Marion City Council chooses who can sign checks after hourlong debate

The Marion City Council argued for nearly an hour at their Tuesday meeting about who should have permission to sign checks.

Before approving minutes – the first line of business for the night – the council launched into a debate to clarify previousmotions involving authorized signers on the city’s bank accounts.

The dispute centered on whether Mayor Dexter Hinton should remain on the city’s bank signature cards and how Councilman Stanley Kennie was added during a previous meeting.

Council members and staff revisited several past votes, with City Clerk Laura Hinton explaining that earlier actions had shifted the authorized signers multiple times. The most recent motion, intended to add Councilman Stanley Kennie, had created confusion about whether the mayor was being removed.

“If you’re removing me, that means I have no oversight,” Mayor Hinton said, emphasizing that the city’s financial operations require multiple authorized signatures.

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In the end, the clerk was directed update the bank documents to include four signers: the mayor, Councilwoman AnnLecroy, Councilman Jeremy Arrington and Councilman Kennie.

In other business, the mayor presented quotes for new and used garbage trucks, including a new 2027 international modelthat would cost about $230,000 and used 2016 Freightliners that would be $50,000 each.

Council members agreed to review the options during upcoming budget work sessions scheduled for Feb. 4 and 11.

The next Marion City Council meeting will be on their regular day, the first Monday, which is Feb. 2. The Jan. 20 meeting was moved from Monday because of Marting Luther King Jr. Day.