Board of Directors - Regular Meeting

Arkansas Board of Directors to order a couple of housekeeping things. If you have your cell phone with you, we'd appreciate if you'd silence your cell phone during the course of our meeting. The second thing is if you wish to address the board tonight, there are citizens' communication cards on the ledge. If you would get one of those and fill it out, get that to our city clerk so he can get that to me so we can have a record of you speaking tonight. At this time, we'll have a roll call.

Director Harris?

Here.

Director Holabish? Here. Assistant Mayor Brewer?

Here.

Director Jewell?

Here.

Director Smith?

Here.

Director Roberts?

Here.

Mayor Brown?

Here. At this time, we'll stand for our invocation and pledge of allegiance given by Director Stephen Hollywood.

Go about your heads. Lord, thank you for this wonderful day that you blessed us with. God, thank you for the opportunity to come together and handle the business of the city. God, we pray that you would be with us as we make decisions on behalf of our citizens. Give us your wisdom and guidance. In Jesus' name I pray. Amen. Amen.

I pledge allegiance to the flag of the United States of America and to the republic for which it stands,

You may be seated. This time we'll move right on into citizens' communication time. The first card I have is Azure Smith.

I'm here tonight as Vice Chair for the Republican Committee and I wanted to talk about Issue 3. We have a meeting that is going to be held Thursday. September the 10th at Hickory Street Baptist Church. And we're going to have two gentlemen. Actually, one of the gentlemen is the man that drew this up. And they're going to be there to answer all the questions for the public. Anybody that comes, they're willing to answer questions. The Republican Party is doing this jointly with the Democratic Party. It's a nonpartisan meeting. Democrats, Republicans can come together. This issue three is something that we really need in our community, and I'm kind of the second string on this deal. Vicki Lacey couldn't be here tonight, and Diana could not be here tonight, so y'all got me on this thing, and I'm not real informed about it yet. But the meeting will be September the 10th, starting at 6 p.m. at the Hickory Street Baptist Church. And the public is invited. Everybody's invited. Thank you. George.

My name is George Dodson. I live at 220 East Broad, downtown Texarkana. I was here about a month ago talking about the weeds and the grass and just the overgrown Broad Street, which I kind of consider to be Texarkana, Arkansas's golden egg, if you will, because that's kind of where it's the draw of the city. It really is. And so I took some pictures. The Eagle just had their grand opening. Next picture, please. And this is what it looks like in front of their building. I mean, they just celebrated one year. Next picture. I mean, next picture. Potter and Potter just invested a bunch of money remodeling their building. This is in front of their building. Next picture. Good Lux, new business, downtown. Next picture. This is in front of their building. Next picture. Kilwins, the stump is in front of their building as well. Next picture. They had to do that themselves. They just threw the grade away, I'm sure, and planted something. Next picture. I mean, if that's not a lawsuit waiting to happen on the sidewalk, I don't know what is. And what's that in front of? Oh, Joseph Raymond, nationally known artist. This is in front of his building. Next picture. in front of the wild hare and hearts on broad. They just put wild seed in and a cone. Next picture. Chemcare, new business downtown. What's in front of their building? Let's see.

That's the one that didn't come out.

That's all right. Yeah, nonetheless.

It's equal to all those.

I don't know who to talk to to get them on the lawn mode. We talked about A&P taking care of it and We're talking about that, but you would think there would be some pride amongst you people to mow the lawn, to weed eat. I understand there's a shortage of personnel and there's a shortage of money in this city. But when you have something that's growing with new businesses, all you're telling the new businesses is, welcome aboard, we don't care. Everybody who comes downtown to go to Verona for dinner, they have to step over this. They go to Kilwin's, they have to step over this. It's not right. And I can't seem to rattle enough minds in this city for somebody to take care of it. I'm taking care of what's in front of my house. I dug it up, I dug the root up, I planted flowers, I weeded it, and I mowed every weekend. That's not my responsibility. I care, so I want it to look pretty. But I'm not going to do the whole sidewalk. I mean, you have businesses coming to this city to spend money downtown. And y'all can't even mow the grass. You can't even weed it or pick up the trash in the street and in the sidewalk. I mean, I don't know who to talk to. I don't know whose ear to bend. I mean, I'm at a loss for words of the neglect for downtown when downtown is one of the best things that Texarkana, Arkansas has going for it. Right here, right now, we can pretty much all agree on that. I don't know what to do about getting the lawn mode where all of these people are investing money. They're having one-year anniversaries. Nothing's being done. No one cares. It's like, man, we got your money. We're getting your taxes. See you next year. That's all I have to say.

George, let me ask. Would it be better to put concrete in there versus letting weeds grow?

I don't think so because everyone likes the foliage, everyone likes the trees, everyone likes the flowers. I just don't understand how a city this size can't mow the lawn on two city blocks. I'm behooved by it.

Well, in defense of the city, you know, there's more. I'm going to lean in for this. Okay. We've got more than two city blocks to contend with. So, but if, would not concrete there look better than weeds growing? If the city is unable to, or let's say, unwilling to take care of those two blocks, would that not look better with concrete there versus weeds?

I would prefer not to put concrete there simply because it's designed for foliage and flowers and trees. That's what it's there for. We don't need more concrete. We need more beautification of downtown. Do I think that it would be better? Probably if y'all don't want to get sued when someone steps in one of those holes. Yeah, but you're going to spend so much money on the concrete and getting it done, you could probably take care of it.

We will have a conversation as to why we can't take care of it.

Well, that's the conversation I want to listen to.

Well, I'll try to get you invited to that conversation. Man, please do.

Okay. Hadn't trees been planted twice down there? Planted, dug up, planted, half of them are dead. We saw the – that was in front of my house. They just came and cut it off at the ground level, so I dug it out myself. and planted flowers just so it would be better. And there's a hole in that one. And I planted flowers in it so no one would step in it because it's a broken ankle waiting to happen.

Was it because they weren't watered that they died? I mean, I'd be lying if I told you why.

I know that they're getting just beat with sun. I mean, that street just gets unbelievably hot. And I don't know what the answer is when it comes to that.

Can we invite the city manager's input at this time?

You want my input now? Yes. That's fine. George and I have had this conversation several times now, right? He knows where I stand on this. We do absolutely everything that we can with the staff that we have. We just haven't been able to handle it all. That's it. I have an RFP that we have just recently created. We haven't put it out for bid yet. But it is to maintain the overgrowth and trash within the entertainment district. We're going to put that out for, it's just awaiting my final approval. I'll try to review that again as quickly as possible, and we'll put that out for bids and see if that's something that A&P wants to go ahead and take up.

Yes, sir. Did we have the interpretation by the city attorney that A&P could not share in that expense?

There was a question whether or not we could or we couldn't, and they were going to look into it. Because we certainly obviously don't want to do something we're not supposed to.

I've looked at it when I was the A&P attorney.

Well, I think this was just recently.

Right. But the same thing, because I remember, I forget who it is, but they wanted to maintain the flowers at the federal courthouse. And that corridor right there, too. And the only, you know, and I know sometimes the public gets a misunderstanding of what A&P funds can be used for and cannot be used for. They cannot be used for capital improvements. They cannot be used for repairing roads, potholes, things like that. We all know that. But flowers, shrubbery, maintenance, to that effect, is not a capital improvement.

Picking up trash, though. I think that was a question posed to the A&P attorney the other day.

I have not researched picking up trash, but if it is – I mean, certainly paying someone to pick up trash after a concert, A&P funds could be used for that. A&P funds could be used for picking up trash within the entertainment district.

I have a thought. I know we're bringing up A&P, but I would love for it to, you know, let's – give the council, the A&P council, the opportunity to elaborate on the findings that we've asked him to find. And I don't think it's out of the question, but I would like to give the A&P attorney a chance to present his findings. And we can get together and communicate. Sure. And I'll have him to give you a call.

I mean, I was just here a month ago, still waiting to meet with A&P. Everybody knows it. Everybody sees it. But nobody does anything. And it's like it's the one thing that we have going for us, you know, as far as growth and entertainment and bringing people to town. And no one seems to care except the business owners.

I'm inclined to agree with Danny, I think. Concrete saves the safety issue, and then if the business owner wants to put a potted plant or a factory out front, and then it becomes that business owner's responsibility to water it, grow it, love it, and then it's a reflection of the business themselves. And so problems are solved both ways at that point, and so I think that's viable. Both ones.

Fair. Also, we did water those trees constantly. We actually put the bags on the trees so they always had water and made sure they were constantly filled, and we still have many of them that have died.

George, before you take your seat, I do want to ask, is there additional shrubs? that need to be cut other than what you showed us in front of the...

I'm sure there is. That's just what I saw on literal my walk over here. That's what I saw. All right. I'm just asking so when I give you the attorney... Maybe. I mean, I'd be speaking out of turn to, you know, I'm a broad straight and third straight. That's my world, so... I understand. Anything else? Thank you, gentlemen. Thanks.

Anyone else wish to address the board? Anyone else? If not, we'll move into our consent agenda. We have four items on our consent agenda. Item number one is approval of the minutes of the regular meeting of August the 3rd. Item number two is adopt a resolution authorizing the city manager to approve a change order required for the Ready Site Water and Sewer Extension Project. Item number three is to adopt a resolution approving the change order number one for the Runway 422 Extension Overlay Project at Kerr's Kenner Regional Airport. And item number four is adopt a resolution to award an engineering contract with A.L. Franks Engineering for design of Nix Creek Walking Trail from Siebert Street to 500 feet past Pinehurst Street. What's the desire of the board for the consent? Motion to adopt. Second. Let's have a motion and a second. Any other discussion? All those in favor say aye. Aye. Opposed? The consent agenda passes. We only have one item on our regular agenda tonight, so item number five is consider the following action concerning the maintenance of overgrown lots. We'll conduct a public hearing regarding the placing of liens on 27 overgrown lots, and we'll adopt a resolution placing liens on 27 overgrown lots. Roger.

This is another round of the cleanup lots. We've got 27. I think we've got some more coming next meeting. And that should wrap us up for a little bit. That's a lot. That is a lot. This whole year has been a lot. A lot of lots.

Roger, are we outsourcing those lots to be cut, or are we still taking care of them in-house? No, we're taking care of them in-house. In-house.

Any other discussion or questions for Roger? If not, we'll close this public hearing. Is there anyone in the audience or anywhere who wishes to speak? If not, we'll close the public hearing. I'll ask the city attorney to read the resolution.

Whereas notice was given pursuant to Arkansas code annotated section 1454-904 to the property owners of the properties listed in Exhibit A of a hearing before the Texarkana Arkansas Board of Directors to determine the amount of lien, if any, to be placed on the properties for the expense incurred by the city for removal of overgrowth, trash, and debris from nuisance properties of such parcel of real property under the provisions of Arkansas Code Annotated Section 1456-201 and Arkansas Code Annotated Section 1454-901 and the Texarkana-Arkansas Code of Ordinances, including, without limitation, Chapter 11, Article 6. And whereas such notice was given pursuant to applicable law more than 30 days prior to the date of the hearing and stated that the hearing on the matter would be before the City Board of Directors on August 17, 2026, commencing at 6 o'clock p.m. in the Texarkana, Arkansas Municipal Building Boardroom, and whereas a hearing on such claim by the city was held this day pursuant to said notice and in accordance with the provisions of applicable law in the Texarkana, Arkansas Code of Ordinances, and whereas the properties that issue property owners and lien amounts With the amount of the lien on each said parcel being the city's incurred expense for such parcel, plus 10% penalty as provided by law, including without limitation Arkansas Code Annotated Section 1454-904, are listed in Exhibit A and attached here too. Whereas the Board of Directors has determined that there should be certified to the Miller County Arkansas Tax Collector to be placed on the books as delinquent taxes the amount set forth for each said parcel of real property. Now therefore be it resolved by the Board of Directors of the City of Texarkana, that the amount set forth for each piece of property in Exhibit A are hereby certified to the tax collector for Miller County, Arkansas, for placement on the tax books as delinquent taxes on the respective parcels of real property identified and described herein and collected accordingly as provided for by applicable law, including without limitation, Arkansas Code Annotated Section 1454-901, passed and approved this 17th day of August, 2026.

City attorneys read the resolution, desire the board. Motion to adopt. Second. So I have a motion and a second. Any other discussion? Could you call the roll?

Director Harris? Abstain. Director Halbush? Yes. Assistant Mayor Brewer?

Yes.

Director Jewell?

Yes.

Director Smith?

Yes.

Director Roberts?

Yes.

Mayor Brown?

Yes. The resolution passes. No items on our agenda. We'll move into Board of Directors' Commentaries. Is there any board member that wishes to address the board? Director Harris? I do.

Could the city attorney or the city manager, could you kind of explain how do a person get something on the agenda as a person like me? Could you explain that as to how it's done? And who's supposed to write the ordinance or the resolution? I'm still not. I know what happened the last time we had a workshop on this. And what I'm getting to is my last request to have Ivan put on the agenda and referring to about the grocery store paying the

uh trying to let the city manager uh and all that but what is the process if it's not even clothing that but what is the process to get something on the agenda the the last items that you sent to me they have not been put on the agenda because i sent you questions and i've still not received any answer to them we can't really write the the resolution or ordinance or whatever it requires without those questions being answered.

Who writes the resolution? Who is responsible for writing the ordinance or a resolution?

I write the ordinance or the resolution.

That's written, right? So if I was to submit something, you can't even count it, right? You had to do it, right?

Well, I have to, in the format that y'all see, I have to put a request in this format, in legal format. And so sometimes even items put on the agenda by whoever, the airport, we don't have enough information. It won't pass muster, and so it gets taken off the agenda or removed or whatever. Okay.

But, yes, I draft them. Okay. So that means that if I was to send something in, it won't get recognized because it had to come from you from the get-go. Am I right or wrong on this? It won't get recognized? Well, it won't. If you object to it and the city manager object to it, it stops their day, if I'm right or wrong.

That's right.

Okay. And so there ain't nothing I can do. So if you doesn't approve of it, per se, or a certain word, and let's say, for instance, you write a resolution agenda item, and I say, no, I'm trying to say this, and we argue that if you still say no, it don't get on the agenda, if I'm right or wrong.

That is correct.

Okay.

Now. You can call a workshop.

Well, I'm getting to that eventually.

Previously.

Well, you're correct. That's correct. Okay. Okay. And so what I'm going to do with this and what's I'm heading some way. So I'm just trying to figure out as to you said that I need to respond to you, even though I thought I did. But OK. And to that, OK, then I guess Director Smith just asked about the workshop. And how do you pass that in to Taylor when the workshop is needed? If you say no automatically, then we have to get a workshop, correct me if I'm not?

Yes, sir. If a board member requests a workshop, I believe we have 30 days to schedule a workshop. Isn't that correct, Heather? Please tell me. 30 days.

Okay. But if you say no, does it on that detail a workshop or I have to request a workshop?

Typically, I would ask you if you'd want a workshop.

Okay.

Which is what I've done with your agenda items in the past.

Right.

No, sir. That's not true. No, sir.

That's not true.

I know there's been multiple.

It doesn't matter.

Director Harris, as long as we have all the information we need, I mean, Director Jewell has already said he'll give you a second to any request you have. So I've already said in here I'm not even worried about the workshops. As long as we have the information that we need for our attorney to fully draft the resolution or the ordinance, we'll put it on the agenda. But I can't do that if you don't respond to the questions.

Let me see if I can follow this. So it's not whether a board member can put something on the agenda. In this particular case, he's requested two items be on the agenda. but you can't write the resolution or the ordinance, you don't have the ability to say, we're not putting that on the agenda. You don't have the necessary information to write a resolution or an ordinance to present to the board for approval or not approval. For this situation, that's correct.

Yes, sir.

And we can't put anything or I'm not going to approve anything to be put on the agenda that isn't legal. That's right. And that's why the format is the way that it is.

You follow the deadline and our rules and procedures to when it has to be in for the following board meeting, et cetera, et cetera. But this is not picking and choosing what you two guys want on the agenda.

No.

You've got to have the necessary information to place an item on the agenda.

Now, the city manager can deny an item, go on the agenda, but then I have to ask her, we have to schedule for a workshop to take place with the rest of the board within 30 days, and they would have to get a second from another board member, and that would force it to go on the agenda. And then it would have to pass through a city attorney.

But, Todd, I have a question. So when the request falls short, Is that like a timeline? There's a protocol like so many days, so many hours and whatever to reply to make sure that who's ever requesting that they know what they need to send back in for consideration.

I mean, the ordinance and the resolution has to be ready by that Wednesday in the 10 days before the meeting, but narrow.

if you hear what he just said, that he can only write a resolution or ordinance. I was trying to see if I put in a drought, could he use that for the go forward with it?

I would say he can. I think he would appreciate that and he wouldn't have to write it.

That's what I'm trying to figure out. But based on our last workshop, if I'm not mistaken, it's clearly state statement. that the city attorney has to do the resolution. He has to approve them. I have to approve them.

A lot of times we'll get ordinances, the bond ordinance, that's drafted obviously by the bond attorney. We have some grants that we're getting that have been drafted, at least the language. I format it, but I have to approve it.

So I was just trying to see what was the hold up on my two agenda items. So if I was to write it up, send it in. Oh, well, I have another. I was going to wait another week until you get a response from our last question. So I'm not going to be bringing that up until you respond. My last list I gave you. So I'm going to give you another week, two weeks. What list? It was a list that I read out.

After the last board meeting that you gave me? Mm-hmm. Okay. Yes, I gave that to Public Works to enter service requests.

Okay. So now we're just going to wait until we're going to say I'm not giving him enough time to respond. Okay, and that's basically about it. But then again, also, I want to thank Gary Smith of TWU. Is he still here? Okay. Thank him because I got an email from Sunrise RV. I think they was out there near 108. It was about the water issue and how they were building. They said that's been corrected to their satisfaction. and I would like to just thank Gary, T.W. Head, for going above and beyond for fixing that problem. That's all I got.

Anybody else? I'm going to put in a quick plug for the Rec Center. I had a lot of people that have... It's amazing how many people don't know still what's going on out there, the programs it's offered, everything from the young to the young at heart. I had some of my vintage citizens. I don't want to say senior citizens. They're vintage. There are some really good programs out there, and what they post on their page, we need to share. I encourage you to share it so other people will know what's going on. They have everything from Alzheimer's support to kids' programs to chair aerobics. It's amazing. If you haven't been out there, go out there and just check it out. There's some good stuff that goes on at the Rec Center.

I just want to make one announcement here in regards to my ward. Ward 4, we have a meeting at the Recreation Center September 24th at 6 p.m. Again, Ward 4 is from 18th Street to Realtor Road and bordered by the east side of State Line and the west side of Jefferson. And one last thing, Mayor. I just want to thank the Public Utilities Commission for everything that they've been doing in keeping the city clean and the limbs. They're still out there cutting. That's all I have, Mayor. Anyone else? If not, Gary.

Anything else? If not, I'd entertain a motion to adjourn.

Motion to adjourn. Second. I have a motion and a second. Could you call the roll?

Director Harris?

Yes.

Director Halvish? Yes. Assistant Mayor Brewer?

Yes.

Director Jewell? Yes. Director Smith? Yes. Director Roberts? Yes. Mayor Brown?

Yes. We're adjourned.