CHUBBUCK — A new era of leadership began in Chubbuck after Rodney Burch was officially sworn in as mayor during a City Council meeting Wednesday night.

City Council members Norman Reece and Roger Hernandez also took their oaths of office, joining Burch at the podium following Kevin England’s departure, which drew a standing ovation from audience members.

Before proceeding to regular City Council business, which included a unanimous vote approving Hernandez as council president, Burch addressed city staff, council members and area residents.

“I am honored and appreciative of the opportunity to serve this community in the office of mayor,” Burch said. “I’m grateful that, one, I have a desire to do it, but two, that the community has supported me and put me in this position to allow me to do so. There were five of us elected officials who stood up here today, and I wanted to recognize that we are all here because of the majority vote of those in our community. But I also acknowledge that the vote was not unanimous. Even though we are positioned here with that majority vote, it still means we serve the entire community, and I want to acknowledge that.”

Burch, during an interview with the Idaho State Journal, reaffirmed his campaign promises for his first 100 days, giving the highest priority to efforts to unite city officials, the Land Use and Planning Commission and Chubbuck Development Authority to ensure each has a common goal and vision for the local community.

Burch also committed to creating four advisory committees for the city.

“Those are the building and development, parks and recreation, local small business and the fourth being economic development,” Burch said. “Those committees are intended for us to use as tools, comprised of residents and business owners, that will give recommendations to the City Council on the needs of our community. There’s extreme value in us doing that. I made the comment multiple times in the campaign that not all great ideas come from City Hall. We need to make sure we’re listening to those who live in and do business in our community.”

Regarding the state of the city government, Burch said officials are already in a good position. Burch has made hiring a new fire chief a high priority, intending to promote from within. Committee interviews and a recommendation to the City Council for the new fire chief are set for Jan. 21.

“The result of this election is that we have four seated council members who have sat for at least one term,” Burch said. “We have great experience there. We have great wisdom with those other elected officials. I would also convey that we have a tremendous police chief, our department heads in public works and finance and administration, and quality people doing a tremendous job. We intend to add to that with the new fire chief position. You may be aware that our CFO has left and moved to a position in Pocatello, and we have asked Eric Jablonski to act as the interim CFO at least through our FY 27 budget process.”

For Burch, being Chubbuck’s mayor is not about legacy but about a strong desire to help the city and the community as a whole, including Bannock County and Pocatello, establishing a vision of “who we are and who we want to become.”

Without a clear vision, Burch believes there is a tendency to accept routine and that comfort is an enemy to progress.

Echoing his sentiments during his oath of office, Burch said he is ready to get to work now that the celebrations and ceremonies are over.

“I’m sitting in that office for the first time right now, and it’s obvious in City Hall that our people know what their jobs are,” Burch said. “They’re actively executing them, even with a new mayor. To the residents and the businesses, I personally appreciate their vote and support in placing me in this position.”

Burch continued, “Equally important, I would ask for their trust and their optimism as we move the entire city forward into the future. I do think we have tremendous potential. I’m standing here in my office looking out at the Portneuf range and the City Creek area for hiking and biking and Scout Mountain and the opportunity to access the National Forest. We just have a tremendous amount of resources that make us a great community and I’m happy to be part of that.”