The Ellsworth City Council is looking for a new council member.

At Monday’s meeting of the council, Interim City Administrator Allen Dinkel announced that Don Panzer recently resigned from the council. He said that vacancy must be filled for the remainder of the term, which ends Jan. 10, 2028.

Dinkel said that at the present time, the appointment is to be made by the mayor and approved by the council. After Sept. 9, a vacant council position will be filled upon a vote of the council.

He said all discussion regarding the filling of the vacancy must be done in open session of the council meeting, as an executive session is not allowed.

Dinkel recommended that since a quorum of three always has to be met to conduct a city council meeting, time is of the essence in filling the vacancy.

Dinkel also encouraged the council not to appoint anybody who is involved with this year’s elections.

“Let the voters make their choice,” he said.

“I like the process,” Mayor Dan Finnegan said.

Dinkel said he would put a notice of the vacancy on the City of Ellsworth website and Facebook and also in the Ellsworth County Independent-Reporter. Applications for the vacancy are to be filed at Ellsworth City Hall by Friday, Aug. 8. They will be considered by the council and applicants will have time to address the council at the Monday, Aug. 11 council meeting.

In other business:

• After no comment was received during a brief public hearing on the Community Development Block Grant application involving a citywide housing demolition and rehabilitation program, the council approved the mayor and city clerk signing the Statement of Assurances and Certifications and the Resolution authorizing the CDBG Grant application.

• Grow Ellsworth County Executive Director Kevin Colle submitted a request for funding for 2026 in the amount of $50,400, the same amount requested for 2025.

• The council will appoint a new person to represent the city for a three-year term on the Grow Ellsworth County board of directors. Jon Halbgewachs, the city’s longtime GEC representative, recently resigned.

• After a brief discussion on reestablishing a city brush and limb pile, the council will look at alternatives.

• Approval was given to submit the 2025 application for tenant based rental assistance.

The next meeting of the Ellsworth City Council will be at 5:30 p.m. Aug. 11, at city hall.