City Council - Regular Meeting

My son wants to join the military, but I tell him because they have nicer stuff. The Air Force has Mississippi from It is 500,000 people. It is 6:30 in the evening. Actually, it's 6:31, but um anyway, it's 6:30 in the evening. Like to call this meeting to order. Stephen, would you uh give us a prayer, please? Living heavenly father, we've been reminded today that your word tells us if we walk in the light as you're the light, we have fellowship with one another and the blood of Christ cleanses from all unrighteousness. And we recognize, Lord, that fellowship with one another is a spirit of unity that is not always just about agreeing with one another, but it's about sharing and listening and uh and just caring about one another. And I thank you, Lord, for

this group that we gathered tonight to make decisions. We know that the man's plans sufficient compared to your plans and your desires. So we trust in you and we pray Lord that you guide our thoughts and our words in Jesus name. Amen. Amen. Please join me in the pledge of 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. Clerk, would you call the role, please? Council member Hall here. Council member Chapman here.

Council member McMahon here. Council member Hefner here. Council member Brook here. And council member Rubble here. Thank you. We have a quorum. First on agenda tonight is the review and approval of the council meeting minutes from December 16th, 2025. I entertain a motion to approve. Motion to approve. We have a second. Second. Any comments? Hearing none. All those in favor say I. Any pro? Any oppose? Motion carries. Thank you. Next on the agenda is department reports and financials. I'd entertain a motion to approve as presented. Motion second. Motion second. Any comments? Hearing none. All those in favor say I.

Any oppose? Motion carries. Thank you. Next on the agenda is the planning uh commission report. They had no meeting for December. So, uh Jack's not here to give this um u meeting minutes or and we'll have an introduction via resolution in a little bit about the uh the planning commission members, but and I don't guess we have a PL water. Okay. Then moving right along to the rest of the agenda. Uh we have no old business, new business. Madam council or madam clerk, would you read the title, please?

Sorry. City ordinance 20261, city council rules and procedures. An ordinance repealing and replacing ordinance 0202501 establishing the rules and procedures to be used by Wart City Council declaring an emergency and for other purposes. council. This is our annual ordinance we bring up. There are some changes I had passed along to you last month for you to review. We have any comments? Hearing none. I'd entertain a motion to put uh ordinance 20261 on its first reading. Motion. We have a motion. We have second

and a second. Roll call, please. Council member Hall. Yes. Council member Chapman. Yes. Council member McMahon, yes. Council member Hefner, yes. Council member Brooke, no. And Council Member Rubble, yes. Orders 2026 01 passes first reading. I'd entertain a motion to suspend a second and third readings. Motion. We have a second. Motion. We have a second. Second. And a second. All those in favor say I. Any oppose? Show Mr. Brook is opposing. Motion carries. With that, I entertain a motion to approve ordinance 20261.

Motion. Motion and a second. Roll call, please. Council member Chapman, yes. Council member McMahon, yes. Council member Hefner, yes. Council member Brook, no. Council member Rubble, yes. And council member Hall, yes. Orders 20261 has been approved. I entertain a motion to enact the emergency clause. Motion. We have a motion. We have a second. Second. And a second. Roll call, please. Council member McMahon. Yes. Council member Hefner? Yes. Council member Brook? No. Council member Rubble? Yes.

Council member Hall? Yes. And Council Member Chapman? Yes. Orders 20261 has been approved with the agenda with the emergency clause. It's effective immediately. Next on the agenda is resolution 2000. Uh skip point. Yeah. 2000. Well, what' I do?

Wrong number. Yeah, there we go. On the screen it says O2. It's actually 01. Read title, please. A resolution adopting an artificial intelligence policy for the city of Ward in compliance with act 848 of 2025 and for other purposes. I open the floor for discussion. This is just a um part of the process as we move through new law things they've passed. I'd entertain a motion to approve resolution 202601.

Motion second. We have a motion to second. Any comments? Any public comment? Hearing none. All those in favor say I. Any oppose? Very good. Next on the agenda is resolution 2026. I left that out. 20262. Can you read that off the A resolution authorizing the modification of the Zella trash service contract to include previous amendments and extensions and for other purposes?

Council, if you remember, if you read the resolution, there's an November 2025 Arkansas Supreme Court rule that said that basically we need to do this. What amounts to is if somebody wants to bring their own or have contract with another trash service, they can. They still have to pay our fees, but if they want to have their own, they can do that. The exclusivity rule was ruled unconstitutional. Question. Yes. Does that did that ruling also um mean for like dumpsters or anything like that if they needed a dumpster for a special occasion or something? cuz I think we had the policy that they had to use.

No, actually uh dumpsters they could use anybody. Oh, okay. This be I think BV. But um this I mean if somebody wants to have Yeah. whomever pick up their trash, they're still going to have to pay for our trash service too because that's who we contract with. But they can if they like. So uh with that I entertain a motion to approve resolution 2025 2602. Motion. Second. Do we have any comment from the public? Mr. Rebel. So all those in favor say I. Any opposed? Second.

Motion carries. Next on the agenda. I think this resolution 20263. If you read the title, please. A resolution appointing Jack BS Jr. as the city of Ward Planning Commission chairperson. As you know, Mr. Aaron chose not to uh stay on the on the commission after her time expired. Mr. BS has graciously agreed to become the chairperson. I entertain a motion to approve. Are we sure? He's not here. Oh, wait. He's sure. Motion. Have a second.

Second. Any comments? Any public comment? Hearing none. Can I entertain a motion to approve? I mean, excuse me. All those in favor say I. I. Any oppose? Excuse me. Okay. Mr. Brook opposing. Next on agenda is resolution 202604. Read title, please.

A resolution to amend resolution 2024-45, the annual operating budget for calendar year 2025. Council, this is our annual cleanup resolution after the CPA has zeroed out and made all the corrections and changes on the uh 25 budget as we approved things last year. Entertain a motion to approve. Motion to approve. Second. We have a motion second. Any comments? Any public comment? Hearing none. All those in favor say I. I.

Any opposed? Motion carries. Next on the agenda is resolution 20265. A resolution to revise resolution 2024-46, the annual ward water and sewer system operating budget for calendar year 2025. Same thing, but this is the water wastewater budget. Motion motion. We have a second. Second and a second. Any comments? Any public comment? Hearing none. All those in favor say I. Any opposed? Motion carries. Thank you. Next on the agenda is resolution 2024 266,

a resolution authorizing the city of Ward to enter into a consent administrative order with the Arkansas Department of Energy and Environment, Division of Environmental Quality. Council, if you if you read the attachment to this resolution, uh the ADQ sent us a consent order because one of our reports for the uh 5-year renewal was a month and a month and three days late and so they have to by law put us on consent. They haven't been doing these, but they are now doing these. And in the consent order, if you read it, uh, council has to acknowledge this, uh, through this resolution, authorizing me to sign the documents for the consent order and then authorize me to pay them $1,000 as a fine.

What happened

through the process of renewing this? Um there was some additional um Bruce was going to be here tonight, but uh his wife reminded him that it's a birthday and she had made a special plans for a family birthday party. So he he's not here. But basically, we had everything ready on online. There was additional testing that they required because we had upgraded. This is the first renewal since the new plant went online. So there additional testing that we were unaware of and so we had to get all that done and in the meantime and then he sent off the paperwork signed by him and then through the process it came back because it has to be signed by me and by that time it was late. So I've talked to the AD key point of contact once this is signed once they get the check this consent order goes away. I entertain a motion to uh approve resolution 202506.

Motion second and second. Any further comment? Any public comment? Hearing? None. All those in favor say I. Any opposed? Motion carries. Thank you. Next on the agenda is resolution 20257. A resolution appointing members to the city of Ward Planning Commission. Council mayor, we had a couple people that um had left. They moved out of out of the city limits, so they had to come off and ended up we had three total vacancies. So, Mr. Don Way is here and Miss Beth Jukeman,

thank you, is here also. Mr. Chair can attend night. We will swear them in Monday night before the next planning commission meeting, but we need this resolution to uh put them on. And I'll just let you all know that Don Waymack, your term expires. You assume terms, but yours is a new one. Your expires 2031. It's a five-year term. Miss Beth, yours expires 2029. And Miss Patty or Miss Terry, excuse me, hers will expire at the end of this year. We have a motion. We have a second. Second. Any comments? Any public comment? No comments? Hearing none. All all those in favor say I. I.

Any opposed. Motion carries. Thank you. Next on the agenda is discussion of some possible land purchase. The Spence family has talked to me about purchasing this land next to the Let me go full screen. There we go. next to the park that's approximately it's almost 40 acres. Uh and outlined in red there, the white line is the different parcels that they own. Um Miss McMahon will have to recuse herself from any conversation or discussion or vote on this, but um what they've offered Oh, I did have it appraised. It appraised for I draw 455 $57,000 for almost 40 acres. The Spence family would like to offer that to us at a$10,000 per acre. So that'd be a little less than $400,000. Uh what I would need council if this if you think this is a good idea and I think it's a good idea u a motion to proceed with formal discussions with the landowner at the end of the day it is your responsibility as council persons uh to make this decision. Real estate falls under your purview.

Can you bring up the diagram again? Sure. What would this be? I mean, what's the plan for part of the park? We expand our park. What is the plan? I mean, well, we don't have a plan until we buy the property. Okay. So, you said the one the one outlined in white. That's the separation of parcels. Yes. We're talking about the whole thing. Everything in everything in red is the 40 acres. So, that's everything in red. Nothing in white. We already own that one, right? We don't own the land. Yeah. That's all that's but all the red inside the red is what would be correct inside the red is what we're talking about

or understand what this white is then because there's two different lots there three actually essentially three different parts you got three lots but they're trying to sell off three Okay. So, you're just looking for permission to enter in discussion, correct? Nothing nothing uh we haven't signed anything. We haven't done any of that. This is just a conversation that um the trustee and I have had about this and the u the family like to offer this at 10,000 which is in actuality pretty good price. I'll make a motion. What's your motion?

Second. What's the motion? Motion is enter allow me to continue with allow you to enter uh in discussions with the land owner. Okay. 2000. So, we have a motion in a second to allow me to to enter into formal discussions with the landowner on the possible purchase of this property. Any further discussion? Any public discussion? Hearing none. All those in favor say I. I. Any opposed? Motion carries. Thanks. And I'll this will obviously come back to the council for discussion later. Also, there's a discussion of possible swap or selling of city land. The 50 acres out on Highway 31

dog camel road,

right? Developer Hester property, Hers wanted to talk to me about possibly buying this property for development. And in the same Oh, by the way, it's been we had we had an appraise at $340,000 with the possibility of maybe working out some sort of swap, not in total, but a swap in a portion of it. Uh for the land that's possibly circled to somewhere in that area. We're looking at at some point in time in life we're going to put another water tower and this might this elevation there is good for the water tower according to Bruce and um bond engineering. Uh so what I'm asking for is

same kind of thing a motion allow me to go into formal discussions and talk about this with them with your blessings and of course nothing's bought or sold until it comes back to you. All right confused a little bit. What's this? What's this Moon Road subdivision? Yeah, it's Moon Road subdivision. But I mean, so this you're saying mineral. So this one is for the water tower, right? For potential later on water tower if we wanted to work out a deal that a portion if they want to buy the the 50 acres out on Moon Road. Well, maybe they buy it for X amount and we we get this property for a part of the deal. It won't be the full 3040,000. I tell you that. But we are leasing that out to

for for hay. Yeah. for hay. Okay. I would like to whenever you talk to the other people, talk to them and see if they would like to purchase it. I will. What does that do? What does that do with the wellhead protection that's supposed to be there in place? My understanding is we cap that well and it's it's no no or need to be protected. But having said that, I'm not the expert on it and that would be something that you may want to check on that. Oh yeah, I agree. I agree. And this is just a preliminary. I need permission to talk.

Are we gonna have an issue somewhere in the future in regards to the sub subdivision are going in and people don't know they're going to build a subdivision? Put a water tower right in the middle of it. Well, that'd be up to the developer to talk to them about about that. What we have we can do that hall. Yeah, hall. Yeah, we got a water tower right in the middle of that anyway. Yes. Yes, sir. I understand. Take it down. That's correct. down. Well, we can. It's just going to cost us a lot of money. 60 years.

But, uh, you know, at the end of at the end of the day, in discussion with all this, again, it's your it's your decision at the end of the day, but I just need permission to form me. We we kind of, you know, informally been discussing, but I I can't make any promises or discussions or, you know, things I can until y'all say that I can. Can you go back to that the picture of the actual property on dog kennel? Sure. So, who's leasing it? These right here, Andrew Christopher South. Mhm. Okay. Because these people may not want Well, the subdivision. So, no. Um Well, I'm just saying give them first dibs. Well, they're leasing it.

Well, we'll talk to them and see if they uh they're interested in buying it. uh in discussing with them previously uh they want to lease it mainly for a buffer because they to keep neighborhoods from going in right beside them might be. Yeah. Yeah. And then then they may want to buy it. Who knows? But uh yeah, I mean I'll keep it certainly bring it up to them. But at the end of the day, it's a business decision for the developer and for, you know, y'all for the city. You know, do we want I make a motion to give you permission to begin the process? We have a motion with a second. Second. And a second. Any further discussion? Any public discussion?

Hear none. All those in favor say I. I. Any oppose? Motion carries.

Next on agenda is um discussion on ADA improvements at city hall. If you remember, we put in a grant uh for this uh all the grants that were approved in this governor's what was it called? The governor's community improvement grant or something like that. They were all child related basically uh not ADA. So we were disapproved. But if you recall this is what we were looking at in our grant proposal. uh ADA for you and entry way out here. Upgrade the back restrooms in city hall to ADA and upgrade the front entry to ADA compliant and and modification. The um amounts were estimated at $226,000. So we can discuss whether we want to fund this inhouse, continue search for grants. I have looked for ADA grants. There really is not any out there for things like this or just hold it for now and and press on. But u on a funding house, we can uh go through the process and and get back with the architect and bid this project out and see what the price comes in and then make a decision. We want to move forward because this is just an estimate. It may come in lower uh as they have lately or it may come in higher. Who knows? But um in moving the modernization of this facility, I think we should uh move forward.

Where were you at on the uh wastewater rehab? Tell me more. We got four easements left and they're all out of town and we've been contacting them and they're supposed to email them to us and mail them to us and I can't move forward until I get all the easements and then we then we take them down and have them uh filed and then there's a documents that I have to send off to get this process. Then we can bid that out. That's a different pot of money. Totally. I I'm supportive of at least looking into it. I mean, we don't have to make a decision on doing it to see what the see what to do with it. I'd be willing to make a motion to do that. So, you make a motion to go through with the bid process. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. Second.

Let me ask one question. I guess we could still peacemail it. I mean, we could we don't have to do the whole project. We said we could actually when we do the bidding process, we could bid it to where Yeah. It's been in segments. Yeah. And we can take the whole segment or we can just take the this portion out here and reserve the other for later. So, yes, we can do it in segments. So motion and second to go through the bid process. Any further discussion? Any public discussion? Hearing none. All those in favor say I. Any oppose? Motion carries. Thank you. One quick question. Yes. Did this come in at budget under over? This came in at budget

under. No, at budget basically. if I remember correctly. Um, next on the agenda is a special item we're going to do for my mayor's um, in our audience tonight is just close your eyes. Taylor and Clarissa, would you guys come up to the microphone, please? Taylor, if you don't know, is our animal super animal controller, shelter supervisor, and Clarissa is our officer. I'd like to read a letter. Which one's which? I'm Taylor. Okay, thank you. I knew that, but

I didn't.

I says, um, on behalf of the Best Friends Animal Society, I want to congratulate Warren Animal Control and Animal Shelter achieving a 90% save rate for the calendar year 2024. I'll tell you, we've had this for a bit. We could get these two ladies together and me and others together in safety meetings or whatever. So, we kind of delayed this. You have joined an elite group of organizations across the country who are leading the way to make us make use a no make us a no-kill nation. It's exciting to think how far we've come. Not too long ago, people thought no kill was a fringe movement or that we're crazy free of trade. But here we are today. Nearly two out of three shelters across the country are now no kill. The accomplishment represents so much more than a number. It represents a culture of caring and compassion. It represent a dedicated staff command volunteer command committed volunteers and motivated supporters. It represents innovative thoughtful programming and it represents extraordinary leadership both within your organization and within our border uh broader animal welfare movement. For so many people, work is just work. But our work is also our passion. Divining work and passion can be exhausting, but you always bounce back stronger and counter. And I need to move this to there. Sorry. So, all of the YouTube world can see you.

The back of you,

the back of you. We'll change. We'll get that change in just a second. Uh, let's see. Combining work and passion can be exhausting, but you always bounce back stronger, kinder, more creative, and seeking new ways to save lives. Although 90% is by definition a number, organizations, the organizations that achieve and maintain no kill are made up of people who never forget that each fraction of these percentage points represents a life saved. These numbers represent Cher's family members who are only alive because of your dedication and hard work. Bottom line, every day you and your team create more and more opportunities for people and animals to experience love. Congratulations. And I have a nice plaque. says, "Award best friends. We are no shelter 2024. Best Friends Network proud presents this plaque to the board animal shelter and animal control in recognition of maintaining or achieving status during calendar year 2024 by exceeding a 90% satisf I have a question.

Yes. Are the permits online yet? No. Get the permits online. We'll work on it. Thank you. Very good. They had no idea, by the way, why they were here tonight. Oh, you have to make it there. I had that up there, too. So, thank you. Yes. Do cats have to have permits? Do cats have to have permits? Is your mic on?

Turn your mic on. Next on the agenda is since I finally found it was the mayor's report. Can we continue? Yeah.

Thank you. Um search four sidewalk project which is down chantelier. Um Wilson Loop construction is beginning. If you've been out on Wilson Loop, they've done a lot of it out there and it really looks good. They're doing a great job. Uh the SARS five project from Brewer Street down to Moon Road extension. The additional rightaway requests have been submitted to ARDOT for their approval. Uh and to your question, the wastewater rehab, we've got four ements remaining. The 2020 25 state aid project, we were disapproved uh this year, but that project remains in the hopper, if you will, and uh we'll bring it up next year for again. Uh the sports complex LED replacement project proposed metrop plan. I haven't heard anything about that yet. Um the city hall ADA upgrade. We've talked about that. The HVAC lighting uh project that we are approved and got uh $200,000 from the state, $234,000 from Metro Plan, which means it'll cost us about $34,000 to do this project. We did get a notice to proceed on January 16th. And the next step is I'm waiting for the contract to be approved by all the parties and before I get a chance to look at it and then we'll senator attorney. Uh the 20 25 street olay project of the dead ends into city hall starting soon and we did submit the tap project for the curb and guttering of moon road. Um, and that's been submitted and we're still waiting for the um, flock cameras, the pan and tilt ones to be put in. That's the mayor's report for a day. Now, one other thing for this year is the 2026 election cycle. All positions for the city of Ward are open this year for reelection or election. Uh, mayor and the city clerk are both four-year terms. The city councils, you have two-year terms as

you're aware of. Uh if you want to sign up, you gota be a qualified elector. You got to be a resident of ward to be a mayor or city clerk. And you got to be a resident of the respective ward in that where you live to be a city council member for that particular ward. And you got to be at least 18 years old. You may or we may begin collecting signatures on n earlier than 90 days prior to filing. So May 7th, you can start taking getting uh petition signatures. And you got to have 30. And then between July 29th and August 5th, you have to file your petition and your political practices pledge and an affidavit of eligibility with the county clerk. And once you put it on your petition, you can't change it once you file it. If you want to change it, you have to do another one. And just for information, qualified lecture is a person who holds the qualifications elected and is registered under the Arkansas Constitution. must be a US citizen, must be an Arkansas resident, must be a minimum age 18, must be lawfully registered to vote in for the any election, and must not be presently a judge mentally incompetent by a court or competent jurisdiction. And further, must not be convicted of a felony uh without the life the sentence having been discharged or pardoned. You must not claim the right to vote in another country or state or county or state. In addition to those said above, uh, for the purpose of signing a petition or candidate for being a candidate of municipal office, you must be residing the city for at least six months. There you go. Election season is upon us.

Can you hit your Can you hit your um There you go. The residing in the city for at least six months. is up from the date of the election. Or is that the date of the filing? I believe we looked that up last time. It's the date of the filing. Okay. But I'll find out for sure. I I was trying to get clarification for somebody that may want to Yeah. I don't I think we looked that up last time, but I Anyway, I we'll try to find that out. Anything else? All right. And nobody signed up for public comment? No. All right. Council, you got any additional comments? The the overlay. Do you want to The overlay is that out front here? Yes.

Okay, good. I pulled into the handicap spot and I got out of my car and started walking in. Didn't realize in the handicap. So, because it's not marked very well, so the overlay will have new paint and everything. Yes, sir. It's in part of the contract. I looked back and I said, I think I'm Yes, sir. No idea. my truck. I'm in a police vehicle city. I don't think I ought to park there. That's not very good. I have a question about um because now the planning commission have taken a couple of people from the water committee. That mean we have a couple of openings. All right. You going to Okay. They can serve both. I hate to ask them to do that. It's up to you. You're chairperson.

Yeah. I'll talk to him about it for sure next meeting. All right. Any other council comments? All right. Announcements. Planning Commission meets January 26th. Um I understand Don was bringing his entire family up to watch the swearing in. May I say thank you all for your vote of conference. I have to get up. I haven't slept. So you're welcome. Uh new members will be sworn in before the meeting and they'll take their rightful place. Hopefully we'll have name plates and by that time, but we'll see. Uh February 14th is Valentine's Day. Just a reminder, guys, because we have a tendency to sometimes forget these things. Next, you said guys, I did.

That's what I said. Yeah, I did. I I realized that. That was on purpose. On the weekend, pardon me. It's on the weekend, right? Oh, it's on I don't know if it's on a weekend. Anyway, February 17th, next city council meeting and February 17th, early voting begins for the presidential primary and the party primary. So, they'll be voting up here at city hall for all that for two weeks. And that's all we have for tonight's city council meeting. I I You're right. It is not presidential primary, just party primary. I'd entertain a motion to adjurnn. Second. We are adjourned.