Hours after a cold front rolled into Marshall County, the Madill City Council held its monthly meeting inside the Fred Stanley Center, Library Room on Dec. 10.
The meeting was called to order by Mayor Travis Williams.
Other members present were Bobby Davis, Mary Ann Hale and Shaunda Stanley
Member Terry Rushing was not present.
With a quorum present, Williams continued with the meeting.
The council took action to amend ordinance #961 which changed the procedure for selecting and appointed a municipal judge.
A motion was made by Hale and seconded to Stanley. The vote was 4-0 in favor of the motion to change the procedure.
As current municipal judge Michael Haggerty is leaving the post, the council chose Rich Miller of Tishomingo as his successor. Miller has been the municipal judge in Tishomingo for two years.
Williams made the motion to appoint Miller to the post. Stanley seconded the motion. It passed by a 4-0 margin.
During the discussion, Fullingim pointed out the that position of municipal judge has paid $1,000.00 for many years and should be reviewed.
Presently municipal court is held once per month in Madill.
Miller said he uses a system in Tishomingo that has a total of five hearings per month with four of those being designated for initial appearances. He said most municipal court cases are resolved at the initial appearance. Miller added that he always works closely with the city attorney on those cases.
Miller’s term is set to start in January 2020. He said he plans to honor all previously scheduled municipal court dates.
The council also decided to reappoint Jana Newman as the alternate municipal judge.
At start of the meeting, the city attorney for both Madill and Tishomingo was Dustin Rowe. However, Rowe was recently appointed to the Oklahoma State Supreme Court by Gov. Kevin Stitt.
As a result, Rowe is no longer able to practice law. Rowe said he planned on being around for a while, but a dream job on the highest court in Oklahoma came calling.
“It has been a pleasure to work with you,” he said. “I had to close my law office. And I’ll be setting up in my new office [in Oklahoma City] next week.”
Rowe personally invited the council members to his swearing-in which will be in either January or February 2020.
The council named Rowe’s replacement as Kristin Speer of Little Law Firm. Ahead of her selection by Mayor Williams she met with both Williams and Fullingim.
Earlier in the meeting, a motion by Stanley and second by Hale were needed so the group could approve the Consent Agenda which included:
Minutes of November 12, 2019
November General Fund Purchase Orders
November One Cent Purchase Orders
November Capital Project Purchase Orders
Then, Autumn Williams of Russell and Williams CPA’s, P.C. presented her firm’s audit of the City of Madill’s Financial Statements for Year-End June 30, 2019.
Williams directed the council members to page seven of the audit, which was a statement of Revenues, Expenditures and Changes in Fund Balances – Modified Cash Basis Governmental Funds for the Year Ended June 30, 2019.
Total tax receipts to the general fund were $2,296,057.07 and total one-cent tax receipts were $951,775.05 mean total taxes collected were $3,247,832.12.
When combining taxes with all other forms of income, the City of Madill’s total revenue for fiscal year ending on June 30, 2019 was $3,996,804.34.
Meanwhile, the city’s total expenses were $3,403,003.96 resulting in excess revenues of $593,800.38.
The audit was approved by a 4-0 vote.
Williams adjourned the meeting at 5:55 p.m.