FEB 10TH, 2021: Council Stops All Non-emergency Police Assistance to Washita County Sheriff's Department
In a special meeting Friday, February 5th, the city council put the brakes on helping the Washita County sheriff’s office in police matters not involving emergencies. The council voted 7-0 with James Newman abstaining to allow the city police department only to respond to emergency situations requested by the county sheriff’s office – and that would only happen if the city had adequate police coverage. The city typically has one officer on duty at all times, Mayor Jerry Beech said.
“We are doing county business with the city of Cordell police officers, which means that we’re taking warrants to Burns Flat, to Dill City, everywhere else. And when you look at this mutual aid, this mutual aid doesn’t talk about us helping the, it talks about them helping us,” Mayor Beech said.
There is no agreement or contract for what the services, like serving warrants, that the city is doing, Beech said. And, the city is falling behind in its own warrant serving, he added.
A few issues popped out after the mayor started examining the issue, he said. The city is using city vehicles, paying for the extra fuel the city is using in its police vehicles, and paying extra maintenance costs, among others.
“I would suggest that we stop this until we can negotiate something with the sheriff’s office, since there really isn’t anything in here (the agreement) that says that you’re supposed to be doing that,” Beech said.
City officials will meet with the sheriff, Roger Reeve, to see if there is interest into hashing out an agreement between the city and sheriff’s office that would qualm the city’s concerns.
May 3rd, 2021: City Adopts Ordinance For Home-based Businesses
After months of inaction, the Cordell City Council finally revised what it considers a home-based business.
The somewhat controversial issue popped up officially before council in October of 2020 when the city told a Cordell resident he couldn’t sell items he made from his home. It gave the resident time to seek a variance while at the same time giving itself time to form a subcommittee to examine a new ordinance.
Councilman James Newman, who chaired that subcommittee, presented it to the council during its February meeting.
Highlights of the new ordinance include:
• No more than three nonresident employees or no more than three clients may be on the site at once. And the home-based business must not generate on-street parking.
• The business must not result in a substantial increase in traffic.
• The business must operate exclusively within the residential dwelling. It can’t be visible from the street.
• It must be compatible with the residential uses of the property.
• It must remain a secondary use to the site's primary use, which is residential.
• And it must operate in compliance with all City and County health and safety regulations.
The City council adopted the new home-based business ordinance on a 6-2 vote. Cheryl Wedel and councilman Steve McLaughlin voted against the new ordinance.
April 7th, 2021: Two New Council Members Elected
In somewhat of a surprise, Cordell will have two new City Council members after Tuesday’s election.
Sheri Parsons beat incumbent Vicky Dunlap and Amy Riggs to win election to the Ward 4 seat on the Council. Parsons won with 59 percent, while Dunlap had 34 and Riggs had 7.
Tad Boone defeated incumbent Vona Baker (Hicks) to win a seat on the council representing Ward 4. Boone won with 60 percent of the votes, and Baker (Hicks) had 40 percent.
James Newman, who opted to not file for re-election, will serve another two years in Ward 3 under a provision of state election law that says an incumbent must stay on the board until someone is elected to fill his seat. Newman could have resigned his seat, but chose to stay on, saying he plans “to stay on and do whatever I can and be a voice for those in Ward 3 and anyone in Cordell.”
Newman’s fellow Ward 3 councilman Buddy Holman, and Ward 2 councilwoman Earlene Smith will continue on the city council because no one filed to oppose them. City Clerk Christie Cherry also will continue in her role as she faced no opposition.
June 9th, 2021: City Council Member Cheryl Wedel Succumbs to Cancer
Long time city council member Cheryl Wedel died of cancer on Friday, June 4. City administrator J.C. Moser said that Wedel will be greatly missed, and that she was a dedicated council member for as long as Moser has been in Cordell.
“Cheryl has always been extremely community oriented and has worked to serve the citizens of New Cordell, sometimes making difficult decisions that would benefit many instead of the few,” Moser said.
June 23rd, 2021: City Administrator J.C. Moser Fired
Cordell’s city administrator J.C. Moser was terminated from his position during a city council meeting on Monday, June 21. The discussion of Moser’s employment was discussed during the executive session portion of that night’s meeting. Upon exiting the executive session, Mayor Jerry Beech asked if a member would make a motion to terminate Moser from his position. City council member Earlene Smith made the first motion to terminate Moser followed by a second motion by council member Steve McLaughlin. All present city council members then unanimously voted to terminate Moser. Smith and McLaughlin declined to comment, Beech was unable to be reached.
August 25th, 2021: Jamie Bardwell Appointed to City Council
Council Members appointed Jamie Bardwell to fill the vacant seat left by the passing of former council member Cheryl Wedel. Bardwell was nominated by James Newman to fill the vacant seat.
October 20th, 2021: Cordell City Council Fires Police Chief Brandon Rogers
Following a city council meeting on Monday, October 18, the Cordell City Council has voted to terminate Brandon Rogers, Chief of Cordell Police Department.
“All I really want is what’s best for the city, and if that's what [the council] thinks is best, then we’ll move on,” Rogers said.
The item was discussed during the executive session portion of Monday night’s meeting. Upon exiting the executive session, city council member Steve McLaughlin called for a motion to terminate Rogers. Council member Tad Boone followed suit as he seconded the motion to terminate Rogers. The vote ended in a 5-3 vote to terminate Rogers with council member Jamie Bardwell being the only member to vote no. Council members Sheri Parson and James Newman abstained from voting, however, their decision reflected as a no on the official vote.
“Previously, we’ve discussed this numerous times,” McLaughlin said during Monday night’s meeting before making the motion. When reached for further comment on the matter, McLaughlin declined.