Schmitt to be sworn in as first woman mayor of Grant

On Tuesday, Dec. 11, Mayor-elect Lisa Schmitt will be sworn in as the first woman mayor of Grant, Nebraska. 

The decision to run for mayor was not one Schmitt entered into lightly. 

She said she’s always been involved in the community, from helping with Girl Scouts and Thrivent, and doing what she could when she could. 

Schmitt’s involvement with city government came nearly four years ago when she asked what she could do to help rehabilitate the pool. She began regularly attending city council meetings, and became interested in other things going on in the city. 

“I’m not one to complain. I try to be part of a solution. I figured, I’m here all the time and I’m tired of sitting in the audience. I can’t be part of the solution sitting in the audience,” she said. 

She laughed and said she doesn’t know why she skipped serving on the council, but said, “If you’re gonna do it, do it!”

Schmitt has taken a week off from her job at Adams Bank & Trust to get oriented on the day-to-day running of the city. 

“I want to get to know the employees and exactly what they do,” she said. 

She said she has been reading the city code book and the Nebraska state statutes, but noted she realizes there’s a difference between learning them and actually applying them. 

After acclimating herself to daily operations, Schmitt’s first order of business as mayor will be to hire a new city superintendent and city attorney. 

She said some of her main interests include the revitalization of downtown. She noted there is already a group of volunteers who have expressed interest in helping with the project. 

She also wants to make sure all the boards are full. The cemetery board has not been active in at least eight years, and she has had individuals volunteer for that as well. She would also like to get the economic development committee going again. 

“I want to be a part of growing Grant. You have to grow or you die. Let’s keep what we have and make it better,” she said. 

Schmitt wants to thank all those who voted for her and showed their support, as well of those who have already volunteered to help in some way. 

History

After spending most of her childhood in Imperial, Schmitt spent four years in the Navy in San Diego, California. Her husband Randy entered the Navy after they got married, and they spent the next several years living in many different places with their two daughters, Sarah, 30, and Naomi, 25. 

The family moved to Grant over 20 years ago. Lisa has been employed with Adams Bank and Trust for the last seven years and Randy works for Midwest Electric. 

Outgoing/incoming

Current City Mayor Mike Wyatt stated in February he chose not to seek re-election due to health reasons and feeling it was time to let someone else serve the community.

Wyatt was elected as a council member in November 2000. He resigned in March 2003 due to out-of-state employment and was re-elected in a special election in May 2007. 

He has held the position of mayor since Adam Uehling’s resignation in July 2008. 

Edward Dunn will also be sworn in as a new city council member on Tuesday. He replaces Darrell Pierce, who has served on the council for two separate terms.