Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Administration topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Cochran council approves business-license due-date change, hears updates and agrees to offer AirMedCare membership
Summary
Council amended the business license ordinance to move the due date to Dec. 31, reappointed a housing-authority member by consensus, heard City Manager and Clerk updates including HB 451 implementation and FEMA reimbursement status, and agreed by consensus to offer AirMedCare memberships to employees during the next open enrollment period.
During routine business, the Cochran City Council approved several administrative items and heard multiple staff updates on Oct. 10.
The council amended the City Business License Ordinance to change the due date from March 15 to December 31 to align with the fiscal year after a motion by Council Member Andrew Lemmon, seconded by Council Member Gary Ates; the motion passed unanimously. By consensus the council reappointed Debra Turner to a four-year term on the Cochran Housing Authority; no formal vote was recorded. Earlier in the meeting a motion to approve the minutes of the Sept. 10, 2024 meeting passed (motion by Council Member Gary Ates, seconded by Council Member Andrew Lemmon). An agenda item to amend the utility ordinance was struck from the agenda.
Wendy Simpson of Air Evac presented an optional AirMedCare membership (to be funded entirely through employee payroll deductions). Council members asked questions about program structure and city obligations and there was consensus to offer the benefit during the next open enrollment period; no formal vote was taken.
City Manager Richard Newbern updated the council on attendance at a recent CDBG workshop, staff openings for an administrative assistant and a code enforcement position, the Plan First renewal application status, an annual agreement with Symphona for accounting services, an upcoming GICH housing seminar and Hurricane Helene recovery and FEMA reimbursement status. City Clerk Candace Summerall thanked staff for storm response efforts, said an emergency operating procedure is in place, noted that House Bill 451 (PTSD–Ashley–Wilson Act) implementation for first responders is due Jan. 1, 2025, announced upcoming community events and provided a tax-sale update; she said a final report on charge-offs will be presented at the January council meeting.
Council members and the mayor used the discussion period to thank employees for storm response work, and Council Member Shane Savant suggested implementing an official spokesperson for public updates during emergencies. The council then entered an executive session to discuss personnel matters and adjourned after returning from that session.
