The public portion of the Quitman Development Corporation board meeting Feb. 12 ended in frustration, as board members unexpectedly went into closed session around the halfway mark of the meeting. The rapid switch was due to tension over newly-enforced rules regarding what the QDC may and may not do independently of the Quitman City Council.

According to the guidelines, the QDC cannot independently approve any expenditures for the city, “even though they already approved the budget that we submitted,” according to QDC board member Brad Medlin.

Newly-appointed QDC attorney Julie Dosher said that this new rule is due to the fact that “city council is required by law to approve any project.” 

“So, our function here is just to entertain something for economic development, and do the resolution, and it goes straight on to City Council? We don’t really… OK,” QDC President Martha Scroggins rhetorically asked Dosher.

The QDC has also been informed that they cannot pass motions independently on “any project that’s not a Type-A type project.” According to Dosher, “It’s worded to allow you to discuss and consider a resolution authorizing it,” and “by approving the resolution, you’re essentially authorizing the project.” 

However, this “totally new format” created tension at the meeting, and no actions were initially taken on any of the intended discussion/action items. After the process was explained in executive session, all items were unanimously approved. Items that had been up for voting included whether to approve a façade grant in the amount of $4,500 for the work already done at 101 S. Main St., to consider a resolution approving a project grant for the installation of fiber optic cable network in Quitman, and to officially appoint Dosher, who is part of Wyatt Hamilton Findlay PLLC, as the general counsel of the QDC.

Steve Spillette with CDS Development Strategies in Houston also made a 30-minute Zoom presentation over a proposed Quitman rental housing demand study. Spillette said that the study “documents and communicates the need for housing that may exist in the community,” and that completion and distribution of the study would boost economic development.

The board passed a resolution to authorize QDC Executive Director James Attaway to execute an agreement for the Quitman rental housing demand study.