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Home My WebLink About2014 01-15 New Maplewood mayor, council members sworn in MAPLEWOOD REVIEW � New Ma lewood ma or, council � p y R O � ��o� � � Nd� members sworn ln �AN � � �0�4 Kaitlyn Roby �� Reviewstaff � �� ' � � �� '�� „as � �� ; .� When Will Rossbach '� �` �F � �� r � � �"�� ,�,�z'" � ° r�* � � r� a �, became Maplewood s � � � " �} ��`� x ; mayor four years ago, he t ` � � � �, � � � � � � � f � � asked for a new gavel - � ;� ��°� -�''� � �=�� ' � �� "a fresh start" -- to use °�'� �� ;� � during city council meet- '� �� t `�� ings, marking the open- n"� ��`°�' �'��'�' �� n�� ing and closing of each ��` �'' � one. ' � In his first minutes �$� `�� `,� �, � � � as the former mayor on �Q� � � �Ty Jan. 6, Rossbach handed � � `�� . �, � the same gavel as well �� "� �' `�� Y ��. as his key to the city to �,��.�; �� Ma or Nora Slawik who � �' �� Y � `-� �,��'� � took the oath of office � � E � "�� moments earlier dur- � �`�A �� ,� �� .. .�� ing the swearing-in cer- F � � � � � �� .<_.....�_.� emony at the Maplewood Nora Slawik is sworn in as mayor of Maplern�octci by city ci�rk Karen Guilfoile Jan. Community Center. But 6 at the Maplewood Community Center. the wooden hammer was a little different -- � � � ; x�� ''T� ��'`�` ��_ Rossbach had three pink �� , � �� ° � �� 4��x '��'�` � �.� �m. �Y��F�.,,, ��'� stripes painted on it, sig- � � ��, � �� a� , nifying the new, but not �,��' '` �� ` �� the first, female majority � �� _ � '� � �� . on the Maplewood City �•�� ,� �� `� ''�� Council. ��_� , '�> � �' �� a �,�� New council mem- �;,��, � �� °��N ��: ber Marylee Abrams � � � � �� and Kathleen Juen- �� `�' ° � � '�°� �`' �� =�� -�,�� emann, who is starting ��,�,� � � �� ,�� ,� ��`� � � , her fourth term, were � � � ��, also sworn in at the cer- �� ° Y .��` � ��. .�� '�<<� emony, joining council �°� � �� °`° � members Marvin Kop- � ��; ,-� ....� pen and Bob CardinaL �� When he heard Slawik �, ; was running for mayor, ,' � '��^��. � Rossbach said there was ;� � E y � ��a : a "level of calmness that �y:< �� came over me." He said those who run � °" � � �� `�' `��8cin�g the oath of office should be able to accept �� : �, : t�r the Maplewood City facts and do what they �� § ' _�� :�uncil are Kathleen think is best for the cit �` �`� '�' ;� � � ��`�� ,.., luenemann, above,and as a whole, and should �,� �� ' � ; �llarylee Abrams. �� .��. also have some experi- � � ence in government. � � � �� _� photos by Elected Seven times �� r�z�' �� Linda Baumeister/Review. n�� to the Minnesota House ;�� `�� of Representatives rep � '� � '�'�`� ,� s` ��x��a� , resenting people in �"� •�`� � '` ,� � �� 6 Maplewood, Oakdale �` � ��,�,=' �111S 1S a grea.ti � ��- ancl Woodbury, Slawik ,�� `� "` ��'��T�I2I2122I�. has "already done many ��;:� � ,.:� � things for the city of �� ,� � MayOY' NOI'a Maplewood," Rossbach �� laWlk � said. .`�� Slawik, a director of education at a non- profit organization and an adjunct faculry mem- ber at the University of Minnesota Humphrey School of Public Policy, expressed a similar senri- ment at the podium. "We've come a long way in the past few years with Will's lead- ership," she said. "He brought our city back from a very difficult time. He brought it to a growth and revitaliza- rion phase." Economic development is part of the city's next chapter,Slawik said,not- ing multi-million dollar projects in the works, such as a development at 3M. Also important for residenYs quality of life: public safety, she said, the ropes of her public served on the Maple- and parks, drawing on role. wood council in the her bachelor's degree in "I will take to heart 1960s, she said, when parks and recreation, the oath I just gave to members were called and her time on the all of you," she said. "I trustees. She brought city's Parks and Recre- will really try to focus on his nameplate to all four ation Commission. what's best for Maple- swearing-in ceremonies. With education as wood." "If I can do half the a priority, Slawik said Called the "veteran" job he did, I'm doing a that she will soon meet of the council with 12 wonderful job," Juene- with the mayors of Oak- years of experience mann added. dale and North St. Paul and another four years as well as the ISD 622 a h e a d, J u e n e m a n n Officers receive superintendent to talk quipped she could be badges about city-school district considered the "weath- Chief Paul Schnell collaboration and pos- ered" member,but added introduced five new sibilities for shared ser- seriously, "I love this Maplewood officers, who vices. job." took the oath of office "This is a great new "Even if you didn't that night. beginnin�," Slawik said vote for me, P11 ��ork The candidates went to the crowded room. for you one more time," throu�h an intensive she said, after reciting process, which included A newcomer the oath of office for interview panels, a and a veteran her fourth, and what �°highly intrusive" back- A labor and employ- she says is her last, ground check and vari- ment attorney, Abrams time. "This is a wonder- ous physical and medi- said she will keep the ful community. It is an cal exarns, according to community's interest in honor to be a part of it." SchnelL He said they mind, while she learns Juenemailn's father come very highly recom- mended. Loved ones pinned �73Ci�es nn thP, nnifnrme