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Tenaha City Council agrees to stop mayor's salary in 2016, hires new city secretary

The Tenaha City Council has voted to stop paying a $1,500 a month salary to the mayor. The 3-1 decision becomes effective following the 2016 mayoral election, and will be $100 a month.

 

Mayor Orinthia Johnson told us after Monday’s meeting he didn’t like it, but can understand why it was done. Councilman Durand Steadman voted against the action.

 

The City of Tenaha is undergoing financial woes and the council is taking a pro-active stance to trim spending any way it can.

 

A new city secretary was also hired last night, as Cheryl Clark of Carthage was chosen for the job. She will replace long-time secretary Doyce Bailey, who is retiring. There were 16 applicants for the position, according to Mayor Johnson.

 

Tenaha Council also agreed to assist the Tenaha Volunteer Fire Dept. by allowing $16,900 be used from the city’s tax account to pay for almost $32,000 in repairs to the department’s pumper truck. The “in-kind” loan will be repaid by the fire department through the $1-a-month water meter fee charged citizens. $15,000 of the repair cost will come from that fee account.

 

Tenaha citizens will also be seeing a higher water bill in June as the council approved an increase. Utility Superintendent Stacy Cranford said it was needed to help off-set costs for producing water. He told the council the city was constantly losing money to un-metered water, which is being addressed, and because repairs have been overlooked for years. Tenaha citizens will see their useage fee increase almost double.

 

A retirement party for Doyce Bailey will be held from 2-4 p.m. Thursday at city office.

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