Chillicothe, Mo. - Second Ward City Councilman Lonnie Sewell has announced his resignation from the elected city post. The formal announcement came during the council’s regular meeting Monday night at City Hall. Sewell said he and his wife, Earlene, will be moving out of the city limits and therefore will be ineligible to hold his elected position. His resignation will be effective following the council meeting on Sept. 15.

“I have enjoyed my two-plus years of service and would consider serving on future committees where you feel I might be of service,” Sewell stated in his letter of resignation sent to the mayor and fellow council members. “I would hope when you consider my replacement you would choose someone of independent nature, and not just someone that would ‘go with the flow,’” Sewell said.

It is anticipated that Mayor Chuck Haney will appoint someone to fill the vacancy, according to City Administrator Dean Brookshier. That appointment would need to be confirmed by the majority of the council. Candidate filing for all city positions begins in October with the primary election in February and the general election in April.