Farmington City Council Names Schneemann to Open Seat

In just one round of voting Monday, Farmington city officials selected Planning Commission member Steve Schneemann to fill the seat left open when Kristin Kuiken resigned in May. 

Applicants included Robert Fougere, Dwayne Hayes and Sara Bowman and Jeff Scott, who also serve on the Planning Commission. Officials interviewed all five last week.

During Monday's meeting, council members wrote their top two candidates on a paper ballot. Schneeman's name appeared most often, and the vote to appoint him was unanimous. 

Officials agreed that the quality of applicants made their decision a challenge. 

Council member JoAnne McShane said she was looking for a team member who could help with the city's focus on economic development goals, as well as those being identified through the city's visioning process. 

"The decision point for me is someone who is invested in the city, who is passionate about the city," council member Greg Cowley said, as well as someone who would not need training and understands the city's financial issues. 

Schneemann, an architect, currently serves as vice president of the Farmington Downtown Development Authority board and has long been involved with the Main Street downtown redevelopment program's Design Committee. 

He will serve out the remainder of Kuiken's term, through November, 2015.