VIENNA — The Vienna Board of Aldermen during its Feb. 5 meeting had a first reading of an ordinance that would switch the city government from a north and south ward structure to an at-large structure.

“This is something we’ve been working on for a good two years, maybe longer,” South Ward Alderman Brenda Davis said.

Discussions about moving to a more open structure has been centered around a desire by city officials to see more candidates file for municipal elections. Last spring, North Ward Alderman Reva Hutchison ran unopposed. South Ward Alderman Chuck Davis gained his seat as a write-in candidate after no other candidates filed. In the April 2 election, North Ward Alderman Rita Juergens is running unopposed. No candidates have emerged for Brenda Davis’ seat.

As read, the bill would strip the aldermen positions of ward designations and replace them with at-large designations so anyone living within the city limits could run for the seats. It would also change the term length for aldermen from four years to two years. The changes would occur at the conclusion of each alderman’s four-year term.

Juergens said that though the aldermen had discussions about changing the term length, she thought they had agreed to leave the terms at four years to avoid high turnover.

“We don’t have to act upon this tonight,” Brenda Davis said.

“I like the idea of four-year terms,” Chuck Davis said.  “The less we’d have to turn over.”

Brenda Davis said the group had discussed switching to two-year terms to encourage more people to run. If the position came with less of a time commitment, then people might show more interest.

Juergens said they had talked about it, but the idea of high turnover and less experience in the city government was a deterrent.

“I just think you need more stability,” she said. “I think bouncing back and forth like that is going to be confusing.”

Brenda Davis agreed. She also cited the cost of yearly elections instead of twice every four years as a downside to two-year terms.

“I’m in favor of four-year terms,” Chuck Davis said.

The aldermen agreed to change the wording of the ordinance to leave aldermen terms at four years. They will review the ordinance again in March.

Later in the meeting, the aldermen passed a resolution to accept the Maries County Hazardous Mitigation Plan. Every five years, the county must revise and resubmit its plan to the State Emergency Management Agency to remain qualified for certain hazard mitigation grants. Several other entities, such as school districts and cities, vote on resolutions to adopt the plan. Adopting the plan maintains eligibility for grants from the State Emergency Management Agency and the Federal Emergency Management Agency.