During a special meeting last week, the Hoxie City Council appointed Alderman Steve Ditto to serve as the city’s new mayor. The decision follows the resignation of former Mayor Tim Taylor.
After Ditto was sworn in as mayor, the council moved to fill his now-vacant alderman seat by appointing Tyler Combs. However, officials noted that this appointment is contingent on a legal review. City leaders are consulting with an attorney to determine whether Combs’ appointment can be finalized without advertising the position to external candidates, as required under certain circumstances.
Meanwhile, another vacant council seat, previously held by Alderman Jerry Decker, will be publicly advertised for applicants in line with legal requirements.
The appointments and procedural steps come amidst these high-profile resignations, prompting the council to take swift action to maintain city operations. City officials have not yet specified a timeline for the resolution of the pending legal review or the subsequent steps to fill Decker’s seat.