ThisWeek CW 01/12/2012
Family and friends were on hand at the Jan. 3 Canal Winchester City Council meeting to witness the oath-of-office ceremony.
State Rep. Anne Gonzales (R-Westerville) swore in new council member Joe Abbott and returning members Rick Deeds and Marilyn Rush-Ekelberry. Recently re-elected Mayor Michael Ebert also was sworn in.
Following the oath, council members unanimously elected Steve Donahue as the new council president. He was nominated by Councilwoman Leah Turner.
Ekelberry served as council president from 2010 to 2011.
“As your outgoing president, let me say it’s been an honor and privilege and I want to thank you all for your help and your support over these years,” Ekelberry said. “’I’d be remiss if I didn’t thank the city staff who have been so helpful in providing their insight and expertise. I believe this council will go forward this year and continue to serve this great city of ours.”
Donahue nominated Turner for council vice president, and council member Bobbie Mershon nominated member John Bender.
Bender was elected vice president after council conducted a secret ballot.
Committee appointments for 2012-13 were also announced Jan. 3. They are:
• The finance committee will be chaired by Donahue; Deeds will be vice chair and Mershon and Bender will serve as members.
• The service committee will be chaired by Bender; Abbott will be vice chair and Turner will serve as a member.
• The safety committee will be chaired by Mershon; Ekelberry will be vice chair and Turner will serve as a member.
• The rules committee will be chaired by Abbott; Deeds will be vice chair and Mershon will serve as a member.
• Bender will continue to serve as city council’s representative to Canal Winchester Human Services. Mershon will continue to serve as the representative to Destination: Canal Winchester. Ekelberry and Donahue will continue to represent council at the Canal Winchester Industry and Commerce Corp. meetings.
Ebert presented his nominees for the Canal Winchester Planning and Zoning Commission.
“Dr. Dan Konold, Bill Christensen and James Knowlton all expressed interest in continuing to serve, so I’d like to reappoint them to the commission for another four years,” Ebert said. “Also, I’d like to appoint James Wynkoop to fill the vacancy left by Joe Abbott, who is now on council. Mr. Wynkoop has 13 years of prior experience on the planning and zoning commission.”
Council unanimously approved the appointments.