EVANSTON — The swearing-in ceremony for the newly-elected council members took priority over any other business at the first meeting of the new year on Jan. 7. Council members had to be sworn …
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EVANSTON — The swearing-in ceremony for the newly-elected council members took priority over any other business at the first meeting of the new year on Jan. 7. Council members had to be sworn in before they could vote on any of the agenda items.
New council members repeated the oath of office as read to them by city clerk Diane Harris. Henry Schmidt was sworn in and took the place of Tim Lynch, who did not run for reelection, and Mike Sellers and Evan Perkes, who were reelected to their same seats.
Evanston Mayor Kent Williams and the remaining council members congratulated them and gave a special welcome to Schmidt.
Following the swearing-in ceremony, councilmember Jen Hegeman said, “I would like to call an executive session to discuss the appointments before we take a vote to confirm.”
The council approved the motion and moved to the private council meeting room. After 15 minutes, the council returned to the chamber and continued with agenda items.
The council then voted to confirm all of the city appointments which included: Evanston Police Chief Mike Vranish, clerk Diane Harris, treasurer Trudy Lym, engineering and planning director Damon Newsome, public works director Gordon Robinson, community development director Rocco O’Neill, parks and recreation director Kim Larsen, city attorney Mark Harris, municipal court judge Dean Stout and alternate municipal court judge Clayton Thomas.
Each council member and the mayor expressed their appreciation for jobs well done to each of the appointees.
Councilmember Jesse Lind was then elected to serve as council president. He will officiate at city council meetings when Williams isn’t present.
Under regular business, an ordinance to amend the city fire code and adopt the current international fire code was approved on third and final reading.
Newsome asked the council to approve the “substantial/final completion” of the Roundhouse Trailhead Access Improvement Project and authorize the final payment to Maxfield Construction.
“The lights will be coming in on Saturday for the Shades parking lot, and the small area by section 4 will be completed in the spring,” Newsome said. “This is all part of their contract.”
Councilmember Sellers asked who would be responsible for plowing the snow on the Shades of Pale parking lot and Newsome responded that since the parking lot is for the public, the city would be responsible, but Shades would be responsible to plow their docking area.
The motion for acceptance of completion and payment was approved.
A resolution to amend the agreement between the county commissioners of Lincoln, Uinta and Sweetwater counties, cities and towns — regarding an amount and schedule for payment of impact assistance funds — was approved by the council.
Senior planner DuWayne Jacobsen asked the council to authorize the submission of the application to the state forester for the city of Evanston to be officially recertified as a “Tree City USA” for the year 2024.
“We have met all the requirements and completed all four standards for the year in order to be recertified,” Jacobsen said. “We planted 13 trees at schools, held the mayor’s proclamation, sold 38 trees to citizens and planted seven trees downtown.”
The council approved the resolution to submit the application for recertification as a Tree City.
During comments from departments, all of the newly appointed department heads thanked the council for their reappointments and accolades were passed back and forth with the council.
During public participation, Kathy Cook asked the council if the people who were leasing the Sunset Cabins property would be able to tear down the old building. She also stated that Evanston needs a dog park and that property would have been perfect since it is next to Hamblin Park.
“They have no plans to tear the cabins down at this time,” Mayor Williams said. “If they choose to do that, they will have to come before the council with a request and we would have to vote on it.”
Shane England, owner of Wild Cannabis, invited the council and all present to attend the Evanston Chamber of Commerce mixer, which will be held at their business on Bear River Drive on Wednesday, Jan. 22, at 5 p.m.