Name draw settles Gladstone City Council election

Talk about it

GLADSTONE — The tie for the Gladstone City Council election was settled Tuesday with the draw of a name at the community center, but the results could be meaningless, officials said.

The council Tuesday went into executive session for more than 30 minutes before a special meeting to discuss a pending lawsuit initiated by the Gladstone Park Board. A complaint filed against Gladstone states that names were not properly collected for a petition to dissolve the board and that the petition was not properly filed.

It also claims candidates’ names for the two council positions were not put on the ballot correctly for the primary elections held June 12.

Board member Darrell Sadowsky said he could not talk about the lawsuit. Mayor Kurt Martin and board member Doug Brost did not immediately return calls to The Press.

Incumbent Darcy Fossum’s name was drawn from a bowl at the meeting Tuesday by Craig Richardson, Carbo Ceramics Field Service representative for the North Rockies Regions in Douglas. City Attorney Mary Nordsven said someone with no interest should draw the name.

Richardson was at the meeting to request an industrial permit for a $26 million proppant facility, which Carbo plans to build one mile northeast of Gladstone. The facility will hold about 100 million pounds of the clay-like substance used in hydraulic fracturing or “fracking,” a technique used to extract oil. The council passed the proposal unanimously and will review a rezoning request from Carbo July 11.

Fossum tied with Erin McGahuey with 35 votes each on election night, forcing a recount. A recount was conducted, and the deadlock held, Nordsven said.

A candidate has the option to withdraw from the race in the event of a tie. Fossum and McGahuey were not at the meeting, and Nordsven stated she did not know if either one wanted to pull out. Attempts to reach Fossum and McGahuey failed.

Vicki Nogosek was also sworn in at the meeting after getting 40 votes. She added learning everything about the position is overwhelming but she is willing to learn.

“It’s a relief to know that it’s finally over and I know for sure that I’m in,” she said.

Tags: city council, darcy fossum, gladstone park board, carbo ceramics, news, gladstone, election, lawsuit, proppant