An early item of business in the Miami Town Council’s August 26 meeting was bringing aboard a new councilmember.

The agenda included the administration of the oath of office to newly appointed Councilmember Gil Madrid, who took his seat at the dais. Madrid was appointed August 12 to fill a vacancy left by Councilmember Robert Licano’s June 24 resignation. He will fill the seat until the November 2024 general election.

Town Manager Alexis Rivera then updated Council on the progress of the Hostetler Pool, skate path and cleanup of the burned buildings on Sullivan Street.

Rivers said the reopened pool will be adding lifeguard stations, gazebos, new chairs and umbrellas. “We want to put color in our pool,” he said. “This is a big milestone for the town of Miami.” He invited Council and Town staff to be at the pool September 7, adding that there would be free admission until October 6, weather permitting.

With work on the skate path nearly done, Rivera said its inauguration will be held September 21 from 3 p.m. to 7 p.m.

Concerning the buildings, he said the Town will be presenting  a Request for Proposals (RFP) for mixed use apartments and business. Rivera’s goal is to have the RFP ready by September 30, present it to Town Attorney Joe Estes and advertise it by Dec. 1, 2024. “That’s a very aggressive agenda, but we want to bring property tax by 2026,” he said.

Rivera also said he was looking into a FEMA Emergency Management Performance Grant

for $ 3 million. “We want to apply for our police department to upgrade all the areas necessary – equipment, computers, radios, vehicles, facilities. That’s our goal.”

During the mayor/council reports portion of the meeting, Councilmember Michael Sosh announced that the Town’s 2024 Car Show was being canceled.

In other business, Council approved a proclamation declaring September Library Card Signup Month.