Marshall Common Council adjourns after no quorum; council offers condolences for former Mayor Philip Ray Deckard Sr.

The Marshall Common Council convened Monday evening, Dec. 29, 2025, for a meeting called by the mayor but adjourned shortly after roll call when a quorum was not present.

An invocation was delivered by Mike Ellis, who opened by saying, "I thank my lord and savior Jesus Christ for this opportunity to open this very important meeting," and asked attendees to lift up the Deckard family after recent losses. Council then recited the Pledge of Allegiance.

During roll call, the clerk named council members including John Badger (present), Susie Lipps (present) and Josh Baron (present). The clerk and council members identified that Councilor and former Mayor Philip Ray Deckard Sr. had passed away; one speaker said, "Councilman and former mayor Deckard has completed his earthly mission and he has gone home." The mayor extended condolences to the Deckard family and said the city would keep them in thoughts and prayers.

Mister Meredith informed the mayor that the council did not have a quorum, which prevented the body from conducting substantive business. The mayor reviewed administrative items distributed in council packets, including updated meeting dates for 2026 and a scheduled budget hearing for 2027. He also announced that city offices, except for emergency services, will be closed Thursday, Jan. 1, and that Thursday trash pickup will be collected on Friday this week.

The mayor presented a certificate of appreciation recognizing the city's director of planning and engineering for service from 01/01/2020 through 12/31/2025 and thanked the director for their leadership. The transcript's spelling of the recipient's name is unclear; the certificate and service dates were stated on the record.

With no other business able to be conducted, the mayor concluded the meeting, stating, "As there can be no other business conducted this evening, we are adjourned."