Published: September 08, 2009 10:15 am      

The end for MEDS?

Recruiter's contract on council agenda Tuesday

The McAlester City Council plans to consider and act upon a proposal to terminate the city’s contract with the McAlester Economic Development Service during the council’s regular meeting tonight.

The meeting is set for 6 p.m. in the council chambers at City Hall.

McAlester Economic Development Service Executive Director Jim “Red” Mills turned in his resignation from the MEDS post last month, with Sept. 16 as the date the resignation will become effective. MEDS is charged with attracting new businesses and industries to the McAlester area, as well as assisting those that are already in place.

The city had approved its annual contract with MEDS in late July and had granted MEDS an increase of nearly 29 percent in its budget — up from $172,500 for the 2008-2009 Fiscal Year to $219,848 for the current 2009-2010 Fiscal Year.

Mills had resigned in August when the MEDS Board was to evaluate his job performance.

“I think it’s time for a change,” Mills told the News-Capital on Aug. 26.

“I think McAlester and the MEDS Board needs to look forward and not dwell on the past.”

Mills also said that his job required a lot of travel and he wanted to spend more time with his family.

Mills had started the job as the MEDS executive director on Feb. 15, 2004.

Other items listed on the agenda for the city council to discuss and act upon during its regular meeting include:

• A presentation and status report on the service delivery provided by Allegiance Communications in the McAlester market. Regional Manager Vice President T. M. Woody Wood is expected to present the information in the report.

• A resolution authorizing the city of McAlester to seek a Community Development Block Grant from the Oklahoma Department of Commerce. If adopted, a new resolution will replace an earlier submittal to accompany the city’s CDGB application. The city is currently involved in efforts to bring a firearms manufacturer to the city.

• Discussion and possible action related to a code of conduct for city employees.

• An ordinance which would amend the city Code of Ordinances relating to the establishing the McAlester City Emergency Ambulance Fund and declaring it an emergency, so it would take effect immediately, if passed.

• A 2009-2010 Provisional State and Local Task Force Agreement between the U.S. Department of Justice, Drug Enforcement Administration and the McAlester Police Dept. Police Chief Jim Lyles is expected to present details of the agreement

• An ordinance amending Ordinance 2337, which established the city’s budget, so the budget can be amended for unanticipated expenditures.

• A letter of engagement with Hulme, Rahhal, Henderson, Inc. related to audit services for the past fiscal year, which ended June 30, 2009.

• Authorizing the mayor to sign a service agreement with D&D Elevator to perform monthly scheduled maintenance on all elevator equipment for a time period extending from July 1, 2009, through June 30, 2010.

• Authorizing the mayor to sign an addendum to a collection services agreement with American Municipal Services.

In addition to the regular meeting, the city council also plans an executive session meeting behind closed doors following the regular meeting tonight.

The council plans to discuss pending litigation with Joyce Ramsey regarding a house which the city has prevented Ramsey from repairing.

The council also plans to meet to “Discuss the employment, hiring, appointment, promotion, demotion, disciplining or resignation of any individual salaried public officer or employee: City manager.”

City councilors have already accepted the resignation of City Manager Mark Roath, who will be the new city manager in Alamogordo, N.M.

Contact James Beaty at jbeaty@mcalesternews.com.