By Gail M. Williams
Muleshoe Journal Correspondent

The City of Muleshoe met in regular session Monday, Oct. 14, at the Courthouse. Present were Mayor Cliff Black; Mayor Pro-Tem Colt Ellis; and council members Lupe Mendoza and Gary Parker. Council member Earl Behrends was absent.
City Secretary Zanea Carpenter swore in Ken Geeslin as patrol officer, and Chief of Police
Gary McHone administered the Law Enforcement Oath of Honor. Geeslin’s family members were introduced.
McHone remarked that the police department had turned a corner by filling their last full-time or sworn position with the hiring of Geeslin.
Council approved the minutes from the Sept. 9 meeting.
Council considered Resolution R-756-1019, authorizing the submission of a Community Development Block Grant. The project has been redone. A motion was made and seconded. Council voted to amend the original resolution.
Council considered Resolution R-757-1019, approving cooperation with Atmos-served cities to review the requested rate change. A motion was made and seconded. Council voted to approve. Black commented that he was privileged to meet the attorney on most of these cases at a recent seminar in San Antonio.
Council considered a recommendation from Muleshoe Economic Development Corporation (MEDC) to expand the contract with Leading EDG (Entrepreneur Development Group) for additional support to MEDC.
City Manager LeAnn Gallman said the contract had been renewed in May of 2019. The MEDC board met with Matty McClain of Leading EDG the week before last and discussed additional work that Leading EDG could do for MEDC.
“We have a relatively new board since we went to a Type B corporation,” Gallman said. “We also have a new economic development director. She’ll start next week.”
Gallman added that Leading EDG can offer some additional support for EDC and that lots of cities act as the economic development department.
“I’ve visited with several of those cities,” she said. “With where we sit right now with a new board, a new director, the board feels that it would be beneficial to us to amend the contract that we had, the existing contract, to include some of the additional support. That’s what the MEDC board is asking for your approval of tonight.”
A motion was made and seconded. At that point, Gallman added that after the Council’s approval, Muleshoe can re-evaluate the contract when it comes up for renewal on March 1, 2020. If the city feels that things are moving in the right direction, they can renew. If not, they can back off from the support.
The motion was approved.
Council considered a request for hotel/motel tax funds from Kenzi Green to provide Merry Market with $1,000 for advertising and promotion.
“We have vendors from out of town that stay in local motels, so that’s always good,” Black said.
Gallman said the event was coming up the first weekend of November, and that all group space has been reserved.
“We’ll have a full coliseum of vendors,” she said. “That’s always fun. Invite everyone to come out and get started on holiday shopping.”
The motion was made and seconded. Council approved the motion.
Council received the Investment Report and Financial Statement for the quarter ending September 30, 2019. All present had reviewed the reports. A motion to accept and approve the reports was made and seconded. The motion was approved.
In administrative reports, Gallman said the Public Works Department, the Police Department, the Fire Department and Muleshoe Area Public Library had participated in the Career Fair hosted by Workforce Solutions South Plains on Sept. 12 at the Bailey County Coliseum.
“We visited with about 250 to 300 eighth graders and had some interesting conversations,” she said. “It was a great day, and we were happy to be invited to attend that.”
City staff and Council members attended the annual Texas Municipal League Conference in San Antonio held the week before the Council meeting. Gallman said there were some really educational sessions and great networking with vendors and cities, so it was a very worthwhile trip. David Riley, mayor of Friona, was re-elected to the TML Board.
The meeting was adjourned.