The Centralia City Council had a moment of silence at its meeting Monday night to remember Vernell Burris who was in attendance regularly to make his thoughts known.
City Clerk Kim Enke was able to find Burris’ name in the minutes dating back to 1971 when he had suggested the city council get a microphone so they could better hear those in the audience.
Councilman Jeff Castellari feels Burris needs to be remembered.
“I stare at his chair,” Castellari said. “He was here at every meeting I can remember. His heart was always in the right place. I think we need to do something with that spot.”
Mayor Bryan Kuder agreed.
“There was one person that had seniority, and that was him,” Kuder said. “I mean, he wasn’t an elected official, he wasn’t an employee of the city, but he’s the only individual I know that would call Kim and tell her, ‘Hey, I won’t be at the meeting tonight.’”
Kuder suggested a sash across the seat where Burris usually sat as a possible way to remember him.
Burris did run but was never elected as Mayor or to the City Council. He did serve a term on the Marion County Board. Burris who was a native of Centralia spent 20 years in the Air Force before returning home to raise his family.
