With no controversial items on the voting agenda, members of the Cordell City Council sailed through the meeting on Monday, August 17, 2020, adjourning only 33 minutes after the meeting was gaveled to order.
The Cordell Chamber of Commerce was the largest beneficiary of council action, as they approved a waiver of vendor fees for the Pumpkin Festival, provided $3,000 to help with the costs of event insurance, and okayed a detour of traffic during the Pumpkin Festival if the detour is approved by the Oklahoma Department of Transportation.
Sarah Lau had made a brief presentation to the council regarding the waiver of vendor fees.
She said the City charges vendors a fee to operate in the City and the Chamber’s request was for the City to waive that fee.
Then, the Chamber will be allowed to charge the vendors a fee to have one of the Pumpkin Festival booth spaces.
Lau said if the City charged their fee, vendors would either need to pay two fees or the Chamber would lose a large source of revenue.
At the current time, according to Lau, over 40 vendors have spoken for space at the October festival.
Cheri Nabors was named to fill the vacant position on the Planning and Zoning Board and the Historical Preservation Committee.
A discussion and vote on the 740-plus page Cordell Police Department Policy Manual was tabled until the next meeting to give council members the opportunity to more closely read and understand the contents.
Dacia Phillips from the City’s CPA firm, RSMeacham, gave the financial reports.
Council members attending the meeting included Zetta Penner, Vona Hicks, Earlene Smith, Steve McLaughlin, Cheryl Wedel, James Newman, Buddy Holman and Vicky Dunlap.
Also present were City Administrator J.C. Mosier, Mayor Jerry Beech, attorney Johnny Beech and City Clerk Christie Cherry.