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Buhl council accepts BEDA resignation but stalls replacements and changes to board makeup
Summary
The Buhl City Council accepted a BEDA commissioner’s resignation but failed to approve an appointment, a public posting of the vacancy and a proposed ordinance amendment altering how many council members sit on the Economic Development Authority.
The Buhl City Council on Jan. 21 accepted the immediate resignation of BEDA commissioner Tom Hewett, but the council did not fill the resulting vacancy and rejected a proposed change to the ordinance that defines BEDA’s composition.
Mayor James Matthews moved to accept Hewett’s resignation; the motion was approved unanimously. Councilors then debated whether to appoint a community member who had expressed interest, John Klarich, or to post the opening to the public. An initial nomination for Klarich was rescinded after members reviewed past practice about filling vacated seats (typically for the remainder of the original term).
A restated motion to appoint Klarich to serve until Dec. 31, 2026 failed; a separate motion to post public notice and accept expressions of interest through Feb. 28, 2025 also failed. Minutes do not record final vote tallies for those failed motions.
Council members also discussed whether the city should amend Section §31.04 of the Buhl Code of Ordinances, which currently requires that three of seven BEDA commissioners be city council members. Mayor Matthews argued that having a council quorum on BEDA could create the appearance that items might be "railroaded" by a subset of councilors; the city attorney noted that the council itself could statutorily act as an EDA board. A motion to direct the administrator to begin the ordinance-amendment process to require two council commissioners failed.
Councilor Brian Kealy emphasized the value of public notice when filling at-large seats; other councilors said past practice has varied. The council agreed to leave the vacancy unfilled for now. The meeting minutes record that the city attorney will provide a legal opinion on any proposed ordinance change.
Next steps: No appointment was finalized at the meeting; the resignation was accepted and the vacancy remains open pending future council action.
