The Jefferson city council has a long agenda for its Aug. 23 meeting, with several items of particular interest.
The council will hold a public hearing to receive citizen input on eliminating wards. Currently voters elect one council member from each of three wards and two council members at-large. The council is considering shifting to five at-large seats.
According to city attorney Bob Schwarzkopf, the council has the authority to make that change by ordinance, without a ballot question. However, the city council wants to hear residents’ views.
“All local residents who appear at said meeting shall be given an opportunity to express their views regarding the proposal,” a public notice states.
The agenda also includes consideration of whether to fill an upcoming council vacancy by appointment or special election.
Council member Lisa Jaskey is resigning effective Sept. 1 due to relocation away from the city. The Aug. 23 agenda summary states that if the council fills the vacancy by appointment, two meeting will be necessary. The decision to fill by appointment would be made at one meeting, and the actual appointment would be made at a second meeting. A special notice would need to be published in between the two meetings, not less than four days and not more than 20 days before the meeting at which the appointment is made.
The voters can call for a special election before or after an appointment is made, following requirements of the Code of Iowa. Information is available on the Iowa Secretary of State website.
Ken Paxton, executive director of Greene County Development Corporation, will present the results of a workforce housing study. That information will be important in determining if the city council and/or the county board of supervisors (and public funds) should be involved in housing development.
The city council meets on the second floor of the municipal building at 220 N. Chestnut St. The meeting begins at 5:30 pm. The complete agenda is posted under the Calendar tab at GreeneCountyNewsOnline.
