Comanche swears in new city council members

The Comanche City Council took a new look at its May meeting on May 13. Three new city council members—Annetta Garlinger in Ward 4, Dylan Savage in Ward 3, and Dennis McQuinn in Ward 2—took the oath of office prior to the beginning of the meeting. 

Smokey Dobbins was re-elected from Ward 1 after he ran unopposed for the position. They join at-large council member Brayden Harris. Minutes later, Harris was elected the new mayor by the council. He was nominated by Dobbins and was elected unanimously. Garlinger was nominated for vice mayor by Savage and she was elected unanimously.

The new members’ first council meeting was fairly routine. It addressed the usual monthly items and some annual items.

The council approved fiscal year budgets for 2025-26 and adopted a disaster emergency proclamation based on the heavy rains, flooding, and severe storms that began April 19 and continued in May.

The council also accepted the resignation of McQuinn from the Planning and Zoning Board since he was now a member of the city council.

An inter-local cooperation agreement with Stephens County for emergency dispatching services for $1,500 a month was approved. Before the approval, Garlinger asked why Comanche did not have its own dispatching service. Police Chief Cory Faulk said the city did not have the capabilities and it would be expensive to set up and maintain. He said if someone called the police department with an emergency on its non-emergency number, they would still respond and notify the dispatcher of the call. The agreement was approved by a 4-1 vote, with Dobbins voting no.

The council also accepted a bid of $1,000 from Jiel Copeland for lots at 909 and 908 Texas Ave.

During the Public Works Authority meeting, Harris was elected as chairperson and Garlinger was elected as vice chair by their fellow trustees.

Trustees approved the purchase of three banks of pole mounts, transformers and pad mounts to be used to connect the new 81 Stakeout being built on the north end of town. The total cost was slightly more than $21,000 minus a $2,800 credit.

The trustees also approved the purchase of 43 electrical poles, totaling $17,367, to replace the ones used for the Highway 53 expansion and those damaged by storms.  

City clerk Cheryl Johnson said the PWA will be working to get FEMA reimbursement for the replacement of those damaged by the storms.