The Powell City Council is preparing to fill the vacancy created by the death of longtime Councilman Floyd Young, putting out a call to anyone interested in serving in the position.

Young had just begun his 17th year and fifth term on the city’s governing body, having been reelected by Ward 2 voters last fall. As a result, his colleagues on the council will now need to pick a replacement to serve through 2026, when voters will decide who should serve the final two years of the four-year term.

Any voters within Ward 2 — which includes everything west of Division Street — can apply for position between now and Tuesday, July 15.

Mayor John Wetzel later told the Tribune that he, Ward 2 Councilman Zane Logan and an as-yet-to-be-determined council member will review the applications, interview applicants and make a recommendation to the full council.

In essence, “it’s a mayoral appointment and they have to approve it [to make it official],” Wetzel said of the process.

Wyoming law says the appointment shall be made by the governing body — i.e. the council — but is silent on the procedure, leaving that up to municipalities.

Earlier this year, the Cody City Council decided to simply have a former councilwoman fill an unexpired seat rather than open the position up to the general public.

The position representing Cody’s Ward 3 became vacant on Jan. 7, when then-Councilwoman Lee Ann Reiter — who was only halfway through her four-year term — was sworn in as the city’s next mayor. Minutes later, the new council voted unanimously to have outgoing Ward 3 Councilwoman Emily Swett fill the seat through 2026.

Those interested in filling the open Ward 2 seat on the Powell City Council must submit a letter of interest to the city clerk at City Hall, 270 N. Clark St., by 5 p.m. on July 15.

Powell City Council members are paid $110 per meeting they attend. They generally meet the first and third Monday of each month, while also representing the council on other boards.