Though no old business was discussed at Monday’s Valley Grande City Council meeting, Mayor Tom Lee brought forth the uncomfortable, yet inevitable decision of filling the late councilmember Marie Middlebrooks’ open position.

Five present board members voted Monday to declare seat one, formerly belonging to Middlebrooks, as officially vacant. The reappointment process will take 60 days and will expire on July 1.

“Unfortunately this is something that must be done,” Lee said. “This is the procedure that’s in the statute to move forward.”

The council had a choice of holding a special election or choosing to appoint someone to the position. However, because the term would end within the year, the council decided to save the expense of an election, appoint a new member and let the post roll into the next election as scheduled.

Middlebrooks, 71, died April 25 after complications from heart valve replacement surgery earlier in the week. Members of the community called Middlebrooks’ death a huge loss.

“She really stepped up in the time of need for the city,” Lee said. “The loss is irreparable.”

Middlebrooks, who was a member of First Baptist Church in Selma, was also a retired Selma City School System teacher, Sunday school instructor and missions worker.

Middlebrooks left behind her husband Eugene, her children Michelle, Clair and Elizabeth, and six grandchildren.