The Coal Grove Village Council will have a mix of new and familiar faces as it starts the new year.

To resounding applause from a full house, Mayor Larry McDaniel was sworn in Friday at the Coal Grove Village Council's organizational meeting. Elected council members Nick Miller and Phil Roush and appointed councilman Joe Waller also took the oath of office.

With nearly 15 years experience on the village council, McDaniel, 51, defeated incumbent Tom McKnight in the November election.

A Coal Grove resident for the past 26 years, McDaniel said it was nice to make it official in front of a crowd of family and friends.

"It felt real good," he said. "Before I just felt like I was just filling in."

McDaniel said that he is ready to continue what council started last year and put the financial crisis behind them.

"Hopefully we can watch our budget," McDaniel said. "I would like to get some of the men called back to work, if possible."

The two elected councilmen - Roush and Miller - were also sworn in.

Roush, 48, is beginning his third elected term. He has also served nearly two years of an appointed term. The life-long resident has said that his experience will benefit the village.

"Getting the finances turned around is the priority - no ifs, ands or buts," Roush said. "I think Mayor McDaniel will cooperate with council so we can get the situation under control."

A Dawson-Bryant graduate and teacher who has lived in the village much of his life, the 38-year-old Miller said he is proud to represent the people of the village and that he will do his best to always be prepared and do what is right.

"Now that council made the moves that it did to resolve the budget crisis it was a good move," Miller said. "I want to go from there to get us back into the black and financially stable."

Councilman Kenneth Pyles nominated Joe Waller to fill the two-year term that was left vacant because McDaniel was elected as mayor. The council appointment passed 3-1 with Councilman William Bryant casting the dissenting vote.

With 339 votes, Waller was the third vote getter in the November election behind Miller with 388 and Roush with 375.

Waller said he pleased that he will have the opportunity to serve the village after all.

"I wanted the job to start with. I am glad they saw fit to appoint me," he said. "I look forward to helping add businesses to the village, getting the finances straightened out and do what I can to get the village straightened up."