SOAP LAKE — The Soap Lake City Council is once again at full strength at seven after councilmembers selected Alex Kovach to fill the vacant position on the council.

Kovach was officially sworn-in to Position No. 6 on the council recently. Michelle Agliano, Bill Bratton, Samuel Palmer and Kandis Lair also submitted letters of interest for the position. The position on the council was left vacant after former councilmember Judith Tramayne resigned from her post in early July due to health problems, according to Soap Lake Mayor Raymond Gravelle. Tramayne had served on the council since 2016 after defeating incumbent Keith Hagglund in the November 2015 general election.

Kovach works for his parents, Andy and Nell Kovach, at their architecture firm, Kovach Architects Inc. Alex, along with his parents, have been forefront of the push for constructing the world’s largest Lava Lamp in the city. Alex Kovach has designed several renderings of the proposed Lava Lamp over the years, the idea for which was hatched by artist Brent Blake back in 2002. The project is still in the works with fundraising open and locals like Kovach are still hoping to see the Lava Lamp be erected in Soap Lake in the future.

Kovach could not be reached for comment on his appointment.

Richard Byrd can be reached via email at city@columbiabasinherald.com.