Mayor speaks on hospital tax vote and council moves to appoint mayor to Gulf States Gas Board

The City Council considered an appointment to a regional utility board and heard a mayoral appeal about a hospital funding measure.

Ray spoke to the council about the Gulf States Gas District, saying it formed about four years ago to pursue prepaid gas purchases intended to lower gas prices for residents. Ray described the district's purpose and referenced board members, saying the arrangement is intended to reduce costs for citizens across a multi-county area. Quote (Ray): "We formed up the Gulf States Gas District about, it's been about 4 years ago... to do a prepaid gas, which makes our gas cheaper for the citizens." (SEG 116-119).

Councilors then recorded a motion to appoint Mayor Nalty to the Gulf States Gas Board; a motion and second were recorded in the transcript but no roll-call tally or explicit vote outcome was provided there.

Later the mayor addressed an impending election on a proposed increase in ad valorem taxes to support the local hospital system and urged residents to vote. The mayor outlined examples of the tax impact and potential consequences of a hospital closure: "If you got a $150,000 home, you're you're just gonna increase your taxes by roughly $60... and if it's, you know, $300,000, it's a $120" (SEG 176-179). The mayor said the hospital had "saved almost $1,660,000 in the previous year" and noted employee counts: "about 245 to 275 employees" locally and "another a 150" in nearby towns, arguing closures would reduce local business and services.

The appointment motion to place the mayor on the Gulf States Gas Board and the mayor's public message were both recorded in the meeting; the transcript documents the motion and the mayor's remarks but does not include the vote tally for the appointment or any formal action taken in response to the mayor's plea.

The meeting then adjourned.