Hursey, Hicks elected to lead Slidell City Council in 2009

The Slidell City Council on Tuesday had no problem electing Councilman Richard Hursey as council president for 2009, however, there was a bit of excitement and tension during the election for council vice-president.

Hursey was unanimously elected 7-0 to serve as president. After that vote, Hursey nominated Lionel Hicks for vice president, while Bill Borchert nominated Kim Harbison for the office.

Under council rules, a separate vote was taken for each nominee, but there was a 4-4 tie for both candidates. City attorney Tim Mathison said the nomination process must be redone and another vote taken.

Again, Hicks and Harbison were nominated.

During the second vote, Harbison got a 2-6 vote, with Warren Crockett and Borchert voting for Harbison.

Hicks won the election with a 5-3 vote with Crockett, Harbison and Borchert voting against.

Hicks replaces Hursey, who served as vice president for 2008, and Hursey takes over from Ray Canada, who had served as president.

Hursey and Hicks will start their term at the Jan. 13, 2009, meeting.

In other business, the council:

Passed 11 resolutions required for the city to use $2.56 million in Community Development Block Grant funding for utilities to be place in the Summit Fremaux site.

Was told that K Construction and Hemphill Construction were awarded contracts for sewer pump station rehabilitation with low bids of $231,500 and $354,110, respectively. Also, McDonald Construction Inc. won the contract for the Fritchie Gym repairs with a low bid of $614,428.80.

Heard from Mayor Ben Morris, who told the council he has hired Perez Architects to rebuild the Slidell Senior Citizen Center.