The Steelville City Council is seeking applicants to fill a vacant Ward 2 Alderman seat.

One of the city’s two Ward 2 seats became vacant when former Ward 2 Alderman Jason Ward was appointed Aug. 7 as mayor of Steelville. The appointment came nearly a week after former mayor Duane DeRennaux resigned the position on July 31, due to “an error in judgment” regarding Missouri’s nepotism laws.

Ward will continue to serve as mayor until Steelville’s municipal elections in April 2027, when the current mayoral term ends. Any potential Ward 2 alderman appointed to the seat would also serve until that time, at which point they could seek reelection for another two-year term.

Ward said that the vacant seat is an opportunity for those interested in city government to try out the position without committing to a full-length term as an alderman.

“It’s one of those things, if you’ve ever thought about being in council but didn’t want a two-year commitment, here’s your opportunity,” Ward said.

Ward said that City Hall will accept applications through Monday, Sept. 14 to fill the vacancy. Once a roster of candidates who meet the requirements for the appointment is finalized, Ward said that an individual could be appointed to the Ward 2 seat as early as Sept. 21, which is the city council’s last scheduled meeting for the month.

Individuals interested in representing Steelville’s Ward 2 have to meet certain qualifications set by state and municipal laws. Potential aldermen in Steelville must be at least 21 years of age and a citizen of the United States. They must have resided in Ward 2 of the city of Steelville for at least one year.

The city of Steelville is divided into two wards, or representative districts. Brickey Street, which intersects Main Street, serves as a border between Wards 1 and 2. The Main Deck is on the Ward 1 side of Brickey Street and Peoples Bank sits on the Ward 2 side. Areas to the west of Brickey Street, High Street, and Shady Lane are in Steelville’s Ward 2, and broadly include the areas in western Steelville, including the Crawford County Sheriff Department, Steelville License Office, Hoppe Spring Park, Steelville Elementary School and Middle School, and the Meramec Music Theatre.

According to a text outlining requirements for the role presented at the Sept. 1 Steelville City Council meeting, candidates for the Ward 2 seat, “Shall not be in arrears on any tax, lien, forfeiture, or defalcation (mishandling of funds for resources) in office,” meaning that candidates also must not have overdue taxes or certain other debts to the government, and they cannot have previously mishandled public funds while serving in public office.

The text also said candidates “shall, when elected, take an oath that they possess all the qualifications listed above and set forth by the state, will support the U.S. and State constitutions as well as uphold all laws, codes and ordinances of the state and city, and will faithfully demean themselves in office.”

Steelville City Council asked that interested individuals contact City Clerk Jamie Griffith by email at cityclerk@steelville.com with their full name, physical address, and phone number. City Hall will accept applications until Monday, Sept. 14 at the close of business.