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VIENNA -- The seat of late Vienna City Council member Tom Azinger was officially declared vacant at Thursday's council meeting.
"I'm not sure we'll be able to find someone that can fill the shoes Tom Azinger occupied," Mayor Randall Rapp said.
Azinger's vacancy opened a temporary position on council. A vote is set to take place in November for permanent members of council so the temporary position will only finish out the rest of Azinger's term.
In 2021, council approved an ordinance following the passing of Councilman Mike Elam that addressed the replacement of a council member. Within 30 days of the vacancy, the seat through the mayor's office will be open for applications. Candidates must be a qualified voter and a resident of the city of Vienna. Individuals who are on the ballot for election in November will not be considered.
A resolution must be passed to open applications, which council anticipates will be done at the Aug. 8 meeting. Applications will be open for a period of 14 days, including weekends and holidays. Seven days after the applications close the council will interview candidates and then select a candidate to fill the rest of the term.
Applications are available at the front desk of the Vienna City Building or online at wvsos.gov.
In other business at Thursday's council meeting, public works continues repaving of roads across Vienna. The city anticipates road work beginning Monday on 34th Street from Grand Central Avenue. Once the construction on 34th Street is completed, it will move up to Seventh Avenue. Public Works has the goal of completing those roads prior to Wood County Schools' return to classes.
"The reason these two roads are being done first is obviously because of the schools," Public Works Director Craig Metz said. "I want to get them done and get them set in place."
Further construction on different roads is available on the City of Vienna's Facebook and website.
Metz also introduced a proposal for a kayak launch ramp, though it was not on the agenda. A $280,000 grant has been promised by the state for the project. Metz procured permit numbers from the Army Corps of Engineers for construction on the waterbanks at 12th Street for the kayak launch. The current plan does not meet the American with Disability's Act standards for accessibility. Council plans to officially discuss the kayak launch at the Aug. 8 meeting.
Gwen Sour can be reached at gsour@newsandsentinel.com