Mayor breaks city council tie in vote appointing himself to Library Board

Wednesday, January 29, 2020

Stephanie Root

The Mountain Home City Council held a regularly scheduled meeting on Jan. 27. With multiple important issues including the naming of the Small and Large Businesses of the Year, and public hearings on the raising of fees at the airport and the zoning of the annexation of 400 acres of proposed industrial land it was a packed Chamber. Many people were also present to see what would result from a line item of the consent agenda in which Mayor Rich Sykes was asking for approval to appoint himself to the Mountain Home Library Board of Trustees.

To begin the meeting The Studio was named as the Mayors Small Business of the Year and Pioneer Federal Credit Union as the Large Business of the Year. Both businesses were chosen through an online survey after being nominated by their peers and members of the community. Each business is very involved in the community and donates to different causes. In the nomination for The Studio it was said "they have gone over and above" and "are so kind." Along the same lines Pioneer's nomination said the company "goes above and beyond in every community" it's located in.

Representatives from Boise State University's Community Impact Program were on hand to present to the City Council. They said they had been charged with reaching out to rural and mid-size communities to see what it's educational needs are by new President Marlene Tromp. Similar to a program she ran as a Dean at Arizona State University, Tromp wants to see BSU work with communities to help them find areas where training is especially needed and get people on the ground in communities to help support online programs. In the ASU program they worked with a Native American Tribe who had a hard time finding teachers for their school. Through the program they were able “grow” their own teachers who are still with the schools. Mountain Home is one of the first three communities to be chosen as part of a "pilot" for the program, along with McCall and Payette. For the full story, pick up a copy of the Mountain Home News or click on this link to subscribe to the newspaper's online edition.

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So how did the Mayor break the tie when it was on the agenda that he would be appointed, not that he was nominating himself for the position? And doesn't the Library Board report to the Mayor and the City Council? I am no expert but sure seems like a huge conflict of interest in my opinion.

-- Posted by B Mullen on Thu, Jan 30, 2020, at 10:28 PM
I was finally able to read the article today. Many citizens seemed to be more level headed than the Mayor. Heck even a former council member offered to hold the seat but His Honor has his mind made up. I applaud the two council members that voted against it. I predict more issues with the Library Board and Director.

-- Posted by B Mullen on Fri, Jan 31, 2020, at 11:41 AM

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