Madill City Council: Meeting held virtually; city manager details future

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Like cities around the state, Madill is still adapting to the new reality of today’s health crisis. With safety in mind, the Madill City Council moved its April 14 regular monthly meeting to Zoom, a digital meeting platform.

The meeting was hosted by Donny Raley, who serves in dual roles as the Madill Police Department’s public information officer and the City of Madill’s emergency manager.

Joining the meeting from city hall were City Manager James Fullingim and city staff members Cindy Burchfield and Carol Minor.

The council members themselves joined the meeting remotely either from their residences or offices.

The meeting started a few minutes after the normal start time of 5 p.m. as vice mayor Bobby Davis was experiencing some technical difficulties. However, Davis was able to join the meeting later just as it switched to a gathering of the Madill Public Works Authority. His arrival was cheered by multiple attendees.

The remaining four council members Mayor Travis Williams, Terry Rushing, Shaunda Stanley and Mary Ann Hale were in attendance.

With a quorum established, Williams started the meeting.

Rushing made a motion to accept the consent agenda and his motion was seconded by Stanley.

The meeting then moved to the financial report by Fullingim.

“Normally, I’d give you guys an update on renewals and everything with the fitness center but that’s pretty much null and void at this time,” he said. “We do have a revenue source though.”

Fullingim said sales tax was at $225,376.16 as opposed to $210,674.38 last year. He said the use tax came in at $14,375.78.

The meeting then moved to the city manager’s report.

Fullingim said the majority of things he would talk about were coronavious related.

He said the city’s website is up and running now.

“It’s not complete,” he said. “But a lot of stuff is on there. I checked on online water bill pay. We hope to have everything up and running soon.”

Fullingim said the walking trail and pavilions at city parks are still open.

“However, basketball courts and soccer fields are shut down,” he said. A lot of cities have discussed doing a curfew. I don’t see the need for it as we’re not seeing any large gatherings right now.”

Fullingim talked about the Madill swimming pool.

“We are looking for lifeguards,” he said. “If pandemic continues into the summer, then we won’t open it.”

Fullingim said he is monitoring information from the Office of Governor Kevin Stitt ahead of April 30, the day the governor’s coronavirus executive orders are set to expire.

“ I don’t know what to expect from governor,” he said. “It may be extended. Oklahoma has done a good job with this despite what news media says.”

Fullingim added that a lot of people are still working.

“Restaurants still open,” he said. “Mirroring what the governor said. If the he loosen things up, we’ll review that. I’ll keep you updated on stuff as I get them. If something is changed May 1, then I’ll call for a special meeting. The governor is under pressure to get economy back going.

Fullingim said one of the things he needed to bring up is the city court.

“I spoke with the Judge Miller,” Fullingim said. “I think we should have court pushed back until the pandemic is over. I don’t want to risk public or city employees until this is done. That is my opinion.

Stanley spoke first when Fullingim had completed his report.

“No James, it’s a good idea,” Stanley said. “Just to leave it all shut down. Liability wise I mean it will come back on us if somebody gets infected.”

Hale added that she agreed.

Then, Williams spoke up.

“I think we need to close too cause once you start making exceptions for the city or anyone else, it’ll be a landslide,” he said. “People will want exceptions left and right.”

Fullingim chimed back in.

“That’s the way I feel about it,” he said. “And once again, I don’t really feel comp

James, said he will ask the judge to move city court back to May.

Fullingim added that there is uncertainty when it comes to the pandemic’s impact on the local economy. Specifically, with restaurants, he doesn’t know what to y’all what to expect on sales tax for the next few months.