SIDNEY — Some veteran public officials were sworn in, along with a couple of newcomers, as Sidney City Council held its last meeting of the year Monday night.

After a brief executive session, council chose Mike Barhorst and Mardie Milligan to continue as mayor and vice mayor, respectively. This is Barhorst’s sixth term as mayor and his fifth consecutive term. He first served as mayor from 1987 to ‘89, was off council for a number of years, and returned in 2007. Council has named him mayor every two years since then. This is Milligan’s fourth consecutive term as vice mayor.

Barhorst was sworn in twice Monday night. He was among the three at-large council members elected Nov. 3 who were sworn in. The others are incumbent Janet Born and newcomer Joe Ratermann.

Also sworn in was the Police Department’s newest officer, Ethan Brown. Police Chief Will Balling said Brown graduated from Clyde High School in 2011 with a 3.912 grade-point average. He then attended Bowling Green State University where he graduated with a perfect 4.0 GPA and a degree in criminal justice. While studying criminal justice at BGSU, he also entered the ROTC program and is currently a 2nd lieutenant in the Army Reserves.

“During our background check we spoke to several people about Ethan,” Balling said. “His commanding officer at BGSU advised that Ethan was one of the top cadets in the country and could have had his pick of assignments and postings if he would have joined the military full time.”

A sergeant from Brown’s ROTC training cadre said “we should ‘snatch him up quickly,’ ” Balling said.

The chief deputy of the Wood County Sheriff’s Office said Brown interned with the office “and that while they normally do not allow someone as young as Ethan to be an intern, Ethan was a clear exception.”

“While all of those were good references the most telling one came from Brenda Doerger. Mrs. Doerger is Ethan’s grandmother-in-law and lives in Sidney,” Balling said. “She stated that she was very proud of Ethan and pleased that he married her granddaughter. With a recommendation like that we knew he had to be a good young man.”

Brown and his wife, Shelbe, have already moved to Shelby County, Balling said. He said they would like to be active in the community and “we know that they will be a great asset to the community. They both exhibited our core values of professionalism, integrity, courage and compassion and I would like to formally welcome both of them to Sidney.”

Joe Ratermann is sworn in as an at-large member of Sidney City Council Monday night. Holding the Bible are his children, John, 7, and Sophie, 12. Conducting the ceremony is City Clerk Kari Egbert.

http://aimmedianetwork.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/47/2015/12/web1_Ratermann.jpgJoe Ratermann is sworn in as an at-large member of Sidney City Council Monday night. Holding the Bible are his children, John, 7, and Sophie, 12. Conducting the ceremony is City Clerk Kari Egbert.

Janet Born, left, is sworn as an at-large member of Sidney City Council Monday night by City Clerk Kari Egbert. Holding the Bible is fellow council member Ed Hamaker.

http://aimmedianetwork.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/47/2015/12/web1_Born.jpgJanet Born, left, is sworn as an at-large member of Sidney City Council Monday night by City Clerk Kari Egbert. Holding the Bible is fellow council member Ed Hamaker.

Mardie Milligan, left, is sworn in as vice mayor by City Clerk Kari Egbert Monday night. Sidney City Council chose Mike Barhorst and Milligan to continue as mayor and vice mayor, respectively.

http://aimmedianetwork.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/47/2015/12/web1_Milligan.jpgMardie Milligan, left, is sworn in as vice mayor by City Clerk Kari Egbert Monday night. Sidney City Council chose Mike Barhorst and Milligan to continue as mayor and vice mayor, respectively.

City Manager Mark Cundiff, right, congratulates Ethan Brown after swearing him in as the Sidney Police Department’s newest officer at the City Council meeting Monday night. At left is Brown’s wife, Shelbe.

http://aimmedianetwork.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/47/2015/12/web1_newcop2.jpgCity Manager Mark Cundiff, right, congratulates Ethan Brown after swearing him in as the Sidney Police Department’s newest officer at the City Council meeting Monday night. At left is Brown’s wife, Shelbe.

Mike Barhorst and wife, Jennifer, embrace after he is sworn in as mayor at the Sidney City Council meeting Monday night. Council chose Barhorst to continue as mayor and Mardie Milligan to continue as vice mayor.

http://aimmedianetwork.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/47/2015/12/web1_Barhorstwife2.jpgMike Barhorst and wife, Jennifer, embrace after he is sworn in as mayor at the Sidney City Council meeting Monday night. Council chose Barhorst to continue as mayor and Mardie Milligan to continue as vice mayor.