Highlights of Tuesday’s Richmond Hill City Council meeting included an announcement that the city will soon have a third McDonald’s restaurant and Mayor Richard Davis presenting a local teen with a key to the city.
At the beginning of the meeting, Davis issued a proclamation of recognition and also an honorary key to Richmond Hill to 17-year-old Richmond Hill High School student and cancer survivor/activist Ben Botelho.The proclamation in part said, "the mayor and council of the city of Richmond Hill is honored to recognize and celebrate Ben Botelho, whose courage, compassion and concern for the welfare of others is a source of pride and inspiration to all citizens of our community."
Botelho, who attended the meeting with his parents, was surprised and excited to receive the honor.
"We knew that Mayor Davis and the council would be recognizing Ben as the Children’s Miracle Network representative, but did not know exactly what was to take place," said Ben’s mother, Maria Botelho. "It was such an honor and blessing to have Mayor Davis and the council present the proclamation and the key to Richmond Hill."
Later that evening, plans were approved for a new McDonald’s restaurant in the Publix shopping plaza. It will be operated by Gary Dodd, who owns the other two McDonald’s in town.