County On Fast Track To Fill That Seat

The process is in place to swiftly fill the sudden vacancy on the Kimball County Board of Commissioners.

Just a few days after former Commissioner Vice Chairman Brandon Mossberg submitted his letter to resign Sept. 22 for “family reasons,” the timeline was set to find his replacement.

Here’s the plan:

• Letters of interest from potential candidates are due to County Clerk Cathy Sibal by 4 p.m. Oct. 16.

• Public interviews of the candidates will take place beginning at 9 a.m. Oct. 21 in the commissioners meeting room.

“We hope to make the appointment that day,” Sibal told the Observer.

To do that, Sibal, County Attorney David Wilson and County Treasurer Cindy Rahmig will follow Statute 32-567, which describes how the vacancy shall be filled.

The panel has 45 days to make the appointment.

The new commissioner will be tasked with filling out Mossberg’s term that expires at the end of 2022.

That person will join commission Chairman Larry Engstrom and Daria Anderson-Faden on the board, which will have a much different look in just a few of months. Anderson-Faden did not seek re-election and Commissioner-elect Carl Stander will be sworn in to succeed her in January.

Oddly enough, the yet-to-be known appointee will take office more than two months before Stander joins the fold.

Who will it be? Former commissioner candidates Justin Perry and Jim Wertz, who both placed behind Stander in this year’s election, would have to be considered among the possibilities.

Qualifications for applicants include being a registered voter and county resident.

Mossberg submitted his resignation by iPhone to Sibal on Sept. 22 after, he said, thinking “long and hard on this situation. I’ve come to realize this is the best decision for my family and myself.”

Here is Mossberg’s resignation letter:

“Dear Cathy,

“This letter serves as written notification that I am resigning from my position as County Commissioner, effective today, September 22, 2020. This final decision has been haunting me, due to the COVID-19 circumstances, and it has been a difficult decision for me since I have always considered Kimball home.

“It has been a great privilege to serve my county. I appreciate all of the valuable experience I have gained while serving as a County Commissioner.

“Again, family reasons necessitate this resignation. Sometimes one has to give up something good to keep something better.”

“Sincerely, Brandon Mossberg.”