City Council - Regular Meeting

I'm loading the car. No, you're not. No, you're not. We literally told my sister different start times for events. Yeah, you got Yeah, I understand. I mean, she is the world's worst. Well, I mean, I'm just late. 30 minutes before, huh? You always tell Lindsay 30 minutes. So, her and Kimberly are on the same page. batteries. Here's a battery for church. I've got some battery cuz I hated coming in late.

Just leave.

We'll just do a little

All right. Good evening, everyone. and welcome to tonight's study session of the city council, Thursday, December the 18th, 2025 at 6:09 p.m. Uh we're going to do a roll call. So, uh we have one item on the agenda tonight. It's a 2026 budget study session for police, animal services, and planning departments. I think it's mutually agreed that planning can go first because it should be short and sweet. And and Sunny needs to get home to an ailing or a recovering wife. recovering wife. I I do want to make a real quick announcement just so people know and if you haven't heard, Gary Hayes aka Boogeyman has passed away. Uh very not good. I mean, he was been sick, I think. But Sunny was told today he fell and broke his neck and they couldn't couldn't do anything about it. So, that's

He was an interesting fellow to talk to for sure. Pretty cool. Agreed to, huh? I'd agree to that. Yeah. All right. So, Mr. Mr. Bell, you're up, sir.

Is your mic on? Just give it a test. Yep, you're good.

Okay. Uh, the mayor and Tom and I sat down. We went through the the budget and I feel like we've got a good solid budget there. Uh if you have any questions on this uh uh please throw them out. Uh this budget uh I would bring to your attention includes the position for a code enforcement officer and uh it is a solid budget throughout. Uh we have cut expenses uh you can see the uh 2025 budget as opposed to the proposed 26. And when you get over to the expenses, you can see the the cuts that we have made. I'd like to present this to you for your approval. city. Initial review. addition There was a significant change in

Another thing that I want to point out 6350 city But there was some talk that general is current talking I don't mean this anyway, but it would go into the streets budget, but who would be overseeing got a lot more war against drainage. That's right.

special uh on the uh revenue side, you know, if since we're having these new fees down below, are are they going to be pulling from the uh any of the fees up at the top? That's why we're establish Reinction.

Now, we talked about all these new fees at some point in a open meeting. Yeah. I think he's wrong to us.

You kind of just based like you said on a area uh the surrounding area trying to kind of put us up to par with them.

I was just the roofing permit fees. I've got obviously everybody knows a million roofers. I'm just won't know what to say when I start getting phone calls. I couldn't remember. Is this on new roofs or just re-roofs or any roofs? I need to get my driveway repaired.

I think it's great to just be charging for, you know, plan review, you know. I mean, I'm sure that takes a lot of your time and stuff. We just go back and forth on who train who did the tiles under your driveway between the city and the boner. What's the rule on that? That's literally where I'm at. You can elect to have the city.

I'm sure it'll be fo. Don't Don't we the city go out and and even if he's doing it on his own, don't we go out and advise and make sure you're So, we're going to give you some advice to tell you how to basically how to do it. Yeah. Because anytimes it's anything to do with drainage, we need to be on top of it or or under it. I may do that. Who do I call that? Uh Jeff. Yep. That's what I need to do whenever there's a traffic. Nice. A lot of traffic seeing me out there city work.

Working at the count. Every time the water guy show up in my house, I'm like, can you do this at night? Right. No doubt. Not to be hiding something. The training on the front, you budgeted a lot. Didn't spend a bunch. Budgeted more this year. that with a new uh I'm sorry it's uh 63400 education training I know it's needed I'm just curious raise it to7,000 sunny you spent 35 3484

I guess I can read over maybe picking up the animal thing might have been extra There were a couple enforcement positions in here and I agree. We probably do need that position. I just I just want to be let's be mindful. It's been in the news got 61 fulltime employee position. So

well unfilled position. Yeah. unveil. But they're right,

right? Charlotte more involved in the I understand that but I kind of agree with Ralph. I mean just this current year that we're looking at just seeing how everything falls into play. So we may try to postpone it or more into the mid year. I mean, water sewer has asked for more to refill positions and now this position. We had even got to halfway through all the budgets yet. So, I'm just worried by the time we got seven new positions. So, I mean may

Well, I I know I see even but you know our like saying I kind of referenced you know earlier about the building permits you know and we're you know low this year you know and I mean I hope we yeah we do have a big uptick next year and stuff But I know that again we were about like about 18,000 low. history.

Well, I'm glad that you, you know, I mean, did these other things to keep us up, you know, with the surrounding area as far as fees go and stuff, you know, but I'm just thinking, yeah, but nobody's coming in town to build, you know, I mean, nobody's coming in town. I do like whether I definitely think that is something that needs to happen.

Agreed. That needs to happen. question. I have no questions. Send of the table, gentlemen. I just I agree with that drainage study long-term. I mean, you you pay more money by not doing it and the trouble that it ends up causing by kicking that can down the road. in the long run.

I'm sorry for being late. Can you go over the roofing? Ruthing

a roof permit is covered in a new construction permit. So this would only be applicable to re- roofs around the city. So I I called Alma today and asked how many permits they issue on average and he couldn't give me a solid number, but he said they easily achieve 100 every year. I would like that would be Yeah. I just based it on what they said they could easily achieve. And if we go over that, that's great. We need a good h We don't charge them and we don't regulate it.

It'll be a learning curve. It'll be like our fence ordinance. The roofers will have to learn that we do have a fee for it. And you know, Hunter ran into that with the fence ordinance, but it's smoothed out.

How do they renew their business privilege license? That'd be ample time to tell them, "Hey, we Check it out. Not full. You said there's not the fees being charged for what? What does it is there? You said there's not anything that we do in terms of inspections.

So why are we charging a fee? They weren't insp What's the fee for?

Aren't so ain't been there long. She could talk.

Watch those or keep up with those things. Yeah. It takes somebody driving around every day. I mean, because it will literally you can drive down El Paso and You need to check it off your list and you're not going to go there again for another three weeks because you're doing other things. I'm not picking on El Paso. Sure.

Oh, yeah. sheet moving in a storage.

We regulate fac that got chopped from our size of the size still right not the way they look right yeah got well I mean I'm until I get a better case I'm I'm the anti-Cola guy for this season so I'll just throw that hat in the ring we'll discuss that later I guess Right. I just got a little nervous from last year. I don't know if Sunny said it or not, but there's no merit for incentives in this at all. And that might sell the cola if all that

need to get updated on that. Anything else for Mr. Bell? Thank you, sir. Appreciate it. Mr. Tom, have you got Hey, Sunny, real quick. Do you have the code enforcement? Do you have people in mind got We haven't opened up the uh No, I'm not interested. I was going to say somebody Oh yeah,

thank you. We know the code.

Wait a minute. I still got some of that. It's in its original decanter. I wasn't paying attention right there. It's pretty potent. In fact, it's in an old.

All right, Chief. Does she have one in the in the vehicle or at the office? Cool.

That's one needs to upgrade or both of them. probably Anticipate better. Where is that? Is that on here? The

budgeted kennel 66300. Okay. Yeah. Got it. What's that? What they've got? What's their actual? Oh, okay.

If you catch any pit bulls, there's a couple spots in town like behind Taco Bell. You could dump them off. or whatever. You just addressed. Is that in here? 66300 66300

page three. It's up on the screen, too.

Look up. We paid good money for this media. Are we still using folks up mountain to house the folks up at Washurn Mountain still

a regional kind of early talk early talks We'll get through consolidation first.

Whole another thing. Well, Chief, I just appreciate your you know, looking at this animal control with a fresh set of uh, you know, eyes and and a and a and a positive attitude, you know, to, you know, to handle it. You know, I think you've done a great job and and so is the animal control person. It was all I could do to keep him from taking this. He wanted it so bad. Yeah, right.

Yeah, she does. I need to get her to wave though. She won't wave. No, not the Yellowstone. Nope, not Yellowstone girl. She look good. Take the code officer.

Yours is Where's that at? You need it updated. All right. We don't Anybody else from animal service? Okay. We do not have the rest of it, sir. That's what I'm saying. Thank you. Sorry. We don't have the next budget.

All right. Get up here, sir. You had me as you. Thank you. for sure.

Didn't wait till the last minute. I think they're on his 64415. building. That's the building.

Nothing's going down. Find out. Do what? Maybe a cookie. You got any coconut?

Oh. Sir, so much candy for my wife. Everybody As far as capital improvement project, I don't know. up on revenue. The school resource officer how come

the school putting in and I got to know right now. 64415. How in the world did you get your building insurance to go down?

64415.

I don't believe it either right now. Okay. But if you look at All right. I got I thought maybe there was some whole life. No, absolutely not. Nothing's going down. Nothing or cars either for gas.

Back up there to communications. That's what we dispatch services.

You think it'll go up or down? It's going to go up. How about How about a lot of up? Well, here's the deal. Now, we We threw it around years ago if I was doing our own and it was so expensive. Oh my god. yada yada. Well, we're fix to get into some deal. It's going to be so expensive.

Somehow the consolidation is going to be real expensive. State law. unbudget, unfunded. The little cities is the one that's going to hurt the worst. I said the little cities is what's going to hurt the worst.

I I'll keep you updated as much as I can. I'm on that board, which if there's ever a board I didn't want to be on, it's that one. I am. So, and I and I'm responsible to report back to Hacket Hartford Mansville. Do you go to their council meetings report? No, I'm dumb, but I want I want to be there for the

I'm not that dumb. So, so you know, in case you haven't, if you don't know, that thing was moving so fast it was like a train out of control. And if you know, Fort Smith knew very little about some of the things. Purchase the property, the building that we were going to put this thing, this new center in, and that's all come to a screeching halt, literally. Uh the radios, everything. So, we're back to square one. We did we did vote the other just the other day, this week, to pass to pass this 26 budget to get it going. And the numbers and for some reason I was numbers and those numbers were were scary. It was 170 $180,000. I don't know what it was, but but okay. So, well over $100,000 for us each year, but that's that is not in 26 budget. I I asked the question twice before I voted to move on and along with a couple of other guys that those numbers are not part of the 26 budget. So there will be no cost to the city of Greenwood in 26.

No additional cost to what we're already doing. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. Now 27 all bets are off. So try not to go too far off the beaten path, but that'll be something that fire will have to chip into as well right now. Is that a expected figure in 27 that we'd be around that number that Yeah. Wes Milm, who's who was who is now the new director of of the of that uh said that those are numbers for you to chew on quote unquote for a while just to he wants us to get used to it. But as you just said, Huntington for instance, if you and I'll use a number that's not real, if that's $5,000 to Huntington, they it's not that they don't want to pay it, they cannot pay it.

And Green, like I said in a meeting, Greenwood being larger than everybody else with exception of force meth and

yeah we could we pay it maybe but it wouldn't it wouldn't kill us as it would some of these other towns so everybody's kind of going and that all I'm sorry those projected numbers early were including a $5 million building a $5 million radio system and tower and all that so the budget budget will be we all made it very clear too as we were voting other day is that the budget will be we've got a whittle we can't expect Huntington Park anybody to pay money they don't have there's the numbers so all that

yeah so it's all on hold will there be expense will it be expensive yes yes and yes I know that's already Now, who's

just overall who's spearheading this? Is this a new entity? Is this a county? Is this

Oops. Hudson. Yeah. idiot.

River Valley Center. 91 standalone agency

and there is more sorry there is more non Fort Smith members just not trying to make it political But it is on there than there are this Fort Smith count there's county and myself and anyway so there's it's not it's if it was lopsided it's more county than it is There many questions. Well, you hold everybody hostage because you said, "Well, 911 service going to get cut off."

Right. Because that's what they kept saying to us, the county, when we didn't want to pay dispatch. Well, we're just going to quit dispatching for y'all. Yeah. That actually was I can't remember who that was that said that in a meeting. And and and the first reaction was, if I may, was well, it's a service. What do you do as a city when you people can't pay for your service. And it was insinuated that there wouldn't be that service. And somebody goes, "Whoa, whoa, whoa." Sheriff Runan said uh or and Baker M said, "No, the 911 service will always be available." Right.

You talked about so the uh agency that's who is overseeing it and why would it why would it surprise the municipalities? That's what I keep getting at the there and have a life of its own.

By who? By the board. By the board. Mayor's office board. I'm on Okay. And I understand that. But where does this authority come from? Is it There is a There is a We're a 91 We're this board. There is a I do this. There's a 911 board up here. So that's who governs. That's who gives us the things that we have to follow later from what he said. How how it all started. Is that a state mandated board that it was formed to go with this law? The one I'm on. Yeah. I guess it's coming from state emergency management. Yeah. So yes. And it it is state law that they all consolidate.

Layer seven of red tape. Every county or give or take. Correct. Yeah, we some pains started last years trying to play catch up and I I can't remember too is I mean

the 911 a lot of times was based on landline there was like a a fees you know from landline fees you know but for some reason like with cell phone fees. They weren't really picking up on it, were they? Thank you, Chief. Sorry about you. We'll get back on your budget.

But to answer maybe a part of your question, the board I'm on, I'm not bragging again, I just not what it is. Board I'm on will be the board that votes and already did and then unvoted because we all we thought when we when it was a reality that Fort Smith uh directors didn't know they owned the barbecue building and that's where we were going to add on for this new

I mean Miss Cassavis I don't know that well but I know her a little bit. She was like, "What? What are you talking about?" And so we all but we had we had voted they hired an engineer in architect MHG. And there's a there's a beautiful picture of the $5 million building to go add it on to kind of like what we did with PD building back back in the day and to make that this center. And it just kept it just kept rolling like a snowball. And then this uh Motorola plan came before us and I'm kind of sitting there looking around asking dumb questions and everybody's it just got out of hand pretty quick. Luckily finally that Miss Cassabus and I give her a lot of credit questioned it all and because my mind was like we have to do these things. We have to build this new building. You don't you don't have to build a new building but you have to meet criteria certain criteria. It's got to be hardened. It's got to be this, it's got to be that. So, that stirred up a lot of conversation of those that wanted the old armory to be this building. I had my opinion on that where some people didn't want it, so they dismissed it, other people did. So, we're back to drawing board on a lot of So, but we will be the ones with your and I'll try to report to you as much as I can into the other cities. We meet I meet once a month with uh Judge Holtz and all those mayors to vent and talk about what we think is right and they're all

we can't afford it. That's that's exactly the message that was sent. We cannot afford it. But what they're looking at too as far as the building is that you know it's got to be you know tornado you know all that. Yeah. And the old armory is to a degree but it's also being used for PD. It's just so a temporary fix and I I didn't say that if you might have is all that's going to be done at the PD in Fort Smith for now and then in July something date I think is that art zero the armory you're talking about. Yeah. Yes sir. Mayor the the board is stakeholders in this. Yeah. And you're on it and Miss Castavish is on it. No, no, no,

no. The board consists of I we're I rely I she's on the she's just a not just she's a board of director. No, she's not on it, but she's the one that questioned it, right? In front of everybody to go, what's going on? So, the board and I won't be able to name everybody. Maybe you can help me. Judge Ho is on it. When Judge is not there, Mark Allen's his proxy. Hobie Ren's on it. Sheriff Renan, Cher Chief Baker, there they are. Danny Baker, Daryl Fire Chief, Travis Cooper, of course, Jeff Dingham, Tim Hearn, Steve Oaks, myself, Phil Pey House, Tom Seismore, and West Ming is the is the director. Not really any little towns on there like

No, I am I am there. Oh, you're you're representing Midland. That's correct. And all these places that we have no idea how they're going to pay. That's correct. And so when I go to the meetings with Judge Hoes, that's who's sitting without me. I'm just there as a mayor, but they also know that I'm You are the little town guy. Yeah, I'm the little town guy that got to come up with impossible money. Exactly. Yeah. It just sounds like I mean, if you've got a if you've got a plan, you've got to look at your sources of revenue first, you think? I mean, that's that seems like it's kind of

Well, what? Sorry. I I just I can't fathom you saying, "Okay, I'm going to build a a $5 million building and I'm gonna, you know, get this new communication system in place and here's my plan and not have any idea what the finances are of the people who will actually be paying for it. That needs to be that needs they need to be poked in the eye." Well, that's what's happened. Everything everything stopped. We the things that were voted in literally have voted out. But do you think that you think that's actually how I do things?

No, these this board this board and I I will I can I voted yes the other day to move forward with what when I was guaranteed guaranteed twice in that meeting that those numbers that Tom had a while ago are not part of 26 budget for anybody. I was okay to move forward with with consolidation. We're trying to be the time, like he said, they've been behind the eightball for years. And if you don't get it done, we got an extension already. If you don't get it done, you lose everything. You lose all your funding. This federal government, it's a mess. Yeah. It It'd be a mess.

So for you for to make you feel better, if it does at all, I don't feel tingly about any of it, but there was two of us, maybe three, that looked at Wes, and I like Wes. I think he's the right man for the job. He has the knowledge and he's very intelligent and he's got a plan, but he's just he goes so fast. But we all, three of us went the budget, the budget you're showing us, even though it's not a real budget, no way. every the whole thing has to be whittleled down where Mansfield can afford it or Midland and Greenwood.

I don't see us being in a big position to support $100,000. No, I don't either. But if push comes to shove, Greenwood unfortunately could get it somewhere probably where they absolutely cannot. We are a that would be a hardship for us but it's an impossibility. It's an impossibility for other it's b it's on the so the base the payments are based on the call

no I'm sorry population not cause is too crazy because they're overlapping well that was brought up It's not just your ongoing maint.

Yeah,

it'll be great someday. He's trying to get ac everybody's got enough money to do what you want to do. You can build a $5 million building. You got the best of You got a $5 million Motorola contract with the with all the stuff, but you wouldn't believe the questions that came up or the were the realities as you're sitting there. Somebody says I can't remember the road that the property's on, but the old Mo whole hog restaurant

road I think it was the gentleman from Levaka. I think the chief goes he goes, "Who in this room didn't doesn't know that that's in a bowl? That's the worst place in the world for a tower. And there was going to be a new tower. He said, "Who who who decided that was a good idea?" Well, before Burrow Road, Fort Smith bought the car lot on 71 used to be crane. The old crane. Yeah, that was going to do it.

And that was just kind of No, that's not going to work. So, let's go over here. I'm just glad it's I I was thinking have to go set and try to have a good time during the holidays knowing that was somebody else's idea. But it's all stopped. So that's good. Doesn't mean it's not going to start back. I want to go to these meetings. Are these open to public? Yes, they are.

911 meetings are open to the public. It's it's a it's a setting some like this. I call it that. The RBC are open. Everybody it's just like this. And you you can be called if you raise your hand. You can talk. Anyway, pretty much capital ammunition. Great job. Oh yeah. shared life.

Yeah. Mhm.

Yes. That was received. 98 Yeah. From what the budget? Hey chief, I was just looking through here the police range expense. I know we went through an ordeal a few years back about taking that thing back over and changing all the locks on the shooting range and I didn't know if you had any written it out FBI guys, whatever. Do you make anything off of that?

I'm not saying we need to be making anything. I just wonder how if you've got a good report because there was some tension for a while. Okay.

Absolutely. It's not enough money. Okay. I've been begging for that dredging for 20 years.

I got a quick question. Was that made known to the water wastewater commission because the Huh? Because the dredging was a was a of uh Chad Martin and and he has a lot of good information on it, but they kind of stopped immediately when they went where are we going to put this. I had never heard that before. Not no fault no fault of yours, but and I don't know how much that how much material you would want, but I think they need to know so they might get back on all he can get. There's not enough. Yeah, let let him know because he was very

he knew a lot about it. But but it was also what to do the material, right? Because some of the cost was to get rid of the material, not just the Yeah. Yeah. And if it's only to there, we can get a conveyor belt and just spit it out. Okay. Okay. Hey Brad, with with the the land swap that we're doing with the Ste family, is there going to be any cost associated with having to fix anything up to

Al or Jim?

Yeah. that Let me make a comment about something that came up that meeting. My buddy Jim, who I love too, and I thanked him, I've thanked him several times for kind of throwing me under the bus, was something I never knew anything about until he said it that night. And if you know Jim Cox, he's like, "What? I didn't." So, the tiles that were brought by this and Jeff wasn't here to explain that night. So, I find out the next morning when I go out there, the tiles that Jim was Jim were referring to, by the way, was on our land, not his, right?

But I get what he what he said. The tiles that were brought out there were brought for a purpose, not just to dump and be trashed, but to be crushed ASAP, to build the pad up further for burning. So, they were there for a reason. So, I go out there the next morning and I and I see them. Sure enough, they're just like he said. So I called Jeff and he goes, "Yeah, that's we brought him there for this." I said, "Well, then let's let's do that." So long story short, within two hours, Chad was out there with backhoe as they were delivering limbs and they're crushed. And I mean, you might find a remnant piece of tile, but that's what they were there for.

Sorry. Got you, Mr. Jan.

I think you're 640. I thought we already paid them $3,000.

Well, we did. I mean, I thought the city in general just

is the 3,000 for each time they do it. So if they did it, so he does it one time, it cost $3,000 for the municipal league to respond. How many have you had over the years?

So if we have two this year, you'll have to come back and ask for a budget amendment. Yeah. But it's required that we deal with municipal. can't use our city attorney for it. It depends what it is.

Right. That's the traffic stop out there on 71 from years ago.

So the three grand the city in general pays is just our membership dues. It's a retainer. Yeah. The cops also have to have a dude. Sure.

Oh, I got you.

It'd be the best thing to put it in in there and keep it. Can we opt out if our mayor's president? Can you? You can that doesn't look great, but I'm only there for a year or is it a retainer?

He's just expecting him pretty much can't get one. That's why he put it in here this year. Right. And and I will ask the league itself will and I've been in the room when this has happened not not for us but I've been in the room when other cities have had issues and the legal team at municipal league will encourage that community to use their own city attorney. Sometimes city attorneys aren't equipped if you I mean not ours but there are just some city attorneys that either have too many irons in the fire private practice they but they want me to be able to do that and not have to have more Sure.

It may not be a good It's probably an option, but not a good option.

Now, okay, we'll we'll keep an eye on and I love Travis and I don't I understand his fees that he does on stuff that's not in the norm. But defending the police department is certainly within the city attorney's norm. I think that's the whole reason he's here. Anyway, we'll discuss that whenever his bill shows up. I know that, but I don't have those thoughts.

Yeah. Well, I'll say it to him. I don't care. Well, you're saying that, you know, that those tiles, you know, the street department went out there and broke those stuff. But I mean, so but you're saying your roads still could use some improvement on there.

No, you don't want you didn't want those tiles. Okay. Right. But I mean, let's not talk any more road improvement ro bike lanes and all that crap. Well, no, I figured it's it's a road that's, you know, probably used a lot, you know, probably need to maybe have some need a tunnel, an underpass, something we can look maybe address with the the street when we look at the street budget. Whatever dredge we can do the tunnel, Alabama. Do you dredge a tunnel? Yeah. Wow. That'd be a Yeah. While the dredge is out there. Recreational. Wow. Like a aquarium.

Probably more like a terrarium. should say stamps never go up. They always go down. Mayor's got a flush fun. You got one over there.

Flush fun. Boy, that ly them jokers. Well, I tell you, I I I work with two guys that are retired firemen and they were talking about their lot and one guy was on 16 years over here at Bloomer area, whatever that's called little and he gets 150 bucks a month from Lot. He's 60. He just turned 60, so he got all his paperwork. He said, "There's more red tape. They want to know every single thing about you, what your money, how much you make, what you've got." And he said, "It's unbelievable for 150 bucks a month." Yeah. He said, he said, "It's pretty much." And they tax that on top of it when you get it. So anyway,

yeah, right. No doubt. It's unbelievable. It's the biggest scam I've ever heard of that. I mean, we need to we need to start a ly of our own.

I just never I'm that guy. I'm like Joe Stro. Oh yeah.

Sebastian County. We'll say they offer a cheap certific I don't know. Yes. Yeah.

What's in there? number. Oh, yeah. I got you. basically the acknowledgement of

Is there anything shows that

shows a month? certificates. in order to take that step to acknowledge the address. I think that would certainly go a long way toward that.

If it was listed in here, we wouldn't need a resolution.

So, you're talking about instead where it says certificate paid 2520 kind of line item of certificate paid. policy. So our policy I'm surprised.

You have to do landscape instead of portrait. Tom as long as there's something in here for this and we approve it. That's basically she'll approve it.

At least approve the policy change. Just a general policy that you're going just added budget. Yeah. Okay. We never approved any type of policy for the type of Good.

Once I get all those in place, speakless once I get that all done. I will submit it to you. We're not going to go to your firing range until you do that. Sounds good.

I was going to say you probably touched on vehicles, but I may have missed it. That's what we got on the DFA just put that out in an email. saying we've been doing a great jobless Three cars. One year 2015 Chevy. Are the ones highlighted the ones you're trading in?

Commission.

So, you're actually coming to us before you've traded them in, ask them to trade in and get a new vehicle. That's interesting. Usually doesn't happen that way. Hasn't in the past. And then when you does that come with the you know the the paint or job or do you get the Okay.

Then you got to help out him. Okay. 784. Is that good? Yeah, it says whatever. I think it's slow. the 16,000. What you got for those three vehicles? That's what you think that number should be?

We have a Yeah, that's what it sounds like. 62. Now we're cooking

18 grand per car to outfit those. That's what been going wrong. Smiles ain't around no more. Oh, I get it. That was I see what you did there.

Are you going to try to acquire these January the

second? So really good already purchased. That is basically out still. It's just going to be good.

Friday night. Federal classif I'm not against it. also operation.

Did the fire chief put you up to this? Yeah, but he wouldn't. I mean, come on.

Who has one? We don't want to use theirs anymore. That's true.

Contribute to it. Well, we'd rather have low crime than drone grants. What I'm saying is

if if it would contribute in terms of flood plane management or search and rescue in the event of a flood or something like that, you just got to approach grants from all kinds of planning uh you know fire everybody's got funds that might be able to or grants. So don't just look at your grants, but have everybody say, "Look at your grants." Well, a year ago, last year when they had that the fire up there on the hillside, you know, we were using the county's drone, you know, for visual. It was it was very helpful.

Chief, one couple things, I'm sorry to interrupt you. You and I discussed this a little bit a long time ago. You mentioned all the rooftops and all that stuff and I I just think of the freedom fest too.

You got a lost child and how hard is that to I don't even know in your shoes what you do in a case like that on the ground. I mean it's obviously you got to go around and look but you got a drone in the air that would help. So on what Steve said I think Mr. Tedford has you considered or Tom have y'all talked about this being a cost share with fire Y and even even street I don't know who who how where this would fit better not better but if that helps any I don't know

if what you have to use it for there you go

not here let's spin If you were to go out and I mean search and rescue few operations. It could be that way. I mean, there's a lot of applications. Last I'm just looking available

I mean parks may have just search for grants

we hear that a lot Any y'all going to go to that grant workshop in March? Okay, great. Okay, Brad, why why that scio drone

is that

only reason I'll put that in there. Arkansas. thermal.

It has thermal capabil We run into the DJI issue. All the drones we had now $78,000. has a piece of

red. I will tell you before me and him get in trouble. Uh while we're trying to find a drone or whatever, I know the school has got a new drone deal. They've just started a few here and I don't know how much they might have of I know they can't if there's some kind of evidentiary stuff they can't see, but if you need any help, they may have to do some kind of community service deal for credit. So, they might be able to help you fly and check.

Oh, really? They have now they hired coach Brewer and I thought he was supposed to bring that thing back to life. Well, I'm just saying I don't I'm not saying you don't need it, but I'm saying they could help if you needed help.

Everybody I was thinking the accreditation has to be almost like almost like a pilot's license. restricted air. A lot of these programs they have it will stop you at restricted air. Okay.

As you go through it, you know,

had the fire department board. Like Charlotte said, he's got tax money that wouldn't affect general fund the way you and Hunter would Let him fill out the red tape. We we we have a uh a firefighter. He's on the parks, you know, commission and uh you know, he's got his uh private license.

No. Uh Bobby, and he's looking at going ahead and taking that. He said, you know, to get like saying it's it's a pilot license. So, he said there's just another test you have to take to be, I guess, drone certified. And he's looking at that. Was it like section 107 or a guideline to get your certification. Can you get it in bright red? The drone. Yeah. Chief with gold. You said that. I didn't have propellers. Commander,

anything, gentlemen? I've got a ton of things that I don't want to put you on the spot. No, I'm talking about it's just personal stuff that I wanted to thank you for, but I won't do it this

We've already kind of talked about it. I will say graduated home. Did you mention your off today? You're off.

I saw that in the degree pay. He had an MA. Yeah, it brought up my That's good. I congratulated him and I congratulated her for putting up with him while he was getting his master. I was looking at your department and there's a lot of education in there. So, and y'all are still keeping up with training.

I ran into Officer Cody Smith. I didn't even know he was on the force. Love him. I've known him forever. So that's awesome.

Yeah. Local kid. I like the local kid. Thank you, Chief. Everybody good?

Really good work. I know. Going back to Tom.

Thanks, Chief. Monday night still work on both of those statuary. Christmas that it's a Christmas week.

It's not like he does a Hanukkah deal. I do have to do it. What I want to do is I want to show you the rollbody. What I wanted to share with you is right now as December 18 96,000 surplus. We're sitting at 35,400. I'm going to show you the impact of that first department all the general department.

We already paid reimburse. So the unassigned general fund balance right now is 97 million. So when you look at the estimate revenue for next year balance 12369 department,000 your balance will be $399 884. What we did for fire department and what we did for the parks department is what those funds those expended accounts for those creating

those based on the tax and it also gives you a better I gives you a better idea when you look at that city what the cost is to run those citys good to your constituents when they want to What do you know?

No. Is there is there something different besides bricks and mortars and equipment? He's got a whole bunch of stuff and of course the operating office.

Well, I was getting a vibe there like you said. You said you moved something back into that city cells and use tax. And what happened in previous years or what we call these accounts that you see right here but it's mostly county sales you sales tax. That's how you div it up. You can still tweak that, but tweaking it within these department. But I guess my point here is that we're still looking at reducing our general fund balance by almost 54. I want you to consider that because you're one disaster. Let me bring up another point. You remember when we talked earlier in the year, we talked about the fact that just because you have a sales tax and you're and you're building assets,

you also have to maintain those assets. And so what Tom did was Tom said, "Okay, there are expenses associated with the community building in Bell Park, and those need to those expenses need to be placed into the sales tax and use because sales and use tax funds pay for that. It's not only for the the capital expenditure like the building, it's also the maintenance of that ongoing. And so another thing you have to consider is if you don't pass that sales tax, those ongoing maintenance expenses go back into general. And so we have to pass those taxes at a minimum to keep maintaining those facilities. The splash pad and and everything like that has an expense associated with it and sales and use tax is going to pay for it. City sales and use tax. And so we had been paying from the general fund to fund that maintenance. And so Tom pulled that out and now that's being paid for by city sales and use tax. So now it makes our general fund look better. But if we don't pass the sales tax, boom, it goes right back. That's what I'm saying.

I don't recall it ever going away. That's a little bit

dishar. was all done because there was a deficit and when they were running a deficit the way they covered it back to the parks as much as you do that's not restricted to the parks that is money coming solely out of this These accounts right here are not clean.

So streets and fire didn't do as much of this money movement as the parks did. $4,000,000. So that both of their budgets at I miss that much meetings. They're not the ones that are now the issue. The issue where the deficit is.

I just don't Well, oh, I'm Well, we'll start we'll we'll get that taken care of, of course. I mean, we'll just start chopping meat. It's got to be a million bucks.

All I want you to do is think about Well, I want you to know that they were balancing the budget by giving reserves that they had in order to cover those deficits. So, I'm going to give you 1920 22 anomaly 23 24 Let's look at the budget line. So here's our budget that was submitted for 2018 just for these operating department. Every single one of these department 212 we would have had but we had the 1.1.2 million cover still 24 budget or a balance budget. the entire time and that's what I've been telling you for the past years. So you have two ways of doing that. One is a subudal

based budget says what you spent last year probably that carry that over and adjust it for However, that doesn't do anything to really do that forces you how much we think we're going to need this year and then you arrive at your department. I'm saying that all department consider that the other line is actual. The reason this wasn't a significant issue is because we budgeted 275 in 2018 came in at $3,000 mostly because of what you see there. Police Department $79,000 deficit just 593 that helped immensely creating surplus. We created surpluses in 21 22 and obviously 23 and because of that enormous surplus in 23 didn't really hit that bad but 25 and $849 right now that's budget either trying to write that ship but I really

don't have

okay we have how much money is floating out there I don't know you have these virtual things you mentioned a few times but as far as capital expenditures carryover. At what point do we say, "Okay, I know you all have a five-year plan and we've got this money that you didn't spend. We spent 40ome percent of what we budgeted for capital and say whichever department. At what point do we say we're going to have to chop all of that that you have planned and get this thing right?"

That's not going to help this because capital is under those virtual accounts. Those are restricted monies. Those are not part of the general funds are not what I'm talking. Well, I we we split that up a few years back between the capital and I guess what you're saying is O andM side. It used to not be split up at one at some time since I've been sitting up here. It was just all kind of in the

those death right now. Not this is different. I'm not talking about that 34%. I understand those are restricted, but we just have always had this money that we carry over every year and we we have here's what we had and we've only we only spent 43% of it this year, so we're going to carry that over. We there's been stuff carried over for years. I know we talked about stopping that, but I'm just saying it.

Well, it just means you're not correct. So the restricted well I didn't I'm just curious of what the definition of restricted means. If we have to have money it's out there. If we have to wait to fix whatever we have to wait to fix whatever we have to operate the city this right now. capital. So those monies are not

this is the operating. Gotcha. We can sit down. whole discussion because you have to

be fair police department that's a problem that's discuss Firstanchion. So when you look at the way that's being done as far as taxes, you could look at $560,000 equates to what% department they would need to come up with They would have to be added to their cakewalk. If we were to go back to the police department as far as deficit is concerned, this is their budget right now.

And we were to move over to their line and just put it on their revenue stream that would reduce that $300,000 in order for them to get close at surplus right now does not exceed the amount of money They would only be able to cover 325,000 which is effect. number 325 all those department fires you know planning has sources of revenue their permits and so that that's revenue that we don't have to use the general fund on but the department doesn't make money by itself. Fire department doesn't make money unless, you know, we charged, you know, anytime we went on a call or whatnot. But we don't they don't make revenue. So, they've got to get it from the general fund. And the general fund is at the mercy of the sale the the sales taxes they receive. And so, if we're flat, if we're down

and and these different groups are needing more money because their costs are going up. We have a problem because they can't generate revenue themselves. So, they're dependent on us as the general fund and the general fund is dependent on taxes. And if we can't just say, "Hey, everybody has to shop in town, everybody has to do this, everybody has to do that." We can't control that. We can't control our sales tax revenue. So So very good. Accounting 101. Thank you. And I'm not being sarcastic. No, no,

it's all absolute. So, uh, and and how do you get sales tax revenue up? You work hard to get businesses here. You try to get people to shop. We do that all the time. I I do. Everybody here does. We talk about it. We campaign a little bit. We don't campaign hard. Uh, but you can, you know, back in the day, we used to put signs up, shop local, you know, all this stuff. And I don't know if that ever helped or not. Uh, we can I don't know how to fix that other than having a plan to get businesses here that produce sales tax revenue. Well, I at what point do we say maybe our spending is out raising?

Well, there's that, too. The tax people are shopping in Greenwood. Every restaurant's full every day. Every little food truck's full every day. Our spending is out. But there's a leak. But I agree with that's why I don't like that's why I think there's something going on there that's not getting collected properly. But there's a but there's a leak too. The leak going to Fort Smith and I don't have those numbers in front of me, but I have some people that are have nothing to do with this city, right?

That that share that stuff with me or they have they have something to do with it. They're not employees. The leak is is incredible. Uh, and we're not talking about alcohol tonight, but I guess we can for a second. Uh, let me let me I sit in a on a meeting yesterday or day before, whatever day it was at Wapadetti or at the Peak Innovation Center in Mina. Uh, mayor was there. Awesome guy. And I don't know if you know what's going on in Mina with the trails system, but that's fixing to make a huge impact on that area. and and he made a comment just for the sake of making it and I'm not a big alcohol guy. I mean I not not saying I'm not partaker on occasion but I'm just saying he said they voted themselves wet recently they man or Charleston did it Mina has now done it and he said if you think for any for half a second that you're and we're not talking about being a destination for trails because we don't have a mountain but if you're going to be anything like that and if you don't include alcohol in it you're fooling yourself. So that's we got to find innovative ways to to do it. I I don't disagree with you at all that we need to do some some fixing on our own on our own budget, but we got to figure out how to get people here and spend their money to stay here. You can't buy a shirt in Greenwood, Arkansas.

I mean, that's Walmart. You can't buy a shirt in Greenwood. You can, but you know, you know what I mean. Well, just so you know, help's on the way. With the money I'm fixing to spend at Braums, we'll be able to buy Corvettes. That's awesome. I'll be right behind. Trust me. I'll be right behind. Has there been any interest from maybe restaurant like Chili's or something like that at the curve? Only only. They're interested, but they need to sell alcohol and and that be Friday's cafe was on board.

Yeah, that'd be a private club. And as you know, I think you all know, I know you do, that that the nonprofit attached to a private club is gone. That's out. That's out. You don't have to walk in here with a attached or be attached to a nonprofit. That's gone. And they're further than 400 feet from any school, church. Do what? The curve is Oh, that's the curve is the ideal. Yeah. Ideal because it's out there. It's this the distance is we we lowered it to four I think you 450 450 whatever Lafiesta is

I'll just say in this meeting Lafiesta is reconsidering coming back and I told them you better have a better plan you had the first time they were excited to know that the nonprofit's part of it but that's the only thing they heard of the last they did they have a new plan they're going to come back uh I don't know that I should make an announcement somebody on the east end's thinking about coming back so I'll leave it at that you can ask me afterwards who it is. But those those restaurants that that look at the curve and I know this because Cheryl Garner is that person out there. Jacob Burton

and the ones that are talking to her are just waiting. They're all waiting on somebody else to let's just say for fun if Shawn Lynn who is eligible as we speak right distance. He's always he's the only one that's always been eligible. if he decided to approach or get a private club license, others would follow. It's just the old field of dreams thing. Nobody wants to be the first. No one wants to be the first. Some people don't even know they can. I know. And I've gotten that a million times. Matter of fact, Terry Smith, Never mind, did I say that out loud? You did, but that's okay.

Anyway, I was approached by a lady and she I was like, "The laws have been on the books for 15 years." I mean, I don't know what y'all are talking about. I said, "It actually We finally got a reprieve. They had to lower the taxes on the beer and on the liquor because we made them way too high. And turns out we weren't even supposed to do that, right? We were breaking the law or would have been. So, and it to to your comment, u Mr. Maker, the the restaurants that want to come or would like to come and see if it would work. And of course, they're not going to just jump in here. And those guys are they've been around the block. I mean, for instance, they didn't just go, "Let's go see if it works."

They got a good idea it's going to work if they wouldn't be down there correct building that thing. Uh much unlike a quote that I read long ago that said, "Who's going to go out in the country to get a hamburger and a book?" Well, that's not in the country and he's going to along with the rest of us. But it's not the alcohol sales that's going to make a huge difference up there. It's the food sales that along with the alcohol and they can't sell they're not going to sell the food if they can't if you can't get a beer and you'll get a little deal at a Claire's boutique in a little mall. You'll get a little other little shoe store all that and I and I never want to be the guy that says alcohol is going to save us. That's that's that's ludicrous I think.

But the certainly wouldn't hurt is not going to hurt. That's just one that's just one thing. I don't you know we we work hard and I say we there's people in this building that are striving every day to deal with storecraft building which is not a restaurant but it's sitting there empty and nobody's doing anything we're we're in court with that and trying to do something. Oh, we can we can just kind of look at during the co year if if you know the citizensry of of Greenwood you know was forced to shop local you know we had a banner year whether it was through internet or you know or just shopping local. Yeah that internet tax I think

and now that uh that you know 80% of our we're a bedroom community. They're they're in Fort Smith already. So they're they're on the way home from work, they're stopping right there in Fort Smith where it's convenient and stuff or whatever. The rebate thing hasn't helped us at all either. Correct. So there's lots of little things, but but the rebate thing won't hit us as bad probably again for a while. That that was a huge well what the heck's going on knowing about it. The preparation that you can that's something I think our legislators should look at because you're you're you always think that that's kind of a a benefit to have a big major project, but It's not well at the end it should be a benefit. Yeah. And Dr. Lee was here. That's what they're thinking.

I think Chief mentioned that we had a meeting. We asked Fred, sorry. We asked Dr. Johnson to come in and he he met for about two and a half hours, talk to all the department heads and everyone to talk to. I think Steve came by. Yeah. So, he's he's going to be looking at things and trying to figure stuff out for us, too. I I I want to say and we we kind of I don't think we dance around it, but we certainly we know the police department is is the biggest salary and we don't make money. We all know that. I don't know what to do about it. I don't want any less officers. I pay a lot of money. Huh? I gave a lot of money.

Okay. So we are we are what we are between that and bronze. You're you're it would have been the city but it couldn't pull me over. So the county guy had to give me I'm elected official dirty I don't I don't know any of those. I don't know what the answer I tried to apply for a job here. We code enforcement okay look at themp commission. No meeting Monday night right meeting if that's what the No meeting Monday night. No money. Hey, real quick before you leave, I I do have something. I'm totally changing the subject, but on behalf of our employees,

thank God I'm changing the subject. I I've I don't know if you heard today, but your your president, our president uh declared uh Christmas, we already off Christmas and Christmas, Christmas Eve and Christmas, but the president declared Friday a national holiday. I may be wording this wrong. And so did the governor came back and said the same thing about Friday. So, I'm wanting I'm We can't vote. You can't vote on anything tonight. Well, we don't have a meeting now. Might be. Y'all just be at work Friday.

So, I'm I'm as I'm pro proposing to you uh that we due to those two things happening that we close Friday. Uh but it's up to the council. You're in charge. Well, it's not a paid holiday. I am, but it won't be a paid day. God almighty. I don't know if he's making it a federal holiday for one year. Is that what he's trying to what you're saying he's done? It did. It didn't. The way the calendar fell this year. So you always get the day before Christmas off and Christmas. And so because it's a Wednesday, Thursday, and there's Friday that's nothing. They decided to

Well, I don't have any problem with that, but I don't think there's it's up for a pay to just not come in and get a free holiday. I'm not going to say nothing because states doing it. States's doing it. I I actually found that governor Sanders actually declared before Trump did. She may have. I I may be reading this out of order. So Sanders did first and then What' you say? The cops have to be paid, right? Well, they're on call. Well, I mean, they're working. So, does that mean we got to adjust the budget? The police always are working. I mean, they don't get any days off.

I mean, Right. You're always patrolling. shouldn't be official. They just don't show.

Well, I'm fix to lose a lot of No way in hell we're paying people to That's why you get the cops we have to pay because they're on patrol. They're on duty. But the street department guy said the home drinking hot totty is not getting paid. It's not a federal holiday. If you're saying that Trump's made a one year federal holiday, we'll take the Junth out.

Yeah. Why don't you got comp time? I got it. Oh boy. Well, that's better than my scenario of not paying him at all. Except for the police. 13.

We've had this discussion before. That was good. So, do you have What's the number, Tom? It would be $4,500. $4,500. What about just Nobody shows up Friday. It's not a holiday. Well, I can almost tell you that may happen. Do that anyway. I don't care if they don't show up and I'm worried about getting paid to not show up. Well, that that's where you because I will be at work on that Friday and I will get paid.

Well, we can't vote on it tonight. I say since the the state and federal are are going that direction, you know, I said we just follow suit. I just say call if we have to just do got a special call meeting and it'll happen pretty quick. We'll be done. Not budget. Yeah. What's this due to your $335,000 you had left over? Do what? 300. But I needed I needed them surplus

until the next Whatever.

So, we're not paying employee. That's what I'm saying. It's interesting. Under my limit, but Okay, I get that. I'm talking about what I'm talking about as the whole is not a paid holiday right now. What did per your 5,000 per view of my 5,000? What did you say? Did you say something else? Char saying because we're already in budget of the police. You're listing out holidays. holiday.

So, we're gonna try to do that a paid holiday for the city of Greenwood. Sure.

Those people Yes.

So, it's a done deal that we're making this a paid holiday. The 26th of December. No, this would be No, what he's saying is if if we don't if they don't take off, they're getting paid. The the only thing missing is the productivity. That's right. I mean, that's what you would be sacrificing is what's after Christmas. There's not going to be any productivity because there going to be there's going to be people getting paid. I said Tim and Ralph, could y'all get here like around 5:30? Would that be inconvenient on for a special call meeting on Monday a.m. 5:30 p.m. home from work?

AM's better than me. He's got to dodge the stop line out there on dodging nothing. You're going through

I'll be the Grinch. I have no problem that emergency. Okay. So, calling a bomb threat. Are you inclined? Even even uh we have a meeting on on the books for Monday night for whoever study session and but we've talked about not doing that and letting you guys have your week, you know. Well, I'm getting ready to I mean, three councilmen can do the same. No, I don't. still have to. Yeah.

So, I think the majority of I think this council had no have a desire not to meet Monday for budget study session. I'd like to I'd like for those guys to be comfortable and you to be comfortable. I don't want to rush that the budget side. I don't mind meeting to hash out this chaos. You're good on the no Monday. He's the one that suggested, right? So, either I will I will or I'll just do it. Let's I'm calling a special call meeting Monday night at 6 5:30. I was wonder if they could get here by 5:30 or you know 5:30. What are we eating? Yeah.

Leftover pizza. Hey, it's not bad. What time? 5:30. 5:30. 5:30 Monday night. And one item will be discussion of Friday being paid holiday. And what we what needs to be discussed also I mean I obviously if the if um your president and our governor says it's then I I mean we'll have to I guess whatever but I I that's Quanza on that either but uh let's fight him for Quanza. Oh man. Well listen I I I got what I got from Facebook. Okay.

So that means it's truth. Well, I'm just saying you never know. But well, Ralph already verified the state. The state, this is the first I've heard of Trump. The state definitely has. Hunter, can you verify the president's that it's a paid holiday for the state employees? That's what Sarah said. By the governor, it's not an every year deal just because the way the calendar fell. She's given Well, the fourth of July falls randomly, too. But we don't they don't get the fifth paid. That's what's blowing my That's what I'm saying. This is the Christmas spirit. I don't You should read You should read her her proclamation. It's pretty whatever she says. I love No sarcasm.

I love her. He called what did you call her while ago? My baby girl. I love Sarah Huck. I'm waiting on I'm waiting on Hunters. I'm waiting on the capital for a date. Office is closed. Okay, we're going to close the city, but the pay is all I just care about money. That's our job. I don't care if the office is ever open.

Additional two days. There we go. Days off is a lot different than paid.

Here comes Tom. Here comes the Grinch. It doesn't refer to payclamation or the mayor. Well, I love all the whereasses, but are she saying she's paying her employees on that day? Well, that's just a proclamation. Yeah. So, if we just That's the only debate here. We don't care. She gonna pay the employees. I mean, I don't think she would. No, there's no way she's paying all because because it's like it's going to get done on Friday. So the direction that we got when we code our time is that we put holiday and so we're getting paid holiday payment. You guys are

article work.

Yeah, I mean that's the direction we got human resources that we know bunch of people. need to do the same thing.

What's the auditor going to say? We can't just be media and all that. If we started the very at the beginning, we'd have two hour notice. We start at the end of this.

If it'll chief, what' you say

with the PD? for you guys.

Yep. 5:30 on Monday. 5:30 Monday. Tom, what day did we res

How do you spell that? Come on. Oh, that's election night. January 6 is election. Come on, Baptist. Yeah, that's also election night. January 6th is election night. Starting December 3rd. Yeah. For the first election night. All right. Everybody know what we're doing or going to do or thinking about doing? Yeah. Yes. Yes, sir. Or yes, ma'am. Sorry. Hey, before we go, while we're talking about budget, where are whatever happened to our cut of the Jaffy money that we millions of dollars that was our inheritance?

Yeah, I was going to ask that same question. And what brought that up was our dispatch conglomerate Gestapo that was came up and what and the money they're supposed to be making is 1.6 million whatever and all that. I got to think, you know, we had a Gustapo that Chaffy reclamation place that Bean come down here. We pulled that about three million and forests waiting because remember we bought in early US and county and barling, right? Anyway, I just wonder. So, good question. I I think I think from what I'm remembering is that all that got Where'd he go? He just left. Maybe he's

had an epiphany. He had an epiphany. I think that got halted and nobody I don't think it got finished because well they thought they developed all they could. Y and so they were gonna stop and well they were trying to fireell stuff the guy that kept reselling everything and yep taking it back and selling it for more whoever that was. I can't remember who. Anyway, yeah the but we were trying to push that so we'd get our money before they spent it all. Right. Right. Right. Yeah. I don't remember but that's that may just be up in the cloud somewhere. Well, it needs we need to kind of know because we can sure use that right now while we're hemorrhaging money bean probably. Boy, it sure just went away. I forgot about it.

No, I had I thought the same thing when we was talking about that a while ago with the police department. Anyway, I mean, if we need a motion, I'll make a motion to adjurnn. I do that. I know. We're we're making it official as we possibly can. Yeah, I make a motion to leave on time, not like early like the back corner of me. That's a case of