Inauguration - 1/10/2023 6:30:00 PM

so much
if I could ask everyone to please take
your seats we would like to get started
on time this evening
um to charge right there
foreign
good evening everyone
I'm mayor Bridget Peterson Welcome to
our remodeled Gilbert Town Hall it's
been a long time coming we're so happy
to be back into our old building
welcome to the 2023 Gilbert Town Council
inauguration
this is a momentous occasion for
everyone here this evening especially
for the four people taking their oath of
office the first thing I'd like to do is
to please ask you to pull out your cell
phones and make sure they are off or
silenced we would not want any phones
going off while someone is taking the
oath of office this evening I appreciate
you all doing so
now please hold your applause for a
moment while I introduce the current
Gilbert Town Council some of those folks
aren't present here this evening but we
were able to thank them and acknowledge
them at a meeting back in December we
have vice mayor Amy yentez
we have council member Scott Anderson
can you please stand
thank you we have council member Young
koprowski
we have council member Scott September
and we have council member Kathy tilkey
let's give these folks a big round of
applause
now I'd like to recognize some special
guests here with us this evening if you
would please again hold your applause
and if I could ask those folks to stand
as I recognize them Maricopa County
Assessor and former Gilbert council
member Eddie cook
Maricopa County Board of supervisor Tom
Galvin
ld13 representative Jennifer Pollock
we have Taylor Rogers with Mark Kelly's
office Senator Mark Kelly's office
Taylor thank you for joining us we have
Lee Huff with Congressman Andy Biggs
office Lee was here with us
we have from the city of Chandler my
friend mayor Kevin Hartke
council member Mark Stewart
council member Christine Ellis
we have from our our beautiful town of
Queen Creek
the vice mayor Jeff Brown joining us
this evening
we have chairman Rambler from the San
Carlos Apache tribe and his vice
chairman I spoke to them in the lobby I
think that they're here somewhere
hopefully hopefully they'll join us for
this event we have former mayor John
Lewis
and we have former Gilbert council
member Jared Taylor
and we have the president and CEO of the
Gilbert Chamber of Commerce Sarah Watts
if we could give them all a big round of
applause
I want to take a moment to acknowledge
all of the great town staff that's here
with us led by our town manager Patrick
Banger if you could all please stand for
us
none of this would be possible without
our great staff led by Patrick now I
officially call this meeting to order
and ask you to please stand for the
posting of the Colors by the Gilbert
Fire and Rescue and Gilbert Police color
guards
foreign
went off
now I'd like to ask Charlotte and Chase
kaprowski to please lead us in the
Pledge of Allegiance
pledge allegiance to the flag of the
United States of America and to the
Republic for which it stands one nation
under God indivisible with liberty and
justice for all
and if Avery Jackson would please join
us for the national anthem
oh say can you say
[Music]
light what's so bright
[Music]
night last gleaming
who's brought stripes and bright stars
for the
perilous fight or the
wrong parts we want
we're so
gallantly streaming
the bombs bursting in
foreign
[Music]
[Music]
live
[Applause]
now the invocation this evening will be
by Pastor Thor strandhold with Valor
Christian Center
thank you
well they said I could pull that thing
out of there
well I had about four pages but I
narrowed it down to just one mayor thank
you so much for having me here tonight I
appreciate it well it's a new day it's a
new year
we have a newly beautifully remodeled
facility I mean this place looks
beautiful I am so impressed
Hallelujah
we also have new council members coming
on board as well as one returning we've
got a new governor talking about new
what reminds me of the scripture in the
Old Testament in Isaiah chapter 43 verse
19 where it says I God am doing a new
thing in your life now
God wants to do a new thing in our lives
what a good time to have that happen
personally I believe that 2023 is going
to be a great year for you and for me
also in the Old Testament it talks about
King David he thought he was going to
build the Great temple for his people
and he began to gather all the supplies
that he would need to do the building
and there was no building supply chain
shortages at that time
I heard about the shortages on the stuff
that they needed for the for the remodel
but on the other hand God had other
plans he told King David his son Solomon
would build the Great temple instead
Solomon was considered the wisest and
richest man of his time he wrote the
Book of Ecclesiastes The Song of Solomon
The Book of Proverbs which is considered
to be the wisdom book of the Bible as a
matter of fact there are 31 chapters in
Proverbs so that means we have a wisdom
chapter for every day of the month now
Solomon used only the best materials the
best Crafters to build his Temple and he
got the best results as I believe we
have done here in remodeling this
facility at the inauguration or the
dedication of the temple Solomon prayed
that it would be a blessing to the
people and it was so now I pray the
Lord's blessing upon this facility and
that it would be used for the good of
the people and for the town of Gilbert I
pray the Lord's wisdom will rest upon
the members of the Town Council and
Great and Mighty decisions would be made
and come forth from this place and it's
in the name of Jesus I pray amen and
amen
we appreciate you being here this
evening and always offering a great
invocation for us at the council now I
would like to invite our Gilbert
Municipal Court presiding judge David
cutchen to the podium judge kutchen will
be administering the oath of office to
each individual member this evening
first I'd like to invite
council member elect that'll be the last
time I say that Chuck Bon Giovanni to
the front to accept his certificate of
election
over here Chuck over here Chuck
first you get your certificate of
election
congratulations now if you'd like to
invite your family up to the microphone
with us
yeah sure
sure the light wasn't good we want to
make sure we get the good light
since the building is new we're learning
all these new things
judge
all right yeah raise your right hand for
me please
aye Chuck Bon Giovanni
aye Chuck Bon Jovani do you solemnly
swear do you solemnly swear that I will
support the Constitution and I will
support the Constitution of the United
States of the United States and the
Constitution and the Constitution and
laws of the State of Arizona and laws of
the State of Arizona and ordinances of
the town of Gilbert Arizona and
ordinances of the town of Gilbert
Arizona
that I will bear true faith and
allegiance that I will bear true faith
and allegiance to the same do the same
defend them against all enemies defend
them against all enemies foreign and
domestic foreign and domestic and that I
will faithfully and that I will
faithfully and impartially discharge and
then partially discharge the duties of
council member the duty of council
member of the Gilbert Town Council of
the Gilbert Town Council to the best of
my ability to the best of my abilities
so help me God so how many God
congratulations
foreign
judge will sign his oath of office
making it official
s
would you like a photo with his family
before he has his family sit back down
judge would you like to maybe join them
chuck would you like
excuse me council member Giovanni would
you like him to join you
scooch over don't move the microphone
please thank you sorry
thank you
told councilman Bon Giovanni he was the
guinea pig because he had to go first
because it's alphabetical order next up
I invite council member elect Bobby
Buckley please
[Applause]
thank you
Bobby I present you with your
certificate of election
oh under the light
Kirsten's very bossy Bobby you'll learn
that
she does
she does get great pictures so now
invite your family up oh do you want
another
if you'd like to invite your family up
that will stand with you
okay I
I think this is okay
just for photos we don't want you behind
the mic stand we're trying to make it
who's that no sir I think we are where's
your right hand for me
hi Bobby Buckley
hi Bobby Buckley do solemnly swear do
solemnly swear that I will support the
Constitution that I will support the
Constitution of the United States of the
United States and the Constitution and
the Constitution and laws and laws of
the State of Arizona of the State of
Arizona and the ordinances and the
ordinances of the town of Gilbert
Arizona of the town of Gilbert Arizona
that I will bear true faith and
allegiance to the same that I will bear
true faith and allegiance to the same
and defend them against all enemies and
defend them against all enemies foreign
and domestic foreign and domestic and
that I will faithfully and that I will
faithfully and impartially and
impartially discharge discharge the
duties of council member the duties of
council member of the Gilbert Town
Council of the Gilbert Town Council to
the best of my abilities the best of my
abilities so help me God so help hey God
congratulations
sign your oath of office with judge
cutchen
and if your family wants to stay for
photos
hi
nice to meet you I just wanted to make
sure
you'll step back here in the light it'll
be better
there you go
now I'd like to invite up council member
Young koprowski
so accept your certificate of election
and Kirsten's going to move us back into
the light young yes
you know she wants the best photos
congratulations invite your family up
foreign
yes
aye young koprowski I young koprowski do
solemnly swear do you solemnly swear
that I will support the Constitution of
the United States that I will support
the Constitution of the United States
and the Constitution and laws and the
Constitution and laws of the State of
Arizona of the State of Arizona and the
ordinances and the ordinances of the
town of Gilbert Arizona of the town of
Gilbert Arizona that I will bear true
faith and allegiance to the same that I
will bear true faith and allegiance to
the same and defend them against all
enemies and defend them against all
enemies foreign and domestic foreign and
domestic and that I will faithfully and
that I will faithfully and impartially
and impartially discharge the duties
discharge the duties of council member
of council member of the town of Gilbert
of the town of Gilbert excuse me the
Gilbert Town Council
of the Gilbert County Council to the
best of my ability to the best of my
ability so help me God so help me God
congratulations sorry for throwing you
off
council member council member come sign
your oath with the judge please
now if you'd like photos
my heart
okay
this way
I'll bounce out thank you
get a couple without me too just the
family
look
I think there's more
Charlotte you're a little poser
and last but certainly not least Jim
Torgeson if you would please join me
council member elect for the last time
here is your certificate of election oh
she's going to make us go over into the
light
go to the light Jim
one more
invite anybody up that you'd like to
come stand with you
I guess my entire family
it's okay I'm not sitting there anyway
[Laughter]
laughs
I think you're supposed to be on my
right side yes
no no you'll get blocked by the mic
stand so we're trying to keep everybody
to the one side we want the best photos
for you
[Laughter]
let's make this official hi Jim
Torgerson aye Jim Torgeson you solemnly
swear do solemnly swear that I will
support the Constitution that I will
support the Constitution of the United
States of the United States and the
Constitution and the Constitution and
laws of the State of Arizona and laws of
the State of Arizona and the ordinances
of the town of Gilbert Arizona and the
ordinances of the town of Gilbert
Arizona that I will bear true faith and
allegiance to the same that I will bear
true faith and allegiance to the same
and defend them against all enemies and
defend them against all enemies foreign
and domestic foreign and domestic and
that I will faithfully and that I will
faithfully and impartially discharge and
impartially discharge the duties of
council member the duties of council
member
of the Gilbert Town Council of the
Gilbert Town Council to the best of my
ability to the best of my ability so
help me gun so help me God
congratulations
councilmember targetson come on over
here and just sign your oath with the
judge please
and if you want photos with your family
judge I'm trying to get your phone
I feel like you're photo bombing
that's right
[Music]
now I'd like to invite the members of
the new Gilbert Town Council to join me
in the front of the room for a photo
and I have a hot mic on so be careful
foreign
I figured you would
actually said that to them
okay
thank you I was just informed also that
former council member and foreign former
Justice of the Peace of Steve Yuri and
his wife were also here in attendance so
I wanted to mention that now if the new
Council would please join me on the dice
for the first time
[Applause]
congratulations and welcome to team
Gilbert
foreign
can I please ask the clerk to do the
Roll Call
mayor Bridget Peterson here council
member Chuck bonchiovanni president
council member Kathy tilkey
here council member Young koprowski here
council member Scott Anderson here
council member Bobby Buckley here and
council member Jim Torgeson here a
quorum is present
thank you chevelli now I'd like to
invite each new member to say a few
words will
stick to the alphabetical order so we'll
go with council member Bon Giovanni
okay
so I want to thank the voters who who
trusted me those who didn't vote for me
I hope to earn your trust in the next
four years
I'd like to thank my family and friends
especially Becky who played where's Mike
where's my husband for the past year
my sister Anne-Marie for her countless
hours of
canvassing with me my son Dustin for
not telling me not to quit with my first
300 signatures were invalid
Bill Spence for telling me that my first
300 signatures were invalid
and my fellow council members staff and
and residents I'm committed to be a
councilman who will lead with the values
of Gilbert those being humble driven
kind and bold thank you
thank you council member now we'll go to
council member Buckley
hello everyone
um I just want to say I'm I can't quite
match what Chuck just did so I want to
thank all the voters and and the same as
him even if you didn't vote for me I am
here for all of the residents and I want
to thank my my daughter and my little
grandkids that and and David her husband
as well for putting up with me and
always calling and me saying I'm busy I
can't today so I appreciate that and I I
appreciate the help that that everyone
gave me to be able to sit here today so
I'm grateful I'm thankful and and I'm
very humbled to be here
[Applause]
thank you council member council member
coprowski
thank you everyone for being here
tonight
um it has been such a journey to serve
on Council the past two years as an
appointed council member and it feels
amazing that the community voted for me
to stay on Council so I can continue my
journey and Leadership for the community
a big thank you to my mom who helped me
collect my signatures for the campaign
and manage all of my road signs and just
be a huge support for me as I serve in
this role also my husband Keith and my
children Chase and Charlotte without
them it just you know wouldn't be the
same and I hope that we can build a
wonderful Community together for
ourselves for our families and our
future Generations thank you
thank you council member council member
Torgeson
I wanted to thank my friends that are
here the friends that I've had for years
like Bob Robson in the back row there
um
the people that helped me
uh the new friends like Chuck my cigar
buddy
um
my mother-in-law my son and my daughter
for telling me to be the the blank that
I was born to be and my wife who with uh
without her nothing's worthwhile
um
and I appreciate the opportunity to uh
to present a different point of view I
appreciate the tolerance and I actually
want to say here I appreciate the uh
liaison assignments mayor thank you very
much and uh
I promise to keep a laugh going and
it'll be fun thank you
we didn't discuss this earlier about
councilmember Anderson councilmember
tilkey would you like to say anything
perfect
um councilmember Torgeson thank you for
that you just mentioned the liaison
assignments there is a list in front of
you we can discuss anything that you
might want to change or any any issues
that you might have but I think I did a
pretty good job over the weekend it was
um it was a labor of love it took me
several hours and days to get through
because it's a lot of assignments to
cover and we do still have some empty
assignments so if anybody would like to
take those so again I want to say oh we
have one piece of business that we need
to do which is to
choose a vice mayor so if anyone would
like to make a I've almost forgot that
one piece of business and we only had
one if anyone would like to make a
motion and
I would appreciate that
we need to make it nominate somebody
nominate yes thank you
here I'd like to nominate Kathy kilke
second we have a nomination for Kathy
tilkey a second
by by nomination by councilmember
Anderson seconded by council member
karprowski please vote using our voting
systems for the first time
you can vote you can vote
motion passes seven zero congratulations
councilmember tilkey
now vice mayor tilkey and now that we
have a vice mayor we can work on a
permanent seating arrangement and we
couldn't do that until we knew who was
actually going to be in the seat to my
right next our next meeting is January
24th so we will have all of that worked
out for you I want to say that
congratulations again welcome aboard
welcome to the team I look forward to
working with all of you and you'll find
a little silver bag tucked up under the
the dice right here and those are some
small gifts from me and I also have one
of my favorite sweet treats for you
which is a white raspberry nothing bundt
cake with a gluten-free one from my
French council member vice mayor tilkey
so again congratulations hope you're
able to go out and celebrate with your
family and friends tonight meeting
adjourned