MAGGIE VALLEY — After a few weeks of discussion, candidate interviews and overall drama surrounding the appointment of the next alderman, the Maggie Valley Board of Alderman is still faced with the same question.

As Alderman Saralyn Price asked in Monday's meeting: "So, what do we do now?"

At this point, no one on the board seems sure. The afternoon meeting was meant as an opportunity to discuss the six candidates — and hopefully even chose one — but it became clear early on that a consensus, or even a three-person majority, was not even close. For the time being, the board is remaining a four-person unit because, simply, there is no other option.

If no compromise is met, this could continue all the way until the next election cycle in November — in 2013.

That would mean that the board, ...