By Ben Robinson, Courier Staff

LIBERTY — Councilman Brian Petersen was elected as mayor pro tem by Liberty city council Monday night.

“I will do everything I can,” Petersen said after accepting his new position of leadership. Petersen said he now considers Liberty his hometown, having lived in the city longer than he has anywhere else in his life.

As mayor pro tem, Peterson will conduct meetings of the Liberty City Council on occasions when mayor Eric Boughman cannot be present. Other duties of the mayor pro tem will be determined in the coming weeks.

Council also heard from Chelsea Jackson, who rented council chambers in the Rosewood Center last year to teach Zumba classes. Jackson hoped to rent the chambers again this year at the same rate.

Jackson said she hopes to combat childhood obesity with her classes.

In the past 20 years, the number of children facing obesity has tripled, Jackson said.

Jackson said she plans to offer a discount to students at Liberty High School. She also hope to offer classes for senior citizens. But Jackson realizes her classes will not likely be profitable.

“This is the career path I have chosen,” Jackson said. “It was never meant to make money.”

Boughman was pleased with Jackson’s presentation.

“I like it,” Boughman said. “I think you have a good thing going.”

Council voted to purchase a new printer for the city water department to print water bills. The old printer lasted 11 1/2 years, much longer than promised.

The Liberty Christmas Parade has been rescheduled for Sunday at 3 p.m. Roy Costner will be the emcee for the parade. Two of the three judges who had agreed to attend the parade will not be able to attend the rescheduled event. Only Sheriff Rick Clark, a former Liberty City Councilman, will still be able to attend the parade. A search is under way for two new judges.

Councilman Lavant Padgett suggested that council take advantage of the rescheduled parade and ride together on a float in the parade. Boughman said he had planned to ride with the recreation football team he coaches, but would join the council, as long as they stayed close to the football team.

“I will walk, ride, whatever y’all do,” Boughman said.

Council may ride a city firetruck in the parade, but a decision on that will be made sometime before the parade, so parade organizers can be notified.