Iola was governed by a three-member city commission for generations.
An eight-member city council may not last nearly as long.
City Councilwoman Beverly Franklin asked her fellow elected representatives Monday to consider downsizing Iola’s governing body to five members.
“We have tried eight members, and I believe five members would do just as good,” she said.
Her vision would have a single council member in each of Iola’s four voting wards with one “floating” at-large member. The current eight-member council features two representatives from each ward.
“I want to toss that out as something for everyone to think about,” she said.
Her comments resonated with fellow Councilman Aaron Franklin, who said he’s been approached “by quite a few people” asking him to consider a smaller governing body.
City Administrator Sid Fleming said Iolans have mentioned the idea to him as well.
He suggested the Council consider a strategic planning session if members feel further debate is warranted.
Iola voters in 2009 approved a referendum to wipe away the city’s charter ordinance that established the three-member commission.
An advisory committee was split on what kind of governing body could replace the commission, however, and the three city commissioners — Bill Maness, Bill Shirley and Craig Abbott — eventually approved a charter ordinance setting a five-member commission.
That ordinance, too, was rejected by voters in 2010.
The resulting default governing body established by state law — an eight-member council — was put into place in April 2011.
5-member council proposed
