Council directs staff to post vacancy; sets July 30 deadline and tentative Aug. 4 interviews

The City Council voted unanimously at a special meeting Tuesday to post a notice of vacancy for a council seat and to accept letters of interest through 3 p.m. on Thursday, July 30, 2026, with a tentative schedule for interviews on Aug. 4 and a final appointment on Aug. 18 if more applicants require vetting.

City staff advised the council that state law requires either an appointment or a special election within 60 days of a vacancy and recommended an appointment because a special election would be infeasible within the timeline and would add costs. "There are specific statutory requirements for this, either an appointment or a special election needs to be called within 60 days," staff member Josh Brinsky said, recommending the appointment process and proposing advertisement of the opening and a July 30 deadline for letters of interest.

City Clerk Janice said the notice would be posted on the city website, in the local paper and at City Hall and the post office. She told the council that the last time the city filled a vacancy it received eight applicants. "We plan on putting it on the city's website, posting it at the post office, City Hall, and I came up with the 07/30/2026 deadline," Janice said.

Council members discussed whether to hold interviews and whether to set the decision for Aug. 4 or Aug. 18. One council member said the timeline should hinge on how many people apply: if only a few apply, the council could move quickly; if more apply, the council should allow time for interviews. "Let's do interviews, vet those, discuss those, and appoint," one council member said as he moved the motion to post the vacancy as outlined by Janice; another council member seconded the motion.

The motion—calling for letters of interest by July 30 at 3 p.m., tentative interviews and discussion on Aug. 4, and appointment on Aug. 18 (subject to the number of applicants)—passed on a voice vote with all present saying "aye." The council did not record individual roll-call votes.

The council closed the roughly 15-minute meeting after approving the posting plan. Next steps: staff will post the notice and accept letters of interest through July 30; the council will confirm whether to conduct public interviews and whether to finalize the appointment on Aug. 4 or Aug. 18 based on the number of applicants.