CHAMOIS — At an emergency meeting on Tuesday, Sept. 26, Chamois Mayor Michael Edwards resigned from his position because he is living outside city limits with his parents, making him ineligible to serve.

Edwards pleaded not guilty to Class D felony charges of second-degree domestic assault after allegedly attacking his girlfriend on July 4. He is due in court at 10 a.m. on Oct. 24 for a case review before Judge Sonya Brandt, who ordered Edwards to reside with his parents as a special condition of his bond.

Edwards appointed resident Cole Schaben to take over Alderman Lance Gerloff’s seat after Gerloff moves out of the city limits on Oct. 5. Aldermen unanimously approved Schaben’s appointment.

Aldermen accepted Edwards’s resignation, which put Mayor Pro Tem Marie Slusser in charge of the meeting.

Slusser asked Alderman Jim Wright — who announced last month he was resigning due to health reasons after the October meeting — if he would consider sticking around for another couple of months.

“You’ll still have a quorum if I resign,” Wright answered.

“That’s a polite no,” City Clerk Megan Birmingham said.

Board members also approved Slusser and Alderman Sara Mengwasser to sign checks for the city.

There was a lot of confusion and discussion over exactly how the process works to replace the mayor. There were also questions about whether Slusser vacated her aldermen seat and became the mayor or remained mayor pro tem and alderman at the same time. There was some confusion as to how this would affect the upcoming elections in April. Unterrified Democrat Reporter Theresa Brandt and Editor Neal A. Johnson suggested that the best course of action was to consult with the City Attorney David Bandre on how to move forward.