By MIKE COURSON
Great Bend Post
The idea of democracy is equal representation. The city of Hoisington is now accepting applications for two city council spots after two council members moved out of the wards for which they were elected to represent. City Manager Jonathan Mitchell said the council now has vacancies in wards one and two.
"Every meeting is important," he said. "It's important for all of our folks to have a voice. These two council members are coming from different wards. in Hoisington, we have four wards, so a vacancy in two of those means half our community is without the same representation, so we really need to get those filled."
To represent Hoisington in those wards, interested parties must be registered voter in those wards, and must submit a letter of interest to the city by 5 p.m. on Wednesday, April 19. The new councilmembers could be selected at the following Monday's meeting.
"They'll take letters up until that date, then we'll distribute those to the seated members of the governing body, and they'll discuss those at their meeting on the 24th and potentially select someone from that pool on the 24th."
Karen VanBrimmer and Carrol Nather moved out of wards one and two, respectively. Both remaining terms will expire in January 2025. Anyone with questions about the vacancies can contact the city at (620) 653-4125. Letters of interest may be delivered or mailed to the city office at 109 E. 1st Street, P.O. Box 418, Hoisington, Kansas, 67544.