HAYDEN - Brand new Hayden City Council member Tim Timmins felt right at home on Tuesday night at his first meeting since being elected in November.

"I'm kind of like a kid with a new toy," Timmins said, following the meeting. "It's a different experience."

It's now his top priority, he said.

He was seated in council seat No. 1, elbow to elbow with Dick Panabaker, a local government veteran.

Timmins said he already knows the other three city council members fairly well from his service on boards and committees representing builders, contractors and businesses.

"I just feel like part of the family here," said Timmins, who owns Eagle Ridge Builders.

He was soaking up the newness of it all on his first night. He knows that it's possible to move rapidly from being sworn in one night to sworn at the next.

He said he's eager to participate in a council workshop next week.

Timmins said he badly wants to change the perception of some who believe, right or wrong, that Hayden isn't a good place to build or do business.

"I want to be a part of that change," he said.

He was elected to the seat that Nancy Lowery previously held. She decided to run for mayor, and not for another term on the council, but fell short to incumbent Ron McIntire, who was easily re-elected.

McIntire said during the meeting, "She's been very instrumental for a lot of the good things that have happened here."

The mayor said he hopes Lowery finds a way to stick around and continue to contribute to the community.

The City Council had scheduled a presentation to recognize Lowery's service, but she asked that the item be removed from Tuesday night's agenda because she would be unavailable to attend.

In other council news, Roger Saterfiel was elected to his second consecutive two-year term as council president. The council voted unanimously in favor of him. He was nominated by Council member Jeri DeLange.

Saterfiel was re-elected to the council in November, running unopposed.

Timmins defeated Kris LaMarr.