The Alliance City Council took action last Tuesday evening to fill a vacancy on the council left by Council Member Tacy Liptack, who resigned her position in August, selecting Scott Yates to join their ranks. Yates will serve until the primary election in May 2026.
At the first City Council meeting in August, the council voted as part of the consent agenda to approve the resignation of Liptack. Mayor John McGhehey read Liptack’s resignation letter at the meeting.
“’Due to my obligations dealing with elderly parents, this doesn’t allow me the time necessary to fulfill my duties as a city council member,’” McGhehey read from the letter. “’Therefore, I’m resigning my position, effective immediately.’”
McGhehey explained that it was with regrets that the council was accepting the resignation, and he said the council wished Liptack the best in her endeavors.
City Manager Seth Sorensen explained the process for the council to select a new council member to serve in the interim, noting that state code allows for the mayor to bring names to the council for selection.
“If there’s a majority that agree on the submitted name, then, we have a new council member,” said Sorensen.
Sorensen explained that they advertised the vacancy, and, in response, they received three applications. Those who submitted applications include: Larry Bolinger, Randall Hitchcock and Scott Yates. Upon reviewing the applications, the council voted to approve Yates to serve. This position was originally held by council member Mara Andersen, who resigned from city council in March of 2024. Liptack won the seat during the primary election in 2024 to serve the remainder of Andersen’s term, through the 2026 general election.
“Scott, as an appointee, will serve until May 12, and then if he gets elected in, he will serve until November,” Sorensen said. “Whoever gets elected in the spring will not serve for a terribly long time. We’ll be having a special election in the spring, then we’ll be back onto our normal schedule in the fall for two seats.”