By BECKY KISER
Hays Post

“It’s déjà vu all over again.” That was the welcome from City Commissioner Ron Mellick to new City Commissioner Eber Phelps Thursday night.

Phelps was sworn into office by City Clerk Brenda Kitchen prior to the work session.

He was unanimously appointed during last week’s meeting to fill the unexpired term of James Meier who resigned May 2 to take a job in Wichita. The seat is up for re-election in November.

“I’m glad we have your experience back here,” Mellick told Phelps. “We have budget coming up and a lot of decisions and I’m sure your input will be very well taken.”

Phelps joked that “first thing when I walked in” the door of city hall he was handed a copy of the 2020 budget.

Phelps has previously served twice as a Hays city commissioner. The first time was from 1990 to 1996 and then again from 2012 to 2016, when he was selected to fill a vacated seat.

Last November, Phelps was defeated in his bid for re-election to the Kansas 111th District House of Representatives by Hays resident Barb Wasinger. He had served 18 years in the state legislature.

Phelps is an employee of Glassman Corporation.