Hailey Mayor
Lindley sworn into office
Williamson named
city attorney
By PETER
BOLTZ
Express Staff Writer
Hailey
Mayor Brad Siemer passed out thanks and kudos to colleagues and fellow
citizens before swearing in Mayor-elect Al Lindley into office Monday.
Hailey’s
new mayor, Al Lindley, left, swears in the new city attorney Ned
Williamson on Jan. 14. Williamson will be taking attorney Susan Baker’s
place. Express photos by Willy Cook
"I
want to thank the parks committee, especially for the new park equipment
at Hop Porter Park," said Siemer, who did not run for re-election.
"I
want to thank the Hailey Ice Park Committee for the sheet of ice and the
Zamboni.
"I
want to thank the Skate Park Committee and all who helped in the
fund-raiser for permanent facilities."
Siemer
expressed his gratitude to city staff and the city council for helping him
establish a fiscally conservative policy, which has resulted "in
almost a million dollars in cash flow."
Hinting at
an action the council would take that night under Mayor Lindley, Siemer
also thanked Sprenger, Grubb & Associates, Judy Hartley Castle and
Roundup Corral LLC for "putting bad blood behind for a new
cooperative relationship with the city and the end of litigation."
Siemer was
referring to an agreement to stay an appeal by Roundup to continue a
dispute about open space in Woodside Subdivision.
The council
later signed an agreement with SGA, Castle and Roundup Corral. The
agreement now goes to these parties for signing.
Lindley
said he would not reveal what was in the agreement until everyone had
signed.
Incoming
Hailey Mayor Al Lindley, left, jokes around with outgoing Mayor Brad
Siemer soon after Siemer swore Lindley into office. Lindley just presented
Siemer with a plaque honoring him for more than a decade of government
service to the city. Express photos by Willy Cook
Before
swearing the new mayor in, Siemer praised Lindley for having "the
courage to serve."
"I
sincerely wish you good fortune and success in the next four years,"
he said.
Once the
transfer of power was made, Lindley swore in the re-elected council
members, Martha Burke and Don Keirn.
He also
swore in reappointed Hailey City Clerk and Treasurer Heather Dawson and
P&Z vice chair Pat Cooley.
Newly
appointed P&Z commissioner John Seiller and city attorney Ned
Williamson were also sworn in.
The council
voted to grant outgoing city attorney Susan Baker $12,500 in severance
pay.
Before
Siemer could vacate the mayor’s chair, Lindley said, "Sit yourself
down, you’re not finished yet."
Lindley
then presented Siemer with a plaque that said Hailey thanked him "for
more than a decade of service."
On the
plaque are inscribed Siemer’s years of service—as a P&Z
commissioner from 1990 to 1994; as a city councilman from 1994 to 1998;
and as mayor from 1998 to 2002.
For his
inaugural statement, Lindley told those present that "with me comes
my family."
He then
introduced his wife Linda Packer, his son Gary Lindley and his two
grandchildren.
"This
is a very important time in Hailey," he said. "We’ve a good
foundation thanks to Brad Siemer and the city team. I see my job as a
coach and a leader."