The most recent Madill City council meeting was held on December 12. Agenda items one through eight were housekeeping items. The eighth item was the city financial report of $37,452.22 of sales tax revenue, $36,465.70 of use tax and current revenue is at 49.6%.
Item nine was the report from city manager James Fullingim. Quarterly brush pick up will be next month in January. On December 21, the Spread the Holiday Christmas light competition will be announced, participating local businesses will be judged on December 29. Planning of community events on a monthly or quarterly basis are being planned by the city in 2024. The city is taking donations for the ballfields project. The current fund is at $3,501 and a local business has promised a donation of $10K with a plan of new concession stands, seating, parking, and fences.
It was reported that the new red light at highway 377 and 70 has an issue with the software that needs to be addressed as it is causing the light to malfunction. Fullingim noted that new businesses are coming to Madill. A coffee shop and a new Dollar General on highway 70 plus a BitCoin operation that will be located at the old DepartmentofCorrectionson East Industrial that will be at full capacity in a few months. It was also reported that there are plans for Qualls Park which will be located on the corner of E. Donehoo Street and N. 2nd Street.
Item ten was set for unscheduled public appearance to be limited to five minutes per appearance. John Gondi, owner of Madill Express, asked about removing the second light cycle on traffic lights at the intersection of highways 377 and 70. After much discussion about the light with adding a possible yellow flashing light and the issues with the light malfunctioning that is currently being experienced, the council moved to get the light working properly and then reassess the situation.
Gondi then asked if the city does any studies of how new businesses affect the area. Fullingim stated that for smaller businesses there are no studies of impact conducted, however on large businesses, there are studies conducted by the state, not the city.
Gondi then asked about the new BitCoin business that was discussed earlier in regards to noise and electricity that will be used. Fullinghim said he was unaware of any noise problems that it is going to have.
“It is the power usage,” he said. “OG&E looked at it and they restricted them on how much (electricity) they can supply in an area.”
Jayson Puritt requested that the planning and zoning committee start reviewing things that are coming up in regards to the new business coming into the city. Pruitt then asked for the floor to discuss the ongoing Board of Adjustment meeting about a 10ft by 20ft barber shop that is being requested to be set up in a residential backyard on Francis Street.
Pruitt went on to explain that he and others did not agree with the BOA recent meeting in regards to the said property at Francis St. that he and his property were retaliated against saying that his lots need to be mowed. Pruitt took before and after photos of his lot and presented those to the board.
Pruitt then expressed his concerns and displeasement with the number of variants that were being handed out by the Board of Adjustments. “These problems have been going on for a very long time,” Pruitt said.
Pruitt then began to present a proposed new residential housing that he is wantingtodeveloponFrancis Street.
The eleventh item on the agenda was for remarks and inquiries by council members. Council member Mary Ann Hale spoke about reviewing two incidents that occurred at the last meeting of the Board of Adjustments. One was in regards to someone in attendance stating they could not hear and so the council member spoke up to be heard. The second incidentwasaboardmember making a statement about what he would do personally in regards to what was being spoken about.
Anaudiencememberthen “rebutted” that and stated that that board member “would not do that”. Hale stated that upon reviewing the meeting audio, she determined thecouncilmember reacted in a defensive way and not out of malice.
Hale then presented the Roberts Rules or Orders stating a public body is not required to allow public comments at its meeting either under the act or the First Amendment and it also states that the board or council should be diligent on making sure no responses are allowed and no actions taken on issues brought up on open mic.
The Madill City council meets at 5:15 p.m. on the second Tuesday of every month in the Library Room at the Fred Stanley Center. City Council members are Bobby Davis, Mary Ann Hale,MayorTravisWilliams, Terry Rushing, Fred Stanley and City Manager James Fullingim. Meeting agendas are available upon request. The phone number to city hall is (580) 795-5586