(Spirit Lake)– Meeting in special session Friday, the Spirit Lake city council was updated on options for filling an impending vacancy when councilman Jeff Thee resigns the first of the year.
Thee is stepping down as he and his family will be moving to Cedar Rapids.
Assistant City Attorney Gregg Owens told the council under Iowa Code, they have two options: hold a special election or appoint someone.
Under the latter option, Owen says a resident could file a petition calling for a special election. Such a petition would have to be filed within 14 days of publication of an intent to appoint or within 14 days of an appointment actually being made.
The council indirectly indicated Friday it may go the route of appointing someone. Thee’s term has about a year left, and the concensus among several council members was that it wouldn’t be worth calling a special election.
The council unanimously approved a motion setting January 9th, the date of the council’s next regular meeting, to set a date for making an appointment.
