Parrish Abel says hes hitting the ground running, following a swearing-in ceremony Monday night at the start of the Gering City Council meeting.
City Clerk Kathy Welfl administered the oath of office to Abel, who was selected to fill the seat vacated last year by Phillip Holliday.
Abel tells Rural Radio News one area he would like to focus on is business development, especially encouraging more mom and pop stores. “You drive down main street now, about the only time its busy is that one weekend we host Oregon Trail Days. Other than that, were kind of a bedroom community,” says Abel. “Id like to see where families come here to raise a family, and want to shop and stay in Gering.”
Abel tells us hes spent the last two weeks with the Mayor and city staff, trying to get up to speed on a number of subjects and issues facing the city and the council.
He will be the councils liaison to the Western Nebraska Regional Airport Authority, and takes his place on a number of standing committees, including Gerings Public Safety Committee.
He will serve three years to complete the term, and would be up for election in 2022.
