by Mike Knaak
editor@thenewsleaders.com
A fairly routine decision became a little more complicated for the St. Joseph City Council at its Jan. 21 meeting because of arithmetic.
At the beginning of the year, governments vote on a number of housekeeping issues such as appointments to boards and commissions and these votes usually go quickly.
But when the City Council turned to appointing an acting mayor, things slowed a bit.
The current acting mayor, Council Member Anne Buckvold, was chairing the meeting in Mayor Rick Schultz’s absence. When she called for an acting mayor nomination for the new year, Council Member Bob Loso nominated Troy Goracke, a motion seconded by Council Member Brian Theisen.
When the council voted, the result, with Schultze absent, turned out 2-2. Goracke voted no and Buckvold voted no because Goracke was reluctant to accept the role. The council then voted 3-1 to table the issue until the Feb. 5 meeting.
Loso broke the deadlock and settled the issue by nominating Theisen who was chosen acting mayor on a 4-0 vote.
The acting mayor steps in if the mayor is unavailable to conduct city business, including chairing council meetings.
