There was a bit of swearing-in at the December town council meeting as newly elected and re-elected officials were seated.

New town councilman Gary Liss was sworn in, along with councilwoman Rhonda Morillas, who was elected for her fifth term. Liss, based on having received the highest number of votes in the November election, was also named mayor pro tem and will serve as mayor in 2010.

Town clerk Crickett Strock and treasurer Roger Carrol also took the oath of office at the Dec. 9 meeting held at Loomis Depot.

New mayor Walt Scherer was seated and recommended his appointment of councilmembers to serve in committee assignments for 2009. The council unanimously approved his appointments.

“The committee assignments were based on who I thought could do the best job for Loomis,” said Mayor Scherer.

He appointed councilman Miguel Ucovich to represent Loomis on three Placer County boards – the Economic Development Commission, the Air Pollution Control district and the Transportation Planning Agency.

“Miguel has a passion for some Loomis projects, such as another freeway exit in Loomis and having Amtrak stop at the Loomis depot, that can be worked on through the Transportation Agency committee,” Scherer said.

Scherer re-appointed Morillas to serve on the Placer County Flood Control/Water Conservation District, which meets six to 12 times per year.

“Rhonda has been on that committee for many, many years and has a lot of experience there,” Scherer said.

He appointed councilman Kelley to represent Loomis on the Placer County Mosquito Abatement District and the National Guard Commission. Scherer will serve on Sacramento Area Council of Governments and Placer Land Trust.

Most of the Placer County committee meeting attendees and the Sacramento Area Council of Governments meeting attendees receive a stipend of $100 per meeting. The county Economic Development Commission does not pay a stipend.

Scherer also established two new committees, the Border Committee and the Downtown Business Committee. The council voted to appoint the mayor and mayor pro tem to serve on those committees.

According to a town memo, the Border Committee’s purpose is to work with “neighboring jurisdictions on development and other issues that may impact across city boundaries,” while the purpose of the downtown committee is to “work with downtown business interests to improve areas within the downtown.”

Council agreed that “downtown” would include the businesses on Taylor Road from “shed to shed” and the restaurants on King Road.