Nancy Davis appointed to city council
The Friona city council met in regular session at 6:30 p.m. Monday, December 9 with all members present plus city manager Patricia Phipps, city attorney Slater Elza, and deputy city secretary Rosa Mendez. Mayor Rick White presided.
Doug Kelley and Fred Cook were reappointed to the city planning and zoning commission. Police Chief Frank Mooney gave his departmental report and introduced Andrew Aguirre who will begin the Police Academy in Amarillo in January and graduate in August at which time he will become a full time Friona officer. Chief Mooney said they were having no luck hiring a proposed School Resource Officer (SRO). There have been no applicants for the position. It was reported that court fines are down by $18,000 this year from 2012.
With the recent resignation of Charlie Pope from the council, the options were to fill the seat by appointment or leave it vacant until the May 2014 election. An appointment to fill the seat would be effective only until the May election at which time the appointee would have to run for election to complete Pope’s one-year remaining term.
The council discussed the advantages and disadvantages of both options. The names of John Taylor, Brent Loflin, and Nancy Davis had been submitted for appointment to the vacancy. After much discussion, councilman Bruce Fleming made a motion to appoint Nancy Davis to fill the vacancy and councilwoman Martha Barker seconded. The appointment was approved.
Mrs. Davis, president of the Friona Texas Federal Credit Union, will fill the term until the May election and has the option to seek a one-year re-election at that time. Also up for re-election in May if they choose to run are Mayor Rick White and council members Martha Barker and Greg Lewellen.
The council went into executive session at 7:06 p.m. to discuss matters pertaining to Prairie Acres and Cargill water issues. When regular session resumed no action was taken.
The next city council meeting will be Monday, January 13 at 6:30 p.m. in council chambers, 619 Main St. All council meetings are open to the public.
