City Meeting - Regular Meeting

Good evening everybody. Get the city of Jonesboro City Council meeting for May 12, 2026 to order. Roll call, please. Andrea here, Rex here, Gerald here, and here will rise and say the pledge of allegiance. Can the pledge be by Mr. Mr. to stand the pledgece to the flag of the United States of America and to the republic for which it stands. One nation under God, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all.

Let us pray. Gracious father, thank you for another beautiful day. Thank you for your presence in our lives and in our community. Thank you for the opportunity to gather here this evening. We pray your blessing on this meeting. Help us to be wise in the decisions that are made and continue to bring peace and prosperity to Jonesboro. As we look ahead to the summer, kids be getting out of school soon. Helps to be mindful of the kids running around that they stay safe. We thank you for all these things. Amen. Amen.

Thank you. for April 28th. Approval for April 28th. I'll make the motion approves as is. Motion roll. Andrea

here. I sorry I was reading. Sorry. Gerald. Hi. Andre. Same. Hey, one one question in the meeting. We talked about in the redevelopment commission to pay $500 to the new sign and it this one it says 400. What did you guys change it for? No, that's what it came in at. Okay. River. Okay. Good. He really

Yeah, I was talking to him yesterday. Did you roll the session for May 6, 2026?

I'll make a motion we

session. Am I able to vote on it even though I was not able to attend? Clayton says yes. Okay. But it's your call if you feel comfortable. If I trust them. Yes. Okay. Rex. Yeah.

Gerald and Greg. All new business. I was presented with this talk to you about uh this Joyce Jeffrey back in 2011. The original agreement between the city and the historical society down there waiting for my time. But anyway, the original agreement was for for five years at least for five years and then after that five years the city was to give to a quick deed to the historical society. I don't know why it didn't happen. I think maybe Wilbur was there at the time and he didn't want to do it. But there's interest in wanting to know, you know, you know, is this null void because it didn't happen or what? And maybe get a legal opinion on this. I mean, I think it should because You know, what I want to do with it, what you guys want to do with it is two different things. We should clear it up. I agree with that.

Has anyone read any meeting minutes? What's that? Meeting minutes or to see if that was discussed or if the decision was made in a meeting before anything else happens before you move forward. I would start there. Maybe came to Terry. Maybe that it's not at the end of the meeting. I don't know.

So, as board member or as a library person, you know what I'm saying? Are you asking for clarification as to go from there? If you can give me until the 1 of June to get through graduation, then I'll start digging your minutes. Why are you too busy? We're not going to move. We're just hoping that the future and

that we can. Well, it's development of any kind. So, it doesn't matter who does it. We're in agreement. And I have no clue if anybody has back in 2017. I I don't think I have any. What's that? Because Karen, she would have all those in this office and I don't think I have any either.

I guess do you want a copy of the Yeah. I was wondering how you did about the five years

you said that was done in 11 2011. Yeah. 2011 believe September 26. Yeah. September 26.

All right. Anything else from the new business? Yeah, I'd like to bring up the and I don't want to be the dead horse. I know we had a discussion earlier, but why why wouldn't we look at getting radar gun? one of the officers. I'm not he's not here. I can ask him because he's, you know, is it my job to be able to ask him what he wants? He's ask us to Okay. We need to I mean to me based on what I heard we need one and if it works out we need two in my opinion. I mean if it's only $2,000 I think we Yeah. I mean that's something that

I will do because somebody I will say I have seen and I have too I' a lot I see on Main Street a lot I don't make water street much but I do see a little bit somebody yeah that was it I'm sorry do they think I'm not trying to talk for Colton but maybe do they think we don't have the money. I don't have any idea what they cost. I'm just saying $2,000. Oh, I didn't hear that part. I'm sorry. And what he got his budget, he probably does.

I'm not defending him. I'm just saying, you know, a lot of times when we are kind of like trying to be conscious, I just like to be able to look at it further. Yes, I will. Thank you. Anybody else business? No. Okay. I got some new business. Uh, and it has something to do with safety and maybe radar gun. I got a meeting Thursday at 9:30 bridge closure. Excuse me. The bridge building bridge building the bridge. They are moving the one. So,

so we may we may be doing some other things here a little bit different because we we don't have the funds to hire officers, but we're going to need help when you're asking us to take on local traffic. We don't have the signage and we're going to ask for Main Street to be redone after deteriorated. That's great.

As for$1.1 million, but I did uh today I did Dennis Banks and I asked him to show too because I think they're leaving part of this. It's not broken is going to be there to help me out with this. It's not an adversarial meeting. It's just a meeting of the plans. Hopefully they got the they're going to go out for the bidding. Once they go out for the bid, then we'll know a little more about type of be talking complete closure. They're talking about one lane. They're talking another one. I think I've said it before that Thursday have some more information for us. And saying that, I just hope they understand we cannot we cannot take on the extra burden of traffic without some kind of funds. I think it will be it needs to be fixed. Needs to be fixed. all the angle to the point where we got a meeting 9:30 with them and hopefully have some more information. If you don't mind, I ask for anybody suggest an email or text about if you think I'm not doing asking right questions. If you think of something like, you know, like we want to replace the out here. We need science money. We need officer money. We need to change our ordinance where we can catch speeders in our town and we get the money during that period because there will be a lot of speeding going on and we need to slow down and maybe the state will give us some funds to hire an officer that's just to do that. And

one thing we may need to look at is um those temporary stop lights um traffic construction on the 10th Street Bridge because if we have semis that get stuck, you're going to have to make that one lane. So, I mean, that's something that we could ask for because when they walk on the 26, I see, but they will they will 26 down. I've seen them come up all the way to the free room. They're not going to stop once this is shut. send me a text or something.

What

do you got anything else? We're going to move on to old business. I got a question on old business. Bob, it's kind of I know we got pay what happened down there at Pearl Street. I drove down. I didn't see a lot of vegetation, but down low, anything I seen was the trees in front of his house. Since we have this instance and we have to pay, can we force him to cut them trees back since we paid for this lawsuit?

Cut back. We've already cut back. Yeah, I know. It was up to me. It was up high enough that you cut up Pearl Street to block their vision. Only thing I can see is the tree that hangs over down low. Rex, I will tell you that there was a case through area planning when Ryan was still there and they had court order to tear down that fence and get rid of some of that vegetation and then it stopped and now we have nobody to call. Oh wow.

And I tell you what happens a lot of times that and I I know what you're saying, Ryan. or somebody who's in charge of that and then they get a new person they know nothing about it and it's like another recycle. Yeah process again. I think that's wrong because that the fence is falling even

we have a problem down here. Yeah, it's no different than city, but we we do need Well, I think whatever plan needs to learn

the director or whoever his assistant cuz when one leaves or something, they all know they have to realize we got a problem. That man been a problem before the matthews and drag their feet. We're going to end up a problem like Matthew or there going to be a fire because you cannot get in that backyard. And once that backyard starts to get that house on fire and she ever been up around that fence of that front, he's got junk everywhere. I wouldn't want to go fight. What's sad is that we probably will have to make decision just do something. Not saying we're going to do anything illegal, but we have to fall on the city's yard. Has anyone gotten a hold of the actual homeowner?

No. I don't think he's standing out there. I don't think he's staying there. All his cars are moved except for two. And there's no water consumption there. We put a new contact again. I think she was yesterday and we have to take the new start tearing down where it lead to 5. Okay. Well, now all that wood is

Yeah, cuz it's at a point I've been on airplane. No, I'm sorry. But you guys were trying to get it down. I was on the airplane and people left and I understand this person left didn't leave enough information for the new one and the new one's lost is in that position but we got June 13th clean up day. Maybe we can get some things done and actually take some publicly clean. I'm sure you might as well be here this year. Remember? No, I think I'm gone. Of course you are.

That's like the last of my summer last time. I went down there and thought about you. They were putting that new thing up there. I haven't been in there. If you look up, it says on the other wall says home of the river. Real deep. Really nice.

Yeah, I contacted them. Last time I talked to them, they wait to come in. Okay. Maybe we can gas away or something. I'm not the mayor of Mary $5,000. You might want to talk to him too because when they first opened the main guy I always see there mostly I said something about the alley there that we had issues and the city wanted to give us circle and he said we're going to do something with that alley. So you might want to talk to them about it.

I know we can't give up. They said they wanted to do some work to fix it.

I didn't like their paint scheme though. A little thinking. Come on. I thought the same thing as long as the version of the polar ops like he did before I think that's why we continue to find the park then yes we will

move along safy Um the water project is well underway sidewalks if you haven't noticed working down the west side. Now they're coming back up on this side. Um the concrete crews will follow. Um I don't have an exact date when they're when they're coming in, but so um we've got couple pipes to replace, a couple drains, and then we'll start on the sidewalks. Um and then middle and so should take another three weeks. We should be wrapped up.

Where is everybody parking? I Where where are you parking? Um, so Rob and I will pull up in the driveway, but once they start cutting our sidewalk, the kids are parking at the garden. Okay. So, we're going to have to park over there. Yeah. I mean, I went down there. I'm thinking, where did all those cars go? Where are you going to park? You ever get to point you don't have nowhere to go down to church? Church won't say nothing. Well, I I was going to do that, but that's two blocks. I know. No, but it's safe back here. I'm alone. Right. Right. Sketchy.

Well, Richard next door, I get how many years ago he put this spotlight shines right down the middle of the back of that driveway, he said every yeoo that was parking out there having their fun is gone now. Yeah. I So, I like to keep an eye on my car if someone breaks in it too. But if you ever had to put it on

it's a temporary if there's anything that I can do relay on the contractor let me know. I know there was issues with maybe trash pickup and obviously parking but we'll get through it one way. Um, on another note, we we did sign contracts on the three additional streets with Brooks. Um, we'll send that information in for release of funds and they'll begin on those streets in July. Really? Yeah. 1 of July or I mean, Greg, I'm not sure. No, you're okay. I just want to send something. He's actually he's slated for July. I'm not sure the

Okay, so that's Fourth Avenue. What What was the other two? I'm sorry. I have some pictures I want to show you of an issue that hopefully can get resolved. It's more of a security issue, but it's corner time what they were attempting to fix when they took it. So, are you referring to the drain? The drain and the pipe. The drain. Yeah. On the north side of Yes.

Just needs a little bit of grading. Okay. Yeah, we can we can get that. So, Fourth Avenue all the way from the what is that? Sixth. Fourth Avenue from 6 to Road 450. Which curve to the curve? Yes. The entire street. But we own clear to we have the highway now, right? To the highway. No. Oh, I thought we took that on when that we took it over for the county. Yeah, we didn't have Fourth Avenue before. We took all that over. I think that's our project. That's pretty good shape though.

Okay. But we're paying the curve. Okay. But I think it's all ours. When we took 12

I was thinking we just Oh, I think we took the whole thing. Next time. Okay. Yeah, it's it's not as bad shape as the rest of the road, especially for you know between sixth and

boy and the whole road right is Doug sound better than you did. We really got to study. We'll talk to Brad. We'll really study hard next time if we do a 2027, which we probably will, what you know what we have left need to be done because we got pretty much I say with this completion we have 90% of every

So what what you guys probably need to see is the latest paser study rating every street and that'll give you a bigger picture and that's what I've done in the past. So I'll get that. Is that the Purdue one? Yes. Yeah. They require us to regular street. But what I'd like to do is put that in a a visual map that you guys can physically see. That's other than that. That's all I have. If you guys have any questions, the only question is the pumps. The guy ever give us a price. I wasn't here last meeting. on that. Um he bought on the on that number.

Okay. But um I believe don't hold me to this, but I believe we're going to withhold that from the final payment. Okay. So the 10,000 or whatever it was and he even said in that meeting, yeah, those are worth that. I don't understand why you pulled it in. And he he even said you told him directly that we wanted those. I did. To me, that's 100% with him. What what what other conversations were said outside of the meeting I had with him? I I can't answer to I did specifically tell him. All right. Fair enough.

There there one other thing though. So on the water tower, there are still some items on the fence that are damaged. I am finally meeting with the fence contractor next Tuesday to get that where we can close this project out. I know it's drug and at the plant we're just waiting on some clean up and dedication. Thank you. Thank you very much. Thank you.

Only com I got next week I'm meeting with the river people. I'll give you time and I'll shoot you an email or a text if anybody wants to come up and talk about it. Carmen, are you meeting with Carmen? I think so. She sent me a tax. One question on River Valley. We were going to talk as a group about extending that contract and we never did. Right. You only year this going out. Okay. Okay. Yeah. Because I think we're not getting our my money, kidding. What we're spending

Sorry.

Um, just the fiscal request for the clearing of brush. 4,000 and that will be done by um the Jackson's and there are pictures of the areas. How long does that take? I'm just curious. Oh, he'll be done with that in no time. He's got a machine that can do up to 4 in round. Um and it just knocks out does a good job. I'd like to see together.

Excuse me. Where exactly is Uh there the first picture is Second Street in the easement. Um and that's where there's a new sewer hookup going. They're having some trouble getting a truck in. And the second is um along the railroad track on Pearl. the railroad. I'm surprised they don't spray that. They spray everything else. They came a couple years ago, but it's it's so bad.

I'll make the motion for 4,000. I'll second. Andrea. Hi. Red. Hi. Gerald and Grant. Hi.

Mr. Again, do you have any concern? Well, I'm concerned. Is the is the ball in my court. That Castro contract is that is that a done deal waiting on the document for oh for Castro? Yeah. Yes. The agreement has been made 18,000 and it is a he has the first option to buy if we sell it. not want to buy in competition whatever

he has the option to buy it back. Yes. If if if we're not able to put a Dollar General there and someone wanted to buy a restaurant, he would have the right to purchase it back to keep the same amount for the same amount that would keep a competitor from buying it. Basically, I think it's the same thing we're doing with the right talent. So, it just gives him the right to to buy it back if I have a question on that really quick. Does that have an end date?

I think we might want to talk about this other question about that. Like, is that indefinite or is that like contingent on or like if he's living or like how does that go on? I I think Yeah, I I have some ideas on that as well. But so so to enforce that, would we not have to know that or no? Well, yeah. So, you might want to hold off on that till we make some decisions.

I mean, I'm not trying to stop. All right. Nothing else from the attorney. I don't have any. So, we're moved from the general fund for the city of Jonesboro 42,97249.

I move that we accept the claims as written for 42,000 and change. motion for Andrea. Hi. Hi. Gerald. Hi. Item 11 comments or questions. We'll move on. 12. Council comments or questions.

Yeah, we went through special committees. Do we have anything coming up that we're going to be doing? I mean, last year we kind of seemed like we did a few more things per city. Well, I didn't ask to do the movies again how much will cost us for certain movies that will approve what movies and present you guys for that. Were you doing the park or up here? I'd like to do at the gazebo, but that's that's that's something. I don't know the guy that keeps takes care of us. Going along with

going along with what Greg's saying. Are we doing anything extra for the semiquentineal the 250? Yeah, I'm going to Florida. I just think it's I'm so I got people on my block. Oh, you have to say for your mother-in-law. I'm like, we're trying to like all our neighborhood do like above and beyond, you know, just a little bit early. So, you could go Memorial, Fourth of July, then you know, I just thought remember, okay, not that I was very old, but like how during the bicesentennial, you know, how it was a big deal. So, for the semiquential and I practiced that, I think it would be super cool.

Okay, just promote it. Come up. What's up? Okay. No, I mean I'm just saying I can come up with all kinds of stuff. Wanting to know if other people would be interested is what I'm saying. But the movies is something I'm going to work on. I got somebody love it. I think that'd be a few hundred movies depending on hot dogs. Probably get some volunteers from the church. Oh, you put a movie out there. Yeah, we used to have a we donated a a projector and all kinds. We're open to if you do that. I know at least for one of them we're open to Brainyard bounce houses. Oh, nice. For block party. I know Pastor Manny was gonna talk to somebody here this evening about that because we're scheduling out our block party.

Okay. For this summer street. What's that? Can you put those bounce houses in the street? Yeah, we we did a few years ago for River Alley in front of the church. If our if our road is paid by then it sounds like it's going to be done in three weeks is what I heard. Well, in like 10 years or what, Britney? 10 15 years ago when we did concerts in the park or not concerts, sorry, movies in the park, we had bounce houses. So, that would be great. Mhm. Um, but since then, our insurance company told us that we can't use ours, but if you're covered, I think we're covered. Nice. Because all of them started going up in the air and they told us no. It's the question is, are we on God's side?

Right. Exactly. Amen, brother. Amen. Amen. So, I'll have something about movies very soon. So, but yeah, keep us in mind about that. Those projects now, which is awesome. They are awesome. I have one in my house. Anything else? Questions or anything concerns? If not, this and we convene for redevelopment.