Commission Terms Change This December

With the adoption of a new ordinance and resolution recently, Atchison City Commissioners have changed the tenures for commissioners moving forward.

Now, instead of commissioners having multiple lame duck meetings after an election, there will only be one regular business session between Election Day and the swearing-in of newly elected.

After state legislation adopted this past session made it possible for cities to install elected officials earlier than mid-January, the Atchison commissioners voted to do just that. Moving forward during election years, commissioners will now be installed during the first meeting in December. Prior to the statute change, cities were forced to install elected officials on the second Monday in January – which meant a special meeting in Atchison since the current regular meeting schedule is the first and third Mondays of each month.

The change takes effect this year. Following the Nov. 5 election, the newly elected commissioners will be installed on Monday, Dec. 2.

“It’s important that the will of the people be considered when these types of policies are put in place,” City Manager Becky Berger said. “With the State Legislature changing the applicable statutes, we are happy to get the newly elected commissioners into office as quickly as possible.”

City Commissioners are elected during odd-numbered years, with three seats always open. During each election cycle, the top two vote-getters receive four-year terms, with the third-place candidate earning a two-year term.

Also changed with the new resolution, the re-organization of the commission will also take place during the first meeting in December. This includes the selection of a new Mayor and Vice Mayor to lead the following year.

There are seven candidates running for the three commission seats up for election in November.

For more information please contact Joe Warren at (913) 367-5500 or joew@cityofatchison.com.