Board of Directors - Regular Meeting

of the Texas County, Arkansas board of directors to order. Uh, at this time we'll have our roll call. Director Roberts here. Director Harris here. Director Halabush here. Assistant Mayor Brewer here. Director Juel here. Director Smith is absent. Mayor Brown

here. Um, before we stand, just a couple of housekeeping items. If you would silence your cell phones during the course of the meeting. Second thing is if you have your uh if you wish to address the board tonight, we have citizens communication cards on the ledge, if you would grab one of those and fill it out and get that to our city clerk. She can get it to me so we can have a record of you speaking tonight. Having said that, we'll stand for our invocation and our pledge. Is director Roberts going to do the invocation? The invocation will be directed by uh Director Roberts. Let us pray. Our heavenly father, we come to you tonight and ask for your wisdom and welcome your presence among us. Guide us in our discussions and decisions and help us to come to the right resolution for all citizens and that you will always be glorified. In Christ's name we pray. Amen.

Amen. To the flag of the United States of America and to the republic for which it stands. One nation under God, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all. May be seated.

At this time, we'll move right on into our citizens communication time. I have a card. At this time, I recognize Tony Miller. Thank you, Mr. Mayor. Thank you, board members. My name is Tony Miller and I own East Street Pawn and Jewelry in College Hill. Um, I want to talk to you about an issue that's not about a personal disagreement. It's about fairness, transparency, the responsibility that comes with public office. I want to be clear that I'm not asking that the War I director be held to a higher standard than the citizens of War I. I'm simply asking the War II director be held to the same standard of fairness, transparency, accountability that is expected of every citizen. An elected director should be working with all lawful businesses to help make W 2 a stronger, more welcoming business environment, not engaging in conduct that makes businesses feel unwanted, singled out of public criticism. [snorts] When the war two director publicly discusses city matters on his personal Facebook page, including through posts, videos while repeatedly criticizing me and attacking the efforts that we have made in our ward to make positive change and at the same time blocks me and other constituents from viewing or responding. It creates unequal access in information and participation. I have been informed by others that there are numerous videos and posts in which I am criticized, cannot see or respond because I'm blocked on Facebook. Some citizens are allowed to view, engage with, and respond to this content, while others are intentionally excluded. The United States Supreme Court has made clear that when elected officials use personal social media to communicate about official matters,

constitutional impress uh protections apply. Circumstances the government may not engage in viewpointbased censorship or selectively exclude members of the public from participation in what functions as an official forum. I'm not asserting a legal conclusion here. I am raising the serious appearance of constitutional and public trust concerns that arise when a city official uh conducts business on a personal platform while the access and participation is restricted. Under Arkansas ethics principles, public office is a public trust. Elected officials are expected to conduct themselves in a manner that promotes fairness, transparency, and the confidence in government and to avoid conduct that creates the appearance of improper or selective a treatment even when no crime or financial benefit is involved. Before addressing the conducted issue, it's important to establish context. East Street Pawn and Jewelry is a licensed, lawful, taxpaying business operated under one of the most heavily regulated retail frameworks in Arkansas. We work diligently with the local law enforcement to ensure our business is in full compliance with all applicable laws, reporting requirements, and oversight obligations. This conduct carries broader consequences. Continue public criticism of lawful businesses by elected officials, especially when conducted through personal platforms that restrict participation can reasonably create a chilling effect that discourages other businesses, excuse me, and other business owners from investing in opening or expanding businesses in our community. The broader impact on economic development, business confidence, and the city's reputation is directly tied to the public trust and is a matter this board should carefully consider. For the record, I'm going to submit

exhibits and documents of these concerns, my business's community uh contributions, and the Cherry Street communication. Most recently, my goal in presenting this information tonight is straightforward. I'm asking this board to amend the bylaws to clearly address the conduct of sitting board members. Those entrusted with leadership must set an example by following established rules, regulations, and all acupable laws of the state of Arkansas, the city of Texas and the United States. Specifically, this includes ending the use of private social media such as Facebook for official board members and ensuring the constituents are not blocked from providing feedback, engaging in lawful protected speech. Open access, transparency, and the ability for the public to provide input. They're not optional. They're a fundamental right to respond to governance. This is about accountability, consistency, and restoring confidence that this board operates openly, fairly, and within the law.

I've got some printouts for all you guys if I can give them to you. Yes. [clears throat]

This just backs up what I'm talking about. The Supreme Court ruled in 2024 that even though an account is labeled private, if it's used in a form that's public, like streaming the board meetings, that it is not legal to suppress comments. And that's what I wanted to point out just to get the board to amend the balls to where the board members are held to a higher standard when it can comes to the laws that are on the books. We've been in college almost near your end. I mean your five minutes is up.

Um can I have a couple more minutes? It'll be up to the board. Any objection? Without objection. Yes.

Go ahead. We opened in September of 2023. Last year, we raised over $50,000 to help non um nonprofit organization charities and raffles. We have consistently asked the director to work with us for the betterment of our ward. It isn't about me or it isn't about him. It's about what's better for College Hill. I'm going to ask him face to face. Work with us, not against us. Our last videos had 50,000 views after the video that you posted saying that I was using Mr. Williams as a tool. Mr. Williams helped us clean up that property. He thanked us for cleaning up that property. We can get a lot done if we work together. I have no interest in running for your position. You beat me in the last election and that's fine. I want to make college a better place. I don't know why you singled out my business, but to be honest with it, I want to move forward for all of College Hill, but I also want the directors to follow the law.

Thank you for your time. May I Mayor, Director Harris,

my first concern? Yes, the election was about 3 years ago, and why is we hopping over election at three years ago? I know what you just said and and I'm gonna say this. Yes, I blocked you from my Facebook place and and I don't want you on there uh calling me names and all that kind of stuff. So that's why you were blocked and that's why lots of other people was blocked and I have that right to block something when someone get on there and want to call me out my name and then we we going to get into a fight as to name calling and you ain't addressing the issue. I'm just going to leave it at that. Now if you got any issue with that, they can take it up in court and I just and I that'll be the end of it. Well, I don't want to argue legalities, but the Supreme Court says

that if you supreme, if you stream this video, you're using it as a public forum. It is illegal for you to block anybody. You can't even turn off the comment. You have to take it in stride. Now, if they're threatening or harassing you, that's different. That they But I have never called you names. I have never harassed you. And the only reason that I can think of that you attack me or my pawn shop claiming that crime is higher because we have a new pawn shop in W 2 is because you have a chip on your shoulder about me running against you. It was never personal for me. But anyway, Mr. Mayor, thank you.

About why two got four pawn shop and I did ask that question and a pawn shop not enhance nobody neighborhood and I said that. I'm going continue to say that. The net leader Robinson 2100 East L. First, I want to I talked to the attorney general office and they said I need to come back to the city council and uh voice my complaint about Tri State and if I can't get nothing done here, take it to the governor. And if the governor can't get nothing done, then I contact attorney general office. That's my main concern. Now I'm asking I mean I'm asking y'all is there something y'all can do to help us out in tri in a foundation concerning tri state. Is there anything the city council can do? Y'all keep saying that ain't no rules y can change. Ain't no ordinance y can change. The audience are being abide by. So is there anything the city council can do to help us out in that neighborhood? I'm asking each each one of y'all. Lee Elves, this it's always been my understanding that every time that you guys talk about that, it's it's addressed through our uh city manager, through the public works department, through the police department with noise ordinance with the noise testing, the pollution control. I'm aware there was two EPA studies done and at some point in time that has satisfied y'all to some degree, some degrees it's not. You don't want us using our people. you want us and you guys to let the I think one of the last comments I had was you guys want us to pay for your people to do the study and all so we just keep we just keep spinning our wheels about somebody's not getting something done and the things

that I look into when you bring that to our uh attention is we're we're trying to do that. We're trying to make sure they're in compliance with the current ordinance that's on the book at the present time. And that's all I can tell you. I don't know about these other guys, but that's what I look into to make sure that we're trying to keep them in compliance with what their current current ordinance is. So, you basically saying y'all satisfied with what y'all done did? I'm satisfied. I'm not speaking for these dudes. I'm speaking for myself that I look into that and I see what they uh the test and things that we are doing and what the city manager talks to me about. And I don't know of anything else that we can do that they're not out of compliance. Okay.

All right. Uh I I would say see that you'd have to come up with specific violations that they are violating. And I'm [clears throat] glad you said that because what they are violating is the stuff they agreed through through y'all. Y'all gave them the right to go over there. Y'all set the ordinance up. Y'all made the noise or y'all gave them that right, not us. We didn't give it to them. So they breaking the ordinary that y'all gave them, but y'all are recruited to go back inside the ordinary that y'all gave them and prove that they breaking it. Y'all want us to go and try to prove they breaking the law when they breaking the law, but ain't none of y'all trying to help us prove it. Y'all the one let them over there.

Let me ask you a question. Are you speaking in specific of like the time of the operation? Is that the whole setup from 6 a.m. in the morning to midnight? They crushing cars. They come here and tell y'all about it. Ain't really no noise. Anything else they come up? I've been sitting here just listening to different people talk. People come up here with complaints and y'all will say right quick or we going to go out and check it out. We'll come out and see. How many of y'all been out there at 10:00 at night to hear the noise in my neighborhood? Anybody? I have not. I haven't. Have you [clears throat] been out there, Steve? I have been out there. If there don't be no noise, do it. There's some noise. Okay. Have you been out there, Mr. Harris? I'll pass by that. Have you directly?

Okay. But I I hear y'all always when somebody complain, everybody will. We'll go check it out. We'll see what we can do. We got elderly people over there that retired in our quiet neighborhood, but it can't be quiet because from 6:00 a.m. in the morning to midnight, they are crushing cars. I tried to bring a video, but y'all said it wouldn't show. Give me a time. Okay. There. But when when did 6:00 in the morning they start? 6 o'clock. Is that a violation? No. Okay. Okay. So, they're okay. The the chime is not a violation. The noise ordinance is a violation. All right. The noise may be loud to you to to you and to me, but it may be well with within legal limits.

No way. No way. Possible. Well, you have to prove that. We That's why I'm asking y'all. Y'ALL PROVE IT. Y'ALL LET THEM OVER THERE. Y'ALL COME PROVE IT. We have I I think [clears throat] PD has gone out there with that. Yes, they have. And there. And the city manager been out there plenty of time. But like I tell Tyler, when they see me or see anybody else, it going to get quiet. I tell you that over and over. We had officers out there. I mean, I could just go stand out in the front with my phone and that noise going to cut down [snorts] every time. Let me ask this question right here right quick. Have we um paid some outside source to to look into this as far as the noise or has been all internal?

No, this has all been internal. And last time Leedell and I spoke out there um I [music] did tell him that um I would get some quotes for uh for someone external to come in and do that. Um we have not yet done that. Um but we will jump on that and and get some quotes together. Leale from your from your porch. I know right where your house is and I'm not real familiar with the property at Tri-State. How far is the the crushing machine from your from your front porch?

Um, you put it in a block. It's probably say like a block block and a half. It's directly across the street. I mean, you got the fence, then you got the little train track, then you got the crest machine. Okay. And I I get less than what my neighbors get. They get it real bad on their end. And it it ain't no if and the bus about it. If you just come out, the closer you get to Ninth Street. No, the closer you get to 12th Street. 12th Street. Okay.

If you just come out there and don't let them know you coming, you can catch it all. But as long as they know that you coming, it won't be that much noise out there. It won't be that much nowhere. And I'm I'm just saying if if somebody really care about what's going on over there, somebody come out and see. Y'ALL Y'ALL ALWAYS AGREE TO GO do look at everything else. Come out there sometimes. It's right too. Don't let nobody know you coming. Don't tell the manager you coming. Don't call triate. Tell them you coming. Just ride through and you can knock on my door. If you come through, [clears throat] I I love to cook. I love to make you some food while you come through. Well, so so are you saying that they pretty much adhere to the the the time constraints, right, that they operate within the the time?

I'm glad you brought the time up. Would you where you stay at, would you like for someone to start making whatever noise they making at 6:00 in the morning and they go to midnight and sometime past midnight? If they could just work with us on the hour they doing it, they won't give us no relief. 6 to midnight. That's just six days a week. So just come by you. I mean 2100 East 11. That's why I stay. Knock on my door any time of day or night you want to. Let's me and you standing out there.

No, but again, I'm I'm asking. They pretty much adhere to the time constraints. That's that would be something easily that I could verify that if I drive by at 1:00 at night and they're operating, but they're not going to be doing it. No, they're not going to be doing it. And that's a good thing, too. I don't know how they got you the 12:00 thing. Who would get somebody permission to crush cars at midnight to midnight in somebody else's neighborhood? Well, I understand. But but that's where we are. Yeah, but it's on there. They they got they say they got permission. I don't know. I I will make it a point to I I live pretty close to there. I hear their operations. I will make a point to get with you. Okay. Within the near future. Okay, that'll work. You can knock on my door anytime you want to.

Does anybody have anything else? Director Harris, I I do I as I think it a while back I think I came before the planning committee and I tried to do change the time from 6:00 in the morning to 6:30 in the evening. They told me and it could not be done because since a board member is asking well I didn't really come as a board member since I came up there trying to change the PUD they saying it had to be TriState now do you think Tri State going to change they PUD no way

and and that was done I believe in 2004 so and so that's what the issue is is there some way how you can get CH triate to change the time from 6:00 in the morning to 6:30 in the evening I think that's good enough that's fair with the community and I think that will be fair to them and like I said I don't think and if I can hear it wave from my house in the morning and I know I can hear it in the evening so I know what he going through so what's wrong with us trying to find some way to change the time operation from 6:00 in the morning to 6:30 in the evening state said they don't want to do it and they say based on the bylaw you got people trying to get bylaws trying to change as to why add of them on on what I can say and what I can't say on my first amendment rights. So So won't we change the uh operating that's within the parameters [clears throat] of the country?

Huh? They got the contract. They got it from who? PUD the city. The city gave them the contract. Yeah. So once you give out the contract, y'all can't change nothing. They have it's their contract. I mean, but you saying it can't be chained. That's what I want you to say right now. It can't be unless they agree. Huh? Not unless they agree. Not unless they agree. Okay. This is their contract. All right. So, no contract y'all put out can be changed. Does anybody have any other questions for I had one more question. Do y'all care if he gives Go ahead. Yeah. Cuz Go ahead, lady. Go ahead.

It's about Mr. Hair. That's what I want to say. If we had a W member like you was over in your ward, half hour probably wouldn't be going on. And I'm not putting no finger nobody, but I I read all your ad that you put up. Everything they do over your ward, you post it. you to go out there and do live videos of it. And I [clears throat] say you're doing a great job in your ward. That's all I got to say. Um Charles, I'm sorry I can't read your last name. Yes, sir. I'm coming. I'm just a little bit slow.

All right. Uh Charles Loki. Been [clears throat] a long time since I've been up here. Um, I just wanted to address the council. I I saw where y'all were going to name the street for Sergeant Randleman and um, I wanted to thank the council and the city for doing that. Um, some people may know and some people may not know, Sergeant Randomman was with with 5004th Parachute Infantry Regiment, 101st Airborne Division. jumped into Normandy the night of June 5th, 1944. I have a a tie in to Sergeant Randleman. It's kind of strange in a way, but uh the same night he jumped in, my great uncle jumped in with the 502nd of the 101st. Uh Uncle James didn't make it out. He's buried in Normandy. uh he made it to the uh 12th of June and uh when they assaulted Carrington that's when he was killed and ironically 35 years ago right now I found myself in a beach on a beach far far away with no ocean in the desert and I was attached to the 5002nd of the 101st and I just wanted to thank the city for acknowledging that man because I think it pays honor to him and all the people that jumped in that night and I that's that's really all I have to say except this day and age this country everywhere is so divided

over the craziest of things and if we just had more men like that Maybe people would be doing a lot better and communities be doing a lot better and you'd be seeing improvements instead of stagnation. You'd see improvements instead of hostilities. And I pray to the dear Lord that we get back to that. That's all I have to say.

Thank you. Does anybody else wish to address the board? Anyone else? If not, we'll move on into our consent agenda. Uh tonight we have several items on our consent agenda. We have uh one through six. Our item number one is approval of the minutes of the rescheduled regular meeting January 5th. Uh I will say there were some changes to the agenda uh for the board members. It was uh done late this afternoon. There was a couple of items that were removed from our original agenda. Item number two was to adopt a resolution authorizing airport director into agreement with Mleland Engineering for engineering services for the MRO MRO site development. Number three is adopt a resolution authorizing directing city manager enter into an engineering contract with Al Frankson Engineering for the design of an emergency generator for city hall. Adopt a resolution authorizing and directing city manager purchase a 25 Ford F250 SD from government by board Mclarde Ford. adopt a resolution authorizing directing city manager into a purchase agreement with Arliteex Artex Truck Center for a dump truck. And item number six is to adopt a resolution authorizing and directing city manager into a purchase agreement with uh River Valley Tractor Canifer Kabota mini excavator. What would be the desire of the board?

Yes. Before you vote, I'd like to take those three off. I'd like to pull two. And other than that uh anybody else have any other objections? No. If not, then the consent agenda will consist of items 1, four, five, and six. What would be the desire of the board? Second. Have a motion and a second. All those in favor say I. I. The motion carries. Uh Director Harris, I believe you spoke first. Remove item number two. I'm just trying to figure out what does the engineering need to engineer as far as a uh this is item number two. Uh Paul Oh. Oh, number three. Oh,

that's good. Oh, did you remove two or three? I'm sorry. All right. Three. You spoke first. Director Harris spoke first. Go ahead. Let's discuss number three. No, go ahead. Since two become four. Three. Go ahead. Come on up, Paul. Come on down. All right.

Uh good evening members. Uh so this is uh the um MLON engineering will be doing the the design work uh for the civil uh work for the MRO site that would go next to uh runway 1331. This is being paid predominantly with a grant that was provided for us uh by text dot through the uh city of Texas, Texas. in the amount of $22 million. And so this will allow us to run the utilities to the site, uh do the soil surveying, um doing uh all the phase one work, and then getting it so it will be pad ready. Uh so we'll be able to build a building upon that site.

And this is no cost to the city. This does have a match. Uh the match is out of uh funds that are currently approved uh through uh the I'm trying to think of which year the 2024. Okay. The 24 uh capital my uh I [clears throat] got a couple questions. The uh the the total fee for the engineering on this is $25 million, right? 25158. It's two uh.5 million. Yes, they I mean Yeah, I mean Yes, sir. Yes, two. I'm sorry. That's the total [clears throat] total price of [snorts]

Okay. Uh as this is I guess a professional uh endeavor, you don't have to uh actually get bids, right? You just uh seek uh qualifications or requests for qualifications or is that is that what it is? So the airport has to go out for uh requests for qualifications every 5 years according to the FAA's rules. Uh we currently have two engineering firms that are on call. Uh one is Mlullen Engineering and the other one is Garver. Both of them are taking pieces of the overall MRO project and the runway lengthening and strengthening.

Okay. When when was the last time Garver was used? Uh Garver is uh so uh the kind of quick update governmentwise um the appropriations bill is looks like it will be passed this week. In that is an 11 million uh grant that will be used for uh the runway uh the taxi way widening and that is uh one project that uh Garver is working on. Garver is also doing our uh air rescue firefighting truck update. They're doing a vehicle service road. They are the ones that are over the design for the self-service fuel tank as well. And they will be handling the um demolition of the juvenile hall building that we've just obtained from the

Any idea about what they what their fee might be in that? Um I it varies per project. I can get you a a accumulation of those totals. Wait, this M uh Mlen is that? Yes. Mlen Engineering. They're they're also the ones that did the engineering work for the terminal. Is that right? That is correct, sir. What was the fee on that?

Uh they often charge approximately uh 5%. It's so fees for for the engineering firms what they will do is they do what is called an independent fee assessment. We send that off to a third party to get numbers from them that gets back uh sent back with their numbers to the FAA. It has to be within 10%. And so all of the different firms uh are usually within that kind of 10% variance of each other. So So Mlullen Well, well, whatever. Their their fee for this is 2 something million, right? That's correct, sir.

So, their fee for terminal was a substantial amount, more than a million, so Yes, sir. So, Carver is up next to get the I guess the next project. That's correct. Yes, they will be doing the tax widening project. Are they in line to get multi-million dollar awards, too? I mean, millions of dollars. Okay. Uh I did some look there at Mlullen's figures and they have in in their calculations mileage to and from I guess Little Rock. They got several offices. That's correct.

Locations, but I I guess the one that serves in this area will be Little Rock. They have $42,000 I mean 42,000 miles. They they will be coming through down the project throughout the entire year. Yes. Um so

that's but that's that's 150 trips to Texa County for a 10 a 10-month project. That's that's three trips like a week or that. And uh uh did did was this did y'all scrutinize their their bid or anything? You or the board when this was looked at? Is is this in your opinion? Is this in line? I mean, could this $2.2 $2 million bill. Could that have been shaved by something or was it asked to I mean I I know you can't bid this or whatever, but can you ask for a better deal or anything?

I can certainly come back to them and and speak to them about the the mileage numbers if that's of a concern. Um all of these things are put forth before our planning committee which is made up about half the board and then it is taken to the the full board for approval. Well, I mean the the 42,000 miles to me is an issue and I saw one of their calculations on on um where they they calculated in their mileage at two trips to uh uh at to Texas I guess or two two trips 200 uh two trips trips, 280 mi, $1,974. That's a lot more than the what they had been calculating uh on their other trips. That has to be a calcul a miscalculation. So, I would ask that you take a look at that. I I know that's a you know there that's probably a $1,600 mistake, but which is a minute amount for this $2.2 million, but that begs a question if if they made miscalculation there. If if if they didn't make some other miscalculations somewhere else. So

if you can send me any specific figures, I will go ahead and I will I'll send that over to them to Yeah. for comment. Uh, and I'm glad to hear to hear that these projects are shared with other folks and not just this one company. So, yes, sir. And that's um I believe that's all. Thanks, M.

Does anybody have any other questions for um item number two? If not, I'd instruct the city attorney to read the resolution. Whereas the Texana Regional Airport is asking for authorization for the Texana airport executive director to enter into an agreement with Mlelen Consulting Engineers Incorporated for engineering service for MRO site development and whereas the total amount of the project is not to exceed 2,512,84287 and whereas 95% will be paid from a 23,157,894 $24.74 grant from the state of Texas by Text DOT and a 5% match will be split between the cities of Texan, Arkansas at $56,30024 and Tex Canana, Texas $69,341.90. Now therefore, be it resolved by the board of directors of the city of Texter County, Arkansas, that the texture regional regional airport executive director is authorized to enter into an engineering services agreement with Mlelen Consulting Engineers Incorporated for the purposes and in the amount set forth above, pass and approve this 20th day of January, 2026.

The city attorneys read the resolution of the desire of the board. Motion to adopt. Second. Second. We have a motion and a second to adopt. Any other discussion? Could you call the role? Director Roberts, yes. Director Harris, yes. Director Halabush, yes. Assistant Mayor Brewer, yes. Director Juel, yes. Mayor Brown, yes. Resolution passes. Director Harris,

my I guess mine's a little bit, but mine's real simple. Uh, I noticed that we paying $20,000 for engineering fee. Uh, but my concern since it's dealing with a generator, why didn't we just get a license? Did we just get an electrician? Ma'am, first I did ask what is he doing before I ask uh what is he what is he what plan is he giving uh with the it's about a generator for this building here. So when the lights and stuff goes out it's for to keep the lights off. So that's what he uh Frank has put forward is a design generator I guess go in the building near the building so when the lights out but and but what else is he doing?

He's doing the site plan for the generator. So it's it's not a a simple uh plug a generator in and go. You're talking about uh a good bit of underground utilities have to be installed. Uh this this generator is um probably what Ro 10 foot long by probably 10 foot by 10t footprint and it's going to have to be set way over here and uh all the electrical is going to have to be run inside. There's going to be a bunch of different tie-ins inside. So yeah, there's there's quite a bit of engineering for the site plan to go on there.

Okay. And and my question really I put I just want why can't wait and get a electrician a master electrician because he could have did the same thing. So that's I agree a lot of times uh many masterricians can do that but um we we have to involve engineers in the process. That's all

any other discussion? If not I'd instruct the city attorney to read the resolution. Whereas the public works department is asking for authorization for the city manager to enter into an agreement with Al Franks Engineering for engineering services for the design of an emergency generator system for city hall. And whereas there is critical need for reliable energy power solutions at city hall. And this project will consist of system design, site assessment, load analysis, compliance review, and project management for the emergency generator installation. And whereas the city submitted a request for qualifications in January 2025 for engineers, architects, and surveyors, and ALF Franks Engineering was selected as a qualified engineer for city projects based on their qualifications and extensive work history with the city. And whereas AOL Franks Engineering submitted their design fee proposal for this project in the amount of $20,500. And whereas the city received notice of a grant award from the Arkansas Division of Emergency Management for this project in the amount of $161,62.50 with the local project cost being estimated at $214,750 with the city's matching contribution of $53,687.50 being allocated from the capital outly line item with the building maintenance budget. Now therefore, be it resolved by the board of directors of the city of Chester County, Arkansas, that the city manager is authorized to enter into an engineering services agreement with Al Franks Engineering for the purposes and in the amount set forth above and the fiscal year 2026 budget is amended to include the associated grant revenue and expense. Pass and approve this 20th day of January 2026.

City attorneys read the resolution which be the desire of the board. Motion to adopt. All right, we have a motion and a second. Any other discussion? You [clears throat] call the role. Director Roberts, yes. Director Harris, yes. Director Halibush, yes. Assistant Mayor Brewer, yes. Director Juwel, yes. Mayor Brown, yes. Resolution passes. Moving right on into our regular agenda. Item number seven is to adopt a resolution accepting the year in 2024 audit report. Shaina. Um, tonight we have David Coleman with Farst Mazard who's going to present the 2024 audit. I'll turn over to David.

All right. Good evening everyone. Thank you all for having me here. It's a pleasure to be here with you to talk about uh the issued uh December 31st, 2024 audit. So, it was issued uh right like at the end of the year. So, uh we were up working in in into almost the new year. So, I think we issued it um December 30th. So, um I have a few slides here if I can get this to work. [clears throat] All right. So, um as as far as our agenda, so we're going to talk about objectives of the audit, my require communication to you all, some highlights and state compliance, and then give you an opportunity to ask a few questions. So, first of all, the objectives,

I'll fix it. I can't get this thing to work. So, um, anytime a municipality or a government get who has federal funds gets an audit, there's multiple objectives of the audit. First is auditing your financial statements. So, that's one opinion. Next is your compliance with certain state laws and regulations, which is government auditing standards. The next is internal control over over your financial reporting uh and compliance. and then on your compliance with federal awards. So, we we look at your federal grants and make sure you spent those appropriately. And then finally, we issue an examination opinion on your compliance with certain state laws as required by the state of Arkansas. So, this slide I always like to put up here. It talks about our responsibility for versus management's responsibility. So, uh just to remind you, the financial statements are the responsibility of management. um we ask them to sign off on them to ensure that they are properly uh presented. Our job is to express an opinion on those financial statements uh through our audit uh that they are materially correct. So as far as our our required communication, there's certain there's certain aspects uh that we are required to communicate to the board of directors those chargeable governance. First our auditor's responsibility uh which we've just discussed. Uh a second is our opinion on the qualitative aspects of your accounting policy. So we as part of the audit we go in and look at your accounting policies. Uh no matters are reportable to you. Uh the next is audit adjustments. So um audit adjustments are when we find issues with your audit, we propose audit adjustments. Most of the audit adjustments that were made in the current year audit were prepared by your management. So we start the audit, we get entries, we post them, and then we

issue the audit. So I got a question on that. Sure. on um th those uh timelines when you find um something that's out of compliance, is there a proposed timeline that you give to correct uh any deficiencies? Um I didn't mention any any just to report deficiencies. They're just a reporting. Okay, gotcha. So there there's no deficiencies that I've identified yet to you all that need corrected. All right.

So I'm I'm just talking about what we're required to communicate with you all. Um the next one is our judgment about your accounting principles. We think everything uh the city is doing they're they're appropriately uh applying accounting principles. Uh the next is difficulties encountered in performing the audit. Not really any uh once Sheena got in there we were able to kind of get going and and get what we needed to complete the audit. Uh we had some issues earlier in the year with with with staff turnover and whatnot, but I think that got rectified uh where we were able to to to issue the audit. So the next a few financial highlights. I'm not going to read all this to you, but you know the ACT is 200 and something pages long. You can see what all it's made of. The intro section, financial se section, statistical and the single audit section. Um the all the funds of the city get rolled up into the act for itself. Governmental activities, there's three major funds there, the business type component units, other aggregate funds. Uh we do not audit the Texas airport or the Texas Canada urban transit district. Uh those those financials do go into the audit. We base our our opinion on on other auditors there. Um, so as far as the the overall consolidated net position governmental activities, uh, what I'd like to look at is the bottom line here. You see 52 million compared to 33 million. Well, why did that go up? A lot of it went up. Um, you all are part owners in the airport. So, you get uh uh what's going out there was paid for grant with grants. So, uh, it it ended up increasing your net position. Another uh item, an interesting item, you'll see the long-term liabilities went from 57 to 49 uh million in and from last year to the current year, your your pension liabilities actually went down about $7

million year-over-year. So, we saw a reduction uh in your pension liabilities year-over-year. Um this is just the the the changes in net position. You'll see 7 million compared to 18 million there. uh about three numbers from the bottom. That's your change in net position year-over-year. Um about 13 million of that is the airport investment, the increase in an airport investment. About six or 7 million of that is is your decrease in pension. So everything makes sense. You ended up with increase in your net position, 18.4 million uh year-over-year. Um this is just an overall look at government activities, revenue. We don't have to go through every this. Everything looks pretty stable uh uh throughout the year. You will see your your operating grants and contributions that we did discuss uh went up $10 million. The airport number is in there as well. I'm not going to go through this, but it's there if you want to see it. It's kind of a breakdown of your revenue, uh your governmental activities revenue, a lot of sales tax, a lot of intergovernmental revenue there. Just kind of a breakdown of of your sources of revenue. So the next expenses. So um I thought it was interesting in looking at the police and fire. They they went down and um I got to talking to Cynthia about that. And most of that when when you have pension expense, it gets charged to public safety. If your pension plans perform better, it's going to reduce your your your expenses that are required there uh for police and fire. And then your public works. Um looks like you were busy uh doing some work there last year as well. Uh this is another slide uh that shows your breakdown uh just a pie chart of your expenses by by governmental activity.

Um this is a a pretty important slide here. Um this shows your days outstanding in your general fund unrestricted uh fund balance. So what we do, we do a calculation to take your un unrestricted assigned general fund balance and we determine on average how many days you have in uh your unreserved fund balance. So um you had 100 days last year, 102 days in 2024. Um the GFOA which is our standard setters recommends about 60 days there. So, you're almost double what they recommend as far as you having in your unassigned fund balance or or your unassigned general fund balance. Uh, next, single audit. Um, here here's where we didn't we didn't find any material weaknesses, significant deficiencies. Um, we still have a couple items on the single audit, the grant audit that we need to get completed. Um, one of them is related to TWWU. Um, you all did receive a grant from them and the city had to do that. uh put it on its sifa. So there's a couple items there, but we haven't seen anything in working on that that would arrive at a material weakness or a significant deficiency. Um our we we also issued an unmodified opinion on your compliance with with state state compliance, what we're required to do, and your financial statements. So unmodified means good uh clean opinion uh as as far as those items go. Um, with that being said, um, I'll I'm happy to answer any questions you have. I'm not normally here talking to you. Cynthia usually is, but, um, I was in town, so I I volunteered to come meet with you all and try to answer any of your questions. So, happy to be take them.

Anybody have any questions? Any questions on audit questions? Hearing none. Thank you very much. Yeah. Thank you. Have a good evening. You too, sir. If no other questions, I'd instruct the city attorney to read the resolution. Whereas the firm Forbus Mazars LLP has submitted to the board of directors its annual audits for the city of Teture, Arkansas, and the B-state Justice Center for 2024. Now, therefore, be it resolved by the board of directors of the city of Teture, Arkansas, that the 2024 audit reports submitted by Forbus Mazar's LLP are hereby approved and accepted. Passed and approved this 20th 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? Could you call the role? Director Roberts? Yes. Director Harris? Yes. Director Halibush? Yes. Assistant Mayor Brewer? Yes. Director Juel? Yes. Mayor Brown?

Yes. And the resolution passes. Item number eight, adopt an ordinance lev the 2026 t tax rate. Tyler, so this is the tax levy that you normally see in December. You just did it last month uh for the year 2025. We're doing it in January this year. Um so that uh our the additional millage for our street bond is on there. We're doing it now instead of later in the year like normal uh so that there's less risk uh to investors on the street bond. we we levy this additional tax. So the the only difference in 25 and 26 is um section one letter E that um that debt service millage uh goes from 2.5 to 5 mills. But that is the only diff difference here. We're doing it now to uh lessen the risk to investors uh get better rates on our street bonds. Anybody have any questions on the tax rate? I remind the board this is an ordinance to be to pass. It would need to be read three times tonight. We're also asking for an emergency clause. If no other questions, I'll instruct the city attorney to read the ordinance and title form.

An ordinance levying the 2026 tax rates for declaring an emergency and for other purposes. Ordinance has been read on its first reading. Motion to have it read on its second. Second reading abbreviated form, please. Second. Have a motion, a second for second reading. Any other discussion? You call the role. Director Roberts, yes. Director Harris, yes. Director Halibush, yes. Assistant Mayor Brewer, yes. Director Juel, yes. Mayor Brown, yes. An ordinance levying the 2020 2026 tax rates for declaring an emergency 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 form. Second.

Have a motion, a second for third reading. Any other discussion? You call the row. Director Roberts, yes. Director Harris, yes. Director Halibush, yes. Assistant Mayor Brewer, yes. Director Juel, yes. Mayor Brown, yes. An ordinance levying the 2026 tax rates for declaring an emergency and for other purposes. Ordinance has been read on its third and final reading. A motion to adopt. Move for adoption. 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? Seeing and hearing none, could you call the role? Director Roberts, yes. Director Harris, yes. Director Halibush,

yes. Assistant Mayor Brewer, yes. Director Juel, yes. Mayor Brown, yes. And the city has asked for an emergency clause. The desire to attach. Motion to attach emergency clause. Second. Have a motion, a second to attach emergency clause. Any other discussion? Could you call a role? Director Roberts? Yes. Director Harris? Yes. Director Halibush? Yes. Assistant Mayor Brewer? Yes. Director Juel? Yes. Mayor Brown?

Yes. And the emergency clause is attached. Moving right along to item number nine, which is to adopt a resolution to rename East Ninth Street from Locust Street West to the city limits in honor of Denver Bull Randleman Jamie. So, um I'm going to turn this over to Tom Orinberg in a minute because he is the expert on Staff Sergeant Randleman. Um Staff Sergeant Randleman was from Texana. His life was depicted in the Band of Brothers TV series and um they have renamed the VFW on East 9th in honor of him. There is a statue currently being erected in Little Rock in his honor. Um just for clarification though, this is an honorary renaming of East 9inth Street. We will not be readressing anybody's address. Nobody's address is going to change. So, don't anybody panic on that. It'll be the Randall Bull or the Denver Bull Randleman Memorial Highway.

Jamie, I have one question. Um, last time we renamed a section of a state highway. Um, we had to we basically authorized or gave our blessing and then it was approved by the state. This follow same thing. Yes. Same thing. It has to be approved by the state. Yeah. before the state will consider it, they've got to have a uh resolution from the city supporting it. Okay. [clears throat]

If I just may add one thing on the initial request, I did have staff sergeant, I don't know if you wanted to go ahead and make sure that or clarify that that was put on there as well. Staff Sergeant Denver Bull Randleman. You probably just do the abbreviated Army version of SSG. You have to spell it out. It it it does say staff sergeant in the ordinance. And if you have any questions, any at all. [laughter] Yes. Where's your hair? I just want to know uh when this year is going to have a celebration when you get through this. Yeah, we I mean I don't know what the protocol is for something like that. I mean you know over

I would think that you would have I remember when we did Miss Evans Mhm. over there on Charles Street and you went there either. You can also do it with a proclamation, right? So I don't think they dumb Miss Ed. We just went in there and somebody spoke pass this and that add some other stuff but that's up. Yeah, we'd like to have at least unveil the sign and and have a ceremony, right? Absolutely. Absolutely. Yes, we did do a proclamation. I read it. Yeah, you're correct. I'm talking about. Yeah. At the street and not uncovering it. Yes. I read I was there. Yeah. Okay. Anything else? Any other questions?

If no other questions, I'd instruct the city attorney to read the resolution. Can I make a clarification? We reference him as a staff sergeant in the body of the resolution. Are you asking that the that the uh street be named staff sergeant Denver [clears throat] Bull Randomman Memorial Highway? That was the initial intent. Okay. State declared. And also with just if we want to get in the det in the in the woods, the the bull is in quotation marks as well, right? Yes, we do have that. We have that. Okay. Jamie, would that be submitted by us to the highway department or through them?

You'll submit it the way that you're asking for it to be placed on the sign. I'm sorry. You would submit that on how you want it on the sign. When you're when we give you we vote on this tonight and you do your highway department stuff, you would submit however you wanted the sign to read. Okay. All right. Any other questions? If not, I would instruct the city attorney to read the resolution. [cough] [clears throat]

Whereas a request has been submitted by Tom Orberg on behalf of Veterans of Foreign Wars post number 4562 seeking an honorary street designation for a portion of East 9th Street in te in the city of Texan, Arkansas in memory of veteran staff sergeant Denver Bull Randleman. And whereas the requested honorary designation applies to the portion of East 9th Street beginning at Locust Street and extending east to the city limits. Whereas Denver Bull Randleman was born in Recctor, Arkansas and honorably served the United States during World War II, enlisting in the United States Army on August 19th, 1942 and attain and attaining the rank of staff sergeant. And whereas Staff Sergeant Randleman was a member of Easy Company, 506 Parachute Infantry Regiment, 101st Airborne Division, famously known as the Band of Brothers, and made his first combat jump on D-Day, June 6, 1944. were participating in major engagements including oper operation market garden and the battle of the bulge. And whereas Staff Sergeant Randleman was wounded in action, survived combat under extraordinary circumstances, participated in the occupation of Germany and Austria, and was a awarded the Bronze Star, Purple Heart and Presidential Unit Citation, and was was honorably discharged on September 21st, 1945. And whereas following his military service, Denver Bull Randleman pursued a career in industry, becoming service manager for JA rigs tractor company, was a mason and spent the final years of his life in Teture Cana, Arkansas, where he passed away on June 26, 2003 at the age of 82 and is interred at Memorial Garden Cemetery in Texana, Arkansas. Whereas the local VFW post number 4562 located at 4700 East 9inth Street has

been re renamed the Denver Bull Randleman BFW post number 4562 in his honor and supports the requested honorary designation. Whereas the planning commission of the city of Texas, Arkansas at its meeting held on January 13, 2026, voted unanimously to recommend approval of the honorary street designation for the designated segment as as reflected in its recommendation to the board. And whereas the city board of directors find that granting this honorary street designation is an appropriate and meaningful way to recognize the extraordinary military service, character, and legacy of veteran staff sergeant Denver Bull Randolan. Now therefore, be it resolved by the board of directors of the city of Texan, Arkansas, that section one, the portion of East Ninth Street beginning at Locust Street and extending east to the city limits shall be ceremonially designated as the staff sergeant Denver Bull Randleman Memorial Highway. Section two. This honorary designation shall not alter the official or legal name of East Ninth Street for purposes of addressing, mapping, emergency services, postal delivery, or legal descriptions. Pass and approve this 20th day of January, 2026.

City attorneys read the resolution. Desire of [clears throat] the board. Move for adoption. Second. Have a motion in a second. Any other discussion? Yes. I'm going to ask one more. When is his birthday? No. November 20th, 1920. Okay. Now, the reason why I was ask I was just thinking you can have something on his birthday or something. They just something came to me. No. Have a show where you can go and view his movies and stuff cuz I don't remember that movie or nothing. That's all. But thank June 6th. No, I don't remember the movie that you gave reference to. So,

Manda Brothers. Okay. Yeah. Okay. But I would probably like to see something of it. So, Okay. And I think that'd be good. You had a public showing. You know, it's a 10 part series, so it take a while. [laughter] All right. Thank you. All right. Any other discussion with desire of the board? Motion. Got a second. Motion. Oh, you motion second. All right. Just have no second. No other discussion. We got a second on that, didn't you? Okay. No other discussion. Could you call the role? Director Roberts, my honor and privilege to vote yes. Director Harris, yes. Director Halibush, yes. Assistant Mayor Brewer, yes. Director Juel, yes.

Mayor Brown, yes. The resolution passes. Moving to our last item is an adopt an ordinance regulating truck stops. Jamie.

Okay. So as you may or may not recall some time ago we were approached about possibility of banning truck stops inside the city limits al together and the planning commission felt because of the revenue generated by such businesses that that was not in the best interest of the city. So we came up with a plan to regulate truck stops and it basically involves three parts. First, we are going to utilize the mixeduse highway zone which is part of the comprehensive plan. And that zone is designed for businesses that are dependent on hight traffic areas like business like truck stops, um travel centers, things like that. In November, the board passed and approved that mixeduse highway zone. So, we have it in place. The second Part of it is to adopt the truck stop part of the ordinance which will regulate truck stops. So the main points of this ordinance, this ordinance only applies to actual truck stops. You know they're putting a maverick in over um on the corner of state line and I30 where that old hotel was. That is not a truck stop. It does not have overnight parking. Doesn't have shower facilities. It doesn't restaurants. That's not an actual truck stop. This just applies to truck traditional truck stops. They have overnight parking. They may have minor repair facilities. They have truck scales. They have truck washes. Um showers. Some of them may have hotels associated with them. Um they must be located in the mixeduse highway zone. The mixeduse highway zone is located

along major corridors like I30, I49. And the thought is to keep truck stops out of the heart of our city. Um they have to have one parking space per 200 square feet of public retail space. All parking must be or all parking ingress and egress must be paved. If they have a vehicle that's inoperable, we cannot remain there for more than two weeks. We don't want this to become a junkyard trucks that don't run. And uh lighting has to reflect away from the adjacent residential areas. Um before approval, they have to submit to us a site plan, traffic impact study, a drainage study, a lighting plan, a security camera plan. We've already discussed lighting. Their signage has to comply with our ordinances. And while we do not require landscaping, it is encouraged that most of these big places have some kind of landscaping anyway. Post approval. Before they can proceed, they have to have an approved driveway permit from whoever the appropriate agency is. If they're on interstate from AROT, they have to comply with all the state and federal regulations. They have to demonstrate to us that they're cooperating with state and federal agencies. Of course, they have to have approved certificate of occupancy. They have to have a security camera plan. That was a request put in here by the TAPD. And again, the like. Um, and part of our considerations would be locations of other truck stops, which right now we only have one. Uh, similar facilities that are in the area and adjacent zoning. We don't want to disrupt residential neighborhoods with the big trucks. So that's the that's the part of the

plan we're at now. The third part of the plan will be to reszone Flying J. So it's in compliance. So it's right now Flying J will be a nonconforming structure which means it can't build and we don't want to tie their hands. So after we get this in place, we've already spoken to Flying to their legal department and we will resone them so they'll be a conforming structure and we're not tying their hands. Jamie, go ahead. Hey, what's the projected economic impact for this? I have not. We have not been approached by anybody wanting to build an actual truck stop. Okay.

I think what triggered this is the truck stop the Texas side put in over across from Denny's. All right. Have we looked at their economic impact that they acquire? Fly J produces a lot of revenue for the city. That's the only question I had. Go ahead. As far as um you know making the fly J compliant, the road runner that's on for State Fair Parkway, they've got truck parking in the back and I don't know if that's a privately owned lot that's separate, but is that something that we would need to look at? We can look at that. I don't consider that a truck stop.

Um because the the Road Runner lets trucks park back there. The Circle K across the street lets trucks park there. Um the Road Runner, they don't even fuel there. Yeah, they don't. They don't. And there is another adjacent lot behind it that is charging for parking now if you want to park. Yeah, I grab a lot. We have a lot that are park at the Dollar General on 71. Uh they charge for it, but that's to keep the trucks out of the neighborhoods. Would this cause issues for them? Would this cause them to be non-compliant with those lots? They're not They're not a truck stop. Truck stop.

They don't have showers. They don't have truck skills. They don't have truck washes. They're not doing repairs. Gotcha. They have good burgers. Yeah. Any other discussion? Well, the truck stop is defined in the ordinance, right? Exactly. What is a truck stop? Okay. Was at planning and zoning. Was there any kind of opposition to this or anything like that? Like I said, we're this is more of a proactive thing. We've not had anyone approach us about truck stops, but we don't want a truck stop down in the middle of state line. Right. Well, it's being proactive, right? With this Yeah. With these kind of

these kind of regulations, I doubt you're going to get one. Well, most truck stops are going to want to be on the interstate. If I'm not mistaken, we've got a new truck stop going in on the county side of 108. Anyway, so any other discussion? like the hand. [laughter] Any other discussion? I remind the board this is an ordinance to pass tonight. It would need to be read three times. If no other discussion, I'll instruct the city attorney to read the ordinance in its first reading and title form.

An ordinance amending the city of Texan, Arkansas code of ordinances to regulate the location and operation of truck stops within the mixeduse highway zone and for other purposes. Ordinance has been read on its first reading. desire to have it read on his second reading. Second reading abbreviated for him, please. Second. Have a motion, a second for second reading. Any other discussion? Could you call the role? Director Roberts, yes. Director Harris, yes. Director Halibus, yes. Assistant Mayor Brewer, yes. Director Juel, no. Mayor Brown, yes. An ordinance amending the city of Teturekan, Arkansas code of ordinances to regulate the location and operation of truck stops within the mixeduse highway zone and for other purposes.

Ordinance has been read on its second reading. Motion for third and final. Third reading abbreviated form. Second. Have a motion and second. Any other discussion? You call the row. Director Roberts. Yes. Director Harris. Yes. Director Halabush. Yes. Assistant Mayor Brewer. Yes. Director Juel, no. Mayor Brown, yes. An ordinance amending the city of Teture County, Arkansas code of ordinances to regulate the location and operation of truck stops within the mixeduse highway zone and for other purposes. Ordinance has been read on its third and final reading. Desire to adopt. Motion to adopt.

Second. We 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 Seeing and hearing none, could you call the role? Director Roberts, yes. Director Harris, yes. Director Halibush, yes. Assistant Mayor Brewer, yes. Director Juel, yes. Mayor Brown, yes. And the ordinance is adopted. Board commentary. Is there any board member that wishes to address the board?

Any board member? Director Harris. Um, I just want to let the inform the public. You know, I I wish uh some people think that this a paying position, but it's not. And you want to know why is Laney Harris getting a whole lots of crap from a this not even a paying position. Sometime I wonder that too, but I was talking to a guy today and he was telling me sometime it ain't about the money, it's maybe the other thing is more about the power. You know, this come from his position, but I don't see this as a power position. But my other thing is if you want to come I wish people come up here and ask me help me on trying to get more streets done in W too like when I asked about uh uh I'm just going to name out a few like Haye Street uh Mitchell Street, Batten Street, you know uh you know the street. Then when I asked the city manager about trying to do a housing study, uh, you know, because trying to help with the housing situation over in College Hill and Kica Hill area, maybe that would help us going out and getting money and stuff. But I wish people come up here and ask those type of question then and trying to control what what Lena Harris saying or what Lena Harris is putting on out there in the public on with this camera here. Because I remember at one time, you know, they weren't even showing the citiz communication meeting when the when the city was putting this on in the TV when it was on that uh act channel. They wouldn't even show the whole board meeting. So that's why this camera here kind of started cuz when I started off, I started just showing commun sales communication, but now I I do put the whole meeting, but but that's really not what I'm getting at. But I just wish you know when somebody come up here just come you look around in the community and stuff and see what the community need and then come up there and ask I'm on addressing those issues like what streets not being done. I know we just go through a bunish and all the

street I just named. They is not g they not on nobody's uh uh uh uh they on nobody's street study plans for get those street done. But but I know and I think I named a lots of street. I could name some more streets but but I just said next time you do look look around the neighborhood and come and help me and or you can call the city manager and ask you know why when I put in a request why is this a year or two years out? you know, why why don't my request get done within maybe 6 months or a reasonable time? You know, they just not did something over there on uh they just not went around and did the neighborhood for as cleaning the curbs and stuff. And I know that was request almost two years ago. And then I know there's some other issue uh uh they just came and done over there on uh which that should have been addressed when they did that street on Drone Street. How the how the pipe was caving in and the water were not draining out. You know I'm saying when you come forward just just look around the neighborhood and come up here and argue about something that really going to help the neighborhood. And thank you.

I would like to add one thing.

Yes, Director Roberts. I don't know what the feasibility of this would be or if we would address it in a workshop or if we even could do it, but possibly establishing College Hill as a tiff district. Is that something that would be that we could do where we have uh I mean I know it's uh director Harris is uh mainly it's all in his ward but you got to go through there to get to my ward and if we set it as a tiff district uh it possibly could help with economic development. it could help with there. There's going to be a we know a certain amount of money there that we can spend in College Hill because uh I mean I I like I said I don't represent College Hill but I I can definitely tell you College Hill needs help

and uh tremendously bad. Not really tiff. I'm going to say like Ninth Street is another environment or what I'm trying to think of that name of cuz I brought that up before by making Ninth Street and part of East Environment something uh I had to find the name. I can't remember the name right quick. It's something that when that street like Ninth Street or East Street make it a street that when somebody come uh I guess a vi distress economic street but that's not the name of it. But I I know what you're talking about.

But but like I said, until you do the the housing study and the other study and and and go after the money that we should have went after two years ago, college here going to continue being way looking the way it's looking because a lot of stuff can get resolved with you with you, the city manager. I can't answer your tiff district question right now, but I will check into it and let you know for sure.

Thank you. Um the only comment that I would make about that is there there are a declining number of tiffas districts across the state and we only have we're one of the few that have one of them left and to convert to the I'm I'm not for sure we could convert an already established entity into a tiff district. Crossroads was initiated as a tiff district when it started. But now doesn't it isn't it coming up for renewal? It'll remain a tiff district till we dissolve it.

So we don't have to renew it. we don't have to renew it. That's my understanding. I mean, we've looked into it for several years, but the point is is that when you create that TIFF district, all that would go into that TI district fund would be those community members that are within the confines of that district's taxes. So, my point is it would be years before you could do anything with that money for that fund to build to be able to just do that. And that's one of the issues that we have with Crossroads is we have all these funds established in this tiff district, but it can only be spent there. But it took years to get it there.

Uh so it would be a disadvantage in my opinion to even start one over there because it would be they would be at a more advantage of having the revenue of the city combined than they would be in their own tiff district. It would be 10 or 15 years before you could s fix one street. I know what Yes. I'm thinking the word enterprise zone that's what you need to make it out of a enterprise zone. I'm not familiar with that but okay it's almost like a t different but you director Brewer has a couple of slides on a presentation.

All right. Um last week we was there at the municipal league. Um we kind of went over to some of the some of the points for um for the city to um that'll be advantageous. Uh right here they're talking about the municipally um employee defensive driving program. I'm not sure if we already have um anything like this u for the city to to help with some type of discounts when it comes to like our insurance what have you or just just safety protocol to so we have less um less less wrecks or Tyler is this something we already have in place or this something we probably can maybe

I'm I'm sorry I can't read it. I'm all right. All it is is it's a defensive driving um uh program and they'll come down and train um uh the city employees as well and it's um you can either send city employees uh to their location or they come down here and train the city employees for defensive driving you know for the I think you know was stated is that u the wrecks are like like ranked like number one when it comes to like all the accidents you while employees are working. This is this is an AML offering. Yes. Do they reduce our insurance?

That's something we will have to negotiate. But that's I just wanted to bring that to your attention that maybe this something we can look at and see how that would help us. Yeah, certainly. Um yeah, we've got uh safety programs in place, but if if this is something that's going to benefit us additionally, help us with insurance rates, what whatever. Yeah, we'll certainly check it out. Great. Thanks. I do appreciate. Next slide, please.

Also, um we just finished talking about some of the areas that need to be improved in our community, in our neighborhoods, and we understand College Hill is, uh could use some improvement. We understand coming into um East Ninth Street could use some improvement. What's been presented is the Senate Bill 647 and that bill is uh titled for economic development districts. Uh when this Senate bill is passed, we'll be able to go in apply we'll be able to go and apply for um for different areas that we that we want to uh develop. So, I just want to bring this to my constituents, bring this to you all's attention for your different wards or what have you. And so, just be looking for Senate Bill uh 647.

Is this being proposed during this fiscal session or next general assembly? No, it'd be next. But January, but just looking forward. Yeah. you know, for economic progress and e and putting together economic plan, you know, because each ward has its own disc um, you know, areas that need to be improved. So, just wanted to bring this to everyone's attention that you might want to just kind of keep an eye on this Senate bill. That's all I have, mayor. All right. Anybody else? If not, uh, the board will excuse all guests. We have a quick executive session to uh make some reappoints to our library library board.

Mayor, we have a citizen that would like to speak. Yes. Hold on just a minute. Yes, ma'am. Yes. Mr. Harris real quick. Okay. You know who I am. No, I don't know who you is. You can give say who you are. You know me. No, I don't. You blocked me on your Yeah. Well, well, you said enough right there and then. So, I block you. But why have you not attended anything trying to get grocery stores and drug stores and get college back that built back up? Why don't you work for it, too?

You ask me a question. All right. And what do you stay at first? Where's your address at? May I ask? Where is your address? This your two resist. Oh, okay. You in district one. You asking me. Oh, okay. I ain't got to say no. Because you do not participate in trying to get more businesses into any district. Now, do you, ma'am? I do business appreciation month every November. It's a simple yes or no answer. Can you not? I I believe I do. But like I said, you in war one. I really don't. That conversation should end right there.

One man works all the time, but you haven't put effort in to help in any way cuz you're walking around talking about other people.

Okay. Yes, sir. I don't know why you enterain this. Hey, let's just open it up. Hey, let's go right ahead. I don't know why you entertain this. I guess because they attacked me, Mr. Mel. No, I don't have anything they do. And I think that's that's why you do this because what's being addressed is over with and and like I said, they can come next board meeting knowing their proper time and say what they got to say because you won't say it. All right, we're adjourned into executive session. Yo, was we