Filling vacant council seat put on hold by Kaplan City Council

Kaplan Council members were prepared to fill the Councilman at Large seat at tonight's meeting due to the resignation of Herb Gaspard, who currently held the position. Gaspard was recently transferred to Katy, Texas because of his employment.
However, because Gaspard only turned in his resignation to Kaplan Mayor Kirk Champagne, the appointment cannot take place. Officially, it also has to be sent to the Secretary of State's Office.

Champagne states the seat can only be filled once Secretary of State Tom Schedler receives the resignation and declares the seat vacant.

Mayor Champagne says Woody Woodruff, the city's attorney, has been in touch with Gaspard about sending his resignation to Schedler's office. When Schedler notifies the city of Gaspard's official resignation, the council will hold a special meeting to fill the vacant seat.

When someone is appointed as a temporary councilman, he will hold the seat until an election can be held. The election to fill this seat will be held April 5 and take office July 1.