Lowell to fill vacant City Council position

LOWELL -- The City Council could fill one vacated seat during its April meeting only to have another seat vacated in May.

City officials are accepting applications for the Ward 2, Position 2 after Connor Jones resigned during a February meeting. The seat officially was vacated during the council's March meeting.

At A Glance

Arkansas code 14-43-411 outlines how cities with 20,000 people or less should fill vacant city council positions.

Jones said he resigned after accepting a job out of state.

Council member Keith Williams also announced plans to resign during the March meeting. He said his family is in the process of moving to another city. Williams holds the Ward 3, Position 1 seat.

Mayor Eldon Long said it isn't uncommon for council members to resign for personal reasons.

"Our lives change," Long said. "There is a lot of unpredictably in life."

Thomas N. Kieklak, city attorney, said the City Council is required declare a vacancy no later than its next regular meeting after a council member's resignation. The council is then required to appoint someone to fill the seat at the next regular meeting.

Council member Lonnie Jones previously asked if Connor Jones' position could be filled by a public election. State law requires it be filled by a majority vote of the council, Kieklak replied. The mayor isn't allowed to cast a vote in the decision, he said.

"If you are under 20,000 residents you don't get to have an election," Kieklak said. "The law doesn't say 'you may,' it says 'you shall' proceed to a majority vote by the remaining City Council."

Lowell's population was 7,327 in 2010, according to the Census Bureau.

Kieklak said elections can be expensive. They also can be time-consuming to organize.

Long said residents can apply for the Ward 2, Position 2 seat by sending an application to City Hall, 216. N. Lincoln St. The application deadline is 4:30 p.m. April 10.

The City Council will hold a public forum at 6 p.m. prior to its April 21 meeting to ask applicants questions, Long said. A decision will be made during the meeting.

It 's possible the council will decide to enter an executive session to discuss the matter, Long said.

"It is always a possibility on personnel matters," Long said. "A lot of that will probably depend on how many applicants we have."

The city had three applicants as of Tuesday, Long said.

Kieklak said the Freedom of Information Act allows the council to meet in executive session for the purpose of considering employment or appointments of public officers or employees.

The person appointed to the position will serve out the remainder of the term, which ends in December 2019.

Connor Jones was appointed to the seat in 2013 and elected during the 2014 election.

Williams hasn't yet resigned. If he does, there would be two years remaining on the term.

NW News on 04/01/2015

Upcoming Events