LINN — Linn aldermen approved Ordinance #2026-008, accepting the results of the June 9 special election at their meeting on Monday, June 15. According to the ordinance, the certified results of the April 7 election were combined with the certified results from the special election, and Michael Troesser was sworn into office as the new mayor of the city of Linn.

Retiring Mayor Dwight Massey was a little emotional at the beginning of the meeting as he thanked aldermen and staff for their years of service.

“It has been my privilege and honor to serve this community for the last 22 years,” Massey said. “I really wish there was a way I could make everything happen that I wanted to happen in that amount of time, because there is so much more that we can do in this community. Mike, you are going to have your hands full. You are going to have a lot of challenges.

“I really, truly am going to trust that the goal is to make a better community, a better city for our people to live in,” Massey continued. “I’ve never tried to call myself a Democrat or a Republican. I’ve never tried to call myself a liberal or a conservative. I’ve tried to call myself someone who is concerned for the community.”

Massey explained that when he moved to Linn, he fell in love with the town, and he felt as if the city and its people took him in and made him feel as if he belonged.

“I felt like Linn personified everything that each of us believed that America, small town, rural America could be,” Massey said. “I tried to make it better, and over the years, we’ve done millions of dollars of infrastructure, millions of dollars on the sewer system, millions of dollars on the water system, and now we are tackling the streets, as we speak. I hope you keep pushing us forward. I am so proud of this town, this community, and the people who live here.”

Alderman Steve Boeckmann presented Massey with a plaque to commemorate his years of service.

“Dwight has given many years of service, and since becoming mayor, he has helped make many decisions for the city of Linn,” Boeckmann said. “He has helped many people, attended many meetings, answered many phone calls, and worked many late nights. I believe every decision Dwight made was with the goal of making Linn better. We are going to miss him.”

Before leaving office, Massey read a letter of commendation praising city employee Mercedes Durham for her five years of service to the community.

“She has demonstrated exceptional service, leadership, and community engagement across multiple roles,” Massey read. “Her commitment to growth and excellence is evident in every aspect of her service.”

Durham is not only an employee of the city of Linn but also serves as an EMT with the Osage Ambulance District, volunteers as a firefighter with the Chamois Fire Protection District, serves on the Chamois Board of Aldermen, and has served extensively on the Missouri Disaster Relief team.

Durham was presented with a copy of the framed commendation letter.