Hope City Board Holds Discussion On Petition To Change Form Of City Government

A standing room only crowd turned out for a special City Board meeting to discuss a petition presented to Mayor Steve Montgomery last week which asked that the city call an election on whether to retain the City Manager/City Board form of government or switch to the elected Mayor/city council form of government. Mayor Montgomery said he felt they should call a special election for the matter because the city would have to have all the signatures certified by Tuesday March 13th in order to get the issue on the ballot for the May Primary. Mayor Montgomery suggested the election be scheduled for the third Tuesday in June providing enough signatures check out. The petitions garnered 104 signatures but only 55 valid ones are needed. The Mayor indicated he thinks it would take up to the a week to validate the signatures. The Mayor, Board Members Mark Ross, Kiffenea Talley, and Vice-Mayor Don Still all talked about the importance of the election. No action was taken and the board apparently will set the election at their next regular board meeting. The special election will cost an estimated $7,500 to $8’500 and several citizens have volunteered to pay for the cost according to the Mayor. The meeting then adjourned.