Board of Directors - Regular Meeting

directors to order. At this time, if you would do a couple of housekeeping items for us, if you would silence your cell phones during the course of our meeting, we would appreciate it. And if you wish to address the board tonight, if you fill out one of the citizens communication cards, you can get that to our city clerk and she can get that to me. So, you can be recognized and we would have a record of your attendance. At this time, we'll have a a roll call. Director Roberts here. Director Harris, here. Director Halibush here. Director Brewer here. Director Juel here. Director Smith here. Mayor Brown

here. At this time, we'll have our invocation and pledge of allegiance given by Director Terry Roberts. If you'll stand, let us pray. Our heavenly father, as we start our first board meeting of the new year, we give thanks for the new opportunities that this will bring to our city. We thank you for the blessings for the past year, both seen and unseen. We acknowledge your our dependence on your wisdom and guidance. And we embark on 2026. We pray for our mayor, board members, and city staff. Asking for your spirit to fill us with discernment, courage, and a servant's heart. Help us to learn. Help us to listen to one another, to engage in thoughtful, respectful discussions, and to make decisions that reflect justice, compassion, and love for all citizens. In Christ's name we pray. 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. You may be seated. At this time, based on our city ordinance of the election of our assistant mayor, I would instruct our city attorney to read the resolution, which will be appointing Director Ulysus Brewer as our assistant mayor. After that, we'll have Judge Potter uh do the oath of office. Josh,

I don't think so. Got a second. We're working on that. Whereas per ordinance number 2-2023, the successor to the position of assistant mayor is ward 4 director. And whereas director Ulisses Brewer's appointment as as assistant mayor will have a term of one year. Now therefore, be it resolved by the board of directors of the city of Texan, Arkansas, that director Ulissiz Brewer's appointment as assistant mayor is hereby approved. Pass and approved this fifth day of January, 2026. The

city attorney read has read the resolution. What's the desire of the board? Move for adoption. Second. We have a motion, a second. Any other discussion? Could you call the role? Director Roberts? Yes. Director Harris? Yes. Director Halibush? Yes. Director Brewer? Yes. Director Juel, yes. Director Smith, yes. Mayor Brown, yes. The resolution passes. Judge

Fox. All right. Just go right over here. Congratulations. If you'd raise your right hand, repeat after me. Uh, filling in your name. I after or your name after I say the word I I I Ulyses Brewer do solemnly swear or affirm do solemnly swear or affirm that I will support the Constitution of the United States of America I will support the Constitution of the United States of America the Constitution and laws of the state of Arkansas the Constitution and laws of the state of Arkansas

and that I will faithfully and impartially discharge that I will faithfully and partially discharge the duties of assistant mayor the duties of assistant mayor. So help me God. So help me God. Right there. Congratulations. Thank you. Be careful what you wish for. I will.

Yes. Okay. At this time, we'll move right on into our citizens communication time. Uh, first is David Peavey for agenda item. You planned it for an agenda item. You don't want to address the board during the year. You know, you realize if we do not get to a third reading of that particular ordinance, you won't have an opportunity to speak. Yes, I do want to speak.

All right. I do want y'all to know that uh David PV 105 of downtown I do believe that you guys are looking at the uh it wrong. I've expressed that before. You uh it was read to me last time that uh it was a honor to come for the board of privilege and that is partially true. Yes, it is. But citizens have a responsibility to come up here and speak to you guys. You guys are have a great staff, city staff, but they're only showing you 10% of the wide picture. The only way you can see the big picture is know about a person living across town in this direction and over with water coming up in their house or they don't you don't you're making ignorant decisions because you're not given all the facts. So you need those facts. So we get back to uh the Bible. The Bible is written in Latin. A lot of lawyers say, "Hey, they have to go to the priest to hear the Bible. So why don't we do all that in Latin and then people have to pay us to come hear what the law is. So that's came to a thing called IE. This means this your ordinance that you have in place that you are up here doing things by say a vote. Do we all know what a vote is? Yay. Nay. Call the row. That's a vote. In your ordinance it says action i.e.

vote i.e. if you look it up it says the same thing. It is not the last vote. How do you know that you if you guys have to come out there and say okay emergency cause emergency we're going to vote on the very that's the only thing action is. No, it says a vote is equal to an action. Action equals vote. That is in your ordinance that you live by. That is So if I get out there and

Well, I'm not sure what your point is, but you're you're I'm assuming making the point about not being allowed to speak prior to the board voting for something. That's what citizens communication time is for. And if we allow those type and that is not an ordinance that isn't a board procedure that is followed by state statute and that is being voted on again tonight on the consent agenda on what our board procedures are. But to me for the almost eight years now that I've been mayor we allow citizens communication time for citizens to communicate. And I'm not taking your time. I'll give you some more time, but I'm not sure what your point is outside your complaining about an opportunity of not to speak before a ordinance or resolution passes. And you are given that opportunity if an ordinance before an ordinance becomes law, becomes passed. There is an opportunity to speak, but there's also an opportunity for any citizen to speak every meeting. Five minutes uh to uh up to 50 minutes per meeting. Five minutes allowed. You can get longer than five minutes if a uh board members twothirds of the board vote to allow you to continue. So, I'm not sure what your point is. Is that you're you feel like that we're shiding you of an opportunity to pass something because our staff's not giving us all the information. I get calls all the time about stuff that's on the agenda prior to the meeting. I do too.

So I'm I'm I'm just trying to figure out what your point is. Mayor, may I ask? Yes. Go right ahead. Uh what I would like to know is I think I have idea what he getting at and when I ran the meeting last year doing the ordinance. I didn't wait till the third reading. I think I just said if anybody want to come and speak uh right when the person who present the ordinance came and said that. But then again, I would like to see I don't know where is that in writing saying that we had to wait till the third reading before we allowed somebody to speak. If that's what you getting it, well, why don't we let him go ahead and say what he wants to say, then we have some questions for you.

Thank you, Alan, cuz I if I wasn't making myself clear, I'm I'm looking forward to making it clear. In that same rules, ordinance, whatever you want to call it, it says citizens are to communicate, the dogs barking, the trash cans knocked over, but when there's an agenda item, they should not speak in citizens communication. They have to wait for that agenda item. That's what it says in your rules.

I disagree with that, but I go ahead. It's it's written in black and white and it says i.e. action and y'all are calling the action to be something different than a vote. If you vote to extend something to a you voted to do something that is an action. If you read it, it says that it says citizens wait your turn. Wait till the agenda item. Don't just come up here. So, we have to break the rule and talk about an an item before it's even up for agenda. The agenda item hasn't came up yet. Do we need to read that further?

No. I mean, I I'm not going to take the time to read it right now, but I I I want I Let's just get to the point. So you still feel like that we for this whole time that we should allow citizens to have input prior to voting different from what we've done in the past? Yes. As it was as it had been every time we bring something up on the agenda. They Yes. So why would you not want to hear from citizens?

There's there's ample opportunity to hear from citizens. That agenda is posted at least a week in advance. There's a number of things that give the citizens time. Well, there I'm going to take Mr. Peavey's side. Uh, matter of fact, I'm going to want to discuss that in uh on our procedures tonight. I I pretty much agree especially on the consent agenda agenda there. We are not giving the citizens uh time to address those items that are on on the consent agenda. It goes directly to a vote with no opportunity for the citizens to address those items.

And I don't you they may not want to speak. That's fine. But I do think they if it affects them, they have an obligation to come up here and tell you their point of view. You guys are smart guys, but when you're only seeing it from one side, it there's there's differences there. So when you make a vote to for a second reading, there should be, hey, there's some issues that were we need to bring up here and it should be brought up before you get to that final vote. And that that's the way it was done in previous administrations going back to the 70s. I don't know. I wasn't here very much. I know that you're getting a different viewpoint from the from your legal counsel and I I love him. He's great. appreciate him. But if I get arrested down there, I'm going to say that this law was illegally made and I'm going to try to get it overturned in court. That's how I would approach that. Not that I was going to get arrested for anything anyway. I'm going to do what's right. Anyway, thank y'all for your time. I'm hoping y'all would go back to at least saying, "Is there anyone has anything to say about this before we go and home and get rid of it all the way to the end. And oh, we gave them a chance to talk at the end. No, y'all have to make a decision all the way through. You once you're informed, you're not ignorant and you will not you won't be in the chance of making an ignorant decision, an ignorant vote. Not saying that you're ignorant. I'm saying without facts, you're buying a car without knowing how much it cost. Well, just for just for your reference from me personally, I contacted three different people today concerning agenda items on this packet so that I would know what I was voting on tonight if I needed any clarification. That's the way

I operate. And so, you have an opportunity to an item that's even on the consent agenda. You have an opportunity in our procedures to have these packets emailed to you, to be uh text to you, to do whatever when you follow the procedures. We have a handful of people that get our packets every every time they go out to us. So citizens have the opportunity to look at anything on the agenda as long as we as much time as we do. So why would you not allow allow this?

We are in my opinion we're allowing that. I mean, there have been a handful of times that things have been pulled off of this agenda or prior to that agenda being voted on and it gets tabled or something else happens. So, I don't I feel like that that where we're going is is that we may not ever get anything passed. That is how it was done in the past and things. That's how it was done in the past. It was a circus. Some of the times it was a circus. No, no. Sometimes it was, but you've got again the mayor gets to select who gets to speak and who doesn't or the tour of the chairman is at that time. Not necessarily. I've recognized everybody that wants to speak. I don't pick and choose.

Well, again, that would that controls the meeting is what I'm saying. It it does control the meeting and it makes the meetings in mind. We're we're to act as professional as we can here and you have to have professional dignity that goes along with your meeting agenda and opening it up to everything. We already opened up citizens communication time. We're one of the only municipalities that have to respond to citizens when they uh commute and during or speak during citizens communication time. Would you that's there's plenty of opportunity for people to speak. Would you look at what it says and go by that verbatim, please?

I understand. Anybody else? Any other citizen for citizens communication time? Anyone else? If not, we'll move into our presentations. We have some service awards. I'm told that uh none of these are present today. I'll read their names to be recognized for the minutes. Uh, and then we'll give them a round of applause when I'm finished. Uh, Joanne her Joanne Harvey is here. I saw her in the back back there. Joanne, let me get to the Anyone else here receiving a service award that we missed besides Joanne? All right, we'll do yours last, Joanne. Um, Huh? Do what? I did not know she was coming.

Okay, I'm sorry. Michael Haynes with the fire department, 20 years. Stephanie Nestling with the police department, 10 years. Uh Catalina Rodriguez, 15 years with the police department. Uh TWW has the next employees. Randy Flowers, 15 years. Floyd Hayes, 15 years. Jeffrey Shields, 15 years. Joseph Tyrie, 15 years. And Corey Hinsley, 20 years. Y'all give them a round of applause.

Is it up here? It's up here, is it? Sir and Joanne if you will come forward. See if I can probably gonna be the last one I went from the bottom up. And this is Joanna Hervey. 25 Joanne Hervey 25 years with the courts.

Have mercy. I don't plan on retiring before. You want to do it now? Yes. Before we start the agenda? Yeah. Before we start. Okay. Um, Assistant Mayor Brewer has a group of people he'd like to recognize and take a photo with them. Do you want to recognize?

Yes. Um, I want to recognize um the a youth group from TASD, Bright Futures. Bright Futures is a program there uh TASD that um that work with the youth and have given us the opportunity to mentor from fourth grade to 12th grade and through college. And we have some of those young men in the in in the audience tonight. I would like to recognize them, take a brief picture with them before they go along their their way. All right, Y'ALL COME FORWARD. THANK YOU ALL. Moving right along to our consent agenda. We have four items on our consent agenda tonight. Item number three is approval of the minutes of the rescheduled regular meeting December the 16th. Item number four is to adopt a resolution to reappoint staff members Derek Cornet, Tracy Lee, and Jenny NS to our personnel policy committee term of uh expiring January 6 26 to 28. Item number five to adopt a resolution approving the rules of order and procedure act uh for uh Arkansas code 1443501. Item number six, adopt a resolution authorizing and directing city manager into a contract with RBIS LLC for the ready site water sewer extension project. What would be the desire of the board for the consent agenda?

Pull five and the uh now I have a question about six. Just a quick question about you'll have to pull it. Pull five and six. Well, okay. Pull six then. Pull five and six. So, we're voting on item three and four. Any other discussion? I'll take a motion. Motion to adopt. Second. So, have a motion and a second to adopt consent agenda items three and four. All those in favor say I. I. Opposed. Three and four passes. Director Jules.

Okay. U five. Our owners uh procedures. Mine relates to a agenda procedures which may relate to David's. I I'm not sure but uh and it's on page I believe it's page four of the procedures and it starts at I guess it's sentence two. It reads, "However, members of the public will be offered an opportunity to speak on all questions presented to the board on that particular meeting's agenda." Now, what does that mean? Where did that come from? Do we know what does that pertain to? So, do we need to have some kind of discussion to figure that out? Does the public here have the right to confer with us as directors on any question that we we might have? Uh let me say this. The the there is nothing that requires this board to allow the public to speak.

Well, I'm not talking about anything. And I'm not talking about requirements of statute, ordinance, or whatever. I'm talking about these procedures. They were given that to there that they shall be given or doesn't say shall shall be offered an opportunity to speak on all matters on this agenda. That's right. Which we we're we're by this by by our procedures. We're allowing that. Correct. Okay. That that's all I'm saying right there. That this this that's not my main point. Okay.

But we're offering that that my main my main issue is with the next question uh the next statement. Any member of the public desiring to speak in regard regard to a particular agenda item will be recognized by the mayor and given an opportunity to speak prior to action by the board of directors. The consent agenda we go directly to a vote. no opportunity for the public to voice any concerns or anything on a consent agenda just like right now.

Well, it's citizens communication time they do. No, uh well, but they they have to come right here and do that. And no, the mayor doesn't ask them before we take a vote if they wish to vote uh wish to to respond to any let me make agenda item. So the way that I've always Mayor the way Go ahead. I have Go ahead. Go ahead. If you don't mind, sir. I don't

to to me it's a simple issue to correct that in my view oversight. If the chairman, in this case the mayor, would simply allow the public to address each item or or any of the consent agenda items if they wish to speak to those items as it comes up or as a group to take for tonight. We one agenda item six in particular is a multi-million dollar award of of a contract. I I had some questions today that I called about the public may have some questions, but they have to go online and look look it up, take their time to know what that's about. If you read the the one sentence on our agenda, that doesn't tell you much other than it's a contract. If you appear here tonight and look at that, that doesn't tell you anything. You have to take your time today as a citizen and draw it up and do some digging. Whereas, so you show up here tonight, you may have some questions, but you have to run up here, put your name on citizens communication time and say, "Hey, what's this about? D. So, but if the mayor were to ask him have any questions, that affords you another opportunity. That's what I'm saying. So, I think that it's in the best interest of the public at large to be given every opportunity to address those agenda items. And so I think this needs to be addressed by the board at a later date.

So that's what I'm saying. First of all, every person is given an opportunity to speak and there is a disagreement probably between David, myself and when action is actually taken, actions are actually votes. So prior to a resolution being passed, there would also be opportunity for anybody to comment about a resolution before it is passed. There's any other discussion. I say that at least three times when a resolution is even being passed. And prior to an ordinance becoming law, it has to be read three times. We suspend the rules and read them three times. We can let it take three meetings to pass. But prior to that, before that ordinance is adopted, there is ample opportunity. I can think of as at least two times when that has gotten to a adoption vote that it has been tabled. It never got passed because citizens commun citizens were allowed to comment during that particular ordinance's vote. So citizens in my opinion are given the opportunity to express their concerns and if there are concerns that that I would even have I would not support the passage of that resolution or that ordinance. The second thing is is that the consent agenda is used for everyday pretty much operations budgetary items that are approved. Let me get let me I've got the floor now. You do. So everyday items that the city has already budgeted for or approved. And when you take item number six for an example, item number six was a part of our rate study, a rate increase and and rate uh uh bond issue that we did with the water company when there was what, Gary, three months worth of debate. And that item is a specific item that's attached to your bond passage to get the citizens to approve of that. It was a

big part of that. So it cannot not pass. It cannot not pass. We can't retract in my opinion that money that was spent on there. There was ample opportunity for the attend. We had two workshops on two or three workshops on the bond issue for the water because it included a rate increase. We very specifically just as with our street study that our street projects that we just passed, we were very specific in what that money would cover and what was paid for and that was part of it. So you had an they had ample opportunity to say, "Well, we don't think we ought to spend the money on that. If you'd pull it from the bond issue, we wouldn't pass it." So there was numerous opportunities for that. But the consent agenda is to one speed up the time concerns of the meeting so that these are everyday items that the city staff has put forward that I don't know of any times in the seven years plus now that I've been mayor that we've ever pulled anything from the consent and not passed it. It's all gotten passed. uh and uh so there are procedures and stuff in place right now that we are we are in my opinion given ample opportunity for people to have input uh like I said they they get the packets have access to our board packets and our agenda same exact time you do and if you're real interested in the city go look for it go try to find it but I I see that there's not any there there's ample time for citizens to uh I I would never as mayor and I never have as mayor ignored somebody that wanted to speak when it pertained to a resolution or ordinance when they want to say something about it and there's opportunity for them to do that now in my opinion.

Can I have the floor again, mayor? Yes. All right. This this is a resolution that that were passed on the uh uh tonight on number six. We haven't passed it yet, but well, we're we're uh uh about to cuz I got it pulled. If were the were they asked for any comment? Was the public asked for any comment? Yes. Or any Yes. that they thought

because you have pulled it and it become but I had if I not have if I had not pulled it were they going to be asked for anybody to comment on that. You just mentioned that they were they would that they were giving ample opportunity to speak on the resolution. They they they've had they've had at least seven, eight days with that packet being distributed to us and to the public to look at that agenda and raise concerns about that. And they could have raised that concern in the citizens communication time. I I asked you a yes or no question. I haven't not yielded to the floor yet.

Yeah. Uh my I had one as I mentioned earlier I had one question as it relate to this the is there going are right now and that and this is goes to Tyler. Yes sir. Do we anticipate any change orders in this contract? Oh that's always possible. Uh we we don't anticipate any. We try to cover all of that as we can in engineering. That is typical of uh a contract of this size. Wouldn't you think so, Gary? Uh of a multi-million dollar contract. They often happen. Yes, sir.

Right. And and there's there's quite a discrepancy between the the lowest bidder and the second lowest bidder. Right. 950,000 roughly. Yes. And we had the same concerns that you're fixing to ask. Pardon me. We had the same concerns you're fixing to ask. He left a lot on the table. Yes. And to me as that sent up red flags as you just mentioned to a lot of people.

Yes, sir. Had more people had the public looked at this, would you think some people would have noticed some red flags too in that? Had the public at large, a lot of the public at large looked at uh might have seen some red flags in that had some questions. I mean, I do I don't know about everybody else, but more than just possibly a couple of people here sitting on this board,

right? So that that was my my statements that if more people involved, maybe a few more red flags, maybe a few more questions. My whole idea as a public servants is that more eyes the better everybody is served. So that's all my question and I just don't want to see a lot of change orders. hand. Okay. My my last question is change orders if they come about is this board will this board be involved in having to prove any change orders? Oh yes sir. Anything over 35,000 we have to bring to the board for approval. Okay.

And to answer your question, bigger the project, more likely you can have them. There's a lot of unforeseen change orders. A lot of unforeseen things that could happen, but I can tell you right now on this one you're dealing with Union Pacific Railroad. There's no telling about what happened. We have the permit. We got approved, but we did on the Nick Dicks Creek as y'all saw and then they shut us down after they approved the permit and we spent nine months. It cost us money, cost the city money. So to answer, we do we do our homework. We try to make investment, but you can't there's always going to be something unforeseen on a bigger project. But for this one, the only concern for me is going to be the railroad. What would they do to us? But right now, they've approved everything as designed, right?

And we did talk to the contractor. He's a very retro contractor. He's done a lot of work for us. He's very hungry. He's been calling us for months for projects because he has nothing to do. That's he went after this hungry because he needed the project and because he he's under even the engineers engineers estimate I think it was 4.1 million. We we budget at 4.5 million. He's at 3.3 and some change. But I he's a good contract. We've never had no issues with him. No trouble. And he just assured us they were just hungry needed to work really bad and that's why they bid it so low just to make sure they'd get it. Okay.

They didn't think they were going to bid it that low. They thought campco would be closer but that's what happened. And again, I I wouldn't have pulled it from the the uh the consent agenda other than I had that one question about the change over. So, it's the procedures that we got in place the reason. So, yeah, we have to bring anything to the board for approval over 30 days. Yes. So, I didn't have an issue with that other than that. But but I but I do think that that we need to give the public a a right to speak on everything on the consent agenda before uh before we simply approve it, especially as it relates to a multi-million dollar contract. Um so that's all I have to say. Mayor, any other discussion? I have one. Who was first? Go ahead,

Director Brewer.

Yes. Um Attorney Potter. um so that we're not consumed with this topic moving forward. I I do have a brief suggestion. You know, I understand this uh for the people by the people and um just for the consent just uh agenda, you know, um I think if we just uh make the the same the same announcement as we do for the regular agenda. Uh any questions for or against the consent agenda? Maybe if we can just make that um I know that opens it up, but I think that's what that's what we're we're going back and forth on here whether or not we're making that um making that time available just moving forward. So if we have to cross this bridge again, I yield my time here.

Director Roberts. Well, I just want to I mean I agree with the mayor on this because prior to the mayor getting elected,

the board could not respond to citizens. You had to set up here just I mean and and and director Harris knows the reason why on that it was the prior administration that would not allow interaction between the board and the citizens. They would come up, they would speak, and all you could do was look at them. Now, we're able to have some communication with them because this board passed that and changed that. And I mean, that needs to be recognized as well. This this board was shut down with the prior administration and not allowed to speak to the public. And when you have that, that is not transparency right there. We do have that transparency. And I just want to make sure that that is on the record as well. I mean, I totally agree with what the mayor says. Each one of us do things different in our wards. The minute Heather or Jeanie send the agenda out, I post it on my director page, my Facebook page, and out of 108 agendas that I've got since I've been on this board, everyone's been posted. And every one of them, somebody in my ward has had a question. So, it's about being responsive to the citizens in your ward and taking care of your, you know, however you choose to take care of the constituents in your ward. But uh I mean I if I don't know the answer, I've called Gary several times and called the chief several times like can you tell me what this is so I can better understand and talk to my constituents the same way. So I mean there is opportunity there and I know that there's going to be people that agree and disagree. Uh but but the board is definitely opened up over the past several years compared to what it was between 2014 and 2018. I mean it was locked down like a jail. That's director Harris say.

Oh no, I'm not. Any other director? We'll have to take these one at a time. If there's not any other discussion on item number five, I would instruct the city attorney to read the resolution. Whereas per Arkansas code annotated section 1443501, the board of directors are to adopt the rules of order and procedure every first meeting in January. Now therefore, be it resolved by the board of directors of the city of Teturean, Arkansas, that the attached rules of order and procedure previously updated on June 17, 2024, is hereby approved and adopted. Pass and approve this fifth day of January, 2026. City attorneys read the resolution, desire of the board. Motion to adopt.

Second. We have a motion and a second. Any other discussion to call the role. Director Roberts, yes. Director Harris, no. Director Halish, yes. Assistant Mayor Brewer, yes. Director Chu, no. Director Smith, yes. Mayor Brown,

yes. And the resolution passes. If not, any other discussion? Item number six, I would instruct the city attorney to read the resolution. Whereas Texture County Water Utilities is requesting authorization for the city manager to enter into a contract with RBIS LLC for the Ready Site Water and Sewer Extensions Project. And whereas after proper advertisement and request for bids, four firms submitted their bids and RBIS LLC was the apparent low bidder with a bid of 3,315,344. And whereas the project consists of installing 10,952 feet of 12inch water man, 7,13 feet of 10-in gravity sewer main, 25,576 ft of 8 in sewer force main, 15 manholes, eight gate valves, six fire hydrants, one sewer lift station, and all associated work and impertinances to serve the ready site located on Highway 67. And whereas this project is included in ordinance number 22-2022 and is being funded with the waterworks and sewer facilities revenue bonds series 2023. Now therefore be it resolved by the board of directors of the city of Tetric County, Arkansas that the city manager is authorized to enter into a contract with RBIS LLC for the purposes and in the amount set forth above pass and approved this 5th day of January 2026. City attorneys read the resolution. Desire of the board.

Motion to adopt. Second. Motion in a second. Any other discussion? Could you call the role? Director Roberts? Yes. Director Harris? Yes. Director Halovich? Yes. Assistant Mayor Brewer? Yes. Director Juel? Yes. Director Smith? Yes. Mayor Brown? Yes. The resolution passes. Moving into our regular agenda. Item number seven, adopt a resolution authorizing and directing the city manager to enter into a memorandum of understanding between the city of Texas County, Arkansas Police Department and the Texas County Regional Airport Authority regarding law enforcement services at the airport. Zach,

afternoon board. So the uh Tokan Arkansas Police Department and the uh airport authority uh Paul Mark Lake airport director we've been in communication for uh about six months now regarding the uh staffing of airport officers at the the Texas Municipal Airport. Uh we have come to the understanding that they are going to discontinue using or or discontinue they're still going to be using the same specialized police officers from the police department but they're going to be discontinuing paying them and contracting them with them directly and move to a pass through billing process with sector Arkansas police department. In addition to that, they also uh advised that they needed a march unit uh for the airport officers to use while they were on duty. And uh they have agreed to a term of $1,200 per month for the use of a a vehicle, which will include the police department paying for the fuel and maintenance of said vehicle. Any questions from the board?

I got one. Dr. What's the uh section B reimbursement of personnel cost? It's the the section B the reimbursement of personnel cost. Uh we are going to build them the exact loaded rate that it costs for the employee to to work for the airport. So we pay them the loaded rate is $202 I believe is what it what it was. It's uh and we are going to build them for $2011 per hour that the officer works. This is we're not making any money off of them. This is this the way we used to do it. Yes, sir. This is going back to the way that we used to do this.

And I guess the reason why I was asking I know that's kind of cheap, but why is that cheap there than other places you asking for if they go downtown or somewhere doing the entertainment system is time and a half? That's a great question. So that so why is that one this is not time and half and two these are not patrol officers. These are specialized police officers and their hourly rate is $1845 an hour after uh benefits and taxes and and everything else that the city has to throw in is $202 to I mean most are retired and just work for the airport. Yes, sir.

Any other discussion? If not, I would instruct the city attorney to read the resolution.

Thank you, sir. The city of Tercanana, Arkansas currently provides law enforcement services to the Texana Regional Airport through Texana, Arkansas Police Department. And whereas the airport has determined to discontinue employing airport officers directly on its payroll effective January 1st, 2026. And whereas the city and the airport desire to enter into a memorandum of understanding under which sworn police officers employed by the city will provide law enforcement services at the airport with the airport reimbursing the city for the fully loaded cost of such services on a pass through costneutral basis. And whereas theou further provides for the lease of a marked police vehicle from the city to the airport establishing uh scheduling and operational responsibilities and outlining and outline invoicing and reimbursement procedures. And whereas the city manager finds that entering into theou is in the best interest of the city and promotes efficient, coordinated and cost-effective delivery of public safety services at the airport. Now therefore, be it resolved by the board of directors of the city of Texure County, Arkansas, that the city manager is authorized and directed to enter into the attached memorandum of understanding with the city of Teture County, Arkansas Police Department and the Texture Cana Regional Airport regarding law enforcement services at the airport. Pass and approve this fifth day of January, 2026.

City attorneys read the resolution. Desire of the board. Motion to adopt. Second. Have a motion and a second. Any other discussion? You call the role. Director Roberts, yes. Director Harris, yes. Director Halabish, yes. Assistant Mayor Brewer, yes. Director Joel, yes. Director Smith, yes. Mayor Brown, yes. Resolution passes. Item number eight is to adopt an ordinance to amend ordinance K286 to reszone property located at 700 East Broad from uh warehouse W1 warehousing and wholesale to M1 Limited Manufacturing. Jamie,

okay, this is the old stone studios building and um they are proposing to do a custom cabinet and woodworking shop there. We've had no opposition. Um it's right now it's zone W1. We have to reszone it to manufacturing in order to put a custom woodworking shop in there. Um there is obviously utilities there.

Any other discussion? Any questions for Jamie? I'll remind the board this is an ordinance to pass tonight. It would need to be read three times. I'll instruct the city attorney to read the ordinance and title form for his first reading. An ordinance amending ordinance number K-286 as amended and for other purposes. Ordinance has been read on its first reading. What would be the desire to have it read on its second reading? Second reading, abbreviated form. So I have a motion and a second for second reading. Any other discussion? Could you call the role? Director Roberts? Yes. Director Harris? Yes. Director Halibush? Yes. Assistant Mayor Brewer. Yes. Treasure Juul. Yes. Director Smith. Yes.

Mayor Brown. Yes. An ordinance amending ordinance number K-286 as amended and for other purposes. Ordinance has been read on its second reading. Desire to have it read on its third and final tonight. Third reading abbreviated form. Second. Let's have a motion and second for third reading. Any other discussion? You call the role. Director, excuse me. Director Roberts, yes. Director Harris, yes. Director Halibush, yes. Assistant Mayor Brewer, yes. Director Juel, yes. Director Smith, yes. Mayor Brown, yes. An ordinance amending ordinance number K-286 is amended. And for other purposes,

please try again. Ordinance has been read on its third and final final reading. A motion to adopt. Motion to adopt. Second. Have a motion and a second. 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 the role? Director Roberts, yes. Director Harris, yes. Director Halibush, yes. Assistant Mayor Brewer, yes. Director Chu, yes. Director Smith, yes. Mayor Brown,

yes. And the ordinance is adopted. Moving on to item number nine is to adopt an ordinance to amend ordinance number K286 to reszone partial 00321701 located on East 9inth Street from R2 single family residential to C3 display open display commercial Jamie.

So this is a piece of property. This is the BFW right here on 82. The Smiths own this piece of property here and this piece of property down here. We reszoned it some time ago for them to open a farm store. Um there was an issue with there being enough land there to support the sewer system. So they've bought this piece of parcel next to it to resolve that problem and they're asking that it be reszoned. Um this is the property as you can see it's C3 next door to it. Um we've had no opposition to this and there is no sewer out there. There is water and the Smiths are here if you have any questions.

Does anybody have any questions of the Smiths or from Jamie? You did say there's no opposition against that, right? No, not even a phone call. If no other discussion, I would instruct the city attorney to read the ordinance on its first reading and title form. An ordinance amending ordinance number K-286 is amended. And for other purposes, ordinance has been read on its first reading. What would be the desire to have it read on its second reading? Second reading. Abbreviated form, please. Second. Have a motion and a second. Any other discussion? Could you call the role? Director Roberts? Yes. Director Harris? Yes. Director Halibush? Yes. Assistant Mayor Brewer? Yes. Director Juel? Yes. Director Smith? Yes. Mayor Brown?

Yes. An ordinance amending ordinance number K-286 as amended and for other purposes. Ordinance has been read on its second reading. desired to have it read on its third and final reading. Third reading, abbreviated form. Second. Have a motion. A second for third reading. Any other discussion? You call the role. Director Roberts? Yes. Director Harris? Yes. Director Halibush? Yes. Assistant Mayor Brewer? Yes. Director Juel? Yes. Director Smith? Yes. Mayor Brown? Yes. An ordinance amending ordinance number K-286 as amended and for other purposes? Ordinance has been read on its third and final reading. A motion to adopt. Motion to adopt.

Second. Have a motion and a 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 the role? Director Roberts? Yes. Director Harris? Yes. Director Halabush? Yes. Assistant Mayor Brewer? Yes. Director Juel? Yes. Director Smith? Yes, Mayor Brown. Yes. And the ordinance is adopted. Our last item on the agenda is to adopt an ordinance amending ordinance number 20, 2019 in order to revise operating parameters for the entertainment district. Jamie.

So, we had this this came before you before the board once before and on November the 12th we had a joint workshop with the board and the planning commission and there was a great deal of discussion. Um, but in the end there were three things that everyone there came to consensus on. One was to ban the consumption of alcohol purchased outside the entertainment district. So, that's not to say somebody's been fishing and they've got a cooler beer in the back of their truck and they're not drinking it, they're okay. But you can't bring in alcohol from outside and consume it. The other one was to remove Rockhouse liquor from the entertainment district the way it was before. You could go in Rockhouse Liquor and you could buy liquor and you could walk out the door and drink it. So, we have removed them from the entertainment district. The third thing we reached consensus on was to close the entertainment district at midnight Monday through Sunday or Monday every day. Um there was one other thing and that was to make the city planner responsible for making sure that the entertainment district gets reviewed at least once a year. And we have set it up now to be reviewed this month. So toward the end of the month after we've had this in place. Um, we'll get I'll get with the chief of police and and look at that. Um, this is Rock House Liquor right here and we're just taking that those two lots out of the entertainment district.

Any other discussion? Yep. the the logic behind taking Rockhouse liquor out was what I mean they even said they don't even contribute to most of that issue downtown when the gentleman set up here and we had the workshop that evening pardon me that evening we had the workshop yes he said that he went to rock house talking to them and said how much business do y'all contribute to the downtown. They went. So if that's the case, taking them out isn't really going to resolve that because they're not being a part of it. Well,

I mean, that's what he said in the meeting. Who now who said that? I don't remember the gentleman's name that was leading the discussion and probably Boots. It was guess. I mean, it probably didn't hurt anything, but it isn't actually resolving anything either. contributing. I mean, has has anybody talked to the owners or anything? He did. Whatever that gentleman's name was, Boots Thomas.

Well, I tried to talk to the owners. Never got a response from the owners. I talked to the employees and and they that their comment was that the owners had commented to patrons of the store that they didn't wish to be taken out of the entertainment district. But uh so we're taking them out because I mean are are there any chief are there any in in your views or are what's going on? They'll go in purchase the beer and they go outside and just start drinking the beer outside.

Okay. What what what issue is that? I mean, have there any been any been any have there been any arrests that relate directly to Rockes that Rock? Well, well that Well, I know that district have there been any arrest directly related to Rock House liquor. Not to my know that

so so one of one of the issues that that I believe that this will solve for the entertainment district is right now They they we have it up. There's a lot of vacant parking lots in the entertainment district. What we're trying to to to try to keep is is a whole bunch of kids coming down with one 21 year old or something, going to the Rockhouse liquor, being able to purchase it and consume it inside the entertainment district because it was purchased inside the entertainment district, going to one of these vacant parking lots and just have a tailgate party. uh you know that's one of the issues that it could immediately start to try to you know resolve or or uh the entertainment district was meant to drive business to the downtown district. What we're seeing largely and what we're having issues with and why we're discussing this is because largely it's become just a whole bunch of block parties on empty parking lots and in the streets. If we're wanting to encourage people to to spend time in the texture county entertainment district, their money needs to be spent in the texture county entertainment district. Otherwise, they're they're getting alcohol from Super One Foods over on Richmond Road or or whatever and just drinking in the parking lot at a on the side of the road out of a cooler, which the ordinance as it was originally written is not addressed. We allowed them to uh if Rockhouse Liquor is allowed to stay in, they would be able to still have these tailgate parties uh in the entertainment district. And at least whenever I know that somebody goes into wild hair, Cody's IDing them, making sure that they're legitimately 21 years of age, kicking them out if they're not, and we know that we're not going to have issues with underage drinking in the entertainment district. That would just bring a black eye to the entire city. But chief, I mean, Captain, have have you seen that situation take place that you just cited?

Yes. Well, I mean, this is you could do the same thing. You could get the liquor from Party Factory or Chubby Cheeks if you have one 21 year old with you and then you just drive down state line and then go on one of those parking lots. It's not necessarily the same as getting purchased from Rock House liquor. That's so But that's the point. That's the point of this is no outside alcohol can be consumed within the entertainment district. And so as it sits right now, somebody has a half pint of Heaven Hill or, you know, Malibu, who's to say they didn't buy it there,

but now if they But now if they see it, they can say it didn't come from within the entertainment district because there's no liquor store that sells it within the entertainment district. So, it has to be purchased, and I think that's getting back to the original point, it has to be purchased from a uh bar restaurant within the entertainment district.

And that was my understanding when the entertainment district was created was to drive business to the restaurants and bars downtown. And with people that are bringing in their own liquor from outside, we're defeating that purpose. So you you can't purchase line or whatever from any of the bars and stuff. No. No. Lord. But you could still purchase it from Party Factory or Chubby Cheeks and then drive down the state line unless you're going to make somebody show a receipt that said I, you know, I purchased this here or there. That's going to be kind of hard to discern. But you can't have it in entertainment. You can have it on. You can have it in your truck. That's what they're saying. You can have it there,

but not in entertainment. But you can't be drinking. But you cannot be outside drinking. It doesn't matter. You can't be drinking regardless. David,

I I will be breaking the law when I take a sip inside my apartment. By the way, I I will get to it beforehand. The other thing is I I wanted to well and as we bring other people downtown to be addressed in some way, but also Texas has an entertainment district and it bumps our entertainment district and I would like for that to be considered. Can you buy something in Texas and walk across the line with it? Right now, but it was from one of the sals or part of another place that we're looking at developing on the Texas side that you would be able to and actually state line is no man's land that both I think both of them stop so you have to run across the line but anyway uh that needs to be considered if we're going to be unified in that way so you could one side to the other

I know Texas was concerned about it when we first originally brought it up they were kind of waiting on our decision from people I talked to I believe it should be you should be able to flow district. Are there any state laws that address that? Oh lord, I don't know. But but the again walking around the entertainment district with a drink that was purchased from a bar or restaurant is completely different. Now, I don't know the parameters of their entertainment district, but I

uh Right. But I don't I don't think there's any liquor stores in their entertainment district. No, but there's there's Lucilles and there's some other Right. But but you would get that from a from a cup or I mean, you know, but they brought it in to Yeah, I understand that. But we we'll have to cross that bridge when we get there. But this just solves an immediate issue that TAPD is this was meant to starting point. Yeah. Oh, gotcha. What actually takes place at the cut off? Well, they what what goes into play at that time? What rules are going to be enforced? What's going to change? No outside drinking.

So, everything else is still just exactly the way it was, just no outside drinking. Well, right now part of that that bar or that venue. Okay. Any other discussion? Just got a brief brief question and chief what I understand this is uh this is just at the beginning of the plan of execution uh to to enforce this. That's something we'll be working out in the future. Right.

All right. Any other discussion? If not, I would instruct the city attorney to read the ordinance on its first reading and title form. An ordinance amending ordinance number 20-209 to revise operating parameters for the entertainment district and for other purposes. Ordinance has been read on its first reading. Desire to have it read on its second reading tonight. Second reading abbreviated form. Second. I have a motion and a second. Any other discussion? Do we not need to resolve some of these issues? What issues is that? The cold weather has it shut down anyway. So it's nothing going on. There's no emergency

desire to have it read on its second reading. Second reading brief. Got a motion in a second. Motion in a second. Any other discussion? Call the roll, please. Director Roberts, yes. Assistant Mayor, excuse me, Director Harris, yes. Director Halib Bush, yes. Assistant Mayor Brewer, yes. Director Juel, no. Director Smith. Yes. Mayor Brown. Yes. An ordinance amending ordinance number 20-209 to revise operating parameters for the entertainment district and for other purposes. Ordinance has been read on its second reading. Desire to have it read on its third and final reading.

Third reading abbreviated for second. Have a motion and second to have it read on its third and final reading. Any other discussion? Would you call the role? Director Roberts. Yes. Director Harris. Yes. Director Halibish. Yes. Assistant Mayor Brewer. Yes. Director Chu. No. Director Smith. Yes. Mayor Brown. Yes. An ordinance amending ordinance number 20-209 to revise operating parameters for the entertainment district and for other purposes. Ordinance has been read on its third and final reading. Motion to adopt. Motion to adopt. Second.

Have a motion, a second to adopt. Prior to the board voting to adopt this particular ordinance, is there anyone here wishing to speak for or against? Cody, I would just like to say one thing. When when y'all put that out to the citizens, can y'all word that to where it doesn't scare the public when because I know it's going to come out. They're going to see 12 a.m. They think automatically, well, that's they're done. They got to go home. So, when y'all put that out, y'all just make sure you emphas that it doesn't shut down at midnight, but it's still open till 2 a.m. or whatever. So, we don't we'll make a post on our officers that are working the downtown entertainment district, they're not going to start running people off at midnight.

We are going to tell people with alcohol downtown outside that they need to go inside to drink from till the bars. And with one caveat to that, we can't control what the media puts out. So, I just I know what we can put out. Yeah. Any other discussion? You call the role. Director Roberts, yes. Director Harris, yes. Director Halibush, yes. Assistant Mayor Brewer, yes. Director Chel, yes. Director Smith, yes. Mayor Brown, yes. The ordinance is adopted. The police department has asked for a emergency clause. What would be the desire? Motion to attach emergency clause.

Second. It's a motion and a second to attach emergency clause. Any other discussion? I have one question about that. Um, you know, we are in the colder months, so there's a lot less activity down there than there would be if it was nicer out. Um, would a 30-day period and not doing the emergency clause. Would that give us an opportunity to educate people as they're coming into the entertainment district? We'll educate them through our Facebook and also oneonone with each person you come in contact with downtown. Uh, this we're We're not going to force it immediately as in they're going to get they're going to get warnings. Okay. So merge clause. Yes. But in the meantime we'll get we'll give warnings until everybody is 30 days.

Okay. I think we'll make sure that we're not going out there tomorrow writing tickets left and right for people not knowing that the law has changed. I think one of the most important things is is that we're now have in this ordinance that you cannot bring alcohol in from an outside source and that has been a problem from the get-go and should have been in here in the beginning. So that gives us an opportunity to enforce that to help them immediately. Any other discussion? Could you call the role? Director Roberts, yes. Director Harris, no. Director Halibush, yes. Uh, Assistant Mayor Brewer, yes. Director Jewel, no. Director Smith. Yes. Mayor Brown.

Yes. And the emergency clause is attached. That is our last item on the agenda. We move into board of directors commentary. Is there any board member that wishes to address the board tonight? Yes. I have a director. Council, I need your help on something. This is um this is in regard to the consent agenda number five. Uh the rules of order. Um, I wanted to, um, for the record, I voted uh yes, but I I want to resend my vote to no. Um, is do I have to make a motion to reconsider uh my vote to for the record that? Yeah, I don't think so. Or not? I don't think you can do that. All right. Um, it's already passed.

All right. Just want to make sure cuz I had a change of heart on that. All right. Yes. I got one thing and this relates to Gary. The the the uh when uh when is the building going to get straightened out in TWWU? I've uh uh I'm getting chewed out by some of my constituents over their water bill and I What in particular? I need a little more information to answer that. Well, the uh Like what particular? So bill way high. Okay. Well,

the rates went up rough. I looked at one customer today because I was expecting a lady here tonight complain to the board that we've been dealing with. Yeah. The rates went from October of 24, October 25. Uhhuh. For the typical usage in a residential customer in Arkansas is $5,000 a month. Yeah. That's what it was when we did the race 22. Now we got these new meters that are more accurate. To give you an example, the the lady that we've been talking to, a 3-in meter, when we tested them last year, they average the average percent was 83% accurate. These new meters are 98.5 and above accurate. That's why our bills gone up so much, which also that average of 5,000 gallons a month is going up because we ain't been catching it all.

So, the main in and then as far as from last year, the rates, they only went up about four four and a half%. It's the usage because these more accurate meters. Now, we did have a problem with the meters that were in our system that were over 10 years old. The digits, the the software for reading and software for billing, they didn't interact. And so, we missed some we corrected all that. That's all been fixed. So, there's some people depending on if it dropped it in the front, got a lower bill. If it dropped in the back, got a higher bill. We fixed all that. No, no charges. We even made payment plans if they wanted to pay it out, you know, instead of that one month. Those are the only issues I know. But the biggest issue we get complained on is what we brought to the board going with these new meters. They're a whole lot more accurate. Bills are going to go up because we've been losing revenue. We're trying to get that revenue for the city by having these accurate meters. But other than that, I don't know of anything. Director Joe.

Um well, uh the ones I'm talking about like seven and $800 a month, month after month, and y'all corrected down to $300. And u Yes. So when this first started in each area, there were some issues with the software, but my understanding that that's been corrected. We we have I haven't I don't know of any other ones that they come. We we did have quite a few that came in that it was just a error with our learning and getting a software and I I guess you see the all the the the all the comments on Facebook, right? No, sir. I don't read Facebook. Do your people I get the phone calls. Do your people read Facebook,

sir? Do your people, your employees read Facebook? I don't ask. I don't know. But I promise you I get plenty of calls every day since and cheers. It's It's not too many cheers if you get my meter. Now I got to say the meters since I've been here, we've never been a program to replace meters. You know, they're they're only active for so long. And that's what we're doing. I'm going to give you one example. Okay.

My my insurance building that that I operate about one day a week. I'm there. Uh there's nothing that runs there. I have no leaks. I flush the toilet probably 30 times a month, maybe. That's the only water water usage. The bill's $250 something dollars a month. Of course, that's that's sewer and stuff, too. I mean, that's a that's garbage trash, too. But it's it's it's that would that's higher than what it was when I was operating practically you know uh so I don't know

to answer your question would you have leak or not I don't know we can come out leak well we can verify that we can look at your meter and tell you I mean that's that's the refrain I get from every every time you know every

director you call you call I'll send our guy out there we'll look at with you there we're not trying to hide anything or take some money there's been errors it's going to happen any type like you said a big project there's going to be issues we're getting through those trying to resolve them but to answer your question yours I don't know without sending our guy out there look at your meter I don't know you can have running toilet I give you a prime example when I first built my house after 6 months in there my bill tripled I came in said hey there's something wrong I had a running toilet and I argue with him said no I don't soon as you put your blue tablets in in second I mean there's issues but we can look at those with you we we asked the customers call us we'll come out there we're not hiding we're not trying to do anything we pay the same water bill everybody else does we I had the same issue at my house and then we'll come look at your house. All you do is call me and we'll send someone look. We had no leak. We put all the stuff but they correct.

Well, the meters have a leak detector that we can look at with you and you can look at with us and see. But uh but it it's just the it's the uh and and the the complaints that I'm getting and stuff and that uh I'm just hoping that it gets corrected in the in the near future. And what I'm hearing from you, it is getting corrected. Yes, sir. Yes, sir. Yeah, but but I do if you'll tell your constituents if they'll call they can call me they call customer service manager we'll send someone out every time to look at it. This is a new process so there's going to be some problems

and I I agree with I've called and and it has been taken care of is but that's that's kind of my issue. It's it's taken care of and and every one of them except for one which they did I believe they have been taken care of but but that's the issue. It's it's it's having the issue of it's having to been taken care of in

right and like I said it's a new project for all of us. There's there's things to work through to get through and that's what we are doing. And I bet you there's going to be some more but we're doing our best to work through and get it fixed. When the system's done, once everything's in and it's been turned over to the city, to the utility, then that portal will be there and any citizen that wants to sign on can sign on to that and they can go it it reads your meter three times a day and they can go in there and they can look and they can set alarms, you know, saying if I go over 2,000 gallons, hit alarm, let me know, hey, I'm going 2,000 or if I go over 20 gallons a minute this day. And you can set any alarm you want. And so that and they could go in there and they can literally watch it. And right now only we have our customer service manager can access it for people that's got that and that's really helped a lot because we'll we'll take it and we'll email them that copy and then they can crap I left my water hose on or something. Now they always there's been a couple that's been our mistake and we fix those. But when that portal comes up I think that's going to solve a whole lot and give a whole lot of control to the customers. That was the main reason we went with this is for the loss revenue for the city and help improve relations with the customers. We have a bad name. Some of it's do, some of it's not, you know, but I can promise you they'll call, we'll come out. We're not going to turn anybody down. We're not here to hide anything.

Well, I I I appreciate you being here tonight. Yes, sir. I've been wanting to pick on you for the last few weeks. You come by my office anytime, Director Joel. Okay. Any other board commentary? I got a question. Okay. Uh I guess to the uh city manager or to Miss Jamie I know last year uh I had request I thought about having a workshop on different type of housing uh but it never was had been happening. We going to do it one night but one meeting went too long and Wednesday going to come forward about different type of house. remember when you had that uh house done over there on uh Ferguson Street that uh the container home

that container home and I would ask for workshop for different other type of housing could be done in the city housing unit. I'll get with Jamie and um see if that's been talked about anymore. Um see about scheduling a workshop. Okay. Well, I stopped. Do I had to put something in writing to request? No, sir. that supposed to been happen last year, but no, I haven't forgot about it. So, who who we'll get I'll get with Tyler and we'll get a date.

Okay. And then my other uh issue concern I guess the reason why I didn't vote for that procedure order is because uh I still think that item that's on the on there in section B as to why a board member got to jump through hoops to get something on the agenda. meaning that as a board member, if you put something on the agenda and if the city manager say no to it, I got to go get another uh uh city council member with a workshop to get that approved before they get on the agenda. I would think since I'm up here uh was elected by the people, I think I should be able to put anything on the agenda and then let the council make that determination as to whether they should approve it or not. Like I said, I don't think I need to be jumped through hoops due to the city management and like I said, this was put in place back in 2017. Uh, so that's when it was and in July of 2017. So that's how long this been on agend. But none of y'all agreed to change the the item on it. So even though Mr. jury, you stayed at one time. I could be able to put something on the agenda and you would you would uh automatically approve, but that came true until about the bond issue about voting money up. So, your your opinion on that change. So, and then my next item is that uh bridge uh down there on on uh on SA Street. When is that? know I'm still getting concerned about it and I know you saying that's a fun the highway control or thing. So, uh, what's the status of that? And, uh, when is that going to ever, uh, when are we going to do a study or something? When is that going to get done? Cuz that's one of the

most, uh, comments I get about that. Why is why is the city blocking this street out on Se Street?

The the bridge is it's not per se under control of Art. The Well, Bard Dot did force us to shut the bridge down due to the condition. Um, they are also providing a grant to replace that bridge. I can't affect how quickly they move. I've reached out to Mr. Suscowski, who's the um, who's that program head and I have not received an update from him, but the second I receive an update, I will get that information to you. I am uh looking into and also asked him about the possibility of some temporary measures to get it opened back up for the meantime, but that's going to be

I I'm going to guess a few hundred,000 if not $500,000 project. It's not something that the city would be able to fund right now.

What about just putting a big pipe uh uh up on through there? A big concrete pipe through there. That way the water still can flow. I'm not an engineer, but you put a big I don't know what size you can get, but the biggest one you can put up under there, that way the water can flow through. So if a car go down through there, you think the car going fall or fall through something, at least it ain't going to fall by the weight of that big round concrete pipe that you can put through there. Then it won't stop the water from flowing. You know, like I said, I'm not a a engineering, but I think that would be one way to solve that issue until uh Art or whoever decided to do something about it. So,

to put a concrete pipe in there large enough to to get vehicles across, you'd still be talking about $100,000 just for that temporary measure. Now, I am exploring other options, possibly a tank putting uh we can get some tank cars fairly cheap if they're still available. Um, I'm looking into that. It's a matter of uh if if it will support enough flow in that creek um and and and what it costs. But I am exploring some alternatives to to at least give temporary access. Okay, that's all right. Any other board commentary?

Yes. Yeah. Sorry, I won't hold your time. Uh, per director Juel, it has been an issue. Please, it just anybody in your board you have trouble if y'all call me or have them call, then we'll come out and check is it's a learning process. There's issues when doing this switch over, swap over. But we will we'll we will come out and check it out and verify and we'll verify with the customer. We'll meet on their time. If they can't be there till six o'clock tonight, we'll come out to six o'clock tonight, take a look at the meter with them and see what the issue is. Sometimes it's sometimes that might be us and sometimes it's just the meter. I don't know. But we'll but we'll look at anybody. I just want to make that clear. I hope I didn't come across wrong. I wasn't trying to. We'll look at anything with anybody because this is a learning curve and it and it has been a problem on both sides.

Appreciate it. Gary Gary, I know your staff been there's a couple of people I know that had to have payment plans and they have been very accommodating to the ones that in my ward that have talked to them. I mean, they told them this is what we can pay and they have worked with them and uh so I appreciate that and I haven't heard anything difficult that they're, you know, they're trying because it's it's a new for it's new for everybody. Yes, sir. Yes, sir. And and we we had we anticipate it because the new meters are a lot more accurate and so we knew they're going to go up. We knew a lot of calls, but we have no trouble going out and verifying with anybody. We want them to trust us. We're not trying to hide anything and we'll show anybody anything, you know. All right. Thank you.

Thank you, Carrie. Any other board commentary? Tyler, you have anything today? No, sir, I do not. All right. At this time, uh, we will adjourn into executive session for a couple of a couple of appointments to our historic district commission. We'll have to excuse all guests. Does anybody have any issues with these two appointment?

At this time, I would instruct the city attorney to read the resolution with the appointments to the historic district commission. Whereas two positions on the historic district commission will become vacant on January 17, 2026. And whereas it is necessary that reappoints be made to fill the vacant positions. Now therefore, be it resolved by the board of directors of the city of Tetra Canaan, Arkansas, that the following reappoints to the historic district commission are hereby approved. Applicant Jeff Brown, term, January 17, 2026 to 2029. Michael Hendricks, January 17, 2026 to 2029. Pass and approve this 5th day of January 2026.

City attorneys read the resolution desire of the board. Motion second. Second. Have a motion and a second to adopt. Any other discussion? Would you call the role? Director Roberts? Yes. Director Harris? Yes. Director Haldush? Yes. Assistant Mayor Brewer? Yes. Director Juel? Yes. Director Smith? Yes. Mayor Brown? Yes. The resolution passes. Also, at this time, I just remind the board and the citizens that our next meeting date will be on Tuesday, January 20th due to the holiday, federal holiday on Monday, January 19th. Any other discussion? If not, I'd entertain a motion to adjurnn. Motion for adjournment. Second. Have a motion, a second. Could you call a roll? Director Roberts? Yes. Director Harris?

Yes. Director Halibish? Yes. Assistant Mayor Brewer? Yes. Director Juel? Yes. Director Smith? Yes. Mayor Brown? Yes. And we're ajourned.