The monthly Madill City Council meeting was on February 13. Points one through five were general cleanliness issues.
Item six was to discuss and take action to appoint Sallianne Millford to the Madill Housing Authority Board, for a term from February 1, 2024 to January 1, 2030. She would replace Royce Bartee. The council voted to approve the item.
Once the council approved Millford, they moved on to item seven. It was to discuss and take action on the appointment of Charolette Chaffin to the Madill Board of Adjustments. Chaffin would replace Baker McHatton. Chaffin would be serving McHatton's three-year term, which will expire June 30, 2026. The council voted to approve Chaffin's appointment, over the objection of Jayson Pruitt of P2 Minerals. Pruitt claims to have a fencing dispute with Chaffin and that he reported this dispute to City Manager James Fullinghim at some point prior to his appointment.
Item eight was to discuss and take action to approve a conditional use permit to sell mixed drinks and alcoholic beverages at Alejo’s Bar and Grill, LLC. Located at Plaza 105 in Madill. The Madill Planning and Zoning Commission approved the conditional use permit on January 17, 2024. The item was approved by the council.
Point nine was to discuss and take steps to renew the lease agreement with Evolve (Bitcoin). The item was postponed because the contract was not signed and/or returned by the owner/operators of Evolve.
Item ten was to discuss and take action to submit bids on a 2013 Ford F150 pickup truck. The vehicle was in use at the city's water department at the construction site. Fullighim said the vehicle needed more than $9,000 in repair costs. City Council member Mary Ann Hale suggested that surplus property should be advertised for auction and that all future surplus properties be advertised for auction. The council approved the article with the modification of advertising to sell surplus goods.
After approving the sale of the F150, the council moved on to item 11. It involved appointing Jan Lee Hoppers to the Madill Beautification Committee. Hoppers will replace Patsy Sprouse. The council approved the article.
Point 12 was about a proclamation of random acts of kindness. The article was approved. Item 13 had no reports.
The council then moved on to item 14. It was the financial report: $316,355.05 in sales tax revenue, $37,720.07 in use tax, revenue at 67.12% and expenses at 72.04%.
Item 15 was the city manager's report. Fullinghim reported that the appointment of interim Police Chief Donny Raley exceeded expectations. Ken Smith is the city's new inspector and code enforcement officer. Watkins Field grounds are being cleared.
Ok Steel and Wire has donated the fence for the baseball field project. This donation will free up funds already donated for use in other parts of the project. The city prepares for the harvest season. The Madill Police Department will partner with the Marshall County Sheriff's Office and the Kingston Police Department for a community night on May 11 at the Marshall County Expo Center.
A new officer started at the Madill Police Department. A used Vector truck that was already approved for purchase by the council is no longer available. There may be another one to purchase or the search will continue until one is found within the approved budget.
Water meters need to be upgraded because they malfunction and replacement parts cannot be found for them. There is currently no quote to replace them all, but it is something that will have to be taken care of soon.
Item 16 was unscheduled public appearances. Resident Nancy Carter spoke about the smell in the city. She said she had been talking to someone from the EPA and USDA about the odor and waste coming from ESRO.
Carter asked if the city of Madill had fined ESRO and City Manager Fullinghim said yes. Fullinghim then asked City Manager Kristen Speer to look at city ordinances and the possibility of “having stronger fine power against businesses like this.”
“Our municipal court and the amount of money we can collect through it does not make sense for large corporations,” Fullinghim continued. “Even if we fine them every day, it won't matter. What can we do against a company like that? Speer said she would investigate what could be done.
Jerry Ninemeyer then asked the council to look at the stop sign on Cedar Drive that people keep passing. He also wanted the city to look at the old broken clay sewer pipe that is in the alley off Cedar Drive due to repairs made some time ago.
Willa Dean then asked the council about a letter that came out in January on the back of the city's water bill in reference to Ordinance #613 regarding inoperable vehicles, also known as useless cars. She said nothing has been done regarding the ordinance and wanted to know when these cars will be tagged for violation.
Smith, the newly appointed code enforcement officer, said he is beginning to personally address these vehicles, even going so far as to personally notify people who violate the ordinance.
Lastly, Levi Jeffery said he was concerned that semi-trailer and rock trucks coming into town are using their engine brakes as they come into town, creating noise pollution on Highway 377 near Brookside Drive. Pruitt stated that the same thing is happening on Highway 199 and proposed that early morning reinforcement be implemented by the police department since the posted signs are not working.
The Madill City Council meets at 5:15 p.m. the second Tuesday of each month in the Fred Stanley Center Library Room. City Council members are Mayor Travis Williams, Vice Mayor Bobby Davis, Mary Ann Hale, Terry Rushing and City Manager James Fullingim. Fred Stanley was not present. Meeting agendas are available upon request. The phone number for City Hall is (580) 795-5586.