Board of Directors - Regular Meeting

the texture county, Arkansas board of directors to order. A couple of housekeeping things. If you wish to address the board tonight, we have citizens communication cards on the ledge. If you'll get one of those and completed and get it to our city clerk so you can get it to me so we can have a record of your speaking tonight. Also, if you have your cell phones, if you please silence those during the course of our meeting. This time, we'll have a roll call. Director Halibush is absent. Assistant Mayor Brewer here. Director Juel here. Director Smith here. Director Roberts here. Director Harris here. Mayor Brown here. This time we'll stand for our invocation and pledge of allegiance given by Director Danny Jul.

Let's pray, please. Dear heavenly father, we thank you for this sunshiny day you've given us and for our great city and state. We ask that you guide direct us in all our business we conduct here tonight. and we ask that you reach out and touch all those in need of your divine assistance. These things we pray. Amen. Amen. I pledge allegiance 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.

May be seated. This time we'll move right on into citizens communication time. Is there anyone here wishing to address the board? Anyone here wishing to address the board tonight during citizens communication time? Seeing and hearing none, we'll move right on into our consent agenda. We have two items on our consent agenda. Item number one is approval of the minutes of the rescheduled regular meeting of March the 2nd. Item number two is to adopt a resolution authorizing directing the city manager submit a transportation alternatives reimburseable grant application to the Arkansas Highway Transportation Department, Arkansas Transportation Alternatives for the East Ninth Street sidewalk improvements. What would be the desire of the board for the consent? Yes, sir.

I would like to take no to all. All right. Uh what would be the uh desire of the board for the approval of the minutes? Make a motion for approval of the minutes. Second. All those in favor say I. I. Oppos. Director Harris.

Um I I guess I want to know are there any other sidewalk uh that the city manager going to be going after and and what is the location of these sidewalks on Ninth Street? I know that what's in the MO plan uh that put in them last time it was done. And I just want to know, are you going to go after the other areas uh on Division Street and also on East Street uh uh where you can do sidewalks too because it's on the on East Street. I believe is from the underpass all the way out to 49 that was put in the MO plane and the MP. MO stand for the metropolitan uh plan uh metropolitan organization plan that it's the consist of Arkansas and Texas. We meet about transportation idea from the state of Arkansas in Texas and it was put in this plan. I think it was two years maybe a year or two years ago and also the uh division street was also put in the plan too. And these plans, why you can put them in the plan? Because they are roads that the highway does. Because since they are road that the highway is done is doing or they under their jurisdiction per se, well, they going to be getting uh money to repair uh repair that highway or money to improve that highway from state funding. So that's why we can get money for East Ninth Street. It also has to be put in the plan. But I'm trying to ask the city manager, do he have other is other places on that highway uh that's within the state department, Arkansas State Department, highway department

that could is he going to go after it? We can't do them all in one year. This is the exact project that you requested in the through no and then you brought it up I believe in a board meeting, right,

a few months ago. So this is that exact project. Are you asking if you going to go after the other uh the other plane on the sidewalk? I'm saying that it's not only Ninth Street and that's good you're going after Ninth Street. I'm glad you're going after I'm saying that there's other there's uh East Street that was put into plan and also Division Street was put in the plan. I think East Street uh it was put all the way in the plane from the underpass all the way up to 49 and uh you ain't you don't have to do all of East Street cuz there certain parts sidewalk and southern part D. So I just want to know are you going I hope you look at the plans that's in there and go after those other street that's make a long story short that's basically what I'm trying to say. So, are we going after any more grants or any more I'm not sure what you're asking myself. Are we going to pursue the NPO to do any more of these projects?

It's not NO. You suing the state. The Arkansas State Highway Department. Yeah. Are you going to pursue the state? Are you going to pursue the Arkansas State Highway Department to do any more projects that are in the NO plan? Not Not this year. We don't have the funds for it. Okay. Uh we'll we'll see whatever comes next year. All right. Okay. That's all I have. Any other questions? Not I would instruct the city attorney to read the resolution.

A resolution expressing the willingness of the city of texture county, Arkansas to utilize federal aid transportation alternative alternatives program funds. Whereas the board of directors of the city of Teture Canana, Arkansas understands federal aid transportation alternatives program funds are available at 80% federal participation and 20% local match to develop or improve East Ninth Street sidewalks from East Broad Street to Oats Street. And whereas the city of texture county, Arkansas understands that federal aid funds are available for this project on a reimburseable basis requiring work to be accomplished and proof of payment prior to actual monetary reimbursement. And whereas this project using federal funding will be open and available for use by the general public and maintained by the applicant for the life of the project. Now therefore, be it resolved by the board of directors of the city of Teture County, Arkansas, that section one, the city of Teture County, Arkansas, will participate in accordance with its design responsibility, including maintenance of this project. Section two, the city manager is hereby authorized and directed to execute all appropriate agreements and contracts necessary to expedite the construction of the above stated project. Section three, the board of directors pledges pledges its full support and hereby authorizes the Arkansas State Highway and Transportation Department to initiate action to implement this project. Pass and approve this 16th day of March, 2026.

City attorneys read the resolution, desire the board. Move for adoption. Second. Second. Have a motion to second. Any other discussion? You call the role. Director Brewer. Yes. Director Juel. Yes. Director Smith. Yes. Director Roberts. Yes. Director Harris. Yes. Mayor Brown.

Yes. The resolution passes. Moving into our regular agenda item number three is to adopt a resolution authorizing the airport director to enter to agreement with Garver Engineering to administer the widening of taxiway B, taxiway D, and the conversion of runway 13 to an amount not to exceed $773,200. Paul Good evening, members of the board. Uh, this project will be funded from 11 million grant provided by Congressman Moran and Congressman Westerman that will be administered uh from the Federal Aviation Administration. Uh, I have with me uh Mr. Jordan Culver with Garver Engineering to answer any specific questions you may have about this item. Yes. You say uh 95% would be coming from the grant, right? Yes. And the other 38,000 be coming from the aeronautics.

So yes, for this portion, what we are going to do is uh we we're basically breaking out construction. This is going to be a design only. And so the 95% will be FAA, the 5% will be matched by the Arkansas Division of Aeronautics. There will be no local dollars matching this portion. Right. And what's the width that we're widening the lanes to? What's what's the what's the numbers on that? So, it varies because we're uh widening the fillets. Um you know, we're not widening the straightaway portion of the taxi way, but it it widens anywhere from, you know, 10 to 20 feet in width.

So, that entails tearing up what we have there to go with something brand new. How's that? It won't be a complete demolition, but we will have to remove a little bit on the edge. Um, so that the new asphalt overlaps the existing asphalt and you don't have a vertical face right there at the edge allowing subsurface water to get down and and damage the subgrade. I know the money is coming from the grant, but we have like a itemized list of uh what this this uh demolition and and that whole thing is going to well what's going to take to make this happen? I see the number here, but do you have an itemized list that this

Yeah, we we put together a detailed um construction cost estimate for, you know, preliminary planning purposes. It has the total cost of construction at around 14.7 million. Okay. Any other questions? Yes. But the big thing here, no match from either city. That's correct. On this portion, there will be no match. You say this portion, the other portion is I I assume going to be some kind of magic. Yes, sir. Correct. And and when you say um you put together that list, is that the list that we're looking here in the work description about the project administration, the survey, geotechnical, all that?

Yeah, that's broken out in the uh particular work order uh based on the different phases. Um, you know, we've got uh it's on this uh I don't know if you guys have the full copy in front of you guys, but on uh page three of the work order, it's got the individual phases from project administration, surveying services, geotechnical services, uh we'll do a preliminary engineers report um and then uh preliminary design take it to 60% uh final design and then uh bidding services. So once all these designs are approved, uh the actual construction of itself, is that a separate cost that's going to come later?

Yes, that'll be a separate cost that'll come later once we have bids in hand and we'll know exactly the timeline for construction. Um you know, how many calendar days it'll be because that will largely dictate what you know, our construction phase, services for construction observation and construction admin and everything will cost. I know we're running off for a grant here, almost threequarters of a million, but um uh we just don't have that those final numbers of what the actual um cost to to to to make it happen after all the preliminary. You're talking about the actual cost of construction. Yeah. uh you know it'll be you know once we bid it out you know we

have a little bit more detailed idea based on you know quantities you know for every work area um what it'll cost but we won't know those final dollars until um we get through design and we can put it on the street for bid and what's your bid process do you go through who do you use to how do you make your bid how do you do your bid process

yeah so we typically will advertise in the Arkansas Democrat Gazette um for meeting the state requirements um on these projects like this, we'll also advertise the project in uh the local paper. And then in addition to that, we do all our online uh we do all our plan room stuff online. Um and that's through a proc server called Quest CDN. A lot of the contractors in the state um they're already on that uh directory. So as soon as this project hits that Quest CDN, it sends a notification out. We also know a lot of the contractors that would be interested in this project. So we send them, you know, as soon as the plans are available, we send them an email with the advertisement to, you know, generate interest in the project.

Okay, good deal. Because the reason I asked that question is because Miller County, I'm highly interested in some of the contractors in this area have an opportunity to look at the bids. So, you know, because we're all one Miller County and and if we can keep those monies here, that'd be great. But ultimately, we got to get the most certified people. But I just want to make sure that we have a process in place that they will at least see the bidding process. Yeah, it'll be very public and you know with a project of this magnitude, there will be opportunities for local contractors to be subs on the project. So all right then when are y'all looking at breaking turning dirt?

So uh design for a project of this magnitude will take about 6 months. That puts us opening bids uh around October, November time frame. Uh, of course, you know, by the time we do, you know, all the board approvals and, uh, you know, get contracts awarded and all the pre-construction stuff, we'll be in the dead of winter. I anticipate construction starting towards the end of February 2027 or early March 2027. Almost a year from now, we're actually doing actual construction. Any other questions? I guess. Yes. Where you located?

Where are we located at? Our office is out of North Litter Rock. Okay. And my and my I guess my my uh question is how were you able to choose this company? What process did you use?

Yes. So uh every 5 years the airport is required by the Federal Aviation uh administration to put out a request for qualifications. And so we are supposed to select um companies by being the most qualified not based off of a price. Um and in this case because the complexity of how big the uh maintenance repair overhaul project was going to be uh we ended up selecting two companies. So we have both Garver Engineering and Mlullen Engineering as on call uh engineering services for us for the duration of the five years. I have one question. Is is there a mandate for federal mandate for these taxi lanes to be widened? Are we out of compliance? So, uh what's the reason that we really got to push this?

So, as part of the process of lengthening and strengthening the runways to allow widebody aircraft, those widebody aircraft, the uh wheels on them are wider. So, as they make turns uh going on and off the runway, we don't want their wheels to fall off the side. They're very heavy aircraft and could sink. So, we're trying to widen those areas to give them a little bit more maneuvering room. Okay. I thought we all we took all that in consideration when we did the initial. So, there's multiple phases to this.

Okay. So we are uh we have a runway overlay project, a runway lengthening project, a taxiway lengthening project, and this is then a taxiway widening project. And each one of those pieces had to be funded through various grants. So um the state of uh Arkansas put in a portion. We've uh received a grant for the extension from Congressman Westerman and then Congressman Westerman Moran came together for this portion.

Okay, that that's great. That's clear. In the future, can you give us like up front uh when you're coming back in to to give us a reminder of the the the the the specifics of why we're doing what we're doing to make it make sense to us and and for the taxpayers. Yes, sir. All right. This is mostly for the project paint, right? That is correct, sir. You say project paint. Mhm. Yeah. Project paint is the uh maintenance repair overhaul facility that is looking to come to uh the text. Okay. I remember now. Yes. All right. All right. Any other questions?

If not, I'd instruct the city attorney to read the resolution. Whereas the texture county regional airport seeks authorization for the airport director to enter into an agreement with Garver Engineering to administer the widening of taxiway B, the widening of taxiway D and the conversion of runway 13. And whereas these improvements are necessary to maintain and enhance the safety, efficiency and operational capabilities of the texture regional airport. And whereas Garberger Engineering has the professional qualifications and experience necessary to provide engineering and administrative services for airport infrastructure projects. And whereas the proposed agreement with Garver Engineering provides for professional engineering services associated with the widening of taxiway B, widening of taxiway D, and conversion of runway 13 an amount not to exceed 733 773,200. And whereas Congressman Nathaniel Moran and Congressman Bruce Westerman have provided an 11 million grant for widening taxiways and converting 13-31. And whereas the grant will cover 95% of the cost at $734,540 and the remaining 5% match of $ 38, uh, $660 will be covered by the Arkansas Division of Aeronautics, which results in no local matching funds needed for this project. Now therefore, be it resolved by the board of directors of the city of Teture Can, Arkansas, that the airport director is authorized and directed to enter into an agreement described above with Garver Engineering in an amount not to exceed $773,200. Pass and approve the 16th day of March, 2026.

City attorneys read the resolution as the board. Motion to adopt. Second. Motion and a second. Any other discussion? To call the role. Assistant Mayor Brewer. Yes. Director Juwel. Yes. Director Smith. Yes. Director Roberts. Yes. Director Harris. Yes. Mayor Brown. Yes. The resolution passes. Moving into I Moving on to item number four. Adopt a resolution authorizing the airport director to enter to an agreement with Garver Engineering to administer the demolition of the JDC and an amount not to exceed $82,100. Paul.

All right. Uh the airport had to uh obtain the uh uh juvenile detention center that is across the freeway uh from the airport as part of lengthening the runway the 500 ft the runway protection zone which is a safety area extends over that building. The FA requires that building to be removed for us to be able to open the air uh the runway uh for operations once it has been extended. Um the uh the $82,100 will be paid out of a $400,000 uh 50/50 grant from the Arkansas Division of Aeronautics. Uh this was previously approved in the airport's capital budget.

Director Harris, I guess my my question is my outfield. Uh at what point did uh were this state well I I'll make I chase adjacent to that you have that uh GE rail car down there. Why wouldn't that included into why why do that need to be moved or why that don't need to be moved then my other well go ahead answer that.

Okay. Uh yes, the uh the runway protection zone uh moved that 500 ft with the extension of the runway and it does not uh does not take any of the buildings that have people uh that gather uh from that facility in there. Then what about the the highway going across there?

The the highway is under that runway protection zone. Uh the FAA is not requiring us to do any kind of modification. So why is they requiring you to tear down the uh remove the JDC and not remove the highway? is you still above the same uh uh I guess criteria and one the reason why I'm getting at that is because based on the past issue with the juveniles and I know that we traded a building uh to uh to this uh the county and uh I don't know if the county really was trying to get away from uh serving the juveniles here or was there a way where that could have been a way for them to out from serving the ju the juveniles here in Miller in Miller County, but what do you have something I know you came up here and said that where is that at in writing that uh that that need to be towed down and there was any what leeway you could have because uh cuz basically what you're doing is tearing down a building that maybe could really been utilized more with uh uh uh juvenile problem that we was having cuz I know right now you got to send the juvenile real real bad. They got to be going to Pine Bluff if an issue comes up. But otherwise, they I'm just trying to think back as to is this the best practice for the city or the county as a whole to tear down a perfectly good building because of uh you saying soal where you saying a a fly zone, but yet you got a highway going through there. And I think with the technology they are airplanes I I I'm really I I really don't see it

as to what what you then if you look at the next item you're talking about spending $37,000 to remove a sim uh you know that's a whole lot of money even though I may be jumping the gun with the next item. You're talking about $317,000 to remove a a building. Uh but you just paying them added $2,000 just to oversee the tan up tear down of the building. I'm I'm trying to see why is that really necessary?

Well, I can't speak to the county's operations. I do know that that building uh at the time that we began our discussions had already been closed and they were not currently using it. We did have discussions with the Federal Aviation Rick uh department about allowing a corner's office to be in there. Uh we also asked them about using that building for storage. And then we asked if we could just maintain the building if we basically promised that it wouldn't be used in the future. the Federal Aviation uh administration's uh airport district office out of Fort uh Worth had indicated that no, we had to take that building down um to the slab. Um so that was you know basically we we run under the dictate of the Federal Aviation Administration. That's

so they gave you something in writing demanding that Yeah, we can see I think it's I've got I've got an email from about a month ago. That's a email. I get an email telling me I got to go this way to go down this highway. That doesn't mean I got to go this way. But I would like to see something a little bit more concrete and I would like to see something uh I guess I'm asking where table is to I would like to see something. No, that's just my opinion. There are what are referred to as advisory circulars. There is an advisory circular about airport design and it goes into the requirements of the runway protection zone. I can provide that information to

but that's what you providing and you I am not seeing you uh that's what you providing and

you want something from the FAA. something from the FAA something saying that that's something we got to do this, you know, because I can see somewhere down I can just see what uh from hearing from the uh police a while back when you had some issues that uh uh when they had to take uh drive people up to uh little uh to Pine Bluff, you know, and then you driving people the juvenile to Pine Bluff. you had that and then I guess I guess we say we should have just made the county and and maybe possibly the city, you know, uh do what really needs to be done with the juveniles and really I'm I'm just I just don't see it because you got a highway there and you got the same criteria with that highway and they not making you move turn that highway making it go around down uh moving that highway, you still going to have the same issue and then I'm saying with technology today, you know, uh did y'all ask for a waiver or sometime you can just uh Oh, could you just say make us do it? You know, uh are you up under the penalty if you didn't do it or

Yes. So, they would not allow us to reopen the runway, the primary runway if we did not do it. That's my question. What are the ramific it provided the FAA gives director Harris what he's asking for what are the ramifications if it's not approved. So if it so if it was not approved then we would not be able to do the 500t extension to the runway. So that is uh to be able to do the 500t extension which is necessary to bring in the widebody aircraft we would need to remove this building according to the FAA. I am happy to have the airport district office provide a letter that we can give to uh the city manager. Uh

however, the the airport operates under the dictates of the Federal Aviation Administration. Well, Paul, um, before we have them to send a letter, I would like for us to file for an exemption. Um, just like we got an exemption that the interstate would be exemption from being removed or what have you and able to be operational and we still have the runway to be operational that we uh ask for an exemption to get the building um, you know, to exempt the building from being demolitioned. I mean because in the basics is is that it's a municipality that we really really need here in Miller County. It's going to decrease the risk assessment of transporting kids up north. It's going to uh decrease the risk assessment. I'm happy to write up a report an assessment you could that you can provide with the federal but I don't think we just want to just

so on that the we made a request just about a month ago about allowing the building to maintain in place. They would not give you an exemption that would allow you to continue to use that building because it gathers people into that and that is a strict not allowed because the runway protection zone is designed that if an aircraft is taking off and it loses power and it crashes that we do not have it crash into a facility that would have children in it. But we have but we have human capital that's driving up and down the interstate that's still a part of that runway extension area that we're talking about. And so, you know, we saying there's a contrast here, but there's not a contrast with Herman Capital that's moving up and down that um interstate that we can't calculate.

And so, we can certainly get some clarification as to why they allow uh the the freeway.

Yeah. Um it may be part of it as see I don't want to u to to guess at why the reason is I can provide like we can reach out to the office and get that but I can tell you the FAA will not provide an exemption that would allow us to utilize that building. Paul, if you uh if you will allow one of us to be the help with this conversation with them, I don't mind talking with them because this is a municipality we really really need in place. If we can make one exemption for the interstate, we can make another exemption for that for that building because for the for the youth in our in our city, we really need a place for their rehabilitation, their education, and accountability. And this is an opportunity that that not only for the youth uh were something we can fix in our municipality that that was broken over a couple decades ago and the county did all they can to keep it up. Now we got an opportunity. I don't see us just making a up or down vote today on this, but we have an opportunity to go in here and try to re amend whatever that they have in place that we can keep this building open. And for the same amount that we want to uh negotiate to tear it down, maybe we can uh negotiate to keep uh uh pay that amount to keep it open. But I just see an opportunity that we we we should do all that we can to keep this building open because we're desperately looking for a dwelling right now for um for our youth and that's something we just don't have. as soon as I finish. But that's all I'm saying. That's all I'm saying. I hear my I hear my time.

Director Robert, the property has already exchanged hands. Correct. The property has. So the runway extension project is predicated on the removal of that building. Correct. So the county actually owns the county. The county don't The county owns it because they've already started taking parts of that building down. Yeah, the air conditioning systems gone. We can get another Is it a functioning building right now with uh occupants? We can get all the FAA, but we can try.

The the the airport was there long before the the roadway was there. The interstate came through. The runway is there and the airport was there many many years before the the interstate came through there. So that runway. So that's why that runway I mean the air the highway exists because it came later after the airport. So the FAA allows the the the highway to exist because it came later. That's the only reason it if if it exists because the route the FAA allows it to exist there. If it wasn't they wouldn't allow it to be built there. Now,

I'm sure the I think the key is instead of a road and cars moving by, it's an occupiable structure. Yeah. And the FAA just wants to make sure that there are no occupiable buildings. That thing can dodge a few cars. But I have a but but u it's but with that adjacent, you talk about less than uh 1500 meters, you have a railroad um operation that's adjacent to it. you have uh resident homes within another 300 meters that's uh that's that's southeast of that location. I just think um we may need to rewrite this up in a different way to make sure they see this the whole entire picture.

But it's the pro. Do you have a picture of the Paul has the Texas side approved this already? No, it came to you first. When? Uh they're bringing it in April. Have the RPZ on it. Okay. Paul, I I have a question. It's the approach of the runway coming on. Paul, I have a question. Yes. I'm not going to hold your feet to the fire on anything. For the the phases and the growth moving forward with the airport and everything, it do you foresee any kind of impact for other surrounding business with Blair, Eminem, Milling, Abernathy, everything over there close to you on the other side? No, they are not in any of the safety areas. Okay. No, this would drastically affect runway paint. Yeah. I mean, will this hold up our roadway extension by not Yes. Oh, we need to

absolutely. And and mayor, do I understand? You said the FAA owns the building. No, no, the airport owns the building. Yeah. So, I'm sorry. The airport owns the building. So, you're just The county swapped the the armory for the You're kindly asking for permission for something you already have permission to do. Well, we we have we have the building. We have to have the permission to now spend the money to remove the building. Yeah. Okay. So, any more questions about that? No, I'm just asking for a reconsideration that we don't cut before we measure again to try to make see if we could keep the building. That's all I'm asking.

Well, I'm going to go ahead and make a motion to table this and see what we can know. Right now, I don't feel have have nothing to lose. But I second it. Have a motion and a second to table. How many votes are required to tail, Josh? Four. Got six here. Yes. We have a motion and a second to table. Could you call the RO? Assistant Mayor Brewer? Yes. Director Juel? No. Just so we're clear, I'm voting to table this. If you vote yes, you would table. No. Director Roberts, no.

Director Harris, yes. Mayor Brown. No. So, motion to consider, reconsider.

Any other questions pertaining to this particular thing? I have just a couple, Paul, I wanted to just kind of bring out. First of all, is I'm having a hard time understanding just as and and you know how I am about the airport funding and the money and all that, why we're having to pay $82,000 to engineer a project that we're going to tear down anyway. And we're not even tearing the thing down to the slab. And in my conversations, it was called that the FAA requires us to hire an engineering firm. I've not found that anywhere. I see where it is required to be removed, but I don't see anything in there uh why we're paying engineers to cut utilities off and oversee a building being $82,000 to be destroyed and and taken off because it's required. We're getting it $11,000 to have it surveyed. We're doing getting 7 $6,900 to bid it out. So, I just don't understand why we're having to do that when we could just hire a demo company like we do our homes and tear that thing down.

So, it's got to be publicly bid out since it's using the state funding to do that. And there's more that goes into that even though it's a state funed project. Half of that state funding. I mean, this is a 200,000 is coming from both of the cities. So, Sure. Yeah. fully funded by a grant.

Yeah, you're correct. You're correct. So um on the state side, we still have to do coordination with the FAA for this project. We have to go through the categorical exclusion for environmental clearance on the project. Uh we also have to do airspace study for the construction equipment that's going to be used on the project and then uh fulfilling the requirements of the state. Uh the project has to be publicly bid out. So you have that public bid, you know, component of it where you know, you can't just go, you know, hire a contractor to do that. Um, we're also part of the project is also removing trees that are obstructions uh for the new approach surface that will be um as a result of the runway extension. That's the reason for the survey. We're going to go out there, survey the property line and survey all the trees that are on the new airport property and also try to get trees that are on the uh highway rightway as well. So there's some coordination involved of coordinating with the uh with ARD dot uh to grant grant so they grant us permission to clear those trees. Um we're going to do a asbestos and le lead paint uh survey. That was something the FAA wanted us to do as part of the categorical exclusion process. Um and then this also includes us helping the airport um execute contracts and uh keep the contractor on schedule uh do periodic site visits uh throughout the construction of the project. We have to update the and we have to yeah we have to update the ALP to the airport layout uh plan to show that that building is removed and some of those trees are removed.

You mentioned uh approach surface. What do you mean by that? How's that? So every airport has uh an approach service that needs to be clear and it's um it's a plane that's based off the end of the runway and it varies depending on what type of approach you have. Uh but in general it starts 200 feet from the end of the runway. It's trapezoidal shaped like the runway protection zone is and it goes up at a 34 to1 and you need any obstruction whether it be tree or or anything like that to be um below that surface. So this is a design. Yes. Right. This is a design for well we're going we're going to show which trees need to come down as a result to clear that approach surface. All right.

And just curious did any airport authority member say anything about the fee? Did they think that was expensive or why we needed it? Did anybody ask anything about that? It was brought up. This uh did initially get tabled and brought back in front of our planning committee. Um uh the city manager also uh had discussions with uh the engineering firm um to understand the kind of the complexity of why this is uh not as simple as kind of pushing down a building. Any other questions? Paris,

I'm just going to ask the question. Why aren't you doing that? Why is we paying you as the airport director? Why is we paying Why is we paying that guy beside you the $82,000? He's not certified. He's not engineer. That'd be my answer. Yes. I'm not an engineer. You don't want to be engineer sometimes, aren't you, Paul? No, sir. But why is we paying you what we paying you? Huh?

The airport. Well, uh, part of this was to go out and obtain the grants, uh, to work with the Federal Aviation Administration, uh, to, uh, allow this project through those discussions to, uh, identify the engineering firm to, uh, work with the county to obtain the building. So, there are different parts that I was involved with. Now, the 82 Any other question? The $82,000 is coming from what? is from a a $400,000 grant from the Arkansas Division of Aeronautics. Uh that was previously approved in the capital budget and no match to that.

There is a match. So $200,000 of that comes from the Arkansas Division of Aeronautics. The other $200,000 is split between the two cities. So $200,000 is coming. So we areing up part of that. Yes, sir. Coming out of your budget, your our budgets. Any other questions? Paul, is there a timeline that we're uh that we're trying to adhere to that um that that we're not or so are we saying that we're not going to take consider consideration to um to do an appeal with the FFA or who you

I can I can certainly get a a letter kind of giving some clarification from the FAA as to to as I I can't speak for the members of the board, you know, of what you wish to do here tonight. Um let's just say it's voted down. What kind of dent does that voted not the table voted on? This particular resolution will be voted on tonight. Then we will address item number five next. And if both of them pass, we proceed. If they don't, then we're going to go back to the drawing board because they'll have to vote past the board and the Texas side for you to be able to do it. If it's voted, Josh, it can't come back for what, 90 days? No, this is a resolution.

Resolution. Okay. I'm sorry. Sorry. Next. Any other discussion? I got one more. Okay. When is this coming up before Texas? Uh, it will come up in April. A. Okay. So, I guess I go there and say the same thing there. Well, I'm seeing. All right. Thank you.

If no other questions, I'd instruct the city attorney to read the resolution. Whereas the Texas Regional Airport seeks authorization for the airport director to enter into an agreement with Garver Engineering to administer the demolition of the juvenile detention center located on airport property. And whereas the demolition of the JDC is necessary to allow for future airport development and to improve the functionality and safety of airport facilities. And whereas Garver Engineering has the professional qualifications and experience necessary to provide engineering and administrative services. associated with the demolition project. And whereas the proposed agreement with Garver Engineering provides for professional engineering services to administer the demolition of the juvenile detention center in an amount not to exceed $82,100. Now therefore, be it resolved by the board of directors of the city of Tetric County, Arkansas, that the airport director is authorized and directed to enter into the agreement described above with Gar Garver Engineering in an amount not to exceed $82,100. Pass and approve this 16th day of March, 2026.

City attorneys read the resolution, desire the board. Motion to adopt. Second. Have a motion and a second. Could you call the role? Assistant Mayor Brewer. No. Director Chel. Yes. Director Smith. Yes. Director Roberts. Yes. Director Harris. No. Mayor Brown.

Yes. Resolution passes. Moving on to item number five to adopt a resolution authorizing airport director enter to agreement with Garber Engineering to seek biz to demolish the JDC and the amount not to exceed 317900. Right. Uh this is to uh to make sure that uh they could go forward with getting the bids, keep us on a on a tight timeline, and also assure that they would not be exceeding the already pre-approved amount within the grant of that $400,000 total. Um that is where the $317,900 comes from. Does not mean that we have to spend all of that after it is bid. The uh the amount may be less than that. It just may not exceed that.

Right. Harris. And I guess my question out of we paying that much money. What are we paying that money for? Is to tear the building down or what is it for? Yeah. Yes. That is to tear the building down, remove it, remove all the trees disposal. Okay. And who going to be doing this? Uh, we have to bid that out. That has not currently been bid out. And how you figure it going to be up that that amount of money? Uh it may be less. They it will be advertised uh locally the local paper. So companies that are local that would like to bid on that if they can do it for under that amount. We'll be

you just took the difference from the 400 plus 82 that we're already know we're spending for the engineering. That is correct sir. So how you know listed you already putting out what amount we can pay. We have 400,000 coming and so we know the engineering fee is 82. So that leaves 317. So he's he's saying that it could be less than that, but we have that without appropriating any additional funds. We have the 317 left. It may not be that much. Paul, do you anticipate it to be less?

Yeah, we put together um preliminary estimates on it and we have it estimated right between 300 and $320,000. That's using this certain 320 exceeds 317. If they were to exceed the amount, then we would have to find a way to descope it to get it under that because we will not exceed that amount for if you exceed the 400 that we've got, you'd have to come back anyway. Yes, sir. Yeah. The contract is to take it down to the slab. FA that is requiring you to take it down to the slab, right? Yes, sir. So, that is the plan to take to lead this lab, right? Yes, sir. Okay.

All right. Um, I totally understand what you're doing here and you're saying we're going to use the search engines that you mentioned earlier to um to seek these bids and I do want to um communicate again that I just I still I see a conflict here that we we're willing to take a risk assessment on the human capital going up and down the um the interstate but not willing to take the same risk um and fight for this uh for the human capital that we can put in that building. But um I just want to make that, you know, just want to make that concern clear and I understand we just voted on it. But uh thank you for your time. Yes, sir. Any other discussion? If not, I'd instruct the city attorney to read the resolution.

Whereas the texture county regional airport seeks authorization for the airport director to enter into an agreement with Garver Engineering to seek bids for the demolition of the juvenile detention center located on airport property. And whereas the demolition of the JDC is necessary to allow for future airport development and to improve the functionality and safety of airport facilities. And whereas the proposed agreement with Garver Engineering provides for professional engineering service services to solicit bids and administer the demolition project in an amount not to exceed $317,900. And whereas the costs associated with this project will be funded through a 50/50 grant from the division Arkansas division of aeronautics. Now therefore, be it resolved by the board of directors of the city of Tetra County, Arkansas, that the airport director is authorized and directed to enter into the agreement described above with Darier Engineering in an amount not to exceed $317,900. Pass and approve the 16th day of March, 2026.

City attorneys read the resolution desire the board. Motion to adopt. Second. Second. We have a motion and a second. Any other discussion? Call the role. Assistant Mayor Brewer, no. Director Juel, yes. Director Smith, yes. Director Roberts, yes. Director Harris, no. Mayor Brown, yes. And the resolution passes. I got one question for how soon are y'all looking at doing this?

Uh, so the Texas side will approve, assuming the Texas side approves midappril. We'll start on design immediately. Looking at about a month for design and then a month to bid. Um then we'll have to go to the uh Arkansas Division of Aeronautics to get the grant based on the bids. Um and then it it'll all be up to contractor availability and when they can get it scheduled, but say we're looking, you know, roughly six to seven months uh from for completion. Thank you. Paul, can I ask can I ask you one question? It has nothing to do with this, but our local TSA agents, I know that they've had many I mean, it's we're working what, a month on a partial government shutdown

uh now. And I'm sure they're to the point they're not receiving any type of funds.

So, last Thursday was the uh first check that went out at zero. So, they are currently now having to live without any funding. Uh, I've spoken with their local manager and um if it stretches into April, we'll be working with the food shelter. They previously had done a food donation for them and we'll be working to try to get that for them again. Are y'all able to provide I know some credit card companies, mortgage companies, you know, if which they're all aware of the situation, but can can y'all provide a letter or something that if they need it that they're not receiving compensation or is that something they'd have to get from the federal government?

So, uh we kind of have a limit of what we're able to do. Um for instance, with the food donations, we're not allowed to give it directly to them. uh we basically work through their office and and leave it to them. But if there are individuals who are just making any kind of donations, things like gift cards, fuel cards are very important because they're still coming to work and it's going to become increasingly difficult for them to put gas in the tank to be able to do that. Where us as individuals, is there a certain person we would need to contact? Um you can actually just come by the uh the airport's office. We will make sure that any donations make it to them. Thank you.

Moving right on to item number six is to adopt a resolution to add police presence requirements to the public facility use application and associated fee based on crowd size.

Good evening, Mayor Brown, board of directors. Um as we explained in the last meeting, uh we've been having issues with some of these events. the crowd sizes being too large and um the police has saw a need that they need to have more officers based on crowd size. But also with that, the two officers they already have downtown for the entertainment district is eating up a lot of their overtime. So they have to have some kind of way to recoup that loss when they have to have more officers out there. And that fee structure you have before you is based on which officer they send out, whether it's a lieutenant, um a regular beat officer, and based on their pay and what we pay them hourly.

Got a question on that. So, for example, um any of the entities downtown as far as all the clubs, what have you, if they're hosting an event, if they've applied for a PFU, yes, those fees are associated with the PFU, but they will also as a part of that PFU, um they will have the option to hire their own security team, but they have to meet the same number requirement of security officers as they is required by the police. So their security team doesn't offset the required amount of officers for the vehicle. Um, are you asking if they have to still pay for the officers?

No, they can hire their own security team, but they have to have the same number of security officers that the police would require if they were paying for police officers. Okay, good deal. because that's where I was going with that because, you know, we look at uh paying overtime when they're going to reap the benefits as far as uh the profits or what have you. So, it's their agenda that they should be able to pay for their security and and we're not pulling more uh public uh servants, you know, boots on the ground that cover, you know, their event and we're not getting any monies for it. Yeah.

Correct. And also on the PFU, they will be required to list where they're staging those security officers. They will have to provide the credentials for the security firm and all of that before the PFU is approved by the police department. So the police department is going to be in collaboration to uh certify their they look at all of our PFUs and get sent to them. So we have to have approval from police and fire before it's approved. Okay. Thanks for that. Yeah. And you just So I'm I'm sorry. Danny, you you stated that the the crowds have been the issue, the size of the crowds or something. Yes, sir. So what size have been

um I'll use the last event um downtown they had over 5,000 people and I would have to cuz a lot of times I'm not down there. So I'm going to let Captain Beach speak to that. So yes, sir. So what was the estimated crowd size that y'all talking about or Well, depending on the the PFU they they write down their estimated crowd size. So based on that number, if it is under say 500 expected, it would be one either officer or security personnel and then so on basically adds one per 500 people that would be in attendance.

All right. So, all right. But the one that's I guess the the crowd that I guess is generating this issue. Well, even from Pickle Fest last year, um she stated she had over 15,000 people come through there. Um so in that instance, if those crowds are that large, you definitely need police down there and you need more than two, right? Okay. And we're not talking about and that's what the crowd size over a day. We're talking about it one particular period. So, if say 2,000 people are visiting Picklefest, yeah, an event,

we're talking about four people there for security. We're not talking about the entire uh amount of people that would attend during the entire day. Okay. So, let's let's take for instance the the Tracy launch. Yes, sir. What was that crowd size? 5,300. What did we anticipate it to be prior to that? N I don't think we had enough 3,000 to 7,000 it

so what happens if we anticipate 2500 and ends up being 5,000 do you guys send more officers or and they have to understand they have to pay it or is it just it whenever this would come through for approval if it would had been a like a recurring event we would look at attendance the year prior and look at the uh number of attendance attendees that they expect. And then if we have a discrepancy on that, we would send that to the u the person that's host or that's uh how's it written person that's written the facility the the contact person.

Yeah. for that event and we would have a discussion about that to so that we could come to a common number and the the if they hire their own security personnel that offsets the need for the required amount of officers correct is the security personnel that's hired do do y'all approve that do you review who it is yes sir that would be listed on the PFU so that would come to us for approval like I said and the fire department and so on all has to approve all of these public facility use they choose to go that route you have confidence and who they're hiring. Correct. The officers were sending. Yes, sir. Okay. Any other questions? I think we had a question in the Do we have a question in the audience?

That was on the previous Oh, the previous All right. Do you want to ask it, Miss Mercy, or after that? Okay. Any other questions on this?

All right. I instruct the city attorney to read the resolution. Whereas the city of Texas, Arkansas allows the use of municipal facilities for public events through its public facility use application process. And whereas effective crowd management during public events is essential for maintaining public safety order and compliance with departmental policies. And whereas the Texas Arkansas Police Department has identified staffing requirements based on anticipated crowd size in order to ensure adequate security and crowd control at events held at municipal facilities. And whereas the proposed policy establishes minimum police presence requirements and associated hourly rates for officers assigned to events held at municipal facilities. And whereas the proposed police presence requirements are as follows. Regular proposed $55.73 to $68.97 per hour. Sergeant $72.3 to $74.90 per hour. Lieutenant $8066 to $83.52 per hour. Required police staffing based on crowd size. Crowd size under 500, one officer required. Crowd size 500 to 1,000, two officers required. Crowd size over 1,000, one officer per every 500 persons. Whereas applicants utilizing municipal facilities will be required to specify the estimated crowd size and their public facility use application and the appropriate police staffing level will be determined prior to approval with associated costs calculated based on the hourly rates above. Now therefore be it resolved by the board of directors of the city of texture Arkansas that the proposed policy regarding presence rates and presence requirements described herein are hereby approved. Pass and approve the 16th day of March 2026.

City attorneys read the resolution. Desire of the board. Motion to adopt. Second. Have a motion and a second. Any other discuss discussion? Could you call the role? Assistant Mayor Brewer. Yes. Director Juwel. Yes. Director Smith. Yes. Director Roberts. Yes. Director Harris. Yes. Mayor Brown. Yes. The resolution passes. Miss Barc.

Yes, sir. I just want to get some clarification. Did I here mention that some items was already been removed from the juvenile center? Yes, ma'am. It's mainly the fence that exterior chain link fence has been removed that I'm aware of. The air condition. Did I just hear someone say some of the some of the roofing? Some of the roofing. So, who's who's doing that work? If some of the sal some of the salvageable items were being removed by Miller County to utilize at the armory at the airport. Um, it's possible they were used elsewhere, but that was part of the agreement in the property swap. So they were salvaging

moving the fence over there in the air conditioning. And yeah, they're salvaging whatever they could from that building to utilize in the armory building where they're housing uh the emergency management. Yeah. Okay. So it was a previous agreement between the the county. Okay. Yes, ma'am. Hey, thanks for that clarification.

Moving on to item number seven. Our last item on the agenda is to adopt an ordinance to amend ordinance M59 to update the purchasing pol policy for recent changes in state statute. She mayor Brown, board of directors, with the implementation of the new software. We've made a couple of changes to the purchasing policy. One of the bigger changes that we made was we put language to the pre-approvals. Um, and when they're needed, standard practice has been approvals were based on any item over $500. So, we raised that up to $2,500. $500 is more of an antiquated number in this day and time. So, we made it that pre-approvals are up to $2,500 in a penny. and any approval after that will still have to go through the process. So, we didn't make any changes to purchasing limits or anything like that. We did make a couple of changes on how departments put in their invoices and requisitions. We've already trained departments for that. We've actually been live on the system two whole weeks and this makes the week number three. Um, and we also added to the policy that you cannot split up purchases to avoid the pre-approval process or approval process thresholds. And we just made a couple of changes in wording to make sure that when invoices are put in that they're put in as an invoice, not as a wreck. The old system, everything had to be put in as a requisition. And now we have the option to do requisition and invoices. Um I believe that is most of the changes that we made. Do you have any questions director Harris?

My question would be do we have a inventory system and because we can buy thousand or million dollars of of equipment and information and stuff. We we never have inventory system. of what we have. We do keep fixed asset records and we do have a system and a fixed asset listing for all of our fixed assets. As far as supplies and inventory on supplies, as far as the finance department, we do not keep an inventory on that. But we do keep inventory on all of our capital purchases. We do keep an inventory on that. Okay.

Public works does keep an inventory of all their equipment as well. updated every year and we have access to that. You certainly can. Yes. Yes. I I would like to Yes. Yeah. I'm accustomed to just looking at those items. Thank you. Fixed assets are also audited by the auditors. Yes, they are listing any. Yeah. But I would like to see it before then though. Any other questions for Sheena? If not, I'd instruct the city attorney to read the ordinance on his first reading in title form.

An ordinance amending ordinance number M59 to update the city's purchasing policy to reflect recent changes in state statute declaring an emergency and for other purposes. Ordinance has been read on its first reading. Desire to have it read on its second reading. Second reading. Abbreviated form, please. Second. Have a motion and a second. Could you call the role? Assistant Mayor Brewer. Yes. Director Juel. Yes. Director Smith. Yes. Director Roberts. Yes. Director Harris. Yes. Mayor Brown. Yes. An ordinance amending ordinance number number M59 to update the city's purchasing policy to reflect recent changes in state statute declaring an emergency and for other purposes.

Ordinance has been read on its second reading. Desire to have it read on its third and final reading. Third and final abbreviation. Second. Have a motion second. Any other discussion? Could you call the role? Assistant Mayor Brewer, yes. Director Juel, yes. Director Smith, yes. Director Roberts, yes. Director Harris, yes. Mayor Brown, yes. An ordinance amending ordinance number M59 to update the city's purchasing policy to reflect recent changes in state statute declaring an emergency and for other purposes. Ordinance has been read on its third and final reading. Motion to adopt. Motion to adopt. Second.

So, I have a motion and a second to adopt. Prior to the board voting on this particular ordinance, is there anyone here wishing to speak for or against? Seeing and hearing none, would you call the role? Assistant Mayor Brewer, yes. Director Juel, yes. Director Smith, yes. Director Roberts, yes. Director Harris, yes. Mayor Brown, yes. And the ordinance is adopted. The staff has asked for an emergency clause. The desire to attach motion to attach emergency clause. Second. Have a motion, a second. Any other discussion? Could you call the role? Assistant Mayor Brewer? Yes. Director Juel? Yes. Director Smith? Yes. Director Roberts? Yes. Director Harris? Yes.

Mayor Brown?

Yes. Emergency clause is attached. Moving down to board of directors commentary. Is there any board member who wish to address the board tonight? Director Harris. I'm trying to make sure I got the dates right. But what uh next month starting on April the 7th, I will be having a meeting at This is Washington at 6:00 p.m. Uh then the next uh Tuesday on April the 14th. It it be at Vernon Bradfield Park or Vernon Bradfield building. That's over on Yuca Street at 6:00 p.m. And also uh April the 21st will be at 21. Well, I haven't asked them, but quite sure I probably can get you. Uh oh, it'll be 211 Hay Street at 6:00 p.m. at the Church of God in Christ Church. Then I think on April the 28th, it'll be here at City Hall. And the name on my uh meeting I'm going to be having is called speak now or forever hold your peace meeting. So and no I'm not up for reelection this year but I just decided just go ahead and just have a chance see what the public say about war two what's the direction of war two being and what's the direction of war two need to be going. you know when you come there and and say what you want to say and I have invited a city manager and and anybody uh department head they was more welcome to to show up uh you know and uh I probably will put this out which based on my Facebook page and probably do a press release and hope the sales come up and see what type of feedback I get. Thank you.

Any other board? Rever. Yes. uh for Ward 4. I want them to know that I'm finalizing dates to have a W 4 meeting and W 4 runs from 19th Street to Realtor Road and we boarded by the east side of state line and the west side of uh Jefferson. And also I want to uh make an apology to my colleague here. When I was speaking I told him, hey, wait till I finish. Um should wait for command and control from the mayor to say um um to to to keep that flow going. So, sorry about that, Joel. And um that's all I have. I'll turn it back over to you, Mayor. Anybody else?

I'm gonna make it real quick. March 28th, uh 900 a.m. to noon at the Terry Lee Rogers Rec Center. Uh we're going to have breakfast with the bunny that uh parks and recck department always does a fantastic job. It's totally free to the to the citizens community. Get breakfast, door prizes, games. Uh, it's a good time whether you have kids or not. Come on out and support it. That's it. Anything else? Not I would entertain a motion to adjurnn. Motion for adjournment. Second. Is there a second? Motion for adjournment. Second. Motion and second. Could you call the roll? Got two motions. No second. Assistant Mayor Brewer.

Yes. Director Juel. Yes. Director Smith. Yes. Director Roberts. Yes. Director Harris, yes. Mayor Brown, yes.