The Troy City Council filled a vacancy last Friday that was created by councilmember Larry Coryell’s resignation in January.

The council interviewed four applicants at Friday’s special meeting and selected Loretta Jones, who has prior experience on the Troy City Council.

“She was the most qualified, I feel,” Councilmember Phil Fisher said. “Loretta, being on the council for 12 years, she has a very good idea of how operating the city works in Troy, and we believed she would be the best.”

Councilmember Fran McCully agrees that Jones’s experience will be an asset to the council.

“During the time that she previously served, it was my personal experience that when there were problems that needed to be addressed, she was the one that got things done,” McCully said. “She also brings a wealth of knowledge on finances and budgeting. I feel that we are very lucky that she volunteered to help us.”

Jones, supervisor of the Troy Juvenile Detention Center, has lived in the Troy area since 1973. She had taken a five-year break since serving 12 consecutive years on the council.

Jones joins three councilmembers that took office in January. 

“It’s a good group on the council,” Jones said. “They’re all pretty new and I’ve been there and done that, so I thought I could help.”

During her first tenure on the council, she focused on volunteer organizations and beautification of the city. Before she joined the council, she had volunteered at the dispatch center.

“I was on the council when we got the sewer project going and the city park,” Jones said. “I’m pretty proud that that was one of the big things we did.”

Jones said she looks forward to working with the council and encouraging public service.

“I hope there’s a lot of people interested in watching the city grow and volunteering their time,” Jones said.