City Council - Regular Meeting

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This is coming from the 2025 carryover, Mr. Chair. Yes, sir. no further discussion and I know we're just going through the protocol but for future references if we could as a committee if we can get these in advance for the committee and for the council for further study before we vote on this and I know this is coming out of their budget but We are dealing with finances. Yes, sir. I think we're getting better at it. Yes, sir. All right. I move we send it to the full council with a due pass.

Second. I have a motion and a second to send this resolution from the street department to the full council with a due pass. Any further discussion? Hearing none, all those in favor, let it be known by saying aye. Aye. Any opposed? Ayes have it. And motion is approved to send to the full council. The due pass. Do we have any other business for Ways and Means? No, sir, Mr.

Chair. I move we adjourn.

Second.

All right. Ways and Means is adjourned. Ordinance and resolutions. We have one ordinance up for the second reading. The second ordinance is up for the first reading. Number three is a resolution to be completed on tonight. And if added to the agenda, a resolution authorizing the street department to purchase needed equipment will be agenda item number four.

Four.

Agenda item number four. Everybody on one accord? Yes. Council Member Mayes?

Yes.

Okay, any further discussion from what I mean? Ordinance and resolution. Motion to adjourn.

Move to adjourn.

Check.

So moved. Motion to adjourn. So moved.

Check.

All in favor say aye. Aye. So moved.

Reporting stopped.

Thank you. Thank you.

Thank you. Thank you.

Great, thank you. How are you?

Thank you so much.

Okay, bye.

Good evening. It is now five 30 and we will begin the June 1st Pine Bluff city council meeting. Um, as always, we will begin with the public comments and the first person on our list is Reverend Allen senior, who is here to speak regarding the tenant landlord ordinance or Is Reverend Allen here? Reverend Allen, Sr. OK. So it looks like he's not present. And then Judge Kearney and Ms. Young were scheduled to come speak on an issue that we did not add and will be on the agenda for the next city council meeting. And so then we have the last person who signed up was Mr. John Finley, who is here. And he is here to speak against ordinance number one. Mr. Finley?

Hello. Hello.

My name is John Fenley. I own a lot of property here in the area. Some of it is houses. Some of those houses are occupied. Some of them are in really bad condition. I bought them in really bad condition at the tax auctions. The reason people are living in some of those houses, because they were homeless and they begged me for any place to live. I was planning on trying to do renovations on these buildings, but I did not have time to do those renovations before people moved into some of these houses. But those people begged me so they wouldn't be on the streets to live under a roof, any roof. Some of those people haven't paid me rent in over a year. I'm not doing repairs on those buildings. Partly because I can't afford it with the rent that I'm getting from those places. The people that are in those places don't, like, if they don't want to live in that house, they don't have to. In fact, some of them I'd prefer them to leave so that I could maybe get somebody in that would pay rent. In fact, I evicted one of them for nonpayment of rent at one point. And they broke back into the house and they're still living in that house. There are people that need places to live. they want to be in some of these places. And this would force my hand and put at least four people on the streets because I can't afford to do repairs on these places and not have people in there paying rent. Also, there's some interesting things about what constitutes a rental housing unit. And I don't know if this is really kind of valid because so I, one of the houses that I had somebody in for a really long time, they didn't pay rent for like three years and I finally evicted them. And the place was empty for a while, but I found somebody that was willing to buy it. Okay, so I made a contract with them and they can pay on payments. But according to this, even though I was selling the house as is, the sale that I'm doing doesn't fit the requirements of what you've said fits the requirement of a sale. So I'm stuck in the same situation with this sale of a house that I sold as is to somebody. And this puts me on the hook for repairs on an as is house that I sold for very low price to somebody. I don't think this is a good ordinance. Anything you're doing like this that's heavy-handed, going to interfere with contracts and people's choices, even if you don't agree that somebody would want to ever make that choice, forcing somebody to make the choices that you would make, that's not the right move. This is not good legislation.

Mr. Finney. Yes.

Council Member Mays.

Good evening.

Good evening.

How are you?

I'm doing well.

So you have property that's bad.

Oh, yeah, yeah. I bought it in bad condition at tax auctions.

Okay, so you're renting it out now.

Well, you could call it rent, but some of these people haven't paid me anything in years yet. So, I mean, am I really renting it or am I just like kind of letting somebody squat in a place? But technically it's renting. I'm technically trying to rent it to them. They're just not paying rent.

So they're living in your house? Yeah. So you are a definition of a slumlord, right? I guess. That's what I'm saying, man. Come on. We're trying to build a city up.

Okay, so I'll just kick these people out then. That's what you want me to do?

Well...

They were begging me to live in a place. And I said, this place, it was just boarded up. You sure you're sure? And they're like, I have no place to go. I would rather be in this house that has a roof and be out of the rain and out of the weather. then I can't afford anything else is what they're telling me. These people can't even afford to pay me $100 a month rent.

I understand what you're saying. I understand. I understand what you're saying.

So this puts me at a liability. I can't afford the liability at this point. For me, it's less effort. Because I do intend to eventually renovate some of these houses, and as long as there's somebody in there, I know that somebody's not going in there stealing the wiring out of the place. So in my mind, it's almost like letting somebody squat in my house that I know kind of at least a little bit cares about the place and isn't going to be stealing the wiring is better for me than just letting it sit empty. And they're happy with it, and I'm happy with it reasonably. So what's the problem from your perspective? It seemed like you can get it up to standards. Well, it seems like I could, yeah, if I had the time and effort, if I wasn't working on other things. You have no idea how many different projects I've got going in this town. And these things that are costing me like $100 or $200 a month, these are like so far down the list of things that I've got going that they're not even worth me dealing with.

Well, I'm going to say this, and I'll be done with this. When I was a child, they talked about do one thing at a time. You finish one thing, and you go to the next. You finish one, and you go to the next. I learned that as a child.

Okay. Yeah. So these are the things that are way, way, way down that list for me. But your legislation is going to put them right at the top because I don't want to have those fines hanging over my head. And so this is putting me kicking people out of houses at the top of my list, just so you know.

Okay. Any further questions? Council Member Fraser? No.

First, um, you said people were begging you to move into the house, whether they were begging you. Well, let me back up even before they beg you, you bought up all this property instead of just buying a property and fixing up and then buying more property and then fixing it up. You bought all this property at one, at some point and didn't do what you needed to do to bring it up to code. That's the first thing. So why buy all this property instead of buy a property, fix it up, buy the next one, fix it up, buy the next one. Second.

Because I own a lot of property and you're not. You're asking me a question.

Hold on. Let me finish. Okay. All right. Let me finish because I let you speak and I wrote down my notes.

Go for it. All right.

Okay. Because first of all, when it comes to real estate, it's buyer beware. You know what you're getting. You knew you were getting dilapidated buildings. You knew you would need to renovate it. So that was your responsibility. And so second, when someone comes and asks you, I understand there are homeless people that need a place to stay, and my heart goes out to them. But I refuse to put them in a building that can actually potentially cause them harm. And so that's number two. Number three, we do have the Opportunity House. And with that, a lot of times we try to get some people, because I know it's certain ones that I've encouraged to go to the Opportunity House. They don't want to go. And it's better than a dilapidated building, okay? So they do have a place here that they can go to. And then you said... As long as the house is in your name, I don't care if you said you can buy this house from me and pay as you go. As long as it's still in your name, it's your house. It's your responsibility. And second, unless you put that in your contract, you're not going to have any responsibility for fixing up anything in your contract. But in our eyesight, you still own that property. It's still your responsibility. And then the other last thing that I want to say is that for you to say that you bought up this property and you had a heart for the people that wanted to get in there, but then on the next breath you say that it's not worth me even dealing with, What is that? It's not me worth going after the people. If it's not a priority, if you bought up this property, even as an investor, it should be on the top of your list as an investor to want to improve the property so you can make the best for what you got. So, again, I understand in my heart and trust and believe my heart goes out to those that's homeless. But there are opportunities to get people off the street. Some of them don't own it. But what I will not do and think is just immoral or just inconceivable to even do is to put them in a place that you know is run down and dilapidated, that can collapse on them, they can fall through the floor, anything could happen to them in that dilapidated building. It's just unreasonable and just not right, Mr. Finley. And so I understand that you're against this ordinance. But right now, my concern is not even about the ordinance. It's about you putting people in a place that you know is not good to be in.

And Council Member Frazier, let's let him answer the question because I want to hear the answer. She said a lot.

Yeah, yeah. That's why I was going to try to answer as she was saying. But, okay, so the first thing was.

You bought up all the property. Yeah. And you know it needs to be fixed.

Yeah, yeah, some of it, yeah. Most of it's empty land that I'm not going to mow. That's a whole other thing. So I'm not talking about the M2M. But some of its houses, some of its houses. And, you know, I've tried. I've tried. I've tried to work with contractors here. So let me just tell you. These houses I bought so cheap. I didn't have any, you know. I don't know good contractors. Do you guys know good contractors? I don't. I haven't found any. I know I can do all the work myself if I need to because that's what I did in Utah. I did all the work myself. But I have had so many other projects. And this is where maybe I think you were not understanding what I was saying. is we're different people. You have your way of making decisions, and I have my way of making decisions. And for you, maybe a house is a big, big, big deal. But for me, no, it's not. It's not even a big deal. A couple hundred bucks a month rent, that doesn't even reach my eyes. in a way. It's not worth even going and bothering the people about because I've got so many other much bigger things that I'm working on. You have no idea. You have no idea.

OK. And I know that you shared some information earlier. And I don't have a question. I have a comment. So, and before I, is there any other council member that has a comment or a question?

Anybody else?

I think that, uh, council member Mays and council member Frazier, uh, made a lot of really good points. I'm just gonna touch on the fact that on the one hand you talk about freedom to make decisions. Yeah. And then on the other hand. I'm not forcing any of these people to stay. Hold on. I'm not having an argument or discussion. As a matter of fact, I really don't have anything else that I need you to respond to. I'm making a statement.

I will sit down then.

Thank you. On the one hand, Mr. Finley pointed out about freedom and everyone who purchases property makes a decision. He even pointed out that he was aware that the properties he purchased that had structures on them were dilapidated and he made a decision to purchase those properties. And then he talked about affordability. He can't afford to raise the properties to standard. And affordability is an issue we all have to grapple with. But affordability is at the root of decisions that everyone in this room makes when we go to the grocery store and buy food, when we make a decision to buy a car. Is it going to be used? Is it going to be new? Is it going to be $20,000? Is it going to cost us $40,000? $60,000? Am I going to finance it?

Am I going to pay cash?

We all free Americans in this room. But just because we're free doesn't mean that there are not consequences, doesn't mean there aren't standards, and doesn't mean that there aren't laws. We are a nation of laws. Some people think they don't have to abide by them, but they do. And we definitely do here in the city of Pine Bluff. I don't believe in taking people's property. I don't believe in being heavy handed. And this is not even with regard to the ordinance. But what is not going to happen is no one is going to make a purchase of property, no matter what kind of property and not abide by the ordinance codes, not abide by the laws of this city. So you can buy a property and say, Hey, it doesn't have a structure on it. And I'm going to let the weeds grow up to be 10 feet tall. City of Pine Bluff has, we're blessed to have a code enforcement department. And according to the ordinance, at whatever the proper time is, we are going to cut those weeds down because it is a hazard. It can be dangerous, whether you're talking about critters, whether you're talking about crime. There's a reason for these ordinances. So if we have to spend our resources cutting other people's yards, They are going to be ticketed. There will be a time when they have to go to court if they decide not to pay the ticket. It's as simple as that. And that's not a rule or a standard for just Mr. Finley. It's for a lot of people. There's a long list every month of people And if there's an affordability issue, people can call the code enforcement office, make arrangements, because we're not in the business of taking property. But the reason that we have blight in this city right now is because we have not equitably and consistently addressed these issues. If you can't afford to bring your properties up to standard and up to code, sell it. The same way that people sold to Mr. Finley. The same way Mr. Finley is free to sell to other people. But if they're not brought up to code and not just Mr. Finley's property, anybody's property, we will not be a haven for squatters. Because what happens is other people think it's okay to drop folks off here. And that's going to stop too.

Come on, man.

I'm done. That's it for the speakers. And now council.

Can I ask Mr. Finley one question?

I would prefer, I already asked him to sit down, but if you have a statement, council member.

It's more of a question.

Go ahead.

Why do you buy all this property up and then don't take care of it?

That's what I asked him earlier.

Last question, Mr. Finley. Thank you.

I mean, what's the purpose of it?

The purpose is not to buy property and not take care of it. The reason I'm buying as much property as I bought is because I do believe in this town. I do believe that things can move in the right direction here. And I do believe this place has potential. That's why I invest here. I don't have, like I said, I think at another meeting I told you I bought 70 properties at the last tax auction. I paid $21,000 for the 70 properties. One of the houses that's at issue with this that somebody's living in right now, I didn't even know there was a house on it. I bought that property for like $400. And when I started cleaning up and looking in the bushes, there was a house there. This was not property that I bought intending to run as slums. These were houses that I realized I'm in over my head on. I had people begging me for places to stay. And so I let them stay. Because what I see is every piece of truly abandoned property here, it gets totally torn up. Anything that's not defended the wiring gets stripped out of. You have places like the commercial building where the Pine Bluff commercial used to be. You had people in there that wanted to do the project in there. Do you own that property? I bid on it. I was trying to buy it.

OK, so we're not talking about the property.

But I'm telling you this is an example of why I'm letting people squat in my properties and not fix them.

But I just wanted to ask you a question while you're buying up all this.

Well, let's be done with this because what you also have admitted to doing is allowing people to squat. There are so many violations and there will be consequences. We don't have to argue about your reasoning because I don't care why. Okay, I'll just put them out on the street. No, people don't have to be out on the street because we are a city. I'm not arguing with you. We are a city that has invested in a facility that will assist people with long-term and short-term housing needs, and we are not full. So I'm saying that. so that everyone who is listening online and everyone who is here can understand that we are not a city that believes in putting people out on the street. But we also are a city that has standards, and we are going to make every effort to abide by them, to live up to them, and make sure that anyone who is not is held accountable. So anyone who decides to buy property and brags that they're not going to mow the yard or that they are not going to meet the standards and that they're going to bring in squatters, there will be consequences. Not just Mr. Finley, everybody.

Okay. Let me see here.

Okay, so next we have Minister Sharon Hardman with Ignite Life Center who is going to lead us in the invocation. And then after that, the Girl Scout Troop 119 of Arkansas, Oklahoma, and Texas will lead us in Pledge of Allegiance. And at that point, I will make a special introduction. Thank you. Thank you.

Let us pray. Father God, in the name of Jesus, we honor and we acknowledge you this afternoon at our Pine Bluff City Council meeting. Because when you are acknowledged, you shall direct our path. We invite you, Holy Spirit, to rest down upon this meeting and guide them into all truth. For you are not, you are not the author of confusion, but of peace father, we pray at this afternoon that every, that every hidden agenda be exposed in the name of Jesus and the council members and the mayor become unified and come together. And even if there is a disagreement among them that they will agree to disagree and do it respectfully. We pray that every board member that confess you as Lord and Savior, that it's more than just words, but indeed also. Father God, we pray that every leader that leads this city has your heart, your love, and mind to help to continue to build our city. I therefore sound the alarm to every church in the city of Pamela, Arkansas, that represents Jesus as Lord and Savior. Come forth. with supplication, prayers, intercession, and giving all things to be made for all citizens, the board members, and all who are in authority, that we may lead a quiet and peaceful life in all godliness and honesty. I decree and declare that the city of Pinebrook rise up and take our rightful place in you. And we know that all things work together to good to them that love you, to them who are called according to the purpose of this city. And we love you, Jesus Christ. In Jesus' mighty name, amen. Amen.

Now go ahead and repeat now the Pledge of Allegiance. We will be led in the Pledge of Allegiance by Girl Scout Troop 118 of Arkansas, Oklahoma, and Texas.

All right.

Do y'all please say the Pledge of Allegiance with us? Yes. 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. Thank you, young ladies. I'm going to go ahead and ask Madam Clerk to call the roll, and then I'll make a very special introduction.

Council Member Mayes? Here. Council Member Holcomb?

Here.

Council Member Brown?

Here.

Council Member Lockett?

Here.

Council Member Frazier? Here. Council Member Brunton? Here. Council Member Denton? Here. And Council Member Fales?

Here.

Okay.

I would like to ask Mr. Randy Little to join us at the podium.

His name is Randy Little. So the council members have been informed and are always informed of any retirements, resignations, and terminations. And I made a very public announcement when Mr. Basile Shabazz decided to come on board last January. And his family still resides in Texas. And about a month and a half ago, he resigned. And so we began resigning. a process so that we could continue to have strong leadership in our parks and rec and the position of athletic department or athletic director. And I am so pleased to introduce you all to Mr. Randy Little, who just started today as our new athletic director. Now, y'all, he can't stay long because you know that we have a record over 500 boys and girls playing baseball and softball this summer, and he has to head to Townsend Park. But I am going to ask Mr. Little to go ahead and share a little bit about himself and make any other comments that he wishes to.

Well, there's not much to know about me. I've been in this city my whole life, 48 years. And for most of that time, I've been involved with youth sports in some kind of way. And I just want to continue that and bring back what used to be two-pound bluffing. that we have the right team put together right now to accomplish that. And like you said, I do have to get back over to Townsend Park. That's it.

Well, welcome to Parks and Rec and to the city of Pine Bluff. And thank you so much for your service in the past. And we are really looking forward to your service as athletic director in the city of Pine Bluff in the future. Thank you all for having me. Yep. And she's trying to sneak out. Our director, a directress, Prudy Holman is leaving. And thank you so much, Director Holman. Okay. I will entertain a motion for the approval of minutes from May 18th, 2026.

Move to approve the minutes. Second.

It's been moved and seconded that we approve the minutes from May 18th. Any discussion? With no discussion, all of those who wish to vote for the approval of minutes for May 18th indicate by saying aye. Aye. Any opposed? Motion passes. So now we will begin with our committee reporting, and we will begin with Ways and Means. Council Member Brown, will you please deliver your committee report?

Yes, thank you, Mayor. Ways and Means met just before this council meeting. We had just one agenda item for discussion. It's a resolution authorizing the street department to purchase needed equipment. The total for that budget adjustment was $153,218.28. This resolution is sent to the full council with a due pass. And if it is added to the agenda by the council, it would be agenda item number four. And that concludes my report.

Thank you so much. Council Member Holcomb, will you please deliver your report on ordinances and resolutions?

We have three agenda items. Number one and two are both ordinances. Number one is up for the second reading. Number two is up for the first reading. Number three is a resolution. It will be completed on tonight. All of you should have before you a resolution authorizing the street department to purchase needed equipment. If added to the agenda, this will be agenda item number four. I move that this resolution be added to the agenda.

Second.

It's been moved and seconded that the resolution number four be added to the agenda. Madam Clerk, please call the roll.

Council Member Mayes. Aye. Council Member Holcomb. Aye. Council Member Brown.

Aye.

Council Member Lockett.

Aye.

Council Member Frazier. Aye. Council Member Brunton. Aye. Council Member Denton.

Aye.

Aye.

And Council Member Fells.

Aye.

Motion passes. Does that conclude your report, Council Member?

That concludes my report.

Thank you so much. Council Member Denton, will you please deliver your report on public health and welfare? Frazier. I'm sorry. Council Member Frazier, will you please deliver your report? I checked it off too quick. Sorry. On economic and community development.

Mayor, I don't have no report. I will get with the clerk if Walker and them decide that they need a meeting.

Okay. And then now, again, Council Member Denton, will you please deliver your report on public health and welfare?

Okay. Mayor, we have not met since our last meeting. I will get with the clerk's office for our June meeting to set a date.

Thank you very much. Council Member Lockett, will you please deliver your report on public works?

Madam Mayor, the Public Works Committee has not met since our last meeting. We should meet on the last Tuesday of this month, and I'll get with the clerk and have that announcement. That concludes my report.

Thank you. Council Member Fells, will you please deliver your report on development and planning?

We don't have any report at this time, but we will be announcing our next meeting date, and that concludes my report.

Thank you. Council member Brunson. Will you please deliver your report on traffic and aviation?

Um, thanks mayor. Traffic and aviation has not met since the last council meeting, but I will get with the clerk on the next meeting date, and that concludes my report.

Thank you. Council Member Holcomb, will you please deliver your report on administration?

Yes, Madam Mayor. I was not present for the May 18th council meeting. The administration committee met on May 14th for the due pass on agenda item number two. And the administration committee committee will meet this Thursday, June 4th at 3 PM. That wouldn't be in person in zoom.

Thank you. Does that conclude your report?

That includes my report.

Thank you so much. And council member Brown jr. Council member Brown, will you please deliver your report on public safety?

Yes, thank you, Mayor. Public safety has not met since our last meeting, last council meeting, but we will meet on Wednesday, June the 3rd, 1.30 in the old council chambers.

Thank you so much. And now we will move on to the proposed ordinances and resolutions. Council Member Holcomb, you may proceed.

Agenda item number one, an ordinance amending chapter seven of the Code of Ordinance of the City of Palm Beach, Arkansas, to add a new article 12, establishing minimum standards for housing and to protect tenants from hazardous housing conditions and for related purposes up for the second reading.

An ordinance amending Chapter 7 of the Code of Ordinances of the City of Pine Bluff, Arkansas, to add a new Article 12 establishing minimum standards for housing and to protect tenants from hazardous housing conditions and for related purposes.

Place it on the calendar. Agenda item number 2, an ordinance amending the employment policies and procedures in Section 3 of the Non-Uniform Employee Handbook, up for the first reading.

Whereas the human resources department has recommended certain changes to section three of the non-uniform employees handbook, establishing a 90 day probationary period for new employees. And whereas a probationary period will allow the department head to evaluate whether his or her new employee is a good fit for the role, the organization and workplace standards before confirming permanent employment status. And whereas it is in the best interest of the city of Palm Bluff to amend the handbook, to include a 90-day probationary period for new employees. Now, therefore, be it ordained by the City Council of the City of Pine Bluff, Arkansas, Section 1, that the attached subsection captioned probationary 90-day period shall be added to subsection 3.4, employee classifications of the non-uniformed employees handbook of the City of Pine Bluff, Arkansas, and is hereby approved and adopted into the City of Pine Bluff non-uniform employee handbook.

Place it on the calendar. Agenda item number three, a resolution approving the City of Pine Bluff Transit Department Title VI program with appendix and other requirements authorizing its admission to the relevant state and federal authorities.

Whereas to ensure its continued eligibility for financial assistance to operate the Transit Department, the City of Pine Bluff Transit Department must submit to the State of Arkansas Department of Transportation proof of compliant Title VI program. And whereas the Pine Bluff Transit Department Director has complied compiled the necessary report for submission to the Arkansas Department of Transportation and presented it to the council for review and approval. And whereas the council approves the report as submitted by the director and authorizes the document to be reported to the Arkansas Department of Transportation in compliance with the city's obligations under the Title VI program. Now, therefore, be it resolved by the City Council of the City of Pine Bluff, Arkansas, that the attached City of Pine Bluff Transit Department Title VI program report, together with appendices and other attachments, as prepared by the Transit Director, documenting the City's compliance with federal and state law and regulation, is approved. The Director is authorized to submit the document to the Arkansas Department of Transportation as soon as possible. Move for adoption. Second.

It's been moved and seconded that item number three be adopted. Any discussion? With no discussion, all of those who wish to vote for the adoption of item number three indicate by saying aye. Aye. Any opposed? Motion passes.

Agenda item number four, a resolution authorizing the street department to purchase needed equipment.

Whereas the street department has a great need for the equipment described below and more fully in the attachments in order to increase its capability to maintain and improve the city's streets and roadways. And whereas the equipment is to be purchased via source well procurement process, which is an authorized means of procuring needed equipment without engaging in competitive bidding, and which will result in a significant discount in price. And whereas the purchase price of the equipment will be paid from the 2025 carryover funds now appropriated for 2026. Now, therefore, be it resolved by the City Council of the City of Pine Bluff, Arkansas, Section 1. The Street Department has authorized the purchase from Greenway Equipment Incorporated of Bryant, Arkansas, the following items for the prices indicated for each. John Deere. I'm sorry. John Deere 6110M cab tractor for $123,000. 797-16 John Deere FC-15R Flex Wing Rotary Cutter, $29,421.12. The total cost is $153,218.28. Section 2, the funds to purchase the equipment have been previously approved in the allocation of the 2025 carryover funds for the street department. Move for adoption. Second.

It's been moved and seconded that item number four be adopted. Any discussion? Yes. Council Member Mayes.

How's everybody again? I just want to make sure that we keep everything looking good and keep the maintenance on this equipment because we have a lot of equipment that needs to be given to the Goodwill. But we've got to keep this equipment This is good equipment. A person that knows what they're doing can rebuild this stuff. Well, we don't have anybody on staff that can rebuild anything. I'm just saying. It's time out for this, but I'm going to support it. Go ahead.

Thank you, Council Member Mayes. And just for the record, we do have, with the street department, two diesel mechanics and are doing fine with that. So just wanted to make sure everyone was clear about that. Uh, any further questions or comments? No further questions or comments. All of those who wish to vote for the adoption of item number four indicate by saying aye. Aye. Any opposed? Motion passes. That concludes the decisions and comments on proposed ordinances and resolutions. And next on the agenda are our announcements. for June 1st, which includes the waste management trash cart pickup initiative. The city of Pine Bluff is picking up the remaining waste management green trash bins. Residents who still have a bin are asked to call one of the following numbers no later. than May 29th, so they should have called by now because today's June 1st, and should have provided their name, address, and phone number. And this would be the phone numbers to the mayor's office, the code enforcement, and street department. That's 870-543-5140. That's 543-5140. 870-730-2021 or 870-730-2000 extension 7. All empty containers must be placed on the curb no later than Monday, June 8th by 8 a.m. and remain there until picked up. Any container not placed out for pickup will become the responsibility of the resident for disposal. I have seen many of them out and waiting just be patient and we have received numerous calls and the 29th was the deadline but please make sure that you set them out and make sure that your name has been documented if it has been some time item number two Port City Blues Society Weekly Blues Jam. The Port City Blues Society's legendary weekly blues jam is one of the longest running blues jams in the region. The jam is held every Wednesday night at RJ's Sports Grill and Bar, located at 128 South Main Street. right at 2nd and Main and downtown Pine Bluff. The doors open at 7 p.m. and the music runs from 8 to 11 p.m. The event is free, open to the public, and built around participation. Any musician, local, regional, or traveling can get on stage and play. Item number three, John Legend, a night of songs and stories. Join us for an unforgettable experience and intimate performance featuring John Legend alone on stage with his piano, sharing the music you love and the stories behind it. Tickets for the show start at $149 plus applicable fees can be purchased online at Ticketmaster. And that concert will be held at the Saracen Convention Center and Hotel, the Saracen Resort on Martha Mitchell. The University of Arkansas at Pine Bluff is still hosting its third annual Juneteenth in the bluff and arts and culture festival. That is through a partnership between UAPB and the city of pine bluff, which will be held on Friday, June 19th, 2026 in downtown pine bluffs, Delta rhythm and Bayou's cultural district. And that concludes our announcements for this evening. And we have no comments on the non-agenda items. So after, uh, I receive a motion and second for adjournment, we will be adjourned council member Lockett.

Uh, I wanted to announce that we'll sponsor the gold launch.

Oh, Oh, Oh, I'm sorry. I was thinking that was on there. You know what? Thank you. Thank you. Thank you. Yes. We know we are all supportive of this. And I'm going to go ahead and hold this up. And I happen to, it's no accident that I have on orange tonight. So this is the third annual Wear Orange Day. And it's hosted and sponsored by several community partners, but hosted by GVI, the Group Violence Intervention Program to end gun violence. and the event is serving to unite all of us to end gun violence in honor of national gun violence awareness. The event will be held on Friday, this Friday, June 5th, 2026, from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. at the Pine Bluff Convention Center, where there will be food, music, activities, best dressed, vendor table, and more prizes. There will be a special performance by our very own American Idol contestant, Micaiah Mustafil. Please know that the clear bag policy will be enforced, and we'd like to recognize sponsors, including the City of Pine Bluff and the Pine Bluff Convention Center, the Pine Bluff Police Department, the Jefferson County Sheriff's Office, Pine Bluff Fire and Emergency Service, Simmons Bank, Judge Alex Gwynn, United Family Services, Jefferson and Lincoln County Circuit Court 6th Division, Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity Incorporated, Central Maloney Incorporated, Pleasant Grove Missionary Baptist Church, and I think that's it. And I'll hold this up again and hope you all can be there this Friday from 11 to 2. Thank you. Okay. I will entertain a motion to adjourn.

Motion to adjourn.

Second. So moved and seconded to adjourn. And without objection, we are adjourned.