Newly elected council members Louis Salinas and Thomas W. Iley, III took their oaths of office at the City of George West regular meeting on May 17.

George West Mayor Sylvia Steele said, “I am so excited about the new council members and new city manager. I look forward to working with them and I anticipate a bright future for George West.”

City Manager Sandra Martinez formally addressed the council for the first time and gave them her short-term and long-term goals for the city.

In other city news, the council approved the favorable report from outside auditor Beyer and Company on the city’s fiscal year covering Jan. 1 through Sept. 30, 2009.

The council voted to keep Ralph Lopez as mayor pro-tem for another term. The council designated Mayor Steele as its representative to the Coastal Bend Council of Governments with City Manager Sandra Martinez as alternate.

City officials elected to pay overtime to public works employees who work on the Memorial Day holiday weekend. They also voted in the affirmative to join George West ISD in funding 50 percent of a school resource officer’s salary.

The agenda item to build a carport for the municipal court using building security funds was tabled for bids.

See photo, 3A.