The Boulder City Council on Jan. 22 filled the vacant seat created by Bettie Schlueter’s resignation at the end of last year.
Council members Drew Dawson, Shane Maichel and Sherry Lepley appointed Mike “Bear” Taylor by a 3-0 vote after interviewing him and Jeanie Thiel.
Taylor took his seat on the council after Mayor Rusty Giulio swore him in. Taylor’s term lasts until the end of this year.
Taylor and Thiel each responded to the same questions posed by the three councilors.
Following Taylor and Thiel’s interviews, Maichel moved to appoint Taylor and Lepley seconded the motion. In supporting the motion, Dawson noted Taylor’s concise answers “and a bit more enthusiasm and certainty in his own ability to take action.”
The three councilors then unanimously approved Taylor’s appointment.
Their questions and Taylor’s responses follow, lightly edited.
Lepley: Please give a short synopsis of your background. Why do you want to serve on the Boulder City Council?
Taylor: I moved here a few years ago and I have young children in school here. I feel like I finally found a home in this town, and I want to make sure my kids find home in this town. I want to see Boulder grow without losing its small-town feel. I love that I can go into any place here and know people and be happy to see those people, and I want that to continue. But I see a need for growth, and for improvements in infrastructure, parks and in the recreation and other facilities that are available to the public.
Maichel: Will your work and your lifestyle allow you to sufficient time to dedicate to being a good council person?
Taylor: I work for the State of Montana. I get a little bit of vacation time to use, and have no problem using that to serve the city. My family fully supports me in doing this. I’m passionate enough about serving that I’m going to make it happen. There is no excuse not to.
Dawson: What project or projects would you champion as a City Council member that the past few councils have not addressed? And which of your personal characteristics and qualifications would assist the council in implementing these projects successfully?
Taylor: I see a lack of two major things. One is the opportunity for the youth to recreate and explore the town. I believe we need to make a bigger focus on recreation. I would also love to see a public service building to house the ambulance, fire and police, as well as a recreation center for the youth so they don’t have to rely on the school facilities all the time. I have a hard time saying no to volunteering and I don’t take no for an answer. There’s always a solution to a problem, and I’m always willing to work to find the solution to that problem. I’m also very opinionated but very open-minded.
In other business related to Schlueter’s resignation, the council named Maichel, its longest serving member, as president.
