Urbana council meeting moved to Oct. 19 after agenda notice error; Ward 6 appointment pending
The mayor's pick for the vacant Ward 6 seat, Ashley Withers, was on the postponed agenda.
URBANA - The Urbana City Council's Oct. 12 regular meeting was rescheduled to 7 p.m. Monday, Oct. 19, "due to improper agenda noticing caused by technical difficulties," according to a city notice. A second notice moved the Cunningham Township Board meeting to the same date and time.
The city said it is working with its agenda management software vendor to resolve the problem.
The Oct. 12 agenda packet included Mayor DeShawn B. Williams' appointment of Ashley Withers to the vacant Ward 6 council seat until the April 6, 2027 consolidated election. The seat became vacant Aug. 24, and state law requires voters to fill it at that election, a staff memo says. The appointment needs council approval.
A biography in the packet says Withers has been a lead employment specialist with Community Choices since 2014 and has lived in Ward 6 for six years.
The postponed agenda also listed an extension of the Fernie's High Horse redevelopment completion date to Dec. 31, two liquor license increases and an ordinance on the mayor's role in the Committee of the Whole. An Oct. 19 agenda was not yet posted on the city's meetings page Wednesday.
Source: City of Urbana rescheduled meeting notices and Oct. 12, 2026 City Council agenda packet (https://www.urbanail.gov/media/9336; https://www.urbanail.gov/media/9341; https://www.urbanail.gov/media/9311).