Murchison interviews for new City Secretary begin
By Nathan Straus News Reporter

The Murchison City Council met the evening of December 11 to go over several issues. After approving the November financial statements, payment of bills and minutes for the last Murchison City Council meeting, the council moved on to the agenda. On the agenda for the meeting was the consideration for hiring a new City Secretary.

Megan Harville, current Murchison City Secretary, said the city is currently interviewing for the position.

"I'm going to leave this job to become a teacher's aide at Murchison Independent School District," Harville said.

The change will be made on January 1, 2008.

In addition to the position change, Murchison also heard the results of the 2006 audit by Mike Rogers from Smith Lambright and Associates.

"The audit went very well," Harville said. "Everything is currently where it needs to be."

The city's finances were within normal auditing standards, and no flags stood as a problem, Harville also said.

Finally, there was an update on the city's Texas Commission on Environmental Quality fine.

"A few years ago one of the plants went down," Harville said, "one of the sewer plants. A sample was taken of the water from the plant and it was found to not be in compliance with the state regulations."

Harville said the city of Murchison is now in the process of getting this issue fixed, as well as dealing with the fine associated with it.

"Instead of paying the fine, money can be donated to Keep Texas Beautiful," Harville also said.

Instead of paying the total fine to the state government, Murchison can donate the same amount to Keep Texas Beautiful, an organization designed to do what its name implies.

During the meeting there were no special reports from the mayor of Murchison, Larry Everett. In addition, there were no special reports from the waterworks' office or field department, and the meeting was adjourned.