(Terril)– Meeting in special session Tuesday evening, the Terril City Council voted 4-0 to accept the resignations of Julie Thiesen as Mayor and Amy Ness as a city council member. They also adopted a resolution of intent to fill both vacancies through appointments. They’ll make the appointments at a public hearing during a special session of the city council scheduled for 6:00 pm Wednesday, August 19th.
The council took the action after hearing from City Attorney Dave Stein who recommended the council appoint the successors…
“Rather than a special election which in a previous experience, I believe it’s cheaper and faster but you can do whatever you want. And like I said if any of the citizenry in town does not agree with that they can get a petition together if they meet the minimum requisite number of signatures and follow the procedure and process, they could call for a special election either way. Most of the cities that I’ve worked with over the last, I don’t know, 30 years, I guess, have tried to do the appointment as the primary and occasionally, not a huge amount, but occasionally we’ll get a petition for a special election. I’m recommending that we try to do it by appointment.”
Stein added that time is somewhat of the essence with the town currently being without a mayor and one council member…
“I think the sooner that we can get a Mayor and council person appointed, probably the better for the city, so I would just recommend even if we have to do it by a special meeting, try to do that at the earliest practical time.”
An official public notice will be published regarding the council’s intent to appoint the successors. Those who meet the requirements and are interested in serving should contact Mayor Pro Tem Jeri Nissen or a city council member prior to the August 19th meeting.
