GLADSTONE — The Gladstone City Commission will need to fill a vacant seat after accepting Commissioner Dave Phalen’s letter of resignation Monday. Phalen, who was recently re-elected, had let the commission and public know before the election of the possibility of having to step down because he may be moving out of the city limits.

Mayor Joe Thompson read Phalen’s letter, as he was not present at the meeting.

“City of Gladstone and city commission, please accept this notice of resignation from the city commission. It has been an honor to have served the city and her citizens with you gentlemen. My family and I will be moving out of the city, which makes me ineligible for this seat,” the letter stated.

City Manager Eric Buckman noted Phalen had purchased land in the St. Jacques area.

“With him no longer being a resident, he turned in his resignation,” Buckman said.

Commissioner Brad Mantela motioned to accept the letter with regret. It was seconded by Commissioner Darin Hunter.

All of the commissioners took time to wish Phalen good luck.

“Mr. Phalen, good luck,” Hunter said. “It’s too bad you moved out of the city. (It was) nice having you on the commission. Good luck to your endeavors with your new homestead.”

Commissioner Greg Styczynski said he was sad to see Phalen go.

The commission set Feb. 4 at 4 p.m. as the deadline for interested individuals to apply for the seat.

Like the last appointment, which was given to Styczynski, interested individuals will fill out an application and provide a letter of interest.

City Clerk Kim Berry said the person appointed to fill the vacancy would have to run for re-election in August if they wished to finish Phalen’s full term to 2023.

Two commission seats will be up in August to finish terms left vacant — Phalen’s and the the late Dave Nemacheck’s.

Styczynski was appointed to fill Nemacheck’s vacancy after he died. Nemacheck’s term expires in 2021.

Styczynski inquired if he could run for Phalen’s term in August, despite being appointed to Nemacheck’s seat.

The vacancy will be further discussed at the commission’s Feb. 10 meeting.

In other business, the commission:

– was introduced to the newest member of the Gladstone Public Safety Department, K-9 officer Kam. PSO Ryan Peterson, Kam’s handler, brought Kam in to show the commission the culmination of the efforts by community and others outside of the community to add a K-9 officer to GPSD.

– approved the resolution to authorize the issuance of bonds for the 9th Street Project. The fiscal effect is a $4.8 million bond commitment to be repaid over a 15 year period.

– appointed Buckman to the WPPI Board of Directors as the alternate.

– appointed Amanda Phillips, owner of the Dew Drop, to the Gladstone Downtown Development Authority. Her term will expire on May 1, 2020.

– rescheduled the regular commission meetings as follows: Monday, March 9 meeting to Monday, March 16 and Monday, March 23 meeting to Monday, March 30. Meetings will remain at 6 p.m. This was due to the presidential primaries being too close to the first meeting of the month in March.

– set the Board of Review dates for Wednesday, March 11, at 3 p.m. to 9 p.m. and Thursday, March 12, at 9 a.m. to 3 p.m.

– set a public hearing for Jan. 27 at 6 p.m. for the 1311 Delta Avenue Special Assessment.

– appointed Mantela as a representative to the Delta Solid Waste Management Authority.

– set a public hearing for the Gladstone Parks and Recreation 2020 rec. plan for Feb. 24 at 6 p.m. The commissioners noted the plan was a wish-list that allowed the parks and recreation department access to more grant opportunities.