Bonney Lake Mayor Neil Johnson may be away from the city for cancer treatment, but that doesn’t mean he has gotten away from city business.

During his treatment, Johnson is staying in contact with city administrator Don Morrison and has even made appearances at the past two city council meetings, so to speak.

After dialing in to the Aug. 16 council workshop though a conference call, Johnson “attended” the Aug. 23 regular council meeting via Skype, appearing from his hospital room at the University of Washington Medical Center on the projection screen behind the council.

“It’s an interesting perspective,” Johnson said via email. “It made it real easy to be part of the meeting.”

During the first half of the council meeting, the mayor’s camera sat on Deputy Mayor Dan Swatman, who ran the meeting in the mayor’s absence. About 45 minutes into the meeting, however, Swatman turned the camera around to the room, prompting a cheer from the mayor.

“Swatman’s a good looking guy, don’t get me wrong, but the view change was perfect,” Johnson joked in his email, adding that the deputy mayor is doing a fine job of running the meetings in his absence.

The video conference also proved valuable during a discussion on a new ordinance proposed by the administration when Johnson was able to answer questions from the council and explain his perspective on why it should pass.

Johnson was diagnosed with Chronic Myeloid Leukemia earlier this year and last week underwent a stem cell transplant to help battle the disease.

Though taking time off from his “real job,” Johnson said continuing to stay focused on city business while receiving the treatment gives him something on which to focus each day and provides a break from thinking about the next round of tests and treatment.

Johnson said the treatment thus far is going well, though there is some pain and discomfort, but it was expected. Johnson’s wife MaryAnn has been staying with him and he said she is able to get out for a walk each day.

Johnson said he hopes to get out of the hospital late this week and will be headed home for additional recovery, but because the treatment compromises his immune system, he expects to stay away from city business for several more weeks, though he said before his hope was to attend Beautify Bonney Lake on Sept. 17.

To follow Johnson’s treatment, visit www.teambonneylake.org and click the link for labeled “Neil’s Care page.”