Brad Medlin, owner of Medlin Electric in Quitman, became the newest member of the Quitman City Council Thursday evening when he was sworn in as an alderman to fill the unexpired term of James Whitehurst, who resigned recently.

Medlin is a second-generation city father in Quitman as his dad served as mayor of Quitman in the late 1990s.

After approving minutes of the Sept. 15 council meeting, the monthly financial report, the monthly budget report and city department reports from September, the council got down to the action items of the agenda which included the appointment and swearing in of Medlin.

The meeting also included the release of a lien on real property, lease-purchase of two trucks, an interlocal agreement, permission for two groups to serve wine and beer at functions, an agreement with Wood County on fire and emergency services, an interlocal agreement with the Wood County Industrial Commission and an amendment of an agreement with the Would County Airport.

Additionally, the council received a report from the Wood County Industrial Commission that Unclaimed Capital Credits (UCC funds) had been made available in the form of grants to numerous businesses in the county including six businesses in Quitman.

A resolution to release a city lien of $132,557 on a lot at 121 Redbud Lane was passed unanimously. The lien was placed on the property in 2010 when the city had to expend funds to tear down a dilapidated structure at that address. Now, with the release of the lien, there is an opportunity for development of that lot and for that property to be returned to the tax roll.

Randy Bennett, David Dobbs and Steve Straznicky were reappointed to the Quitman Development Corporation Board of Directors for terms which will expire Sept. 30, 2018.

Two banks submitted bids for the lease-purchase financing of two new trucks for the Quitman Water Department. The term of the bids was for three years to finance the lease-purchase of a 2017 Ford F250 truck and a 2017 Ford F350 truck at a total cost of $55,951. The low bid was submitted by Wood County National Bank at an interest rate of two percent with repayment in the form of three annual payments of $18,650. The only other bid received was for 2.49 percent interest from BTH Bank.

The council also gave approval to an interlocal agreement with Wood County for the collection of ad valorem taxes for the city and passed a resolution to execute an agreement with Wood County Emergency Management services regarding emergency services at a cost of $3,189 for fiscal year 2017.

The council approved annual funding to the Wood County Industrial Commission for countywide economic development and tourism. Quitman’s contribution for fiscal year 2017 will be $3,287. Additionally, the council passed a resolution which will allow the WCIC to have a representative on the Wood County Airport Board of Directors.

Finally, the council gave approval of resolutions which will allow the Quitman Pilot Club to serve beer and wine at its Fall Extravaganza and the Quitman Development Corporation to serve beer and wine at 107, 109, 111, and 113 Lipscomb Street when it holds an event for potential investors in that area on Nov. 18.