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[From left] Council member Jennifer Lattin in her first meeting, mayor Ron Hanegraaf in his first meeting as mayor, and council members Janet Hegland and Rob Busch, all voted to appoint a new member of the council, which is expected to take place during the council’s Wednesday, Jan. 22 meeting.

 Photo by Hannah Davis

The Columbus City Council will be appointing a new member to the seat after deciding on a process of how to fill the seat, which is open as now Mayor Ron Hanegraaf left his council seat in the middle of his term. The council voted unanimously — but not without significant debate –on Wednesday, Jan. 8 to appoint a new council member after allowing applications by current board or commission members. The council’s debate was headlined by a stalemate based on opinions on who they would or would not like to appoint. The council agreed to allow applications in the form of a letter of intent along with qualifications by any of the city’s commissions or boards through 8 a.m. on Monday, Jan. 17.

Public speakers who commented on how they’d like to see the seat filled all expressed a desire for an appointment after it was noted that a special election would cost the city upwards of $10,000 — not including staff time — and that the earliest a new council member would be seated would be roughly ten months into the term if a special election were had.

  
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