The Piedmont City Council appointed a new member during their meeting on Tuesday of this week.

Mark Harper will serve out the remainder of Bill Baker’s term in District 6.

Baker, as you may remember, was appointed Mayor last month following the resignation of Rick Freeman.

Freeman has had life-long health problems, and those health issues were cited as the reason that he chose to step down after less than a year on the job.

Harper was born and raised in Piedmont. He is the circulation manager for the Birmingham News.

Baker says that Harper is new to politics and he is excited to have him on the council.

In fact, Baker says all three candidates for the job would have been a great choice.

Kevin Farmer and Jay Wilson also applied for the position.

The council did not appoint a replacement for Joe Lively on the Centre–Piedmont–Cherokee County Regional Airport Authority, opting instead to get more information regarding the by-laws pertaining to the residency requirements for authority members.

Baker says an appointment could be made during the council’s next meeting.

Lively recently stepped down after 14 years on the airport authority.