Womack appoints new planning commissioner

ROGERS — Just in time, Mayor Steve Womack appointed a new planning commissioner. Dan Brown's term ends today, leaving him free to travel with his wife. Tuesday's confirmation from the City Council assured that there would be no vacancies in the near future.

Susan Fennell-Mills will be familiar to many of the commissioners. In her five years with Haynes Limited, she was responsible for preparing documents and presentations for the planning meetings. She also worked with the planning staff during that time. That experience lends to the perspective she brings to the commission, she said.

"You have to find ways to get people like that involved in your community," Womack said.

Since May, however, Fennell-Mills has stayed home to care for her two children. Her husband, Eric Mills, is a mechanical engineer at Benchmark Group.

"I've been looking for a way to help in my city," she said.

Womack said he is happy the best candidate was a woman, even though he didn't include gender in his decision.

"It was important to me and important to the city," Womack said.