A man not afraid to role up his sleeves has been tabbed to do the often thankless work of a city official.

Ethan Kolp, 36, of Libby is the municipality’s newest councilor following his selection at Monday night’s special meeting.

Kolp has been a full-time employee for four years at Hoot Owl Farm, the very popular operation located just outside city limits in Highway 37.

Kolp, an Ohio native, takes the place of Ian Smith. Smith resigned the seat Feb. 18 because he took a job with the Troy Police Department. Smith served on council for 14 months following his election in November 2023.

Smith must live in Troy to be a member of the force and his change in residency means he can not be a city councilor in Libby.

According to city Treasurer/Clerk Leann Monigold, because Smith resigned prior to serving two years of a 4-year term, that seat will also be open to election this fall. Kolp will fill that council seat until the end of 2025, and whoever is voted in during the election for that seat will serve until the end of the term, expiring in 2027.   

Kolp was nominated for the seat by councilors Kristin Smith and Melissa Berke.

Kolp, in an interview with The Western News following his selection, said he grew up in southwest Ohio, south of Akron. He earned an Associate degree in Arts at Ohio State University where he met his partner, Jacqui Zielinski, a traveling nurse who is know employed at the Libby Chapter of Commerce.

“We hit the road and found jobs here in Libby,” Kolp said. “Knowing you’re feeding kids is a very great feeling.”

Kolp said he hopes to see the small things that can be done to improve Libby.

“The main thing is the image of Libby, what can we do for its infrastructure, are there enough parking spaces? Things like that,” he said.

During questioning by council members, Kolp said the idea of being a council member snuck up on him.

“From working at Hoot Owl to volunteering and other things, I thought it was another way to serve the community,” he said.

He also said he enjoys the number of community events that exist in Libby and he feels a big personal strength of his is the ability to find different ways to solve problems.

Council members were enthused to see five applicants for the open seat. Brad Nelson, Brooke Bolin, Brian Crompton and Erica Schaefer also threw their hats in the ring.

Nelson ran for the open seat in 2023, got 317 votes, but was beaten by Smith after he tallied 406. Nelson was nominated for Smith’s seat by Hugh Taylor. Gail Burger and Taylor voted for Nelson while Kolp got the backing of council President Brian Zimmerman, Berke and Kristin Smith.

Zimmerman shared a laugh with Kolp about his work at Hoot Owl.

“You keep my grandkids very happy because they love to eat vegetables, unlike myself,” Zimmerman said with a chuckle.

Several councilors recommended to those that applied to consider running for some of the seats that will become open in the next few years.

“Don’t give up just because you didn’t get this seat,” Zimmerman said. “It won’t be long before there are more openings.”

The terms of Berke, Smith, Burger, as well as Mayor Peggy Williams, each expire at the end of the year.