By Myrna Trauntvein
Times-News Correspondent
The city has a new mayor pro tem and a new way of doing
business, no council members will have assignments over city
departments.
Nephi Mayor Chad Brough decided to appoint council
member, Darin Peterson, as mayor pro tem for the coming
year. Peterson replaces Richard Paxman, who did not choose
to run for re-election, in the position.
"This is an appointed position," said Brough.
"I would also like the seating arrangements to stay as
they are," he said. That puts the replacement for Paxman,
newly elected and sworn-in council member, Kent Park in the
seat where Paxman used to sit.
"When I first took my seat on the council," said Brough,
"I was assigned to be over the street department. The
superintendent had been there a long time and I decided I
could only be a liaison."
He knew nothing of streets and could not offer any help
in that way, he said. He ended up telling the superintendent
that if he had anything he would like the council to know,
to contact him (Brough) and he would be his advocate on the
council.
Over the years, said Brough, he had discovered that it
really didn't matter who was assigned to be over what
department, citizens thought they should talk to the person
who was handy.
"They don't call city hall and find out which council
member is over which department. They contact the council
member they know best or the one that they happen to see on
the street or in the store."
"Each one of you is a catch-all to discuss citizen
concerns," said Brough.
For that reason, said Brough, he had decided to do away
with council assignments.
"I went through the boards and committee assignments and
made assignments," he said. Some of the assignments were the
same as they had been in the past and would require no
changing of the guard.
"My intent is to clean up all the committees the city
has," said Brough. "Some are necessary according to state
statute and some are not necessary. However, I don't like to
form a committee and then not have anything for them to do.
No one needs a meeting that is not necessary."
As a result, he said, each council member was appointed
to be on a board or committee.
Kent Park will be a board member on Special Service
District #1, will be a director on the Juab Rural
Development Agency, and will be a board member on the Nephi
Public Library Board of Directors.
Jim Wilkey will be a board member on the Community
Economic Development Agency Board, will be a board member on
the Used Oil Recycling Advisory Board, will be a board
member for the Central Utah Correctional Facility, and will
be the council member on the Citizen's Advisory Council.
Darin Peterson will serve, in addition to mayor pro tem,
as a voting director on the Juab Rural Development Agency,
and as a director on the Intermountain Municipal Gas Agency
Board of Directors.
Mike Jones will be a committee member on the Miss Nephi
Committee, will be the city liaison on the Airport Advisory
Board and will be the liaison for the city on the Recreation
Advisory Board.
Brent Bowles will be the city liaison on the Nephi
Planning Commission, will be the city's liaison on the Nephi
City Volunteer Fire Department and will be a board member on
the Water and Power Board.
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