Council holds brief meeting before Thursday budget hearing

The Blackwell City Council convened for one of its shortest meetings of the year Thursday night.

The meeting lasted from 6 – 6:30 p.m.
The meeting began with Mike Johnson, who worked with the city's Streets & Parks Department, receiving the Employee of the Month Award following his retirement after working for 14 years with the City of Blackwell.

Street Department Manager Chuck Anderson echoed his statement from Johnson's retirement party: “Making Mike our foreman was one of the smartest moves I ever made. His knowledge and willingness to tackle any task I gave him made my job a lot easier. Any time Mike oversaw a job site, I knew the job would get done efficiently, safely, and exceed my expectations.” 
Council members and City Manager Janet Smith wished Johnson a happy retirement.


After Johnson received his award, the Council allocated $6,745.48 from the Blackwell Public Trust Community Enhancement Fund to pay the remaining balance of a carpet replacement project at Blackwell Middle School. The carpet there has been in disrepair since the early 2000s. 


The Council then reappointed Darrel Grossardt, Mark Cordell, and Mike Jeffers to the Blackwell Industrial Authority Board. Each will serve a three-year term expiring in June 2023. 
The Council's last order of business was the appointment of the latter three individuals to the Blackwell Economic Development Authority Board, where they will also serve three-year terms.
Council members then moved to the Blackwell Municipal Authority agenda.

There was no new business on the BMA's agenda. Council members voted to conclude the meeting.
On Thursday, a budget hearing for the City of Blackwell will begin at 5 p.m at City Hall.