(Spirit Lake)– The Spirit Lake City Council is looking to fill a vacancy. Keith Brockmeyer recently resigned from his seat. Brockmeyer tells KUOO news he values the time he spent on the council, adding that he’s going to remain involved in city affairs, only in a different capacity…
“Well I served on the council for five years and had become familiar with the position that Clyde Ihrke held as the Building and Zoning Official and that actually correlates well with my background in real estate and I enjoy serving the public so I put in my application for that position and was offered the position and took it, so then I resigned from the council but not without any misgivings. Actually we have a great team there now and I’m sure they’ll find a new person that will be a good fit for the council as well.”
Brockmeyer pointed out some of the major projects that took place during his tenure on the council…
“The biggest things have been some street projects which are never as interesting as some of the other things we do, but very important. And then just the growth and development of the city of Spirit Lake and the new subdivisions and the existing ones that are opening up and filling up is probably the biggest thing that I’ve enjoyed on the council is just being a part of that, and the growth of Spirit Lake.”
Brockmeyer adds he’s excited to be a part of the city’s future growth…
“With my new position I guess I’ll be a big part of that with issuing permits and reviewing plans and things, so. I’m excited for the growth of Spirit Lake.”
Regarding the council vacancy, City Attorney-Administrator Gregg Owens tells KUOO news they have not yet decided on whether to hold a special election or to fill it by appointment. Nonetheless, he’s urging anyone who may be interested to come forward…
“If anyone has any interest in filling that position, because the council can fill it, that they contact council members, whomever they may know, or contact the mayor or let someone here at City Hall know, to arrange a conversation. And then I’m sure as people express interest names would be collected and reviewed in some fashion. So as yet there’s not any formal process but now that we’re having the opportunity to get that out there that gives people an opportunity to express interest, so if anybody’s interested I would encourage them to do that.”
Owens says there are specific deadlines that need to be met for the council to decide on how to fill the seat…
“So in terms of public meetings and practicality, the last opportunity the council would have to fill the vacancy would be at the meeting on February 27th. Whenever the council feels that it’s prepared to fill the vacancy, then there would be public notice of the intent to do so in the paper as usual ahead of whatever public meeting they choose to do it.”
Should the council opt to appoint someone, that person would serve up until the next regular city/school election.
Brockmeyer has served on the Spirit Lake City Council since January 1st, 2020.
