Downvalley in Eagle County, saying you’re in “Egypt” usually doesn’t mean you’re overseas — it just means you’re somewhere near the border of Eagle and Gypsum.
But newly elected mayor Scott Green was abroad in actual Egypt on Tuesday night, attending via Zoom the regular meeting of the Town Council, which ushered in a new era of leadership for the town that has, up until Tuesday, had the same mayor for the last 28 years.
That former mayor — Steve Carver — presided over Green’s remote swearing-in ceremony.
“We scheduled this trip a couple years ago not knowing that Steve was going to retire,” Green said. “I had to pray to various gods to get enough internet to get on Zoom tonight, and they came through.”
Carver, who has been critical of leaders attending meetings remotely in the past, thanked Green for making the effort.
Support Local JournalismDonate
“He had this vacation planned for a long time,” Carver said. “Probably, knowing him, he’s sitting on top of a pyramid to make sure he’s got service.”
Eagle County manager Jeff Shroll, left, with County Commissioner Tom Boyd, center, and former Gypsum Mayor Steve Carver, right. John LaConte/Vail DailyThe meeting also doubled as a farewell celebration for Carver, who has served on the council for 32 years, 28 of them as mayor.
Eagle County Commissioner Tom Boyd and County Manager Jeff Shroll attended the meeting, presenting Carver with a posterboard from the Eagle County government which was signed by employees thanking him for his service.
Shroll was the town manager of Gypsum for nearly 25 years before becoming the Eagle County manager, and said Carver helped countless people not just as mayor but through his business, Big Steve’s Towing & Recovery.
“There was countless times where people, maybe down on their luck, had their car break down and never got a tow bill, or never got charged for the lot where their car was stored,” Shroll said. “That’s the kind of mayor that the town of Gypsum has had for the last 28 years.”
In addition to swearing in Green, newly elected council members Jay Oyler and Adam Trujillo were sworn in, as well, along with re-elected incumbent Marisa Sato.
Carver said he feels good about the next era of leadership elected in Gypsum.
“I stayed awake on Tuesday night until 11:30, until I seen who had won, and then I could sleep,” he said. “You’re gonna move forward great with the people you’ve got.”