Great Bend Post
The City of Great Bend currently has no clear definition of what creates
a vacancy or any procedure to address when a person is elected to a position on
the city council but fails to accept the office or attend the meetings. This
either leaves a portion of the citizenry not fully represented or leaves the
city with only the cumbersome and expensive processes of ouster or a recall
election.
The city council will consider adopting an ordinance at the Monday, June 5 meeting
that allows the replacement of non-functioning members, which is less of a
hassle.
Brock McPherson, 4th Ward councilmember, has missed the past 11 meetings.
Dec. 5, 2022 was the last meeting McPherson attended. The reason for McPherson's absence has not been publicly announced.
Under the new, suggested ordinance, if the mayor or councilmember fails to
attend three consecutive regular meetings without an excuse accepted by the
governing body, that person will be classified as resigning. At that time, the
mayor with the consent of the council will appoint a suitable individual from the
ward to fill the vacancy.
The ordinance regarding vacancies on the governing body will be discussed
Monday with the meeting at City Hall beginning at 6:30 p.m.
Attendance of Great Bend City Council meetings in 2023 (10 meetings)
Cody Schmidt - 9 of 10
Kevyn Soupiset - 9 of 10
Brock McPherson - 0 of 10
Alan Moeder - 8 of 10
Jolene Biggs - 10 of 10
Cory Urban - 10 of 10
Lindsey Krom-Craven - 9 of 10
Natalie Towns - 7 of 10
Davis Jimenez - 9 of 10