T-R FILE PHOTO Councilwoman Sue Cahill filed her resignation from the Marshalltown City Council, effective Dec. 31. She will serve in the House of Representatives.

The Marshalltown City Council will pursue appointing a new council member for the city’s first ward.

Councilwoman Sue Cahill officially filed her resignation on Nov. 16 and will vacate her seat effective Dec. 31. She will represent House District 71, which comprises Marshalltown and the townships of Bangor, Liscomb, Vienna, Taylor and Marion.

Cahill has served on the council since 2017. Her term is scheduled to end at the end of 2021.

The city council may approve a new appointment to be filled immediately after the vacancy but the public can petition for a special election. Councilman Gary Thompson said he expects a special election will occur.

“It only takes 30 signatures. It will take a day to get those signatures,” Thompson said. “I guarantee you there’s going to be a special election.”

Thompson then recommended Cahill change her resignation date to Nov. 30, so the process of finding her replacement could move forward.

City Administrator Jessica Kinser said the council will advertise for the vacant first ward seat with the expectation of conducting interviews on Dec. 14. The appointment process would then be completed before the end of the year.

If a special election is held, it must take place within 60 days, according to Kinser. If the special election petition is submitted before an appointment is made official, the appointment will be halted and the seat vacant until after the election. If a new council member is appointed before the petition is filed, that member will serve until the special election.

The 2018 special election held to fill the second ward council seat cost the city $6,341.98 to conduct, according to Kinser.

Councilmen Gabriel Isom, Bill Martin, Mike Gowdy and Thompson voiced agreement the best decision for the council is to appoint a new member even if a special election is inevitable.

“There are sometimes critical things that come up where we could use that seventh person there,” Gowdy said. “Then we still have a leg up on the process.”

“It’s a hard decision to know what the best thing to do is from my end,” Cahill said. “I just want to make sure first ward is represented and we don’t have a gap in time appointing someone. If the election follows then let the voters choose. I just feel we should have someone in that spot.”

IN OTHER BUSINESS:

The council approved a resolution for an agreement with Stanley Consultants of Muscatine to evaluate repairs on the Center Street bridge. Public Works Director Justin Nickel said this is an exploratory step to determine what is needed to be done and what it costs. It is not likely repairs would begin until 2022 or later.

The city agreed to sell six properties to private parties and officially approved the transfer of 15 lots in the Southridge Estates Subdivision to developer Rosemont Companies.

Contact Joe Fisher at 641-753-6611 or jfisher@timesrepublican.com