Published: November 19, 2008 10:08 am      

Directors ask council to fill five empy seats

McAlester’s economic development board voted unanimously Tuesday to ask the city council to fill five vacancies, replacing one member who cited “animosity” between the council and the board.

“The current treasurer is not on (this list) and I want to make sure it is not because he asked a question at the last meeting,” Mayor Kevin Priddle asked the McAlester Economic Development board during their Tuesday meeting. He referred to a list of five appointments to the board — Steve Benefield of Choctaw manufacturing operations, Lee Anderson of McAlester Radio, Tom Bledsoe of Komar, Fred Probis of Kiamichi Tech and Kenny Edwards of American Inn.

Absent from the list was Webcoat controller Greg McNall, formerly the MEDS board treasurer.

Last month’s board meeting was canceled for a lack of a quorum, but McNall and Priddle both indicated there has been some discussion about McNall. There are no minutes from last month’s canceled meeting, and Priddle said there is nothing in the board’s minutes about a “long discussion” that included McNall.

McNall was also at Tuesday’s meeting and said the MEDS board has some leadership and budget problems. He also alleged there is animosity between some members of the city council and the MEDS board.

Asked if he would consider re-appointment, he said he would not.

Other board members said they felt McNall was “combative” and a poor communicator, although he is skilled in his work with numbers.

The list approved by the MEDS board Tuesday had been prepared by the board’s nominating committee — Jack Inman of Wal-Mart, chairman Dr. Kenneth Miller of Warren Clinic and Darryl Wright — and re-appointed two members whose terms had expired: Bledsoe and Anderson. Other vacancies were created by a resignation from Steve Cox, and a term that expired for Frank Phillips of PSO.

“These (nominations) weren’t made lightly,” Inman said. “We felt like this would be best for us all.”

Contact Kandra Wells at kwells@mcalesternews.com.