More than 30 days after his appointment to the Midway City Council, Andrew Osborne said he has a good understanding of what kind of City Council member he wants to be. Preserving open spaces and protecting the heritage of the city, he said, are top priorities.  Osborne was appointed on Feb. 3 t o fill the midterm vacancy left open by Mayor Craig Simons upon his election. There were two years left in Simons’ term. Osborne, who previously served on the Planning Commission, immediately took his oath of office and began weighing in on items he had recommended as a commissioner.  Throwing his hat in the ring to fill the City Council midterm vacancy, Osborne said, stemmed from a desire to have a “vote that matters.” Osborne would often make recommendations unanimously supported by the Planning Commission that the City Council would later overturn.  “If you really want to be involved and have a change of what I’m going to call a vote that matters, you need to be in a position with a vote that carries to a lasting vote, and that’s on the City Council,” Osborne said.  Andrew Osborne took his oath of office immediately after his appointment to the Midway City Council on Feb. 3. Credit: Photo courtesy of Camille Palmer Osborne first wanted to sit on the Planning Commission to have a “front-row seat” to changes that are happening in Midway. He said that is something he enjoys to this day and something he continues to appreciate on the City Council.  After a month in office, Osborne’s goals remain the same: to represent the city of Midway and its residents as best as possible.  “I am a complete proponent for preserving the Midway that I know and that residents want,” Osborn said. “As a City Council and as a Planning Commission, we take what our residents are wanting very seriously.” Though Osborne moved to Midway from Redondo Beach, California — a coastal city with a population of nearly 70,000 — he said he became attached to Midway prior to his relocation. Osborne has been visiting the city since 1984, when he would travel to Utah to see a friend.  “My best friend’s family bought and restored what is now the Johnson Mill, which was a bed and breakfast for a long time, and so I would come up and visit him,” Osborne said. “I just really fell in love with it.” Osborne said he immediately understood the “vibe” of the city. It was clear that residents’ held strong family values and honored the history and heritage of the small city of 6,000. He immediately found the small-town lifestyle change he was looking for. Utilizing the skillset gained from urban planning and architecture classes at the University of Southern California, Osborne then immersed himself in local government.  He began working with Mayor Craig Simons and City Councilor Andy Garland on the planning commission where he aimed to preserve open spaces and dark skies. He said he was receptive to residents’ desires.  And that’s what he wants to continue to do as a City Council member. With new businesses and growth coming to town, Osborne said it’s important to stay true to Midway’s core values.  “We’re getting a lot of interest from people and traffic and new businesses coming in that we need to double down on what Midway does best,” Osborne said.  He has three main goals. First, to create a “unified city” where residents can reach out and be engaged with local government. Then, he wants to “fortify” and help make sure the City Council supports local businesses. Last, Osborne hopes for the continued preservation of open space and dark skies. “Because we understand that’s what people who live here want, and that’s why we want to have a focus of making sure that we give them that,” Osborne said.  New residents don’t move to Midway because it’s a ski town, Osborne said. They do so because of “the principles it has.” Osborne said he is looking forward to working toward bettering the city and collaborating with the Planning Commission and City Council during the remainder of his term as a City Council member. The post Midway City Councilor Andrew Osborne’s first 30 days appeared first on Park Record. ...read more read less