City Council · 2020-07-07

Yeah, they're big kids, getting bigger every day.

So Nate is Trent's age.

How old's McKay?

So McKay's—

that's an unfair question. He just turned 34. And Nate will be 33 in September.

Okay, so Trent is 34. He'll be 35 in January.

Okay, so have we got Tom or Dave on yet? Tom McDonald, Dave Spencer, either one of you on?

You on, Dave?

Good.

Tom, are you there yet?

He always likes to make an entrance, so.

Yeah, we're glad he's still alive.

Yeah, really, that's a, that's a tough one. You can really get hurt when you get T-boned.

Yeah.

I had a young girl T-bone me in Orem about 4 years ago, and I was at a turning lane Standing still, and she was on her phone not paying attention and was driving and turned her car right into the side of my car.

Wow.

And I'm just sitting there still.

Police come out and do the investigation like Tom did.

And anyway, it's pretty amazing. And her dad just kept apologizing.

What? Is that because you're an elected official, and the same in Tom's case?

Yes. So if any of us get in an accident, we can't have the Orem police investigate. We have to bring in an outside agency to do it.

Oh, I didn't know that.

Yes.

I don't either.

Pardon me, Brandon?

Makes sense.

You do that right on the scene?

You request that?

Uh, so yes, you let them know that you're an elected official in Orem and they immediately will call in the Linden police.

Okay, good to know.

Learned something today.

Yes, after all these years we found something you did not know already.

Hard to believe.

But hopefully you'll never have to have that situation occur.

Yeah, for sure.

Tom, do we have you on yet?

Got a minute, work if you can.

Are you texting him, Jeff?

No, I'm still at work, so I'm working on— I'm trying to get some last-minute things done before I head home for the day. I, I can shoot him a text really quick though.

Yeah, tell him he has a meeting tonight.

Pete, are you ready?

Uh, Pete Wolfley, are you there?

He's on mute.

Steve Downs, are you there?

And please forgive my name, Rebecca Brunst, but I'm actually in Idaho, so using her iPad.

I wasn't going to say anything.

I'm sorry, what, Brian?

That's a good thing you got Julie Spencer.

Okay, so it is time. It's 5 o'clock on Tuesday, July 7th. We would like to start our special electronic meeting. I would like to read a statement first of all. To minimize the potential spread of COVID-19 and as authorized by Mayor Richard F. Brunt's proclamation, Dated June 30th, 2020, the special City Council meeting on July 7th, 2020 will be an all-electronic meeting.

There will be no public access to the Orange City Council chambers. Those desiring to view or participate in the meeting must do so electronically. The live meeting may be streamed. Thank you for your cooperation during these challenging times.

I would now like to call the meeting to order and would like to begin with a prayer to be given by Councilmember Debbie Loring.

Debbie?

Okay.

Our Father in heaven, we're grateful for the opportunity we have to gather to swear in our new fire chief.

We're grateful for this opportunity for him. We ask that he'll be His leadership will be one of wisdom and patience, and he'll be able to govern as a servant leader. We ask these special first responders that they will be protected as they go into— For this country and the opportunity we have to help govern here in the city of Orem. And we ask these favors and blessings in thy holy name of Jesus Christ, amen.

Amen. Thank you, Debbie. So this is a special City Council meeting for the staff appointment of a new Fire Department Director for the City of Orem, Chief Mark Sanderson. Jamie Davidson is our presenter, and I will turn the time over to Jamie. Jamie, are you there?

Hey, Mayor, uh, Tom just said he's waiting to be let into the meeting, so I don't know if we have let him in.

So Pete, can you do that?

Okay, thanks.

Okay, are you there, Jamie?

Okay.

Uh, I cannot, but I can hear you. Okay, I can see you now.

Members of the City Council, it's a pleasure for me to be here in the City Council chambers here this afternoon as we recognize and we essentially extend support to our Our new fire chief as he takes the oath of office. I just also want to make you aware of the fact that behind the computer camera we have representatives of the police department as well as— I think all of the stations are represented here today that are on shift. I see Deputy Chief Earl nodding his head, and so I want to recognize specifically members of the fire department Who are here today to obviously extend well wishes and congratulations to our new fire chief. As you know, per city ordinance, we have an opportunity to appoint representatives to serve as department directors in each of our respective city departments, and this afternoon it's my pleasure to recommend and show my support for Chief— Fire Chief Mark Sanderson and recommend his appointment for service as Orem's next fire chief. Of course, that, uh, that appointment requires your advice and consent, and so at this time I will turn the time over to you for consideration of that recommendation.

Thank you, Jamie. Um, as the mayor, part of our advice and consent, I would like to make A couple of comments in regards to advice and allow the other council members to do the same.

And when we're finished, we will then take a vote for our consent of our new fire chief. So I just wanted to mention we went through a lengthy process of interviewing many people.

We've come down with Chief Mark. Sanderson, and I think he is an excellent choice. He certainly has a great background in not only fire but police, in the nursing side, flight services, also in training at UVU.

He is spoken of highly by many, and I've been very impressed through the interview process to get to know him better, to learn a little bit about his vision for the City of Orem in making our department one of the best in the state and to increase our retention and recruitment and to boost our morale. His experiences span many years and we will look to his leadership to help move our fire department forward. We love our firemen, spent a lot of time with them, and we believe that this is an appointment that our firemen can support and will enjoy working with Chief Sanderson. So thank you, Chief, and it's great to have you on board.

I'll now turn time—

I don't know if Tom's here yet. I'm here.

If not, I can see everyone else. Can you not see me?

I can see you now. Would you like to mention anything during this?

Oh, if I'm going first, just an amen to the mayor's comment. Welcome aboard. And now, after all the kind words have been said, the work begins. But thank you for joining us, and we're excited to have you here. Thank you.

Councilmember Spencer, do you have any comments?

Sure, I always have a comment. I'm excited for Marc Sanderson to be the new fire chief in Orem, and I was very impressed with the interview process. And I know that the men and women of the fire department will back you 100%, and I think you're an excellent choice.

Congrats.

Councilmember Sunder, would you like to make a comment?

Brent, can you hear me now?

Yes.

Okay, about that, uh, Chief, or, uh, Mark, I guess it is till you're sworn in as Chief, but, uh, appreciate all you've done and gone through on this process. As the mayor said, it's been lengthy, and I'm excited to get to know you. I've read your resume, and, uh, very, very, very impressive, and Welcome to the team, and, uh, just can't wait to get to know you. Thank you.

Okay, thank you. Councilmember Debbie Luray.

Yes, I'd like to add a few comments. I had the privilege of interviewing Mark in the final round, and I found him to be an excellent candidate. I felt like he was very strong and very honorable and had a good breadth of knowledge. So we welcome you to the Orem. I know you're coming back. You were here years ago. And so welcome home, and you have our support. Look forward to getting to know you better, and thank you so much for applying and for being willing to take this responsibility on.

Thank you, Debbie.

Councilmember Terry Peterson.

So Mark, congratulations. The mayor and I sat in on, I think, the first set of interviews, didn't we, Mayor, in May 7th?

Yes.

And you were very impressive. And in your way of handling questions and situations, and of course you have a wealth of experience, and you deserve this job. You've earned it. You deserve it. We're excited to support you. Excited to be more involved in dropping into the stations and letting the guys know that we appreciate the work they do. Our first responders in our city are so critical to our safety of our city, and so we appreciate. Everything you and your department will do and has done. And so congratulations, Chief.

Welcome aboard.

Thank you, Terry. Councilmember Jeff Lamson. Jeff, are you there?

Okay, there we go. I'm unmuted. Mark, I just want to say thank you for being willing to serve in this capacity. I'm grateful that you're willing to bring your experience and your knowledge, and I know that you'll be a great, a great blessing to not only the citizens of Orem but the men and women of the fire department. I also want to thank your wife and family for their support. We know that the families behind our first responders are critical. and the support that they give, the sacrifices that they make to allow these men and women to do the great work that they do. And so, but to you and to them, we say we love you, we're grateful for you, and welcome back to Oro.

Thank you, Jeff.

It's now my privilege to make a motion that the City Council consent to the appointment of Mark Sanderson as the Director of Orem City's Fire Department.

Um, is there a second?

Second.

Okay, I would like to move forward with the vote. Tom McDonald?

Aye.

Dave Spencer?

Aye.

Brent Sumner?

Aye.

Debbie Laree?

Aye.

Terry Peterson?

Aye.

Jeff Lampson?

Not only an aye, but a yahoo and a hallelujah.

Good for you. And Mayor Brunstad, aye also.

So with that, and with the consent of the city council and the mayor, we would now like to turn the time over to the city recorder, Jodi Bates, to administer the oath of office to Chief Mark Sanderson.

Congratulations, Chief.

I would just like to give you and your wife an opportunity to say a couple of comments before we finish our meeting.

So, and it looks like somebody's on a crutch. Hopefully you're okay.

Okay.

So I'm—

Go ahead.

Thank you, Chief.

Would your wife like to make any comments?

All right, thank you.

Thank you.

All right, with that, we will go ahead and make a motion to adjourn.

I am motion—

Motion to adjourn.

Is there a second?

Second.

All in favor, say aye.

Aye.

Aye.

All right, any nays?

Okay, we're adjourned.

Again, thank you to all the firemen and other officers, police, and others that are there in the room.

And thank you to Mark and his wife and his family. And this is a wonderful day, and we look forward to the future. Thank you very much, and we'll adjourn our meeting.