City Council - Special Meeting

Good afternoon, everyone. We proceed each council meeting with a word of prayer and pledge of allegiance. If you would like, please feel free to join us. Ms. Isby, can I get your word of prayer? Sure.

If you'll bow with me. Our gracious Father, we thank you for this day that you've blessed us with. We just thank you, Lord, for the upcoming holidays that are coming. We just pray for the safety of everyone. We just ask, Lord, that you lead and guide us in the way that you would have us to go and pray for all the decisions that we make, that at the end you will get the glory and the honor that you're so deserving of. In your name we pray. Amen.

Amen. I pledge allegiance to the flag of the United States of America and to the republic for which it stands, one nation, under God, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all.

I'll call this meeting order. Ms. Hurd, would you call roll, please?

Mr. Hawkins?

Here.

Mr. Grimes? Here. Ms. Mell? Here. Mr. Ledbetter? Here. Mr. Hawks? Here. Mr. Jones? Here. Ms. Isby? Here.

Okay, we have one order of business today. It's a resolution to call a special election on November 3rd, 2026 to fill the vacancy for city council for Ward 2, position 1. I did get some answers for you, David. Margaret Daughter said the cost will be minimal because they'll already have the poll workers and everything in place. She said there will be a minor, minor charge for some of the work they have to do to put it on the ballot. As far as the person elected, they will take office after the votes are certified. So I think that was the two questions we had. All right. With that, counsel?

One thing, on the actual resolution presented, it says Ward 2, Position 2, and it should say Ward 2, Position 1.

Yes, thank you. Correcting that, Ms. Mayo.

It's correct down in Section 1.

Thank you. Council, of course, Mr. Finkenbiner told you what your... Choices were, what do y'all want to do?

Make a motion for adoption of the resolution.

I have a motion and a second to adopt this resolution. Any further discussion?

Just to be clear for the people listening, this puts this vacant seat on the November 3rd ballot. And that person will take office at the Voter Certified Meeting. They will serve out approximately two years and a month and a half of this remaining term. And then at the November election of 2028, we'll be on the ballot again.

And they'll be eligible to run.

And they will be eligible to run. Yes. So this is fulfilling a term that will last about two years and six weeks, give or take.

Okay. One other question. Do we have... plans to fill this vacancy between now and that time?

We can do that today. You have two choices. We can go in executive session and do that, or we can do it right here. If y'all choose to put a name forward, then you would vote on it. If that person decides to accept, then we'd just move forward and they would finish out Councilman Sperger's term until the elections. Anyone have any names?

Let's vote on the resolution first.

Yeah, I want to go into executive session. No, let's vote on it. OK, I'm sorry. Ms. Hurd.

This is resolution R2627. All in favor, say aye. Aye. Any opposed?

That passes 7 to 0. Now, council, we can do it right here, which I have no problem with. I don't think y'all do either. Or we can go into executive session, whatever you want to do.

Do it right here.

Do y'all have any names you'd like to present?

I'd like to nominate Drew Spurgers to serve out the balance of this term until the November election. He has said that he would be willing to stay on and serve in that capacity, and I would like to make a motion for that.

I'll second it.

I don't think so. Tell me.

It's not on the agenda, so I think the better course is to suspend it now.

actual appointment and since it's a statutory op option okay i'll take a motion to suspend the rules second and most of the second to suspend the rules we move forward with uh submitting names to possibly fill this position any further discussion miss bergers all in favor say aye aye any of those i'd written sperger down right here all right now we had a motion

Yeah, I'll make a motion that we ask Drew Spurgers to continue in his current capacity. I do appreciate him letting us know this in plenty of time so that we could get this on the ballot and allow the people to make a choice in November, but I would say I would like to nominate Drew Spurgers to continue working with this council until the election in November of 2026.

And I'll second that.

Okay, we have a motion and a second to put the name of Drew Spurgers to complete the term until the election, at which time the election will be held and the winner will finish out Mr. Spurgers' term. It will also be eligible for reelection. Any further discussion?

All in favor, say aye. Aye. Any opposed?

Passes 7-0. Council, hope you all have a great holiday, and I will take a motion to adjourn.

Second. All right. I don't know about watching my TV show. I know. Oh, that was very good.