A vacancy on the Marthasville Board of Aldermen was filled Tuesday evening with the appointment of John Graham.

He will fill the remainder of East Ward Alderman Jason Kober’s two-year term which expires April 2011.

Kober resigned from the board due to a change in his work schedule. He works for AmerenUE at the Labadie plant, but was recently offered a new position that will require him to go back to school. He had been on the board for four years.

The board voted 3-0 to approve Graham’s appointment and he was subsequently sworn in by City Clerk Becky Adams.

Graham expressed an interest in the board opening while attending last month’s monthly meeting. He attended that meeting to ask city officials to consider lowering the speed limit on Northridge.

Graham, who has lived in Marthasville for 3 1/2 years, is employed as the quality systems manager at DACA Machine and Tool in Dutzow. He is married with two children.

He said he is looking forward to serving the city.

“I have really grown fond of the community and I want to make it a better community hopefully,” Graham said. “I want to raise my two children here. What better way than to be active.”

In his resignation letter dated June 21, Kober stated he would no longer be able to fulfill his duties due to changes in his work schedule. He said his resignation was effective July 1.

Kober was appointed to the board in October 2006 to fill a vacancy created when then-East Ward Alderman Keith Hagedorn, who now represents the Southwest Ward, moved across town and had to resign. Kober ran unopposed and was re-elected twice in 2007 and 2009.

After announcing Kober’s resignation at last month’s aldermanic meeting, the city opened the position to any interested resident living in the East Ward.

Only one other resident, Mike Peters, expressed an interest in the board vacancy. City attorney Chris Graville said Peters could not fill the opening unless he resigned from his part-time position with the city’s street department. Peters, however, declined to be considered upon learning of the conflict.

Struckhoff Re-Elected Board President

Alderman Jim Struckhoff was re-elected as board president at Tuesday’s meeting. His reappointment was delayed somewhat after the board failed to officially vote on the position following the April municipal election.

He will continue to fill the role until April 2011.

“I think Jim has done an excellent job,” Mayor Dale Verges said prior to a vote to approve Struckhoff’s selection. “I am glad to have him as president of the board. Not to slight anybody else in the least bit, I would like to see Jim appointed to the position for the next year.”