Council likely to replace missing commissioner

Former Chandler City Councilman Kevin Hartke likely will be appointed to the city's Planning and Zoning Commission Thursday to finish out the term of Mark Irby, who went missing in northern Arizona in early January.

Repeated searches haven't turned up the 51-year-old Irby, who was last seen Jan. 2, when he left his cabin in Forest Lakes for a ride on his red Bombardier ATV (license plate number DV-4X). Coconino County Sheriff's Office spokesman Gerry Blair said deputies and U.S. Forest Service officials in the area will continue to chase down all leads, but overflights have been curtailed and large-scale efforts concluded last month.

"As the snow melted, we thought maybe we'd find the ATV," Blair said. "We have not located that."

Hartke said Irby's disappearance is an unfortunate tragedy.

"That it remains unresolved prolongs the agony for his family," Hartke said. "I continue to pray for him and his family."

Jane Poston, a Chandler spokeswoman, said Irby's three-year term as a Planning and Zoning Commission member is up May 1. The City Council on Thursday could appoint Hartke to serve on the commission until that term is up. Hartke then would have to go through the regular council approval process to be reappointed.

Hartke served on the City Council for one year, beginning in January 2008, when he was appointed to the council to replace Councilman Martin Sepulveda, who was deployed to Iraq, Poston said.

Hartke campaigned to keep his council seat in last November's election, but he was not among the top three vote-getters. He was edged out by Jack Sellers by 481 votes.

City guidelines provide that a commission member can be removed after he or she has accrued three unexcused absences from commission meetings. In a recent letter to the City Council, Mayor Boyd Dunn said Irby has missed four Planning Commission meetings.

"I know we are all hoping for the safe return of Mr. Irby to his family and to the community, but for the sake of our moving ahead, I plan to bring this appointment forward at the March 12 City Council meeting," Dunn wrote.

Irby was appointed to the Planning and Zoning Commission in May 2002. He is described as being 5 feet 10 inches tall and 175 pounds, with brown hair, brown eyes, and wearing prescription eyeglasses.

He was wearing a denim shirt, Levi's jeans and Croc shoes when he went missing, and he was not prepared for an overnight excursion, Coconino Sheriff's Office officials have said. Irby also did not have his blood pressure medication with him.

Forest Lakes is in a mountainous, pine forest area at about 7,000 feet elevation east of Payson. In recent weeks, the area has seen about 3 to 4 feet of snowpack, with temperatures dipping below 20 degrees overnight.

A $5,000 reward has been established for information leading to the recovery of both Irby and his ATV. Additionally, donations to the search effort can be made to the Jim Irby Search Fund at Wells Fargo, which has been created by Mark's brother, Jim Irby.