The Midland City Council held its first meeting of 2025 on Jan. 14, marking the inaugural gathering for newly elected members Brian Stubbs and John Burkholder.
Council members now include Stubbs from District 1, John Norman from District 2, and Robin Poole and Burkholder in at-large council seats.
One of the first actions of the meeting was a unanimous vote to allocate $300,000 from the Hotel Motel Fund to support the Visit Midland Sports and Entertainment Program, aimed at promoting sports tourism within the city. Troy Briggs, Director of Visit Midland, outlined the critical role sports tourism plays in the area’s economy.
“The primary focus for us is to promote travel and tourism in our area. Sports is a big driving factor in that,” Briggs said during the meeting.
Briggs provided data on the impact of sports-related events in Midland, noting that such events have generated between 400 and 2,500 room nights. The majority of these events account for between 500 and 800 room nights. These events generate revenue through the use of local amenities, which is a primary driver of sales tax in the area.
Mayor Lori Blong further highlighted the growing importance of sports tourism statewide. “If we look at other competitive communities, sports tourism is a growing thing not just in Midland, but around the state,” she said. “The economic driver is significant, but it also allows for us to keep our kids here and to welcome other folks into our economy.”
The council also passed a motion related to the Garfield Street Paving Bond Project – Breakout 03. The motion authorized the execution of two change orders with Reece Albert Inc. The first change order, valued at $627,860, includes funding for safety improvements such as enhanced signage and illumination. The second change order, amounting to $419,079.03, addresses field adjustments to the original plan specifications, which have led to project overruns.
This project, which includes the construction of a roundabout and road paving between Country Club and Louisiana, has been ongoing. After a bid of $25 million was rejected in December 2022 by the council, the project was divided into three phases to reduce costs. Phases 1 and 2 have already been completed, with only paving remaining for full completion.
The city anticipates the full project will be finished by fall 2025, although roadways will open to the public as paving is completed. For example, the east-west section of Cuthbert may be open to motorists while roundabout construction continues to the south.
In addition to infrastructure developments, the council also discussed public safety matters. A motion was passed to accept a $40,000 donation from MEC Petroleum Corporation. The contribution will be used to purchase protective equipment for the Midland Police Department. The council authorized the appropriation of these funds into the Police Technology and Equipment Fund to ensure the department has the necessary resources to maintain safety and security in the community.
The next Midland City Council meeting is scheduled for Jan. 28 at 10 a.m. at City Hall.