Mayor Roll relents, puts Olsen on five-committees

Serving on city committees is what Libby City Councilman Allen Olsen has wanted since he was elected seven months ago, and Monday night he officially got his wish.

“As your ... leader, I’m feeling pretty good, and I’m going to put Allen Olsen on all the committees D.C. Orr served on,” Mayor Doug Roll announced just three minutes into the City Council meeting Monday.

Olsen edged out Orr by just a few votes to win the third seat on the City Council during January’s election. Incumbent Council members Peggy Williams and President Bill Bischoff also won retained their seasts.

Olsen will serrve on the Fire, Building, Lights/Streets/Sidewalks, Judicial and Union Negotiations committees. He also is the city’s Public Safety/Traffic Coordinator officer.

“I’m happy,” Olsen began. “It’s about time. It’s only taken seven months.”

Olsen has attended committee meetings. He recently helped to establish a quorum for the Parks Committee when it convened to recommend paving Riverfront Park. Park Board member also attended that meeting late, but it was Olsen’s attendance that allowed the meeting to convene.

Mayor Roll has contested Olsen’s residency, questioning whether Olsen retains a residence in the city at 703 Louisiana Avenue. That residence has been undergoing renovation after a water pipe burst in February. Olsen openly admitted that four months of the year he resides at his nursery business, located just outside the city limits.

Roll’s appointment of Olsen to the five committees further shows a thawing of relations between the two who have been at odds almost since Olsen took the Oath of Office.