Atikokan City Council officially has a vacancy.
Councillor Janelle Zacharias has resigned from her position.
Typically the next step would be for council to reach out to the runner-up for the position.
Brain Stimson was the runner-up, and council plans to reach out to gauge his willingness to take on the role.
If he is uninterested in the position there are a few alternative options.
The first would be the clerk reaching out to the next candidates in line for the position following Stimson.
The next is doing the same for runners-up in the previous mayoral race.
If these options don’t bear fruit, council could look to making a call for applicants, allowing residents a chance to apply.
The other option would be to hold a by-election, but the 2022 Municipal and School Board election incurred expenses totalling around $27,140.00.
These costs include retaining the internet and telephone voting provider as well as postage services for mailing the Voter Information Letters.
Despite the by-election being for a single vacant council seat, the expenses would be comparable to the previous election as similar steps are necessary such as mailing Voter Information Letters and updating the Voter’s List.
Currently, council does not have the budget established for a by-election.
In addition to the spot on council, seats on the Library and Northwestern Health Unit Boards will have to be filled.
