Latest news with #DanHauger
Yahoo
3 days ago
- Business
- Yahoo
Terra Alta council appoints mayor, recorder at emergency meeting
TERRA ALTA, (WBOY) — Following the recent resignations of its mayor and town recorder, Terra Alta's Town Council held an emergency meeting Thursday evening to appoint people to serve as interims in those positions. During the emergency session, the council appointed James 'Monk' Tasker as interim mayor and Jason Verbonitz as interim town recorder, both will serve in these roles until July 1. The town's municipal election will be held on June 10. 'So, filling that vacancy of mayor and recorder, we had to fill that so that we can continue to move forward to pay our bills, our utilities, things like that so we aren't falling behind with late fees and things being shut off,' Terra Alta Town Clerk Kambra Sisler said. 'So, now that we do have an active mayor and a recorder, we can proceed with paying our monthly bills as usual and try to take steps forward to get moving in the right direction.' Earlier this month, former Terra Alta Mayor Dan Hauger took responsibility for the town's failure to meet its 2025-2026 budget deadline, which could jeopardize the town's ability to collect taxes for the next fiscal year. The West Virginia State Auditor's office previously told 12 News that the town was seven weeks behind on submitting an extension to submit its budget. Levy funds in jeopardy for Terra Alta Public Library 'We did submit the budget last Friday, [May 23], we sent that by email to the state,' Sisler said. 'We got an email back that said that 'it was their standard acknowledgement that we submitted the budget, and that they had received it, that the acknowledgement does not imply it is being processed at this time. I must speak with our legal department before I consider processing this budget document that you have submitted.' So, I do have phone calls into the state today.' During the meeting, concerned community members questioned the four council members about the town charter and the recent appointments of the mayor and recorder. Town officials admitted they could not locate the current charter and only found an outdated version from before the town was officially established. They also explained that they were following guidance from the state code in making the appointments. Despite Hauger's resignation, he is the sole candidate listed on the ballot for mayor in the upcoming election, making his re-election highly likely. Should Hauger be re-elected, he will be required to resign once more, prompting the council to appoint a new mayor for the term beginning July 1. A comparable situation applies to former town recorder Mikaela Bernard, who is running as a write-in candidate against two others. If elected, she would also need to resign, and the council would once again appoint someone to fill the position. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
6 days ago
- Business
- Yahoo
Terra Alta mayor resigns: ‘I have reached my mental and physical breaking point'
Video is previous coverage from when Terra Alta's recorder resigned last week. TERRA ALTA, (WBOY) — The Terra Alta mayor who earlier this month took full responsibility for the town missing its budget deadline has become the second town official to resign. Dan Hauger, who has been mayor since 2023, submitted his letter of resignation on Tuesday, days after the town's recorder also resigned. Hauger's resignation letter was published on the town's Facebook page. 'For personal reasons, as well as family reasons, I regret to inform you that I have decided to resign my position as Mayor of Terra Alta effectively immediately,' the letter read. Hauger went on to say, 'I have reached my mental and physical breaking point, and feel that I am no longer capable of meeting the requirements of holding the position of Mayor.' The resignation comes just weeks after 12 News first reported the town of Terra Alta would not be able to collect taxes next fiscal year after it failed to submit the 2025-2026 budget in time. West Virginia track state champion makes political statement during award ceremony 12 News spoke with a town clerk over the phone who said the town submitted its budget to the state on Friday, May 23 after the town council approved the budget. The council has also scheduled an emergency meeting on Thursday, May 29 to appoint a mayor and recorder to serve out the remainder of those respective terms ahead of the local June 10 election where Hauger was running for re-election. It is likely that Hauger will win the re-election as he's the only candidate on the ballot and the deadline for write-in candidates has passed. After the election, Hauger will have to submit another letter of resignation and the council will appoint someone to serve out the remainder of that term. The new term begins on July 1. There is a similar situation for the role of recorder as Mikaela Bernard, the recorder that resigned last week, was also running for re-election as a write-in candidate against two other candidates on the ballot, Robert DeLauder and Kambra Sisler. If Bernard wins the election, she too would have to resign again and the council appoint a person to serve the remainder of that term. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
