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Cochran council backs House Bill 1570 after mayor breaks tie; approves contract payment and appointments
Summary
The Cochran Mayor and Council voted to support House Bill 1570 after a 3–3 split that was decided by Mayor Carla D. Coley. The council also approved an interim city clerk appointment, a $24,816.54 payment for completed police department work performed without a formal contract, and several routine administrative actions.
The Cochran Mayor and Council voted April 14 to support House Bill 1570 after a 3–3 split among councilmembers that required Mayor Carla D. Coley to cast the tie-breaking vote in favor.
Council debate on HB 1570, described in session as concerning airport authority membership, focused on objections to allowing out-of-county board members and concern about the process moving forward without prior council approval. Councilmember Lonnie Tedders moved to support the bill, Councilmember Gary Ates seconded, and the recorded council votes were Yes: Ates, Trecia Gardner and Tedders; No: Shane Savant, Dianne Lester and Rufus Veal. Mayor Coley broke the tie and the motion passed.
Beyond the legislative support, the council approved a set of largely routine administrative items. The council appointed Deputy City Clerk Tiffany Fowler as Interim City Clerk; the motion record lists the appointment and a unanimous vote but does not specify the mover and seconder in the minutes. The council appointed Dianne Lawson Lester as an additional bank signer by a unanimous vote.
The council also approved payment of $24,816.54 to Deep South for police department work after a third-party review confirmed the value of the work. The minutes record that the work was completed without a formal contract; Councilmember Gary Ates moved to approve payment and Councilmember Lonnie Tedders seconded the motion, which passed unanimously.
On permits, the council denied sign-variance requests from Cochran Beverage Outlet for a second monument sign and for an LED digital sign that violated spacing requirements; motions to deny were recorded as passing.
Votes at a glance • Remove Item #10 from the agenda — motion by Councilmember Shane Savant, seconded by Councilmember Dianne Lester; carried unanimously. • Appoint Tiffany Fowler as Interim City Clerk — vote: passed unanimously (mover/second not specified in minutes). • Appoint Tiffany Fowler as Gas Authority voting delegate; appoint Gary Ates as alternate — motion passed unanimously. • Support HB 1570 (Airport Authority) — yes: Gary Ates, Trecia Gardner, Lonnie Tedders; no: Shane Savant, Dianne Lester, Rufus Veal; Mayor Carla D. Coley cast tie-breaking vote in favor; motion passed. • Appoint Dianne Lawson Lester as additional bank signer — passed unanimously. • Pay Deep South $24,816.54 for completed police work (performed without a formal contract) — passed unanimously. • Deny Cochran Beverage Outlet sign variances — motions to deny passed.
The council recorded other routine items and departmental reports during the meeting. The session ended at 7:39 p.m.
