Bluffton council will hold two special sessions in the next two weeks to interview potential candidates for the open council seat created when Mitch Kingsley resigned from council.

According to Judy Augsburger, Bluffton mayor, eight persons have expressed an interest in the seat. Council set special meetings for Thursday, Sept. 18, and Thursday, Sept. 25. Both sessions start at 6:30 p.m.

Both sessions will be in executive session with four interviews scheduled each evening.

Council must appoint a replacement for Kingsley by Sept. 30. If council misses that deadline then the mayor makes the appointment. It is possible that council could name its replacement for Kingsley during an open session following the second set of interviews that take place Sept. 25.

The Sept. 25 special meeting will also be for the purpose of voting on two contracts under council’s consideration. Those two contracts involve painting the two village water towers and the purchase of a new fire truck.