Kiwanis Kids take the gavel at Ottawa City Council

For one night, the city of Ottawa’s business was in smaller hands.Members of the Kiwanis kids program took over the Ottawa City Council on Monday, running a special meeting. The Kiwanis kids played the roles of the council people such as mayor, police chief, fire chief, clerk and commissioners. The kids were each seated alongside the official whose job they were shadowing.“It is a special meeting, and not just because we’re meeting on Monday,” Mayor Robert Hasty said by way of introduction. “It’s a special meeting, because it’s Kiwanis night.”One by one, the kids took their places. Then the kid mayor, portrayed by Sullivan Auter, gaveled in.“Hello, my name is Sullivan Auter, and I’m an eighth grader,” he said. “Tonight, I have the honor of serving as mayor of Ottawa.”Auter even explained the role of the job, from the chair.“The mayor’s job during the city council meeting is to lead the meeting, keep it moving and make sure everyone has a chance to be heard,” he said.The work during the