The Shire of Wyndham East Kimberley Council will be suspended following allegations of bullying and harassment between fellow councillors.
Five councillors resigned on Thursday evening, including President Jane Parker, in response to ongoing fractured relationships between elected members and certain members of the community.
Minister for Local Government Tony Simpson told WAtoday he will be recommending that the four remaining positions on council be declared vacant and a commissioner will be appointed to the Shire.
"I consider this to be the best course of action to ensure good government to the people of Wyndham East Kimberley," Mr Simpson said.
Ms Parker, elected in November last year, resigned in an emergency meeting with fellow councillors Sophie Cooke, Beau Robinson, Naomi Perry and Emily Bolto.
The ex-Shire President told WAtoday it had been difficult working in the divisive environment.
"When you've got people not being reasonable, debating a topic is impossible," she said.
The four remaining positions are currently held by Deputy Shire President Keith Wright, and Councillors Simone Rushby, Darren Spackman and Alma Petherick.
The council has been in turmoil since May, when Minister Simpson issued the first of two show cause notices due to a number of complaints of unworkable relationships in the council.
The second show cause notice was ordered 12 weeks later and ordered the council to begin a mediation process with Perth lawyer Graham Castledine.
The decision was later made to terminate the process when he found there would be 'no reasonable prospect of success'.
Ms Parker said the mediation process was unsuccessful due a lack of participation from some councillors.
"We had the opportunity to build a good relationship and the mediation process failed," she said.
Some councillors have criticised a lack of formal reprimand or warning from the State Government following the failed mediation process and said there was a need for transparency and accountability from council members if the Shire was to have successful governance.
It is also alleged a number of councillors were found to be exchanging abusive emails, text messages and Facebook posts.
Cr Sophie Cooke also tendered her resignation during the meeting, and said the joint decision to resign was in the best interest of the community.
"Interpersonal relationships crippled the democratic process... social media probably caused the most damage," she said.
Councillors reportedly leaked confidential information onto Facebook, and publicly criticised their colleagues on social media.
A major source of contention within the council was the proposed increase to annual council rates.
Some councillors had lobbied for a zero per cent increase, but were out-numbered in a divisive vote that saw it increase instead to 1.3 per cent.
Minister Simpson said he commended the exiting councillors for their hard work and good faith in attempts to resolve the issues in the Shire.
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