(KMZA)--There's a vacancy on the Seneca City Council.

Ward 1 Council member Lucas Koch resigned from the Council at Wednesday's regular meeting, effective immediately.

Koch said he's stepping down because his work situation is changing.

He has served on the Council since January.

The city says any resident living in Ward 1 interested in filling the open Council seat is asked to fill out an interest form at City Hall by August 19.  The position is for a four-year term that expires in January 2026. 

Ward 1 encompasses all residents that live north of Main Street and east of 6th Street.

In other business, the Council, on a 3-2 vote, approved the sell of two-acres of city owned land west of the Nemaha Valley Community Hospital to the hospital for $5,000. Plans are to use the property for a building materials staging area for the hospital's proposed facility improvement project. Council members Ray Shinn and Lucas Koch cast the dissenting votes, saying they didn't want the city to set a precedent of selling city property to companies. Council member Mike Stallbaumer abstained from voting.

Also the Council was informed by Administrative Consulting Service that there is $3 million dollars in forgivable funds available to the city to upgrade the city's water treatment facility to improve the water quality by lowering the magnesium levels. The Council approved applying for the funds.