Board of Directors - Regular Meeting

ctors to order. Uh, at this time we'll have a roll call. Assistant Mayor Brewer here. Director Juel here. Director Smith here. Director Roberts here. Director Harris is absent. Uh, Director Holivish here. Mayor Brown

here. Couple of housekeeping things. Uh, if you wish to address the board tonight, there are citizens communication cards on the ledge. If you would fill one of those out, get that to Jenny. She can get that to me. so we would have a record of you speaking tonight. Second thing is if you have your cell phone with you, if you would silence those uh during the course of the meeting, we'd appreciate that. And just as a note of record, our chief of police and city attorney are in a civil service meeting at the present time. That's why he's not here. Uh at this time, we'll stand for our invocation and pledge of allegiance given by Director Cherry Roberts. Let us pray. Heavenly Father, we come to you this evening asking for wisdom, guidance, and your support. As we begin this meeting, fill us with your grace as we make decisions that affect our community. May we act with integrity, work in unity, and lead with a spirit of service for the good of all citizens. We ask that our discussions be productive, and that our actions reflect a commitment to truth and fairness. In Christ's name we pray. Amen.

Amen. I pledge allegiance to the flag of the United States of America and to the republic for which it stands, one nation under God, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all. May be seated. At this time, we'll move right on into our citizens communication time. I have one card already turned in. Debbie.

Hi, my name is Debbie Landis. I live at 626 South of Mosley Road and I've been there 34 years. In the spring of 2023, the entrance to my driveway at the Culver had eroded enough to become dangerous. The cover was exposed for several feet on the north and south sides. This made my driveway considerably more narrow than I was comfortable driving over. In July 2023, I sent an email to Mr. Richards explaining my situation and asking for help since the culvert is actually city property. He told me to be patient because they were very busy. A year later, in July 2024, I emailed Mr. Richards again and sent new photos. He had his crew replace the old covert and covered my entrance with small blue rocks. This worked for a couple of months and the rocks have now washed away for the most part and the new culvert is exposed again. I emailed Mr. Richards again but had no response. In 2025, I wrote Mayor Alan Brown. He said he would check on the situation. Mr. Douglas called me a couple of days later to say that they would soon be working on mine and my neighbors culvert and in entrance areas. They began working in late October and early November last year. After a couple of weeks, I emailed Mr. Douglas to be sure my covered entrance area would be done since no one was working on my side. He assured me that it would be completed by Thanksgiving. I just needed to be patient. This time my culvert was connected to my neighbors and the huge opening covered with dirt. My neighbor's entire frontage ditch was covered with heavy rocks and both of his entrance areas were done. They worked right up to my entrance and stopped. The north side of my entrance area wasn't touched when

the crew loaded up and left. Couple of months ago, I emailed Mr. Douglas asking why mine wasn't repaired as my neighbors had been done. He never responded. Since I never heard back from Mr. Douglas, I emailed Mayor Brown. He said he would check into it for me. The next day, Mr. Douglas called me and left a message. He said twice someone would call me the next day and also said he was under the impression my entrance was fixed. No one contacted me. A few days later, I emailed Mayor Brown to let him know I had not heard from anyone, and I sent him updated photos of my culvert and entrance. He never responded. In the meantime, delivery trucks, pickup trucks must use my neighbor's culvert and cross over to my drive for access to my house. The dirt that covers the ditch connecting our culverts has settled and is not stable enough to walk or drive on when it's wet. My neighbor is in the process of fencing off his property, which will stop the crossover with our driveways. Trucks and delivery trucks will not have a safe access to my house. In addition to this safety issue, I can't put my house on the market. For my entrance to be safe, it must be as wide as my neighbor's entrance. I need the same heavy stone around the culvert to stop the erosion. I also need the same topical treatment covering the culvert entrance area. It is imperative the construction is done correctly for it to last. If I were a man, would I have been told to be patient? My entrance was already completed. Would I have been had to wait almost three years to get it repaired? My nail male neighbor wasn't treated in this manner.

his repairs were done while I'm still waiting. I just feel like it's a case of gender discrimination and I'm hoping this will stop and I can get it repaired. Thank you, ma'am. What was the address? Uh 626 South Mosley. I saw some heads bob there. I I think you'll probably get their attention now. I'm sorry. I think you got their attention now. I'm I'm sure you'll get some action. on my phone. I can't put on there. Anyone else wish to address the board? Anyone else wish to address the board?

If not, we'll move into our consent agenda. We have four items on our consent agenda tonight. One is approval of the minutes of the regular meeting of April the 6th. Item number two is adopt a resolution authorizing the interim airport director to enter into a nocost 50-year lease agreement with the FAA for navigational aids. Item number three is to adopt a resolution authorizing the city manager purchase property located at 1423 Main Street to house the IT department. And item number four is to adopt a resolution authorizing city manager into a purchase agreement with landscape structure for a custom zenith place structure to be located at the Sand Flat Neighborhood Center. What would be the desire of the board? Mayor, Director Harris, I would like to have number three taken off

and number four. What would be the desire on one and two? Motion to adopt. Second. Have a motion and a second. All those in favor say I. I. One and two passes. Item number three. First, you had three. Danny, you took item number three. No, I I took four. Oh, three. Wayne. Yeah. I was just trying to see. I don't know. I ain't got Where is this uh on Main Street? Is it on Texas side or uh mayor board? Uh it's on the Texas side. Okay. Behind T line.

Okay. What what it is that I had got I guess a phone call I guess prior to the the meeting and the lady was asking me about uh property was being bought by the city of Texas County, Arkansas. And I think I had told her that I haven't saw the agenda yet, but nine out of 10. Uh it's probably was I asked her was it the water company? I guess it is. And I was saying that well we normally buy shared property. So uh maybe on Texas and on Arkansas cuz what we got property on both sides of land and shared. So so I guess this is property what the lady had called me about. She said she called her board but and I guess that's that's what I'm trying to

that's what it is. um the the because technology is predominantly funded uh through the water utility as it has been for 3540 years. Uh the water utility is actually the entity that's purchasing the building for the IT department. So it has the standard 2/3 one-ird split with te Texas and text Arkansas. Um the pension system and health insurance and everything for IT department employees is through the Texas side. So, the building physically needs to be on the Texas side, but it's still it's it's close to downtown. We can we can get to both sides of town just about as quick as we can from where we are now in Olive Street.

I I tried to explain that to her, but u I told her at the time that was around about 4 4:45 close to 5:00. So, so I don't I don't have an issue with it. Any other questions about item number three? If not, Jenny, would you are you going to read the resolutions in the absence of the city attorney? Okay. I'll instruct this assistant city clerk to read the resolution.

Whereas the texture can water utilities has identified a need for additional facilities to house and support the texture municipal information technology department. And whereas TWWU has determined the acquisition of certain real property located at 1423 Main Street, Texture, Canada, Texas 75501 is suitable for such use. And whereas the property is owned by George and Barbara Cummings irrevocable trust and is available for purchase for a total amount of $188,133 which includes estimated closing cost of $2,133. And whereas an appraisal dated February 10th, 2026, prepared by Pam Bonds, MAI, SWA, of the appraisal group establishes an appraised value of $186,000 supporting the reasonleness of the purchase price. And whereas the Arkansas portion of the acquisition cost is $73,691.70 to be paid from the texture county water utilities capital improvement fund. Now therefore, be it resolved by the board of directors of the city of Tetra, Arkansas, that the city manager is hereby authorized and directed to negotiate, execute, and complete the purchase of real property located at 1423 Main Street, Texture, Canaan, Texas, 75501 from the George and Barbara Cummings irrevocable trust for a total purchase price not to exceed $188,133 with the Arkansas portion of the funding in the amount of $73,691.70 to be paid from the Texas County Water Utilities Capital Improvement Fund and to execute any and all documents

necessary to carry out the intent of this resolution. Pass and approve this 20th day of April 2026. Clark has read the resolution. The desire of the board move for adoption. Second. Let's have a motion and a second. Any other discussion? Could you call a role? Assistant Mayor Brewer, yes. Director Juel, yes. Director Smith, yes. Director Roberts, yes. Director Harris, yes. Director Hollibush, yes. Mayor Brown, yes. Resolution passes. Item number four. Director Juel.

Yeah. Uh, let me get over here on this. Uh I see the price of $66,000. We've got one source for this one one bid taken on this. The uh first off why we have only the one person because it comes from a government by board which is sourced. Well well I I know but that doesn't preclude us from seeking other sources to other people as well. Right. Um, if we get it from the government by board, we don't have to do these. I

I know we don't have to, but we could we could look to see if there's a better price out there, right? Adam did and the prices that he got elsewhere that weren't on the government buy board were 20 to 30% more than what this one is. Okay. The u the picture that we have on the our sheet, is that what we're getting? That is what we're getting. Okay. I got on these people's website today and they they have other other

playground pieces pieces that are a lot more elaborate. They're also a lot more expensive. These weren't they have other ones that that are considerably cheaper or less expensive than than what this picture is showing that are considerably cheaper than this.

Yeah, but you're only seeing the cost for the structure itself and not the turn key. Well, I mean the this 38,946 is is for the structure itself and I uh this is what on their website I'm sure is for the structure itself up there their cost.

Yeah, but that's just those pieces. It doesn't um include the fall material. It doesn't include any of that. It's just the structure itself. Well, I I well I realize that, but they capture that of the the uh installation cost, their their wood surfacing, their timbers, and all that. I mean, we have a total price. I mean, they're 38,000 almost 30 $39,000. There's there's several different other items that are more elaborate than than this one for under the $40,000. It looks like we could have got some more something better for $40,000.

I'm not sure than what this what you were looking at, but this if you saw something more elaborate, I don't think you're looking at the right price because Adam had them give him prices for something more elaborate, but it was way over the 75,000 that we had budgeted. Um, and when you're looking at those structures, those structures that are on the site, they are just this. It doesn't include the fall material or any of that. So, this structure right here was 30 something,000. Um, understand that.

So, you're not looking at the total um installation cost with the fall material and all of that. Those pieces that you look at, they may seem cheaper, but once you get through with the buildout, they are not. That's just like if you look at the playground equipment over there at um the rec center, that's not that much. And that one cost us 125,000. I understand. But you go through their website, they they have the individual pieces, right? Then they have some where they have a lot of the individual pieces as a group.

So that's what I tried to do. And uh and it does it groups it say it it'll say from 20,000 to 50,000k you know and this type but uh just my impression is we're getting ripped off. I can assure you we're not. Well, I'd like to see some comparison. You know, I you say Adam looked at other prices, you know, I'd like to see what those other costs were, you know, instead of us just say looking at this cuz this looks like a scaled down u version of of playground material for what we're paying $66,000 for total.

Um, you know, if if If those other prices were 80 to $90,000, I'd like to see that instead of just just just saying that this is the best we got. Whatever the desire of the board, we can do that. But this was the cheapest price that we had on their fraternity. Well, you know, I I'm I'm always one I'd like to see that this is the best price. Any other discussion? If not, I'd entertain a motion to read the resolution. Motion to read the resolution. Second.

I have a motion, a second to read the resolution. Any other discussion? Could you call a role? Do you want me to read the resolution? Do you want me to read the resolution, please? Yes. Yes.

Okay. Whereas the city of Teture County, Arkansas through its parks division seeks to enhance public recreational facilities for the benefit of its citizens. And whereas the parks division has identified the need to purchase a custom Zenith play structure to improve park amenities and promote community engagement at the Sand Flat Neighborhood Center. And whereas Landscape Structure, Inc. has provided a proposal for the purchase of a custom Zenith play structure in the total amount of $66,40.79. And whereas the purchase will be made through Sourcewell, excuse me, a cooperative purchasing program recognized as a government by board, thereby satisfying statutory procurement requirements and eliminating the need for competitive bidding. And whereas fund funding for the purchase will be allowed allocated from the advertising and promotion funds awarded to the parks division. Now therefore be it resolved by the board of directors of the city of Texana, Arkansas that the city manager is hereby authorized and directed to enter into a purchase agreement with Landscape Structure Inc. for the acquisition of a custom Zenith play structure to be located at the Sand Flat Neighborhood Center in the amount not to exceed 66,40.79 and to execute any and all documents necessary to carry out the intent of this resolution with funding to be be provided from the AM funds allocated to the parks division passed and approved this 20th day of April 2026. The clerk's read the resolution desire the board.

Mayor also I'd like to also on this we've got no any kind of performance fund for this. Is that typical for the installation of the playground structure? We typically don't require that for the And what's our time requirement on this? Um Tracy, do you know off the top of your head how much time they have? Um no I don't.

It's uh at least six weeks to uh start of installation and then um installation should be complete within 30 days. But here it's got it's got pri it says time is of the essence da da approvals to avoid cost it's checked no so six week shipping time said so anyhow that's all the question we have a motion and a second could you call the role please do we get a second we have a motion do we have a second

so have a motion and a second could you call the role Assistant Mayor Brewer, yes. Director Juel, no. Director Smith, yes. Director Roberts, yes. Director Harris, yes. Director Holish, yes. Mayor Brown, yes. And the resolution passes. Do we want to handle the burn grant without the chief being here? Tyler, can you handle that? Yes, sir.

Moving right on into our regular agenda. Item number five is consider the following action concerning the 2025 burn justice assistant grant. Conduct a public hearing to allow citizens input regarding the use of the burn justice assistant grant program monies for the Texas Arkansas Police Department. Adopt a resolution granting permission to submit the 2025 application and further authorize the city manager to ex execute a memorandum of understanding interlocal agreement with the Miller County regarding the burn justice ascent grant assistant grant. Tyler.

So, this is the same JAG grant um that you commonly hear it referred to as that TAPD applies for each year. Uh with Miller County, it's split 67% TAPD uh 33% Miller County. The totals for $21,441. Um and um our portion would be 14,441. So, uh, TAPD would use that, um, to purchase, uh, new ballistic shields and fingerprint scanners. So, at this time, we'll open a public hearing. Is there anyone that wishes to comment any questions or concerns uh, concerning the police department's use of the burn grant? Seeing and hearing none, we'll close the public hearing. At this time, I would instruct the clerk to read the resolution. Whereas the city of Texana, Arkansas through the Texana, Arkansas Police Department annually participates in the Edward Burn Memorial Justice Assistant Grant Program administered by the United States Department of Justice. And whereas the JAG program provides critical funding to support local law enforcement initiatives including equipment acquisitions and operational enhancement enhancements. And whereas for the 2025 grant year, the city of Tetraana, Arkansas and Miller County, Arkansas have been jointly allocated a total of $21,441. And whereas in order to receive these funds, both city and Miller County must agree to excuse me disparit allocation and enter into an interlocal agreement establishing the distribution of the funds. And whereas Miller County has agreed to receive $7,147 with the city of Tetra Canada, Arkansas

receiving 14,294 reflecting an approximate 66.67% and 33.33% allocation. And whereas the Texture Cana, Arkansas Police Department intends to utilize its portion of the grant funds to purchase, excuse me, ballistic shields rated for rifle threats and fingerprint scanners to enhance officer safety and field identification capabilities. And whereas no local no matching funds are required for the grant. And whereas a public hearing has been conducted to allow for citizens input regarding the proposed use of the JAG funds. Now therefore, it be it resolved by the board of directors of the city of Texter County, Arkansas, that the city hereby approve submission of the 2025 Edward Burn Memorial Justice Grant memorial justice assistant grant application and authorizes participation in the program under the terms described herein. and the city manager is hereby authorized to negotiate, execute, and enter into an interlocal agreement with Miller County, Arkansas, setting forth and agreed upon distribution of the JAG funds and any other necessary provisions required by the grant. Passed, excuse me, passed and approved this 20th day of April, 2026.

Clerks read the resolution, desire the board. Motion to adopt. Second have a motion, a second. Any other discussion? Would you call the role? Assistant Mayor Brewer, yes. Director Juel, yes. Director Smith, yes. Director Roberts, yes. Director Harris, yes. Director Halibush, yes. Mayor Brown, yes. The resolution passes. Moving on to our last item on our agenda tonight. Item number six, is to adopt an ordinance executing a quick claim deed to transfer ownership of a certain 5-ft strip of real property to the original owner located at 6 Cambridge Drive. power.

So, I was contacted a little while back. Um, this property owner at 6 Cambridge Drive had a survey completed. They discovered that there's a uh a 5-ft strip of land that they thought was their the southern border of their property. It turns out to be the cities back in I believe it was the 70s. Uh, no. In the late8s, the original property owner gave the city this 5-ft strip of land to utilize as a drainage easement. City never did anything with it. Um, I can't see where we need to do anything with it. The property owners now would like that given back to them. Um, city has no use for it that we could see in the future. So, I see no issue with giving that 5ft strip of land back to the u back to that original property that gave it to us to begin with. Um, they've already got it fenced in with their property and we uh have no use for it. You have any questions?

Any any questions? Who's the current owner's name? The last name is Maize. It's a Megan and um oh, I forget the gentleman's name, but Maize M- Ays. Any other discussion? If not, I'd instruct the clerk to read the ordinance on its first reading and title form. An ordinance authorizing the conveyance of certain real property located at 6 Cambridge, Texture County, Arkansas, back to the original owners and for other purposes. Ordinance has been read on its first reading. desired to have it read on its second. Second reading abbreviated for me, please. Second. Let's have a motion and a second. Any other discussion? Would you call the role? Assistant Mayor Brewer?

Yes. Director Juel? Yes. Director Smith? Yes. Director Roberts? Yes. Director Harris? Yes. Director Halibush? Yes. Mayor Brown? Yes. An ordinance authorizing the conveyance of certain real property located at 6 Cambridge, Texas, Arkansas back to the original owners and for other purposes. Ordinance has been read on its second reading. Desire for third and final. Third reading abbreviated form. Second. Let's have a motion and second for third reading. Any other discussion? To call the role. Assistant Mayor Brewer. Yes. Director Juel. Yes. Director Smith. Yes. Director Roberts. Yes. Yes. Director Harris. Yes. Director Halibush. Yes. Mayor Brown.

Yes. An ordinance authorizing the conveyance of certain real property located at 6 Cambridge, Texture County, Arkansas back to the original owners and for other purposes. The ordinance has been read on its third and final reading. A desire to adopt. Motion to adopt. Second. So have a motion and second to adopt. Prior to the board voting to adopt this particular ordinance, is there anyone here wishing to speak for or against? Seeing and hearing none, could you call a roll? Assistant Mayor Brewer, yes. Director Juel, yes. Director Smith, yes. Director Roberts, yes. Director Harris, yes. Director Halabush, yes. Mayor Brown,

yes. And the ordinance is adopted. Moving into board of directors commentary. Is there any board member wishes to address the board? Mayor have one thing um which I'm sure most of everybody here is aware of the shooting that happened in Shreport that was horrible um gunman mass shooting that killed eight children and wounded two others and we just uh just an hour away from us and we truly need to remember those families and our thoughts and prayers and that city as they try to start the healing process because I know it has to be extremely difficult. Anyone else?

Um, just want to make announcement. Ward 4, uh, we have a board, um, a town hall meeting April the 30th from 6 to 8:00 p.m. at the recreation center. Ward 4 is located 19th Street to Realtor Road and bordered by the east side of state state line and the west side of Jefferson. You have any questions, just give me a call. Thank you. Anyone else?

Yes. Uh I guess tomorrow will be the third community meeting I'm having uh ward two and the the last one will be on the 28th at city here at city hall but tomorrow it'll be at 6:00 p.m. at the Greater College Hill Church of God in Christ uh building church building at 21101 Hay Street. And also I would like to thank uh the the city officials who attended the last uh meeting I had over at Varfield Bradford uh was uh was I guess the two public works official Roger Douglas and Tracy Lee and also the p uh the planning uh person is Miss Jamie Finley and also uh I don't know what uh Velvet Cool duties But she also attended. So uh and if you want to attend tomorrow, you more than uh you know cuz a lot of question that the people is asking. Uh I can only relay that. But sometime if y'all attend again they they probably be able to get firsthand information and then again sometime you still going to have to get back to them. So, when I've been taking notes, uh, which somewhere down the line, uh, the, uh, the city manager is going to get a big report as to what happened at these last cuz he haven't attend no meeting just yet. And I'll let him tell I'll let him tell the public as the reason why he's not able to attend, but I'll leave that up to him. Uh but uh and I think we is getting some good leeway. I think tomorrow probably going to be the biggest attendant because today and Friday. Oh, I'm no uh today and uh

Sunday I think I'll pass out doortodoor probably about 325 uh uh flowers like this. So uh how has your attendance been?

It has not been great. is on about 10 10 or 11 people you know but but that's the reason why I called it speak now or forever hold your why to change the word now speak now forever hold your voice so cuz uh you know but it's you know uh I was telling the people it's really for you to come and what's your question what's your comment what direction war two is going and not going what direction it need to be going it's your change cuz I don't well I ain't going to say I'm not going to have any more community meeting but but uh but attendance has not been encouragement but uh but the few who have have came I think that uh got a lot of information but I do feel that tomorrow is probably going to be uh the most uh attendant uh meeting so

is anything else if not uh we need to excuse all guests and adjourn uh adjourn and convene into an executive session to consider two appointments. An appointment to the planning commission and the equalization board.