Moses Lake creating plan for council member appointment

MOSES LAKE — The Moses Lake City Council is forming plans on how to go about the process of filling the open seat on the council.

At a previous council meeting the decision was made to accept applications from community members who are interested in filling Position No. 7 on the council. Former council member Mike Norman resigned from the position on Feb. 27. Applications are due by March 30 and can be obtained online by visiting www.cityofml.com or in person at the Moses Lake Civic Center building, 401 S. Balsam St.

There are several different ways and methods the council can go by to make the appointment. The consensus from the council during Tuesday night’s meeting was to have each of the applicants be asked questions during the April 10 meeting, with the council expected to make an appointment during the meeting and the appointee to be sworn in during the April 24 council meeting.

Several council members were in agreement to have only one applicant in the room at a time when they are interviewed, in a public meeting, so as to eliminate the possibility of similar answers to the questions, which they will have 10 minutes maximum to answer in front of the council. City Manager John Williams told the council the questions should be the same across the board for all of the candidates.

The council also formed a sub-committee, which will consist of Mayor Karen Liebrecht and council members Daryl Jackson and Ryann Leonard, to formulate the questions that will be asked to the candidates.

Richard Byrd can be reached via email at city@columbiabasinherald.com.