DECEMBER 2023 REGULAR f
City of Van Buren, Arkansas
Minutes of the Regular Meeting of the City Council
Monday, December 18, 2023
Van Buren Municipal Complex
CALL TO ORDER 5:30M
The regular meeting of the Van Buren City Council was called to order by Mayor Joseph P.
Hurst at 5:3013M. City Attorney and Reverand Jacob Howell led the invocation. Mayor Hurst led
the Pledge of Allegiance.
ROLL CALL 5:30PM
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
Planning Commission Chairman,Andy Dibble was given a proclamation by Mayor Joseph P.
Hurst for his honorable service to the Planning Commission,the City Council, and residents of
the City of Van Buren,serving in office from July 1, 1997,through December 31,2023. A total
of 26 years of service.
CONSENT AGENDA 5:33PM
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 November 2711 & December 11, 2023, City Council Meeting
o Resolution 12-01-2023 Christmas Bonuse
o Resolution 12-02-2023 Destruction of Records 2023
o Resolution 12-03-2023 Closing ARPA Bank Account
o Resolution 12-04-2023 Health Insurance Benefits
o Ordinance 37-2023 Amendment to Private Club Permit
o Ordinance 38-2023 Amendment to Annex Ordinance
o Ordinance 39-2023 Amendment to Permitted & Conditional Use Legend
o Ordinance 40-2023 Setting Salaries for Elected Officials
o Financial Statements
o Department Reports
Motion was seconded by Council Member Matt Dodson. All in favor. None opposed. Consent
Agenda approved.
NEW BUSINESS 5:34PM
Resolution 12-05-2023 Side Arm Presentation to Reserve Officer Lane Carter
Mayor Joseph Hurst invited Police Chief Jamie Hammond to present Reserve Office Lane Carter
with his service side arm. Officer Carter served the City of Van Buren as a volunteer police
office and will be retiring December 31, 2023.
Motion to adopt Resolution 12-05-2023 made by Council Member Tyler. Seconded by Council
Member Matt Dodson. Roll Call. All in favor. None opposed.
Resolution 12-05-2023 Side Arm Presentation to Reserve Officer Lane Carter is adopted with six
yeas and no nays.
Resolution 12-06-2023 Adopting Budget for Fiscal Year 2024
Mayor Joseph Hurst presented the City Council with the final update of the budget for fiscal
year 2024. He mentioned there were a few changes since the study session on December 11,
2023. He states$6,000 was added to the expense line for Old Town Merchants and the State
Turnback revenue projection was increased slightly. Also,sales tax increase more than
projected so he felt safe listing it at$8,020,000.00. This does also include salary increases for
our employees and the Enhance Option for health insurance. He made mention of the increase
in worker's comp and hoped we would see that figure go down in the future.
Motion to adopt Resolution 12-06-2023 was made by Council Member Tyler Wood. Seconded
by Council Member Kenny Bell. Roll Call. All in favor. None opposed.
Resolution 12-06-2023 is adopted with six yeas and no nays.
Ordinance 41-2023 Residential Solid Waste &Yard Waste Collection Fees
Proposed Increase
Steve Defrain from Van Buren Municipal Utilities presented the waste management rate
increase. He states there has not been an increase since April 2020. He states the consumer
price index,which is the industry standard, increased 14% but waste management is only
requesting a 6% increase. That will reflect approximately.67 cents per haul and .92 cents
overall per approximately 7,800 residential customers.
Motion to adopt Ordinance 41-2023 made by Council Member Madison Simmons. Seconded
by Council Member Tyler Wood. Roll Call. All in favor. None opposed.
Motion to pass emergency clause made by Council Member Tyler Wood. Seconded by Council
Member Mike Kneeland. Roll Call. All in favor. None opposed.
Ordinance 41-2023 Residential Solid Waste &Yard Waste Collection Fees Proposed Increase is
adopted with six yeas and no nays.
Ordinance 42-2023 Flood Damage Prevention Code
Planning Director Wally Bailey stated that flood boundaries on plats are recommended to be
one-foot free flood on rate maps for HVAC and other outside equipment. This will help those
high-cost repair items will be high enough in the event of a flood. The intent is to keep the
building operational during a flood. This was recommended at a Public Meeting held on
November 7, 2023,with no opposition.
Motion to adopt Ordinance 42-2023 was made by Council Member Tonia Fry. Seconded by
Council Member Matt Dodson. Roll Call. All in favor. None opposed.
Ordinance 42-2023 Flood Damage Prevention Code is adopted with six yeas and no nays.
Ordinance 43-2023 Amendment to Building Permit
Planning Director Wally Bailey mentioned that the current code states building permits are
issued once a month at council meeting and there is a need to clean up the current code for the
future of Van Buren. He added that there will now be information obtained prior to issuing a
permit that is pertinent,clarifying, and consistent. The update to the code was much needed
and will be helpful for future projects.
Motion to adopt Ordinance 43-2023 was made by Council Member Tyler Wood. Seconded by
Council Member Mike Kneeland. Roll Call. All in favor. None opposed.
Ordinance 43-2023 Amendment to Building Permit is adopted with six yeas and no nays.
Miscellaneous and General Discussion 6:OOPM
Mayor Joseph Hurst opened the floor for general discussion. Ronnie Rish spoke about a
drainage concern for the property behind his house on Foster Branch. He showed pictures to
the council and spoke about the importance of the drainage ditch as it has helped prevent
flooding in that area for years. It is filled with riff raff and is now grown up. He has seen both
snakes and children. He asked that the city look at the drainage ditch and clean it up as much
as possible. Mayor Hurst and Street Department Superintendent John Karstens stated they
would get an engineer to look at the project and they will see what needs to be done to move
forward.
ADJOURNMENT 6:07PM
Council Member Madison Simmons made a motion to adjourn,seconded by Council Member
Tyler Wood. The motion passed 6-0. The Regular Meeting of the Van Buren City Council was
adjourned at 6:07PM.
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City of Van Buren
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