City Council - Regular Meeting

let you know we are live. The mics are on.

Got to take advantage of it. That's all it takes. That's a very short list for our 20th anniversary. I've been to 46 of the 50 states. Alaska and Hawaii is two of that I had made. So

that's why they're on the list. Yeah. I want to hit all 50. Yeah, that's that's up there. weekend going to Texas or something like that for us Yeah,

she was living and she infrastructure around different places.

I know we went stationed basically by the But we hit all those up Well, we actually got to spend a day in Amsterdam. pretty good.

Good evening. I have 6:30 on the dot. I'd like to call this meeting to order. Mr. Steve, would you give us a prayer, please? Heavenly Father, we we thank you for the opportunity of serving and being a part of this community. And we just pray, Lord, that you guide us with wisdom and discernment on the decisions we need to make. We thank you for the leadership of the mayor and all the all these boys that work to make our community a great place. Be glorified in this meeting and our lives. We pray in Jesus name.

Amen. Please join me in the pledge of allegiance. I pledge algiance 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. Thank you.

Would you call the role, please? Council member Hall, here. Council member Chapman, here. Council member McMahon, here. Council member Hefner is out. Council member Brook here. Council member Rubel here. We have an agenda. Quorum and an agenda or both. We move forward in the agenda. First on the agenda tonight is the review and approval of the council meeting minutes from September 30th, 2025. I'd entertain a motion to pres to approve as presented. Motion second.

Motion second. Any discussion? Hearing none. All those in favor say I. Any oppose? Motion carries. Also on the agenda is October 21st meeting. I entertain a motion to approve as presented. Motion. We have a motion with a second. Second. And we have a second. Any discussion? Hearing none. All those in favor say I. Any opposed? Motion carries. Next on the agenda is the department reports and financials. I didn't entertain a motion to approve as they were presented. Motion second. A motion to second. Any discussion? Hearing none. All those in favor say I. I. Any opposed? Motion carries. Next on the agenda is planning commission.

Apparently I did too. Good evening. Uh we had a regular meeting and a special meeting last month. So I'm going to go over the regular meeting first. We had this uh project for Mason's Corner. They had bought this property and they wanted to split it into four lots. The lots were longer than they were wide. So, they were asking for a variance on that as well as a 5-ft building setback instead of six foot. After a lot of discussion from a lot of the neighbors came, uh we decided to table it. The if I remember correctly though, the the death of the lot variance was approved. It was. Yes. The 5 foot was approved, but then the uh preliminary plat was tabled.

Correct. Okay. Let's see. Then we um we also had another Yeah. The Davis edition. Um we approved a preliminary plat for that. It's the area that's behind the Dollar General. Um and staff looked at it, had some uh comments about drainage. they addressed it and um and then we approved their preliminary plat that should be a final plat on our agenda this month. So oh also asked them to mark the common area as a park. Right. It won't be on a final plan until they put the streets and everything in. Right. Okay.

But still. Okay. So that was approved as a preliminary plan. Then then you had a special meeting.

Yes. Then they came back with the Mason's Corner uh preliminary plat with the 5- foot setback removed. Um so we approved uh the plat as presented because the neighbors had come to an agreement with the developer and they were fine with the way it was because one of the neighbors was buying the three empty lots for to keep it country for them. So that something they worked out amongst themselves and they were all here. I had um Britney call them and let them all know that it was on our agenda again and they were all here and approved of it and the builder also was very generous with them. So yeah, we we approved that.

So it was approved as a preliminary plat and then because no uh infrastructure is needed, it is also available for final plat. So we need council action to approve this as a final plat. I will tell you and the engineers here that there is really actually nothing to be planned in that area. Is that correct? That's still the plans. It is subdivided, but they're not going to develop it. So, but we still need to do a uh a final plat approval for Mason's Corner. So, I hear a motion to approve final motion. A motion with second. I have a quick question. Yes. Um, didn't the 5- foot setback come up before out there Estates?

It did. It did. It was approved back then. a lot of discussion on this time and um it's a moot point because they came back and took it away and then not going to develop anyway. Okay. Right. So, is this being set as the four back to where you were at? So, it's still being separated in still being separated. And I asked him and I asked him why didn't you just draw it where it was the lot with the house and then another lot and he said it would have cost extra money and he was not going to put that in since he was selling. So, yeah. Go ahead. Come on forward. Thank you. Yeah, no problem. Introduce yourself.

Yeah, Tristan Phelps, work for Richard Engineering here representing the owner. So, we originally brought this in and the neighboring property owners were very upset with uh the potential development of that property, which rightfully so. I mean, no one likes change. Um, we talked to them, the owner talked to them, and he agreed to sell the three lots to one of the neighbors. and he I guess he's just going to hold on to it. They're not gonna, you know, our developer is not going to build any houses on it. Not sure what's going to happen once, you know, the property changes hands uh from that gentleman that's buying. I believe he's a rather older gentleman, so his kids may get it in the future. Anyhow, but so they agreed to sell the property, the three lots to the neighbor at a really discounted rate instead of what he could have made if he ultimately got the plat approved, which he was in every right to do so with it being zoned how it's zoned uh in the city limits. So, he didn't we already had the plat drawn up like this and he didn't want to go back to the surveyor and spend more money to revise it into two lots um because he like I said he was taking a a pretty good cut on the lots to just to help the neighbors out and be and courteous basically. Um, so that's why we left it is the four lots and and lot one on the corner he is still selling uh to a single lady. I think she's works with Special Olympics that was already he had already promised her that before we come to the meeting for the other three lots. The other three lots, you know, he was going to build houses on um and sell the existing house on the corner. He had fixed it up

and renovate the entire thing. So that's kind of pretty much the backstory of what all went on with that. So these other three though, they they meet all of our requirements for the city as they stand. They do. They're just more narrow than they are wide. And that was the one variance that they needed. But it's double what our lot requirement is when you look at it because our law requirements I think 7500, right, Gary? Yeah. And they're, you know, more than that. So almost

the alternative is the developer could have run a house divided itself had four lots and had a another lot in the back with a driveway image to another house in the back and could have done that but did not um and then worked well with the neighbors who were uh had had issues y and um sold it for a good price I understand. Yeah. Not exactly sure the exact amount they come up, but it was quite a bit less than what he none of our business. Yeah. Yeah. My only fear was is if we, you know, with it being approved, if these weren't to what we're our standard is for the city. That was just where I was going with it. But they are. But

yeah, the only the only variance was was the three times they are deep. So the city code says you can't have a lot that's more than three times as deep it is wide. Um not sure. I mean, that's a pretty common code with a lot of different cities. Um, but in this case, uh, the property is so deep and it wouldn't be conducive to put a road in there because there's not that much room. So, I mean, that's really the only way you could de, you know, could lot it off would, you know, with with them being that long. So, any further questions? Did I have a I have a motion? Do I have a second? All right, we have a second. Any further discussion? Hearing none. All those in favor say I.

I. Any oppose? Final BS approved. Thank you. And then we also had a update to our zoning map. Um, and the mayor approve uh presented that and we approved it as presented. We also had a uh childc care facility rule that is statewide that needs to be adjusted. So that will be adjusted in our that's already been adjusted in UDO, right?

And I'll I'll show you all map a little bit of what we what we modified on the zoning. But just for your knowledge and what I told talked to planning commission was there was an act passed in 2023 that basically says by right somebody could put a child care facility in any residential area and have up to 16 children in there. The only thing that we have to contend with is we can planning commission can stipulate on parking in ingress and egress of vehicles. There's a little bit of leeway there, but uh you know, we we thought the uh state legislators did some odd things last time. This was 2023 and we just found out about this from municipal plan or from municipal league.

Yeah. But this was just to make us available. The UDO has been changed to allow for this. Yep. Any further questions for Miss Aaron? If not, I'd entertain a motion to approve her report as presented. You second. All those in favor say I. I. Oppos. Thank you. Thank you. There was no wastewater advisory committee for September. Now we'll move into old business. Excuse me. Madam clerk, if you'll read the title for ordinance 202520,

an ordinance adopting the unified development ordinance, the future land use map and the official zoning map for the city of Ward, Arkansas, amending the city of Ward municipal code and for other purposes.

Council, this is our third reading and adoption night. Uh we've also included in this ordinance an effective date of one January. It just didn't make sense to try to do it in the middle of December. Um what we had briefed or I briefed to the uh uh planning commission was a couple minor changes they approved uh change on top was there's actually a manufacturer up there and I'll show you a picture in just a second. Uh and then the area in the middle it was zoned industrial and we changed it to residential but it just makes more sense for it to be industrial there. And then uh there's an area that where Carla's daycare is in that area. change it to neighborhood commercial allows for that to be in there correctly instead of residential and the lot next to it. And this is the uh place up off of Cyprus that is actually a manufacturer. They they they manufacture stop seal for radiators in there. So it needs to be industrial. And this is the area I was talking about that was all industrial to begin with and somewhere along the process we had changed it to residential right against our railroad tracks and it just needs to be industrial. And then um this area again car daycare is right there and change that to neighborhood commercial to allow more uh flexibility on what she wants to do with that. So council I'd entertain a motion to approve ordinance 202520 correction. Do we have any public comment?

Yes. Step forward, please. Uh Joel Hire, 78. Yes, sir. Um I had been in and discussed my business ideas for the property 7 with uh Mr. Meadows and everything and all. And he was giving you a copy of my ideas for businesses there and all and a note on um doing it zoned commercial because that's what would cut what would cover the the different business ideas for it. You came to me and wanted to change it to change it. Yeah, I was I was I was going to be changing everything and I was going to resential. I was like, well, at that I was like, I'd rather it stay what it is.

Uh, but after discussing everything with Mr. Meadows, uh, I had decided with him and everything with looking at the different ideas for that to that commercial would cover. So, neighbor more neighborhood more business ideas and everything. Yes, sir. Mr. Meadows, I'll go back. I'll go back.

It is this U square area right here. He he had given me a list of just ideas he had thought about for his property. I photocopied a of the pages out of the UDO draft that would um allow what what would be allowed in each zone. Um and then he he's made several visits up here to back and forth to decide what he actually wanted to do with it. And I think at last check you wanted your square to be commercial. Is that correct? Neighborhood commercial. neighborhood commercial. Okay. For just his just his square. Okay. Um the rest of that is, as you said, was industrial and Okay. just remaining industrial. I don't

I knew there was a lot of discussion back and forth about that piece of property and I wasn't. Yes, sir. I thought industrial was the last thing. Okay. So, I think at last check and and just be at last check you wanted your property what it acre and a half, acre and 3/4 something like that. It's listed as 1.46, 46, but that cons that also includes like from the center of the road, so it's not really that big. So yeah,

acre and a half plus or minus um his square where hit their house is. They have a residential dwelling on it now. Uh he wants it zoned as neighborhood commercial and the rest of that was and could remain industrial then. So, but that was just I gave him the checklist of or the pages out of the UDO draft as to what could go in what zones and that's what he ultimately decided I think would be best for what he's want to do. So, do you have a comment? Yes. Um, so I know the planning commission was not a huge fan of that being in changed back to industrial. Um, so if he is going to be okay with neighborhood commercial, can we make that entire area neighborhood commercial instead of industrial? We could

just for continuity. I think it would be better for the zoning map in the future as well since there's a neighborhood directly across and houses next to it on the other end. We could this is the time to do it. That's my input. Council, I think it's a good idea to a his area, that little square down there is his piece of property. And the other areas, it was been industrial, but that's not a bad point to move it to neighborhood commercial. Uh we can do it today tonight with just a simple motion and we'll take care of it. But we have there's a homestead on that or you want to go to homestead or I'm sorry a homestead on there already. There is there is so you need to talk I think you probably need to contact him.

Well, it won't change what is already in there. This just the zoning then going forward if they want to move forward and we can also change this. There's a pro provision in this particular ordinance that within a year if somebody has a problem with what we've done we can go back and reook it. um give us a year take look at that but I think the only change we need to have is Mr. Howard's for residential commercial and leave the other back to industrial like it is. I could see the the need for that going to neighborhood commercial. It would work either way. Industrial ties into the industrial portion that's attached to it. It could go either way.

If I could just say that the the area that you're talking about has been zoned industrial, but it's never been developed as industrial. uh since the zoning that it was industrial, those houses have been developed across the street. So neighborhood commercial would probably be more conducive to that. As far as a home place that's already on there, you're you're if you moved it from industrial to neighborhood commercial, you're moving it to a lesser zone, which is still more user friendly than industrial than industrial. That's correct. So it it doesn't have to be residential just because and they're not going to have to move just because it's own commercial. I mean, they've got a residence which is still allowed, right? So,

I make a motion we amend it to neighborhood commercial. We have a motion on the floor for changing that large area to neighborhood commercial totally. Have a second. Second. Okay. Thank you. Any further comment? All those in favor say I. Any opposed? So, Mr. Brook is opposing. Motion carries. Thank you. And we'll make that change. I have another question. Sure. Um, did did you guys look at remember when uh the Blackwoods when uh Eagle came about the area that they were doing where they were doing the vet? Yeah. No, that's agriculture. Okay. Yeah, that's what I was wondering. Yeah.

Yep. Do you need a motion for approval now? I do need a motion to approve ordinance 202520. Thank you, sir. I make a motion. We have a second. Second. Any further comments? Hearing none. Roll call, please. Council member Hall, yes. Council member Chapman, yes. Council member McMahon, yes. Council member Brooke, no. Council member Rubble, yes. Ordinance 202520 has been approved on its third reading. I entertain a motion to adopt. Ordinance 202520 with an effective date of 11 one of 26. Motion. A motion to adopt. Second and a second. Roll call, please. Council member Chapman,

yes. Council member McMahon, yes. Council member Brooke, no. Council member Rubble, yes. Council member Hall, yes. Orders 202520 has been adopted. Will become effective 1 one of 26. Thank you, councel. Next on the agenda is new business. Starting with resolution 202549. Read the title, please. A resolution of the city council of the city of Ward, Arkansas, accepting a death benefit gift and expressing gratitude for the contribution.

Council, this is unusual. We uh got notified by our city attorney this benefit to our animal shelter. Uh and we're we're delighted to have it. And my next resolution, we'll talk about how we'd like to spend it. But first of all, we need to accept this. Uh any comment? If not, I entertain a motion to approve. We have a second. Second. Any public comment? Hearing none. All those in favor say I.

Any opposed? Motion carries. Thank you. Next on agenda is res resolution 202550. Read title, please. a resolution authorizing the mayor and/or city clerk of the city of Ward to purchase a new vehicle and slidein animal control unit for the city's animal control section.

C. We'd already talked about this being the next uh budget and then this came along and this is just really perfect uh for the situation. What we want to do is buy them a new vehicle, reuse the existing vehicle uh at another location and also buy a slide that we are desperately in need of and been talking about for several years. This helps offset that. And then we'll put a u our intention is to put a nice plaque or something that uh this and paid in part by this u trust. Any comment? Entertain a motion to approve. Second.

Motion second. Any public comment? All those in favor say I. Any oppose? Motion carries. Thank you. Next on the agenda is the resolution 202551. Ret title, please. A resolution to establish the annual operating budget for the calendar year of 2026. We had a workshop the other day and work through all this and everybody knows what's going on. I'd entertain a motion to approve. We have a motion for a second. Second. Any public comment? All those in favor say I. Any oppose? Motion carries. Next on the agenda is resolution 202552. Please read the title.

A resolution to establish the annual ward water and sewer system operating budget for the calendar year of 2026. Same thing council. I'd entertain a motion to approve. Motion second in public comment. Hearing none. All those in favor say I.

Any oppose? Motion carries. Thank you councel. Next on the agenda, discussion on to increase the allocated appropriate amount to outfit the latest police vehicle. Uh when we got the latest one, chief, you going to come forward? resolution modu 202526 was modified to reduce the amount of money we could use to outf yes back in August um I mean we all know tariffs inflation all the numbers came in and just got some final numbers today I didn't even get to talk to you because you weren't here and I wasn't here right

but it comes in right at $2,200 shortage. So, we need $2,200. 22 should cover it all. Let's make it 2500 just to be on the safe side. U but that's to keep all the cars uniform. Everything's the same. It's just prices going up. Any discussion? Is it one individual item or just several items? It's two or three different items that have changed. Are these Is this what you and I looked at? Yes. Yeah. I make a motion we approve. Approve at 2500. Yeah. What? Whatever. Yeah. I said 2,000, but after hearing this, let's go 25. A little bit. Yeah, that's good. Okay.

Yeah, things have gone up. You showed me the, you know, the build cost. So So your motion is to increase it by 2500. We have a second. We have a second. All those in favor say I. Any oppose? Motion carries. Thank you, sir. Thank you all. Next on the agenda is ordinance 2025 um 25

an ordinance repealing and replacing ordinance 2024-23 clarifying the duties of the office of the mayor for the city of ward Arkansas establishing the salary of the mayor of the city of ward Arkansas and for other purposes. This is the first of series of several ordinances we'll talk about tonight establishing the salaries based on the uh budget you just passed and these will come effective uh one uh January 2026 with that entertain a motion to approve it's on its first reading motion a motion with a second any public comment hearing none roll call please council member McMan yes council member Brook yes

council member Rubel Yes. Council member Hall. Yes. And council member Chavin. Yes. Ordinance 202525 has been approved on its first reading and entertain a motion to suspend the rules for a second to third reading. Motion a motion. Second. All those in favor say I. Any opposed? Motion carries. Entertain a motion to adopt ordinance 202525. Motion. We have a motion. We have a second. Second. Roll call, please. Council member Brook, yes. Council member Rubble, yes. Council member Hall, yes. Council member Chapman, yes. Council member McMahon, yes.

Orders 2025 has been approved. Thank you, council. Go to effect one January. Next on the agenda is ordinance 202526. Retitle, please. An ordinance repealing and replacing ordinance 2024-24 setting forth the duties of the city clerk for the city of W Arkansas establishing the salary of the city clerk of the city of W Arkansas and for other purposes. I'd entertain a motion to put this on its first reading. Motion and a second. Second. And a second. Roll call, please. Council member Rubble. Yes. Council member Hall. Yes. Council member Chapman. Yes. Council member McMahon. Yes. And council member Brooke.

Yes. Orders 202526 been approved on its first reading. I entertain a motion to wave second and third readings. Motion. A motion and a second. All those in favor say I. Any oppose? Motion carries. Entertain a motion to adopt. Award is 202526. Motion. We have a motion. Second. And a second. Roll call, please. Council member Hall. Yes. Council member Chapman. Yes. Council member McMahon. Yes. Council member Brooke. Yes. And council member Rubble. Yes. Ord 202526 been approved. Next on agenda is ordinance 202527. Retitle please.

An ordinance repealing and replacing ordinance 2024-25 appointing a city attorney for the city of Ward, Arkansas, clarifying the duties of the city attorney, establishing the salary of the city attorney, and for other purposes. Entertain a motion to approve ordinance 2527's first reading. Motion. Second. Motion to second. Roll call, please. Council member Chapman. Yes. Council member McMahon. Yes. Council member Brooke. Yes. Council member Rubble. Yes. Council member Hall. Yes. Orders 202527 have been approved on it first reading. I'd entertain a motion to suspend the rules for a second to third reading.

Motion. I'm sorry. Public input. My apology. I'm just rocking along. Okay. No, no comments. All right. Have a motion to wave the second and third reading. All right. Second. And a second. All those in favor say I. All right. Now we need a motion to approve orders 2025 27. Motion. Second. Motion second. Roll call, please. Council member McMen. Yes. Council member Brook. Yes. Council member Rubble. Yes. Council member Hall. Yes. And council member Chapman. Yes.

Order 202527 has been approved. Thank you, council. Next on the agenda is ordinance 202528. If you'll read the title, please. an ordinance repealing and replacing ordinance 2024-26 clarifying the duties of the city council members of for the city of ward Arkansas establishing a salary of the city council members for the city of ward Arkansas and for other purposes a motion to put this on its first reading in a minute we have motion public input on this ordinance okay motion we have motion. We have a second. Second.

And a second. Roll call, please. Y'all keep me in line. Thank you very much. Um, Council Member Brooke, yes. Council member Rubble, yes. Council member Hall, yes. Council member Chapman, yes. Council member McMahon, yes. Orders 202528 has been approved on its first reading. I entertain a motion to suspend the rules for second and third reading. A motion. Second. And a second. All those in favor say I. I any opposed? Motion carries. I entertain a motion to approve ordinance 202528. Motion. A motion second. Roll call, please. Council member Rubble, yes. Council member Hall,

yes. Council member Chapman, yes. Council member McMen, yes. And council member Brooke, yes. Ordinance 2025 28's been approved. Thank you very much, council. Next on the agenda is ordinance 202529. Would you read the title, please? An ordinance amending ordinance 2024-27 prescribing a change in the rates to be charged for water, wastewater, and other services and fees rendered by the water and sewer system of the city of Ward, Arkansas, and prescribing other matters relating there too.

Council, this is our annual um uh rate increase by COLA. So, it's going up 2.8% which is what COLA is across the board. I entertain a motion put us on its first reading. Motion. We have a second. Second. Public comment. Any council comment hearing? None. Roll call, please. Council member Hall. Yes. Council member Chapman. Yes. Council member McMahon. Yes. Council member Brooke. Yes. And council member Reubel. Yes.

Orders 202529 has been approved on its first reading. I entertain a motion to suspend the second and third readings. Motion. A motion. We have a second. Second. All those in favor say I. I. Any opposed? Motion carries. Do you oppose? Show Mr. Brook opposing. Entertain a motion to adopt ordinance 202529 with a uh in the in the ordinance it talks about the rate increase will be the first water bill cycle in the new year except for um individual uh fees and then we'll start at the first year. I entertain a motion to uh adopt motion. We have a motion with a second. Second.

Roll call, please. Council member Chapman. Yes. Council member McMahon, yes. Council member Brook, no. Council member Rubble, yes. And council member Hall, yes. Orders 202529's been approved. Thank you, council. Next on the agenda is resolution 202553. Read the title, please. A resolution authorizing the mayor and/or city clerk to accept the Arkansas Energy Office small cities and counties efficiency and conservation block grant.

Council, this is a project we've been working on for a while. Uh this is a $200,000 grant uh from the state uh to do the items that are listed in the um uh in your in the resolution. Uh there's still potential probability, I've been told, of another $234,000 grant from Metropines Energy Office to help pay for this will be out roughly $34,000. Make a motion to approve. We have a motion. We have a second. Second. Any public input? Hearing none. All those in favor say I. I.

Any oppose? Motion carries. Next on the agenda is my mayor's report. Um starts four. We're just waiting for ARDOT to proceed. It was uh in limbo for a while because of the the U government shutdown because there's federal money involved. Uh but we're still just waiting for that process to process through. Uh on starts five waiting for authorization to bid the project. Uh the wastewater hard rehab we had a public meeting attended by five people. Uh we now have about 20 easements remaining. We'll we're steady trying to work on those and get those done so we can get this project going. The water tank rehab is near completion. Uh I think they did the testing day. Is that right, Bruce?

Yes. Okay. Testing day. Waiting for the back tea t samples to come back. And once those come back good, then we are good to go. Um the street a project that should be coming up in December. We're still waiting for the LED replacement project proposed at Metro Plan and the uh proposed from AEDC for the ADA upgrades for city hall. The HVAC project we just talked about the cost of there and uh the street overlay project. We had a bid opening today. The bids came in lower than projected.

Yes, it is. So, we will uh bring that to council uh next month for approval for uh the low bid on that and get moving on that. uh we may may come into a special session if we need to to go ahead and get this project going. And then the uh built to zoom cameras supposed to be installed in December. We'll see. That's my mayor's report for today. Do we have any public comment signed up?

Council, you have any comments for the for the council? Anybody? Announcements? Cornerstone Church is going to have the Thanksgiving feed uh this Saturday from 11 to 1. There is carry out available. Planning Commission is November 24th at 6:30. City offices will be closed for Thanksgiving. The annual Christmas parade will be December 7th and our city offices will be closed December 25th and 26th. Pardon me. Time change on Christmas. Is it four? That's why Then four o'clock. I put it wrong. 3:00. Thank you. Line up.

Yeah. Line up at three. Par 4. Anyway, please come out and join. Santa will be there. I know you all be happy to get your picture taken with Santa. If nothing else for this council, I'd entertain a motion to adjurnn. Motion to adjurnn. All those in favor? We're done. Thank you, council. And thank you everybody for attending. We depart.