Monday is the deadline for applicants seeking the Ripon City Council seat left vacant following the sudden passing of Vice Mayor Elden ‘Red’ Nutt on Nov. 21.

According to the City of Ripon website, the term for the post will be from the date of the appointment to November 2016.

Those interested must be at least age 18, reside within the corporate city limits, and a registered Ripon voter at the time the application is issued.

On top of that, each candidate is required to complete the application form available on the city’s website (www.cityofripon.org) or from the office of City Clerk Lisa Roos.

These forms must be filed in her office by 5:30 p.m. on Monday, Dec. 15.

No application will be accepted after that deadline.

From there, the forms submitted by the candidates will reviewed by elected leaders or possibly a designated panel, depending on the number of applicants.

 Council members, at that point, can decide on whether to move forward with the interviewing process – required to be conducted during the open session – at the Jan. 6 meeting or schedule a special session.

After the interviews are completed, they can then consider the top candidates and possibly make their appointment at the Jan. 20 meeting.

“If there are no viable applicants, Council does not have to make an appointment,” City Attorney Tom Terpstra said.

In which case, the vacancy will remain open until the next election in 2016.

Council opted against a costly special election in June or identifying a candidate and then making an appointment.

Ripon City Hall is closed on Friday.

For more information, call 209.599.2108.