Jill Schramm/MDN Mark Jantzer takes the oath of office, administered by Father Adam Maus, as Minot’s new mayor, Monday, Aug. 18, at city hall.

Minot residents interested in serving on the Minot City Council have until Thursday, Aug. 28, to submit their applications.

The Minot City Council opted to move forward with filling a council vacancy by appointment at its meeting Monday, Aug. 18. The vacancy was created with the swearing in of Mark Jantzer as mayor, following his top finish in a special election for mayor Aug. 5.

The council plans to consider the applications for the council seat on Tuesday, Sept. 2, at a special 4 p.m. meeting.

“There’s a possibility we don’t fill this position and we go to a special election anyway,” council member Paul Pitner said, noting the potential for a 3-3 tie on any candidate.

The timing for a special election would have it fall in December, according to the city attorney. Whether filled by appointment or election, the term would run only until the next city election in June 2026.

The city’s ordinance provides that vacancies on the council can be filled by special election or by appointment after 15 days from the time of the vacancy.

State law does not require cities with a Modern Council form of government, such as Minot, to call a special election if voters file petitions to hold one. That requirement only exists in state law related to Council forms of government, City Attorney Stefanie Stalheim informed the council. That situation also existed with the recent mayoral election, called when the council accepted a validated petition. The cost of the Aug. 5 mayoral election is estimated at $18,000.

Council member Mike Blessum said the mayor’s position is one that warranted an election. Proceeding with an appointment for the council position is the right path forward, he added, but if residents choose to submit a petition for an election, the council will take that into account.

Council applications should be emailed or otherwise delivered to the city clerk’s office or can be submitted by using the form on the city website for applying to serve on a city board.

Council members indicated they are not seeking an in-depth resume but a letter explaining candidates’ interests in serving and reasons they would be good additions to the council. Candidates will be given time to provide more detail at the Sept. 2 meeting.

“If people are applying, they do need to be prepared to hit the ground running,” council member Lisa Olson said. “If we can find the right person, if we can agree on who that appointed person should be, if that’s the route that we go, we have a budget, and we need people to vote on it. So, as people are considering this, they really should be considering their time commitments, their schedules, because we want to see them be seated as soon as possible.”

The council also elected Blessum as council president, replacing Jantzer, on a 5-1 vote, with the only dissent from Jantzer.