The highlight of the Dec. 20 meeting of the City Council happened after the official business had been completed.  Retiring Evanston City Attorney Dennis Boal and outgoing council members Tib Ottley and Mikal Welling were honored for their years of service to the city and the community.

Ottley and Welling were replaced on the council in the November election.  Mayor Williams presented Ottley and Welling each with a plaque citing their individual four years of service and their passionate dedication to the city.

“When you serve on the city council you don’t always know what you are facing or what lies ahead,” Mayor Williams said. “When I look back over your years of service, I realize how much I appreciate both of you. I could depend on you both to have my back and look out for me. Your guidance and advice have been invaluable.”

Ottley thanked everyone for the good memories. He said serving on the council was a great opportunity and he has enjoyed every minute of it.

Welling also thanked everyone and said, “It’s been a fun ride and I’m grateful for it. I’m not going away; I’ll be back.”

The city presented Boal with a BBQ grill and Rocco O‘Neill presented Boal with a chef’s apron, with his name written in gold letters on the front, from the Community Development Department.

Mayor Williams said, “When I look back over the thirty-plus years of service that Mr. Boal has given and I look back over the years of my service, Mr. Boal has had my back from day one.  I can’t tell you how much I appreciate that, Boal. Your counsel, your advice have kept us in line and we want recognize you.”

Boal said, “What has made my time as city attorney worthwhile is I have realized that maybe I have done something that makes things better for the people in the city. I am thankful for my time with the city — for the good neighbors, the good council and the good staff who all have had the interests of the community at heart. The people I’ve worked with have been wonderful and I just don’t see how they can go wrong, but if they do, you can call me. The council and the city should be positive about moving forward with the people they have in office. Thank you very much.” 

All present for the meeting were invited to stay and enjoy the refreshments and visit with the outgoing officials.

The only official business that took place at the meeting prior to the celebration was the approval of two resolutions.

The first resolution approved was an application to the State Forester for the city to be officially recertified as a Tree City USA for the year 2023.

Senior Planner DuWayne Jacobsen presented the requirements for being designated a Tree City USA.

“There are four standards we must comply with,” Jacobsen said. “First we must have a tree board or department; second, the city has to have a tree ordinance; third, the city must have a community forestry program with an annual budget of at least $2 per capita; and fourth, the city must have an Arbor Day observance and proclamation.”

Jacobsen said the city had met all requirements — there is an active tree board that meets bi-monthly; the city’s current tree ordinance was established in June 1999; the community population of 11,625 at $2 per person is $23,250; and Arbor Day is observed annually.

“Our total budgeted expenditures for this year for the tree management program was $63,840.47,” Jacobsen said. “We ordered 92 trees for the Community Forestry Program; planted 19 trees and provided 73 trees to citizens; pruned 152 trees and removed 10 trees. We celebrated Arbor Day this year at Clark Elementary with fifth graders and planted trees in their adjoining park. The observance was attended by Mayor Williams who signed the proclamation at the event.  The observance was highlighted nicely in the Uinta County Herald.”

Mayor Williams said that the Arbor Day event is always a “fun adventure for me.”

The second resolution approved was a change order for the Avalon International Aluminum LLC site preparation and utility package as presented by Dean Barker, Director of Engineering and Planning.

“The reason for this change order is there was an error on the first change order which needed to be corrected,” Barker said. “The company hasn’t overspent and this just needed to be corrected so the contract could be closed and they could be paid. They have done a lot of hard work and the utilities are now on-site.”

Change order No. 003 and the closing of the contract and payment to Lewis & Lewis were approved.

All department heads thanked Ottley, Welling and Boal for their years of service.