The Quitman City Council approved an ordinance at last Thursday’s meeting calling for a general election Saturday, May 2. There are three at large alderman seats for full two-year terms. Those seats are being held by Susan Resnik, J.R. Evans and Jack Robinson.

Filing is already open to candidates for the council seats. Candidates have until 5 p.m. Friday, Feb. 14. Their application to be a candidate should be turned into City Administrator/Secretary Rodney Kieke at city hall, 401 East Goode Street. Election Day voting will be at Carroll Green Civic Center at 602 McAllister St., Quitman from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. Brenda Hunter is the election judge and Kieke is the custodian of records.

Early voting is from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. each weekday from Tuesday through Friday April 21-24. There will be extended voting hours of 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. on April 20 and April 27. The early voting will be held at the new Wood County annex southwest of the courthouse. 

In another matter, the council approved an amendment to the existing Joint Airport Agreement with Wood County. The agreement is funded by the Quitman Development Corporation (QDC) as part of the economic development within the city. The financial agreement is between the cities of Quitman and Mineola and Wood County. The agreement is amended by replacing the percentage obligations. Wood County is 58 percent, Mineola 28 percent and Quitman 14 percent. In all other respects, the agreement remains the same.

The council approved a resolution for a financial audit letter of engagement with Mike Ward Accounting and Financial Consulting, PLLC for $12,000.

“Mike Ward comes highly recommended by several surrounding cities. He is currently engaged with eight municipalities,” Kieke noted. “He is currently phasing out a couple of non-profit audit clients to focus all his efforts on municipalities.”

In other action, the council approved authorizing signatories for the Texas Community Development Block Grant: Mayor Randy Dunn, Mayor Pro Tem David Dobbs, City Administrator Kieke and Assistant City Secretary Sheryl Laudenslager.

Another resolution passed by the council was for adopting policies and procedures for civil rights, equal opportunity and fair housing as required by the Texas Community Block Grant Program and authorizing publication of required notices. 

The council approved a proclamation naming February as Fair Housing Month and authorized the publication of a Fair Housing public service announcement. 

An agreement between the city and JCR Engineers, LLC was approved to provide professional engineering services for projects specific to the Texas Community Development Block Grant. The agreement is based on developing plans and specifications for replacing approximately 450 linear feet of sewer line from Stephens St. to Smart St. and for rehabilitating about 4,660 square yards of existing pavement on Tommie St. from SH 154 to Lance Road.