The Madill City Council held their monthly meeting on May 14. The meeting began with the swearing in of place-four seat Terry Rushing and place-five seat Fred Stanley for another term on the city council. Both Rushing and Stanley ran unopposed earlier in the year.
After roll cal,l item five wastodiscussandtakeaction on electing a Mayor and Vice Mayor. CouncilmemberHale proposed to continue with the current Mayor and Vice Mayor as already appointed, council member Rushing seconded the motion. The motion was approved by all council members.
Items six and seven were general housekeeping items. Item eight was to discuss and take action on approving renewal employee health insurance, dental insurance, and life insurance packages. The Bluecross health insurance was approved with an increase in cost paid by the city of an additional $35.63 per employee.
City Manager James Fulligim stated that last year there had been a decrease in theamountpaidperemployee and the difference was about the same as the increase for this year. The Delta Dental insurance plan is being increased in cost paid by the city of an additional $6.64. Fullingim stated that was the first increase in three or four years, council approved item with increases.
Item 10 was the financial report from the city manager; $330,299.52 sales tax revenue, $30,823.53 in use tax, revenue at 138.93%, and expenses at 105.60%, Fullingim added that the percentages may seem high due to grant monies received.
Item 11 was the city manager’s report from Fullingim. A new radar system has been ordered for the light at Francis Street. The money for the light will beaddedtonextyear'sbudget which will be approved at June's city council meeting.
Fullingim stated that the Grid Smart system in the light has gone out and the only other two options are to either turn it off or put it on flashing red, other than leaving it as it is now on timers. The Radar System will be like the system that is in the light at Main Street, which helps “read’ traffic to help better predict the traffic flow.'
City has been working on the pool to get it ready for opening day, the goal date being May 29.
The city is getting ready to level and bring in dirt to the area that will be known as Qualls Park. After the ground is built up, the city will have work done to build a retaining wall on the east side and put on a sidewalk.
After that is complete, the city will begin work on a parking lot. The city has been working to clear trees that fell during the storms.
There were repairs done to the drywall at the city fitness center. Then, Fullingim asked Madill Fire Chief Mike Idleman to talk about the recent community events that the fire department has been participating in.
Idleman talked about interaction at the New Beginnings Church during the most recent spring event. The fire department also spent two days at the Madill Elementary school having water days for the kids with water fights and water cannons.
Idleman reported that they were participating in a field day event with the 5th graders at Madill Elementary. Idleman then talked about the upcoming Madill High School Alumni events and the activities that the fire department will be participating in for those festivities.
The Madill City council meets at 5:15 p.m. on the second Tuesday of every monthintheLibraryRoomat the Fred Stanley Center. City Council members are, Mayor TravisWilliams, Vice Mayor BobbyDavis,MaryAnnHale, 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.