Lilburn and Timmer appointed to Council

Mayor Penny Lilburn and City Councilman John Timmer were appointed by their peers Wednesday to serve another four years on the City Council.

Lilburn and Timmer were both up for re-election this year and running unopposed in the November election. The Council, therefore, had a choice: direct an election to be held on Nov. 4 or appoint the two incumbents to take office and serve exactly as if a municipal election for the office.

The Council chose the latter, saving the city $32,752 - the total cost for its portion of the ballot and advertising.

Timmer has served on the Council since 1992 and is a retired battalion chief for the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection.

Lilburn was first elected to the council in January 2004. She is the executive director of the Highland Senior Center and serves on the Omnitrans board of directors.

She is also a member of Southern California Associated Governments and is a regional subcommittee member representing San Bernardino Associated Governments, the county's transportation planning agency.

Lilburn and Timmer sit on the Council at a time when the city is undergoing some major transformations, development wise.

The Golden Triangle on Greenspot Road, between the 210 Freeway and Boulder Avenue, will bring a Lowes Home Improvement Center, a multitude of retail stores, restaurants and residences to the city. It will provide new sales and property tax revenues and provide a hub of shopping and dining activity.

Lilburn said she's also looking forward to a new Town Center on Base Line, west of the 210 Freeway, and the opening of San Manuel Village at Highland Avenue and the 330 Freeway, among other things.

"I think John (Timmer) and I are very fortunate that Highland residents have enough confidence in that we have Highland's best interest in mind, and we work hard for them," Lilburn said.
City Councilmen Ross Jones and Larry McCallon and Councilwoman Jody Scott are up for re-election in 2010.