By AMY JONES / Associate Editor

HOOVER — The gathered crowd at the Hoover City Council meeting Nov. 5 rose as one to give seven standing ovations — one for re-elected Mayor Gary Ivey, and one for every member of the Hoover City Council.

Each member of the new council, including incumbents Jack Wright, Brian Skelton, Adm. John T. Natter, Gene Smith, John Greene and Trey Lott and newly elected member John Lyda, swore to uphold the constitutions of the United States and the state of Alabama.

After Lyda was sworn in, he took his seat on the council for the first time and was greeted heartily by every member of the council before sitting down.

Wright was re-elected as council president, while Skelton was re-elected as president pro tem.

Wright was also appointed as the council’s liaison to the city’s Stadium Advisory Committee. Lyda, meanwhile, was chosen as the council’s liaison to the Hoover Planning and Zoning Commission.

“I’d like to thank the people of Hoover for giving me the honor of serving them for the next four years,” said Skelton at the end of the meeting.

Each of the other council members also thanked citizens for the chance to serve.