WAITSBURG-Using a bit of creativity, the Waitsburg City Council was able to fill one empty seat on the City's planning commission with two new members, while remaining within the bounds of the City's Territorial Charter, under which Waitsburg operates.

Words-n-Print owner Pam Chapman and Times publisher and Ten Ton Press owner Lane Gwinn both applied to fill the empty planning commission seat. Standard procedure is for the mayor to recommend one candidate to the council for approval, said City Administrator Randy Hinchliffe.

"My personal preference would be to push for Lane because she can provide a little more outreach to people since she is part of the paper," Hinchliffe said.

The City's charter dictates that a council representative sit on the planning commission. That seat is currently filled by K. C. Kuykendall.

Kuykendall said that his position on the commission has occasionally been questioned, even though he, personally, sees the benefit of a council representative. He mentioned a sub-plat application where an attorney questioned a council member being on the commission as an example.

Kuykendall suggested that the council representative seat become an ex officio, non-voting seat, which would open two active voting seats on the commission and allow both Chapman and Gwinn to be appointed.

"That would be a way of killing two birds with one stone," Kuykendall said.

Hinchliffe said that the City code could easily be amended for the administrative change and that the update would have no impact on the City's charter.

"I don't really want to single either one of them out," said Mayor Marty Dunn, referring to the candidates.

Dunn entertained a motion supporting the code amendment and appointing Gwinn and Chapman to the commission. The motion was made, seconded and approved unanimously.

"I am excited and thrilled to be a part of the planning commission. I anticipate being a positive influence in our community in regards to change, growth, business, compliance and other issues as they may arise," Chapman said.

Gwinn echoed the sentiment.

"I am excited to join the planning commission, glad that they made room for both Pam Chapman and to participate. The support that this commission provides the city council is important and gives citizens additional representation in city government. I look forward to working with Karen, Bill, Lynn, K.C. and Pam to provide research and public concerns to the Council and the Mayor," Gwinn said.