Purcell’s January City Council meeting was the first with new city manager Sam Demel.

Due to Tuesday being his first day, Demel’s city manager’s report was fairly short.

“I’m happy to be here,” Demel said. “It is a good move for all of my family.”

During the course of the meeting at the Community Room of the Purcell Police Service Building, Purcell Police Officer Brayden Gulliver was named the 2023 Officer of the Year.

Police Chief Bobby Elmore and Assistant Chief James Bolling presented Gulliver with a plaque.

“Brayden has served both as a patrolman and criminal investigator in 2023,” Elmore told the council and those in attendance. “He has often led in traffic stops, arrests and has been a mentor helping younger officers. In his short time as an investigator he has already closed eight cases.”

The council approved rezoning of lots eight through 12 in block 60 to C-1 or light commercial.

The board approved funding of a new fence at Hillside Cemetery at a cost of $82,752. Funds used will be taken from the cemetery fund.

They tabled awarding of a landscaping bid for the Main StreetScape project.

In the Public Works Authority portion of the meeting the board approved the purchase of 486 Smartpoint Sensus Meters for the water department at a cost of $82,620.

And finally, the board gave its stamp of approval to accepting a $10,000 reimbursement from the Chickasaw Nation for work by the city in a project at their complex.

The council met in an executive session at the end of the evening but no motions were made in the public portion of the meeting.