Council interviews planned after candidate statements; Save the Bridge group seeks council support for Interurban Bridge

At the conclusion of the Jan. 12 meeting, the City of Waterville council invited applicants for two open council seats into an executive session for personnel interviews and said selections would be made in open session following interviews. The mayor described a card draw to determine interview order; council later made a motion, seconded, and voted to enter executive session.

Before the executive session, applicants addressed the council and public. Speakers who identified themselves included Mike (first name only), Tim Guzman (who said he had served previously on council and as vice mayor), Nick Sargent (noted for safety committee work and private business ownership), Rob Allen, Scott Johns, Amy Self, and Karen Ebock. Each gave brief remarks about background and reasons for seeking appointment.

Public commenter Dave Weber, representing the Save the Bridge Association, asked the council to (1) propose a resolution for a city letter of support to save the Interurban Bridge, (2) pursue Certified Local Government (CLG) status to strengthen access to preservation grants and signal municipal commitment to historic preservation, and (3) consider a closed session to discuss potential municipal ownership of the bridge (ODOT currently owns the structure). Mayor Pedro said the city has scheduled meetings with ODOT and that pursuing CLG designation is already on the 2026 agenda; no council resolution or vote on bridge ownership occurred at the Jan. 12 meeting.