Marion City Council member will resign next month

MARION — Marion City Council member Colette Atkins will resign next month and it will be up to the council to decide how to fill her vacancy.

Atkins, who has served on the council since 2018, announced her resignation Friday. It will be effective March 31. Her term expires at the end of the year.

“It has been an honor to serve on the Marion City Council for the last five years. There’s such great momentum in our community and I am proud to have played a small part in it,” Atkins said in a statement. “I applaud our forward-thinking City leaders and my dedicated colleagues on the City Council for their leadership. It has been a pleasure to watch our community flourish and I am most proud of the work that we accomplished through the Community Equity Task Force.”

Atkins, who represents Ward 1, was appointed to fill a vacancy in October 2018. She was elected to a full four-year term in November 2019.

Mayor Nick AbouAssaly called it “an honor” to have served with Atkins.

“She is a thoughtful member and a strong advocate for our residents. She will be missed on our team.” AbouAssaly said in a statement.

The City Council can fill the vacancy by appointment or hold a special election. A decision will be made during next week’s regularly scheduled meeting. The council will meet in a work session at 4 p.m. Tuesday and it will hold its regular session meeting at 5:30 p.m. Thursday.

The seat will be on the ballot this fall, and the new member will serve until Dec. 31.