There is nothing wrong with your television set...

...There is nothing wrong with your television set. Do not attempt to adjust the picture. We are controlling transmission....For the next hour, sit quietly and we will control all that you see and hear. You are about to participate in a great adventure. You are about to experience the awe and mystery which reaches from the inner mind to... The Outer Limits."

So said the Control Voice in the 1960's intro to the Outer Limits and Monday night Monona residents may experience a similar out-of-body queasiness when they tune into the city council Monday evening and see yours truly wielding the gavel.

Yes, it's true, the Mayor is unavailable. Council Prez Thomas would ordinarily take over, but she won't be around either. Alder McKeever is next in the line of succession, but will be honeymooning, and so the awesome power of the chair works its way down the food chain to me.
As Al Haig famously said "I am in charge here."