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Cochran council approves charter name change, adds distilled-spirits license and clears administrative items
Summary
At its July 9 meeting the Cochran City Council approved a City Charter amendment to rename the Mid-State Energy Commission to the Mid-State Energy Authority, increased distilled-spirits package licenses from two to three, and passed several administrative motions including repeal of the City Clerk swearing/bonding requirement and changes to the 2024 holiday schedule.
The Cochran City Council on July 9 adopted a string of measures that included a charter amendment to allow renaming the Mid-State Energy Commission to the Mid-State Energy Authority and an ordinance change increasing the number of distilled-spirits package licenses from two to three.
The council conducted a second reading of the charter amendment and approved it on a 6–0 roll-call vote after a motion by Council Member Lonnie Tedders and a second from Council Member Andrew Lemmon. Council then unanimously approved an ordinance amendment repealing the requirement that the City Clerk be sworn in and bonded, a motion moved by Council Member Carla Coley and seconded by Council Member Keith Anderson.
Other formal actions included changing the city’s 2024 Christmas observance from Dec. 25–26 to Dec. 24–25 (motion by Council Member Shane Savant, seconded by Council Member Keith Anderson, adopted unanimously), approval to solicit bids to replace or improve city phone services at the request of Chief Trawick (motion by Savant, seconded by Gary Ates, unanimous), and approval of a reservation form for city facilities limited to the space behind the courthouse (motion by Savant, seconded by Andrew Lemmon, unanimous).
On the liquor-license amendment, Council Member Savant moved to allow a third package-sale license for distilled spirits; after discussion of the existing lottery allocation process the council approved the change by voice vote, 6–0. City Attorney Jim Elliott clarified that the new third license would default to the next eligible applicant from the prior lottery, identified in the meeting record as Andy Ravleker.
Procedural business adopted at the start of the meeting included adopting the July 9 agenda and approving the June 11 regular meeting minutes (with one correction) and the June 29 special-called meeting minutes; those motions passed unanimously.
Why it matters: The charter amendment enables the local joint entity to change its public identity; changing the number of packaged distilled-spirits licenses expands retail opportunity in Cochran and may affect local business competition and alcohol regulation administration. Administrative changes to clerk requirements and the holiday schedule are internal governance items that alter city operations this calendar year.
The council did not vote on the Strategic Plan 2024–2026; that item was postponed to the Aug. 13 meeting. The council’s next regular meeting is scheduled for Aug. 13, 2024.
