rison City Council approved naming councilman Bruce Gmbb to serve as acting mayor this week after Mayor Charles Roberts’ usual fill-in, city recorder/treasurer Rhonda Thompson, passed away last Friday.Roberts called an emergency city council meeting at noon last Friday to approve naming Gmbb as the acting mayor. Roberts had an out-of-town trip scheduled for this week, and had to have someone serve as acting mayor in his absence.Thompson, who has served as the recorder/treasurer for the City of Rison for the past 15 years, has handled day-to-day business whenever the mayor was unavailable.Five of the six city council members took part in the meeting, with all five approving Grubb’s appointment. Council members Cleve Reed, Michael Barnett and Gmbb attended in person while Rodney Reed and Kristy Lowery participated via a phone connection.Thompson was hospitalized after becoming gravely ill early last Thursday morning. The seriousness of her condition prompted Roberts to call the emergency meeting at noon Friday, and Thompson passed away later that day.Roberts said he reached out JoAnne Bush, the Southeast Arkansas representative for the Municipal League, an association that helps towns and cities with legal matters, to get guidance on what to do. Bush suggested having Star City Recorder/Treasurer Alicia Hawkins fill the position on a part-time basis during the vacancy. According some of the city staff, Hawkins has been working in Rison City Hall this week.Roberts opened the special called meeting with a prayer for Thompson. He called her “the hub” of the city government, not only managing the city’s budget, but also taking care of payroll and other fiscal duties. He said she played a major role in the day-to-day operations. Since recorder/treasurer is an elected position, Roberts said the Rison City Council, by state law, will have to officially declare the office vacant at its next regular city council...