Rick Schiedler was sworn in as Mt. Angel’s mayor on Jan. 5, replacing Tom Bauman who was mayor for six years. Schiedler ran unopposed for office and is joined on the council by newly-elected councilors Kelly Grassman, Andrew Otte and Darren Beyer and returning councilors Mike Donohue and Ray Eder.
A council member is sought fill the seat vacated by Schiedler when he became mayor. Applications are available at Mt. Angel City Hall and the Mt. Angel Library and are due by 5 p.m. Jan. 23 to city hall. The council will review applications at its February meeting.
Schiedler has served on the budget committee for two years, the planning commission for eight years where he was the chairman and two years as a city councilor. He works for Portland General Electric and is married to Cindy Schiedler.
He recently responded to questions from Our Town. Here are his answers:
How as mayor do you plan to bring the community together to work for the greater good of the city? How can differences be resolved?
“There will always be differences of opinion because everyone comes from different backgrounds with different experiences. What is important is to not let those differences of opinion get in the way of being able to work together to improve the City of Mt. Angel and accomplish the goals that are set.”
Describe your style of leadership? What are your hopes for the council?
“My hope for the council is that we can work effectively and cooperatively together for the greater good of the city. As far as my style of leadership, I will listen to the citizens and give them every opportunity to be heard. I believe that this council will accomplish open communication with city staff and our community. I look at this new council and see individuals willing to serve and concerned with how their decisions will affect Mt. Angel. I believe in the City Charter which states “… all powers of the CITY shall be vested in the Council.”
If people have concerns or ideas, what’s the best way to bring them to your attention? What do you think the citizens of Mt. Angel expect from their city council? City staff?
“If people have concerns or ideas the best way is to bring them up at the City Council meetings so everyone can understand the issue. I think that the citizens expect the city council and city staff to treat them with respect at all times when they come before us with their concerns.”
What are your goals for the first year? What would you like to see accomplished?
“The main goal that I have is good communication with the citizens. We need to have the minutes and the agendas of the council meetings, City Ordinances, Development Regulations, etc., on the City Web site for easy access. This would help take some of the burden off city staff in regards to public records requests.
Also, we should help revitalize the business community and support businesses wishing to locate in Mt. Angel.
Other goals of mine are to form a street committee to address improving and repairing streets and bring back the park board to oversee our city parks.”
What challenges do you foresee for the city?
“A major challenge for the community, city staff and city council will be to still continue to get projects done even during these tough economic times when we are seeing decreasing revenues.”
Why do you want to be mayor? What inspires you to do the job?
“I wanted to be involved in helping Mt. Angel move forward and continue to be a great place to live.”
When you, Eder and Donohue were elected, you said you would bring greater communication to the citizens to allow the citizens to know how their city is operating – how do you plan to achieve that goal?
“I believe we have made some progress towards our communication goal because the city’s new Web site is close to being completed.
I would like to organize a small committee to come up with more ideas on communication within our community.
One idea is a monthly newsletter after each council meeting and also have copies of council minutes, agendas, the City Charter, etc., at the city library for citizens that do not have computers.”
Have the issues between you, Eder and Donohue been resolved with (City Administrator) Jim Hunt so you feel you can work with him? What about the remaining city staff and police department?
“No comment.”
In other city council business:
The City Council is holding its Goal Session at 7 p.m. Jan. 20 in Mt. Angel City Library. The meeting is open to the public. The councilors will discuss their goals for the city.
