CityHallVCValley City (CSi) The Valley City Commission met Wednesday morning at 8:30 in Special Session at City Hall.

Commissioner Luke, was not present.

Commissioners approved receiving a petition for a Special Election for the mayor vacancy, and setting a Special Election date.

A group led by Janis Clark Klein successfully gathered the necessary signatures to have the City Commission call for an election to fill out the remaining two year term of former mayor Bob Werkhoven.

City Auditor Avis Richter said petitioners submitted, within the 15 day required time line, more than the 66 signatures from city residents needed for the city commission to set up an election.

Richter said City Commissioners will formally address the Special Election Resolution at the June 7, 2016 City Commission meeting.

The time line will include time to officially publish notice of the election in the official newspaper.

Potential candidates will have 30 days to take out and have petitions signed, returned and qualified from June 13, 2016, to July 10, 2016.

Following the submission and approval of the petitions, candidates will have 64 days to campaign.

That sets the Special Election date of September 15, 2016.

Absentee voting will also be allowed in this election

 

Previously…

Under the City Code, the City Commission may call a special election to fill the unexpired term, or may, after 15 days appoint a person to fill the unexpired term.

Another option is upon a petition of 5 percent of the qualified electors (based on the total number of ballots cast in the last city general election) the city commission must call a special election if there is more than 6 months left on the term, and the petition has been submitted within 15 days of the vacancy.

Mayor Robert Werkhoven resigned on May 12, 2016, and the City Commission accepted his resignation at the May 17, 2016, City Commission meeting. The current mayoral term in Valley City ends in June of 2018.