On a split vote, the Blue Earth City Council voted to appoint Rick Scholtes to the Ward 1 council seat.

Scholtes was elected to the position in the Nov. 2 election, and would have taken office with the other newly elected councilmen in January. However, the council had previously decided to appoint whoever won the seat right away.

The vote was 4-2 to appoint Scholtes, with council members Les Wiborg and Paula Kelly casting the no votes.

Scholtes was sworn in right away by City Attorney David Frundt.