By Lexi MooreSteen Mayor Melvin Van Batavia swore in Mark Richards during their regular council meeting on Monday.Richards, a Steen resident since 1997, accepted the appointment at the Feb. 7 meeting.A seat on the council was created after seven-year councilman Rodney Scholten resigned at the Jan. 3 meeting. Scholten resigned because his family was relocating to a home in Hills.Five residents showed an interest in filling the open seat on the council. During the Feb. 7 meeting the council nominated two candidates, Thomas Ruger and Mark Richards.Richards was appointed to the position after receiving three votes from the council, while Ruger had one.Richards and his wife Teri moved to Steen from Sioux Falls in 1997 in search of a quieter community to raise their children.They found what they were looking for.Richards said, "I love how quiet it is at night. I can see the stars, which you can’t do in Sioux Falls, and let the kids run around without worrying about them getting hit by a car."Richards works in Sioux Falls for the Department of Transportation as a traffic data technician and Teri is the government teacher at Hills-Beaver Creek High School.Richards admits he was surprised when Mayor Van Batavia asked him if he would be interested in joining the council but figured he was old enough to show some civic responsibility.His first goal as a council member is to encourage better maintenance in an effort to entice small businesses to the area."It all starts with cleaning up the town."Prior to taking his oath of office at the meeting, Mayor Van Batavia discussed responsibilities of being a council member."You must vote on all business, attend meetings and know what you represent. Thank you for accepting this offer."Mayor Van Batavia was very pleased with the response of the community to the ad announcing that the council would be looking to fill the vacant seat. "Having five residents interested in a town with only 62 homes is a great sign of the civic commitment in our community."In other city business:The council voted to accept a bid for gutter removal and replacement on the Town Hall. The bid from Northland Siding and Window, Larchwood, was for $957. Replacing the gutters should prevent flooding in the Town Hall basement.