Sidney Town Council is looking for someone to fill a vacant position on their board.
The position is vacant due to Brandon Allen resigning Sept. 18 due to health issues.
Kosciusko County Democrat Chair Brian Smith had a minimum of 10 days and a maximum of 30 days to fill the position. Smith’s time ran out Oct. 17 and the town didn’t find out about it until afterward, said Clerk-Treasurer Lisa Parrett.
The town council now can find a person on their own.
Parrett said the town has until Tuesday to find someone, but Council President Sharon Rancourt spoke with an election representative in Indianapolis and was told as long as the council is actively looking for a replacement, they can still fill the position after that.
Interested people can call 260-823-1005 or stop by the clerk-treasurer’s office at 307 S. Main St. Hours are 2:30 to 5:30 p.m. Tuesday and 9:30 a.m. to noon Thursday.
Parrett said any candidate must be a Sidney resident. Technically, the position was a Democratic position, but at this point, the council is looking at anyone interested in the position.
Kosciusko GOP Chair Mike Ragan spoke with Indiana Secretary of State Connie Lawson about what would happen if the town council was unable to appoint someone. Lawson was unsure of the answer as this is the first situation she’s heard of in her eight years as secretary of state. Lawson referred Ragan to speak with Brad King, co-director of the Indiana Election Division, to get a better answer. Ragan said Lawson’s mailbox was full and he had not gotten a reply as of 5 p.m. Thursday.
The Sidney Town Council will have a Zoom meeting Monday at 6 p.m. In the first part of the meeting, any interested candidates can tell the town council why they want to be part of the council. Anyone interested can call 260-823-1005 for further information.
Those interested in the position will be given a list of things council members do, so the person is aware of what goes into the job and what it requires, Parrett said. “There’s a lot of things we do.”
Allen was the seventh person to resign this year in Sidney.
In January, former clerk-treasurer Lana Wolfe resigned, along with town council member Republican Ricky Bradley, as there were some questions about how they came to office. Democrat Kenneth Koontz resigned due to his failing health. The only Sidney official who did not resign at that time was Democrat Jack Wolfe.
Bradley was replaced by Rancourt, and Lana Wolfe was replaced by Republican Etta Hurd, both appointed by Kosciusko County Republican Party Chairman Mike Ragan on Jan. 23. Koontz was replaced by Democrat Gavin Parrett, who was appointed by Smith.
Lydia Neal was appointed to the clerk-treasurer position Feb. 25 after Hurd resigned Feb. 10 due to health concerns for a family member. Jack Wolfe resigned March 15. Smith said Jack Wolfe did not give a reason for his resignation. A special meeting was in the process of being scheduled to remove Jack from the council after his resignation was requested. Allen was appointed April 14 by Smith.
Neal resigned from the clerk-treasurer’s position on May 9. Ragan was not given a reason for Neal’s resignation. Parrett was appointed clerk-treasurer May 26.
