May 21, 2016 - New mayor Clark Jernigan and council member Stephanie Marie Glenn were sworn in at the recent Tenaha City Council meeting held on Monday, May 16, 2016.
Outgoing mayor Orinthia Johnson took the lead in the meeting and once a motion carried to approve the canvassing of votes, and regardless of losing the election, Johnson administered the oath of office to the new mayor of Tenaha and council member.
Another fresh addition to the council, Cliff Lloyd, was not able to be present during the meeting due to a health issue and is expected to be sworn in at the next meeting.
A motion was carried to approve the minutes of the April 18, 2016 meeting the was followed by a motion carrying to approve the financial statements.
With the change in leadership in the city it is necessary to change the signatures on all city accounts and a motion carried to approve a resolution to change signatures on all accounts at the First National Bank of Hugh Springs.
Three bids were received for a 2007 Dodge Charge belonging to the Tenaha City Marshal's Office. The top bid which was for $1,200 by Richard Stocksdale. A motion was carried to approve the bid.
A motion was carried table financing the Marshal's Office new vehicle. Another motion carried to table review of invoices and chance accounts payable process to vendors.
A motion carried to set June 13, 2016 at 5pm as a work session date to revisit and revise the employee handbook.
During the department head reports City Marshal Jimmy Wagstaff reported 129 stops with a total of 168 citations from those stops. Wagstaff used a list of street lights in the city provided by SWEPCO, and located several not functioning as well as one or two lights the city is being charged for which shouldn't be the responsibility of the city. He also located some for which the city was not being charged.
Marshal Wagstaff is also making plans for ordinances and codes in the future.
Stacy Cranford, stated the light pole issue which was tabled at the last city council meeting has been fixed. He stated the pole was replaced at no charge to the city by SWEPCO. Lighting and brackets were all changed over and everything was reconnected. He thanked Phillip Johnson with AEP SWEPCO for graciously making that happen as it saved the city some money and prevented someone getting hurt by the pole at the park.
Well No. 3 fencing has been approved for re-installation. Booker T. Washington street temporary closure has been completed. The permanant closure on South Railroad Street with pavement removal has been completed and BNSF have been informed.
Sheryl Clark, City Secretary, addressed the council about city records being catalogued by a record retention company and she would like all departments included in this catalogue to either work with her or she asked the council to remove the responsibility from her. The only department known mentioned as not complying with the record retention was the municipal court.
Mayor Jernigan assured Clark and Natalie Harris, councilwoman, the records would be turned over for cataloguing since it was previously approved by the council.
