A bit of musical chairs took place at tonight's Coffeyville City Commission meeting with the changing of the guard.

 

After recognizing the work of outgoing Commissioners Pam Jones, Jason Swindell and Bob York, new Commissioners Don Edwards, Jim Falkner and Alec Hendryx were all sworn in, with Hendryx being selected as Mayor by the new commission and Falkner selected as vice mayor.

 

As their last business item, the old commission authorized an agreement for Coffeyville to provide water for Caney.  While it will be several years before water will flow between the two cities, Interim City Manager Tim Wilson says that adding customers to the Coffeyville water system has helped make up for customers lost from decreasing population, and he thinks this agreement is a win-win.

 

In other business, the new commission approved extending the residency requirements for city employees to 50 miles from the city and to include Oklahoma in order to expand the pool of potential applicants for city jobs.  Commissioner Don Edwards says he supports the change.

 

The commission also appointed Joleen Swindell and Justin Martin to fill two of five open seats on the planning commission.  Work on the relocation of a primary electric distribution line on South Buckeye and relocation of two poles on Sunflower were also approved for the electric department at a cost of $239,598.