Cheney council makes short work of year's final meeting

The Cheney City Council needed just one minute — if even that much — to do business at the final meeting of 2015 on Dec. 22.

With just four of seven members present, council members Doug Nixon, Ryan Gaard and Graeme Webster were absent, the council unanimously approved the only item of business on its agenda — the paying of vouchers totaling $317,819.51.

The meeting, which began at 4 p.m. and was actually the continuation of the Dec. 8 meeting, marked the end of council service for Webster, who decided to not run for re-election to a third term this year.

Webster has served on the council for the past six years. He first ran for a seat on the dais in 2009, losing to former Councilman Fred Pollard in the election for Position 1.

Webster was subsequently appointed by the council to fill the remaining two years of the Position 7 seat left vacant when then Councilman Tom Trulove defeated incumbent Allen Gainer in the mayor’s race. Webster defeated Allen Gainer’s brother Tim Gainer in the council race in 2011.

Webster was honored by the city council at the Dec. 8 meeting with a plaque and words of appreciation for his years of diligent service, and for being the “bringer of doughnuts” to committee meetings.

Cheney Realtor Dan Hilton, who ran unopposed in the November 2015 election for council Position 7 seat, succeeds Webster.

The council’s first meeting in 2016 is Tuesday, Jan. 12.

John McCallum can be reached at [email protected].