SEPTEMBER 2023 REGULAR City of Van Buren, Arkansas
Minutes of the Regular Monthly Meeting of the City Council
Monday, September 25, 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 and City Attorney Jacob Howell led the invocation.
Mayor Hurst led the Pledge of Allegiance.
ROLL CALL 5:33PM
Present: Council Member Madison Simmons, Council Member Kenneth Bell, Council Member
Mike Kneeland Council Member Tyler Wood, Council Member Matt Dodson, Council Member
Tonia Fry, Mayor Joseph P. Hurst, City Attorney Jacob Howell, City Clerk-Treasurer Shawnna
Reynolds
Absent: None
PRESENTATIONS -AWARDS
John Pope 2023 KVBB Award
CONSENT AGENDA 5:32PM
After determining there were no reported objections or unfinished business, Council Member
Tyler Wood moved to approve the consent agenda which consisted of:
o Minutes from August 28, 2023, City Council Meeting
o Street Closures:
■The Vault—concerts
o Resolution 09-01-2023 Fixed Asset Disposal
o Resolution 09-02-2023 Final Plat for Legacy Creek Phase II
o Financial Statements
o Department Reports
Motion was seconded by Council Member Matt Dodson. All in favor. None opposed. Consent
Agenda approved.
NEW BUSINESS 5:33PM
Resolution 09-03-2023 Amending Res#05-03-2023 Steve Beam Construction
Kyle with Hawkins-Weir stated that there is a need for change order number one to add curb
and gutter to the original bid of$1,129,654.00 for 2023 Street Improvements. The cost of the
new bid for the 2023 Street Improvements will change from $1,129,654.00 to$1,134,694.00.
Motion to adopt Resolution 09-03-2023 made by Council Member Tyler Wood. Seconded by
Council Member Tonia Fry. Roll Call. All in favor. None opposed.
Resolution 09-03-2023 Amending Res#05-03-2023 Steve Beam Construction is adopted with
six yeas and no nays.
Resolution 09-04-2023 Accepting Bid for Street Dept Project
The Street Department bid for Norris Material &Supply for purchase of a metal building in the
amount of$71,443.00. This was approved in the ARPA budget for 2024 and is being purchased.
Motion to adopt Resolution 09-04-2023 made by Council Member Tyler Wood. Seconded by
Council Member Kenny Bell. Roll Call. All in favor. None opposed.
Resolution 09-04-2023 Accepting Bid for Street Dept Project is adopted with six yeas and no
nays.
Ordinance 26-2023 Levying the Millage Tax for 2023
Mayor Hurst stated that this is an annual ordinance that has been voted on since the 1940's
that agrees to assess a tax for the library and property taxes with the county. This ordinance
was then filed with the county clerk and presented to the quorum court.
Motion to adopt Ordinance 26-2023 made by Council Member Tyler Wood. Seconded by
Council Member Mike Kneeland. Roll Call. All in favor. None opposed.
Motion to approve the Emergency Clause was made by Council Member Tyler Wood. Seconded
by Council Member Matt Dodson. Roll Call. All in favor. None opposed.
Ordinance 26-2023 Levying the Millage Tax for 2023 is adopted with six yeas and no nays.
Ordinance 27-2023 Rezone for 410 Northview Drive
Planning Department Head Wally Bailey stated that this property has been zoned R1 for years
with commercial use being what it has been used for forty plus years. The Planning
Commission reviewed the application and approved with a unanimous vote that C2 is used int
he general area and this should be changed from R1 to C2.
Motion to adopt Ordinance 27-2023 made by Council Member Tonia Fry. Seconded by Council
Member Madison Simmons. Roll Call. All in favor. None opposed.
Ordinance 27-2023 Rezone for 410 Northview Drive is adopted with six yeas and no nays.
Ordinance 28-2023 Drainage Standard Amendments
Planning Department Head Wally Bailey stated that much has changed in the understanding of
drainage standards since 1980. An outside engineering firm helped re-write the drainage
standards and the engineering requirements. The current standard was incomplete with 15
charts and graphs that are no longer used.
Motion to adopt Ordinance 28-2023 made by Council Member Tonia Fry. Seconded by Council
Member Matt Dodson. Roll Call. All in favor. None opposed.
Ordinance 28-2023 Drainage Standard Amendments is adopted with six yeas and no nays.
Miscellaneous and General Discussion 6:15PM
Mayor Hurst mentioned that the 2022 ARPA Audit with Hubbs &Whitehead was successful
with no findings. Expected to have one or possibly two more for the remaining ARPA funds.
Mayor Hurst opened the floor for discussion regarding the proposed "dog ordinance". The
proposed ordinance is 25 pages in length.
A motion was made by Council Member Tyler Wood to read the proposed ordinance by title
only. Seconded by Council Member Kenny Bell. Roll call. All in favor. None opposed.
Planning Department Head Wally Bailey made a presentation for discussion,with public input
of the highlights of the changes made to the proposed ordinance since the presentation in
August 2023.
Highlights of the ordinance will include but not be limited to:
1. Nothing mandates microchipping or spay/neuter of animals.
2. Propose changing the dog license fee from $5.00 unaltered dog and $10.00 altered.
3. Dogs six months and older will be required to have a license
4. Can't transfer one license to another pet
5. Rabies shots can be obtained as early as four months
6. Breeder license will be required along with a permit location
7. Defining of how to humanely keep dogs
8. Defining of how to tether dogs
9. Nuisance feeding will be prohibited
10.Violation fee is now charted in the ordinance
A public discussion was had in which questions were asked and Mr. Bailey was able to pull up
the response in the proposed ordinance.
There was a lot of discussion regarding barking dogs and when they are considered a nuisance.
Mayor Hurst expects there will be changes each month this ordinance is read. Discussion was
had regarding how to get the new information out to the public. Thoughts are advertise on
websites, shelter,veterinarians,word of mouth. Citizens will have a grace period once formally
adopted. There was also a suggestion of putting a notice in water bills.
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ADJOURNMENT 6:49PM
Council Member Madison Simmons made a motion to adjourn,seconded by Council Member
Tyler Wood. The motion passed 6- Regular Meeting of the Van Buren City Council was
adjourned at 6:49PM. UVan
k ATTESTED: APPROVED:
Shawnna M. eynolds os ph P. Hurst
City Clerk-Treasurer Mayor
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