A coin toss could settle who will serve on the Kahlotus City Council.

Bob Hagans, a write-in candidate, is tied with Molly Robitaille, the only candidate who filed for Position 5, according to preliminary results.

If the tie of 21 votes each stands after a recount at 9 a.m. next Monday, the race will be decided with a coin toss, said Diana Killian, Franklin County elections administrator.

State law says ties will be decided by lot, and a coin toss is the form Franklin County has chosen.

Ties are rare. She can only recall one tie in more than 17 years.

Hagans, 65, who retired from the construction industry, said he intended to file for the position but called too late. He mentioned to a few people that he had planned to run, and word got around the small community about 50 miles northeast of Pasco.

Hagans, a Kahlotus resident since 1978, said he would like to see the city get a grant to build a kids park like the one in Irrigon, Ore.

There is nothing like that for children in Kahlotus.

And there is little in town for kids other than a swimming pool, ball fields and a tennis court, he said.

Hagans said if he wins the position, it would be his first time serving on the council.

Robitaille could not be reached Monday, but in her candidate statement she said she wanted to create a low-income, disability and senior rate for the water and garbage service.

"I would also love to see the city grow into a thriving community that is more welcoming for visitors to want to stop in," she said in her statement.

In all, 71 of Kahlotus' 99 voters returned their ballots, but some of the ballots did not include a vote for Position 5, Killian said.

And there were four people who were written-in for that council position, she said.

The last recount was in the 2006 primary election for Franklin PUD commissioner, Position 3, said Rosa Fernandez, with the elections office.

Del Lathim won the hand recount against Ricardo Espinoza by two votes but Lathim lost the general election to incumbent Stuart Nelson.

This year's general election will be certified today by the county canvassing board, which meets at 1:30 p.m.

-- Kristi Pihl: 582-1512; kpihl@tricityherald.com