By: Lydia Crawley
The Parsons Advocate
Speculation ran rampant at the Parsons City Council Meeting Tuesday, May 19th. On the dais in the council chamber, there was something conspicuously missing, the Mayor’s name plate. Also absent from the meeting was the Mayor himself, Bruce Kolsun.
Mayor Kolsun’s term is set to expire the end of next month, with a new mayor set to take his place the first meeting of July.
While City financial accounts do have three signatories: Council Member Melissa Jones, Recorder Rick Lemons and Mayor Bruce Kolsun, the Council discussed concerns over how they would get paperwork signed that only the Mayor was able to sign with the Mayor “MIA.”
The Council directed City Manager Mike Simmons to contact the City Attorney Tim Stranko about the situation and consult on what to do if the Mayor could not be reached to sign urgent City business forms. Such forms, apparently, were on the agenda that evening.
In a call to the Parsons Advocate, Mayor Bruce Kolsun said he was willing to sign any documents needed and would be available to sign any documents remotely, if necessary. Kolsun went on to say that he would be away on family vacation the month of June.
“I will miss working with the citizens of Parsons,” Kolsun said.
Nothing in the City Charter allows for the forceful removal of a Mayor. Should Kolsun official resign, Recorder Rick Lemons would step into to position for the remainder of Kolsun’s term, which would be through the month of June. At which time a new Mayor would take over.
At this time, Mayor Kolsun has not tenured a resignation and is still the Mayor of Parsons. Any meetings the Mayor may be absent from will be chaired by City Recorder Rick Lemons, who will step in as Acting Mayor.