Coolidge council appoints new chief of police and city clerk, approves surplus-property resolution and LMIG grant application

Mayor Elizabeth Leger called the City of Coolidge council to order at 6:30 p.m. on Jan. 13. The meeting included a slate of routine approvals and several appointments the council approved unanimously.

The council appointed Alisha Bass as city clerk and Mark Hickman as chief of police. The appointments were made in separate motions and followed by the administration of the oath of office for both Alisha Bass and Mark Hickman. The council also appointed Kyle Swann as city attorney and Richard Kent as municipal judge, and named Melissa Johnson mayor pro tem and Tonia Gentry chair of the zoning committee. All of those appointments were recorded as approved by voice vote.

On finance and administrative matters, the council approved adding Mayor Elizabeth Leger and newly appointed City Clerk Alisha Bass as authorized signatories on city checking accounts and removing two former signatories, Diane Causey and Meritta Patillo. The body also approved payment of bills, adopted the order of agenda and amended and approved the December 2025 workshop and council meeting minutes as recorded in the meeting minutes.

The council approved a resolution declaring three Thomas County tax parcels (CG 004012, CG 004013 and CG 004014) surplus and authorized submission of the FY 2026 Local Maintenance and Improvement Grant (LMIG) application. No dollar amounts for the LMIG submission were stated in the meeting record.

Council members also approved an amendment to the personnel policy to update the 2026 holiday schedule. Interim Public Works Director William Glass delivered a brief public works report; Chief Mark Hickman presented a police report noting four tickets and 10 stops and that required agency reports were current. There were no public comments.

The meeting concluded with a motion to adjourn that passed unanimously. The mayor and city clerk signed the official minutes.