The city of Marthasville has a vacancy on its board of aldermen following the resignation of East Ward Alderman Jason Kober.

 Kober resigned due to a conflict with his work schedule. He is employed by AmerenUE at the Labadie power plant, but was recently offered a new position that will require him to go back to school, according to Mayor Dale Verges.

At Tuesday’s board meeting, aldermen voted 3-0 to accept Kober’s resignation. City officials said they prefer to fill the vacancy at the next regular monthly meeting scheduled for Aug. 10. 

The new alderman, who would be nominated by Verges and approved by the board, would fill the remainder of Kober’s term which expires April 2011.

Verges complimented Kober for his nearly four-year service to the city.

“He’s done a good job,” Verges said. “He always thinks outside the box. He’s been a real good board member. I hate to see this letter come across.”

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.

“It has been an honor and a privilege to serve the citizens of my ward since October 2006,” Kober wrote.

Kober was appointed to the board 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 his seat. Kober ran unopposed and was re-elected twice in 2007 and 2009.

One resident, John Graham, expressed an interest in filling the aldermanic position while attending Tuesday’s meeting. City officials, however, chose to delay any appointment until more residents could learn of the opening.

“I think that is the fair way to do it for everyone that is out there,” Alderman Leo Tobben said.

Anyone interested in filling the vacancy can call city hall at 636-433-5554. To be eligible, the individual must reside in the East Ward and be a registered voter.

City Hall Restructuring to Be Revisited Next Week

Marthasville city officials have called a special meeting to review employee structure at city hall. The meeting is scheduled for next Wednesday, July 21, at 7 p.m.

Officials are considering the possibility of restructuring jobs and duties for two part-time employees.

Verges previously said he preferred city hall to be open to the public as close to 40 hours on weekdays as possible. Currently, city hall is open sporadically throughout the daytime hours on weekdays and then at night on other days. The city had employed a third part-time employee serving as collector, but that position was no longer needed once the county took over tax collection services and has since been eliminated.