Ruso spared the ax
BY ALYSSA MEIER
Editor
The doors haven’t closed yet on McLean County’s smallest city, as the local auditor reports that all city council seats have now been filled.
After longtime mayor of Ruso Bruce Lorenz died in July, the city was left with a vacant seat on the city council and the possibility of dissolution. Now County Auditor Les Korgel said that may not be the case.
Korgel said in an email last week that Ruso auditor Laurinda Roloson reported that volunteers had stepped up to fill vacancies on the city council, allowing Ruso to maintain its designation as an organized city.
According to North Dakota Century Code, a town must have at least three members on its city council in order to be considered an incorporated city. When Lorenz died in July, he left the council with only two members, consisting of a husband and wife that were the city’s only permanent residents.
At least one individual, who has not been identified, reportedly volunteered to fill the vacant position and keep the state’s smallest city on the map.
At press time Tuesday, Roloson had not responded to messages left for comment.
