JUNE 2023 REGULAR 4 r
City of Van Buren, Arkansas
Minutes of the Regular Monthly Meeting of the City Council
Monday,June 26, 2023
Van Buren Municipal Complex
CALL TO ORDER 5:30PM
The regular monthly meeting of the Van Buren City Council was called to order by Mayor
Joseph P. Hurst at 5:30PM. Reverend Jake Simmons,Youth Pastor, Heritage Church led
invocation. Mayor Hurst led the Pledge of Allegiance.
ROLL CALL 5:31PM
Present: Council Member Kenneth Bell, Council Member Matt Dodson, Council Member Mike
Kneeland, Council Member Tonia Fry, Council Member Madison Simmons, Mayor Joseph P.
Hurst, City Attorney Jacob Howell, City Clerk-Treasurer Shawnna Reynolds
Absent: Council Member Tyler Wood
AWARDS
Fire Marshall Stanley Clark retiring after 30 years of service and Fire Fighter Kenney Sharp
retiring after 22 years of service.
CONSENT AGENDA 5:34PM
After determining there were no reported objections or unfinished business, Council Member
Mike Kneeland moved to approve the consent agenda which consisted of:
o Minutes from May 22, 2023, City Council Meeting and June 2, 2023, Special
Meeting
o Street Closures:
■ The Vault—concerts
o Reappointment for Housing Authority Board
o Resolution 06-03-2023 Disposal of Fixed Asset
o Resolution 06-04-2023 Adopting Revised Employee Personnel Handbook
o Financial Statements
o Department Reports
Motion was seconded by Council Member Kenny Bell. All in favor. None opposed. Consent
Agenda approved.
NEW BUSINESS 5:37PM
Resolution 06-05-2023 Accepting Street Overlay Bid
The road around golf course southbound is deteriorating and needs to be repaired.
Motion to adopt Resolution 06-05-2023 made by Council Member Kenneth Bell. Seconded by
Council Member Madison Simmons. Roll Call. All in favor. None opposed.
Resolution 06-05-2023 Accepting Street Overlay Bid is adopted with five yeas and no nays.
Resolution 06-06-2023 Authorizing Purchase of Property
Fire Chief Tim Arnold spoke regarding the purchase of the property for the future site of a new
fire station. Currently,the station on Bryan/28th is being outgrown. This new property will be
in the same vicinity and will not have a negative effect on our ISO number.The completion of
the fire department is still a few years away, but this gets the foundation laid. The current
station was built in 1972.
Motion to adopt Resolution 06-06-2023 made by Council Member Kenneth Bell. Seconded by
Council Member Matt Dodson. Roll Call. All in favor. None opposed.
Resolution 06-06-2023 Authorizing Purchase of Property is adopted with five yeas and no nays.
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Ordinance 21-2023 Purchase of New Vehicles Police Department
Mayor Hurst stated that the city originally approved the purchase of these vehicles for the 2023
budget. This is for two vehicles available at Superior Chevrolet in Siloam Springs. It was
mentioned that the preference would be to purchase these vehicles locally, but there is not a
local dealership that can meet the needs for the vehicles.
Motion to adopt Ordinance 21-2023 made by Council Member Tonia Fry. Seconded by Council
Member Mike Kneeland. Roll Call. All in favor. None opposed.
Motion to approve the Emergency Clause was made by Council Member Matt Dodson.
Seconded by Council Member Tonia Fry. Roll Call. All in favor. None opposed.
Ordinance 21-2023 Purchase of New Vehicles Police Department is adopted with five yeas and
no nays.
Ordinance 22-2023 Rezone Empire Construction
Planning Director Wally Bailey states that the building that was formerly the Arkansas
Oklahoma Gas building at 13th/Walnut is non-conforming with the current zoning. The master
land use has this as C2 in the future. It was recommended by the Planning Commission that
this be rezoned from residential to commercial.
Motion to adopt Ordinance 22-2023 made by Council Member Kenny Bell. Seconded by
Council Member Matt Dodson. Roll Call. All in favor. None opposed.
Ordinance 22-2023 Rezone Empire Construction is adopted with five yeas and no nays.
Ordinance 23-2023 Rezone RPM
Planning Director Wally Bailey stated that there is 36.65 acres near Northridge Middle School
area Azure Hills/Elfen Glenn that is currently zoned for commercial use and will be rezoned to
residential use. There were several meetings regarding the future development of this
property, and it appears that it will be duplexes. The Planning Commission was concerned
about the road and there may be a future plan to have an outlet to Old Union Town Road. This
will be changed from C2 to R2.
Motion to adopt Ordinance 23-2023 Rezone RPM made by Council Member Kenny Bell.
Seconded by Council Member Matt Dodson. Roll Call. All in favor. None opposed.
Ordinance 23-2023 Rezone RPM is adopted with five yeas and no nays.
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Miscellaneous and General Discussion 6:02PM
None
ADJOURNMENT 6:21PM
Council Member Madison Simmons made a motion to adjourn,seconded by Council Member
Matt Dodson. The motion passed 5-0. The Regular Meeting of the Van Buren City Council was
adjourned at 6:11PM.
ATTESTED: APPROVED:
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Shawnna M.-Reynolds �ose P. Hurst
City Clerk-Treasurer Mayor