Only one nomination for a vacancy on the Waihemo Community Board has saved the Waitaki District Council about $12,000, the cost of running a full by-election.
When nominations closed on Wednesday, only one, from retired Hampden man Jack Lyford, had been received for the single vacancy on the board.
Mr Lyford was declared elected unopposed.
The by-election was needed to fill a vacancy because only four nominations were received for the five seats on the board.
The Electoral Act says a by-election must be held to fill the vacancy.
If more than one nomination had been received, voters in the Waihemo ward would have had to vote in an election set down for February 10.
However, even without a vote being needed, the process to date was expected to cost about $5000.
