JANUARY 2024 REGULAR MEETING City of Van Buren, Arkansas
Minutes of the Regular Meeting of the City Council
Monday,January 29, 2024
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 5:30PM. Police Chief Jamie Hammond 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
None
CONSENT AGENDA 5:32PM
After determining there were no reported objections or unfinished business, Council Member
Tonia Fry moved to approve the consent agenda which consisted of:
o Minutes from December 18, 2023, City Council Meeting
o Organization of governing body 14-43-501 Procedural Rules
o Street Closure: TOTMA—Letter from Phillip Bagby for TOTMA Events Request
o Planning Commission Appointment Letter—Jared Clark
o Resolution 01-01-2024 Enter into contract with Hawkins-Weir for Eng. Svcs
o Resolution 01-02-2024 Adopting the Revised Policy Handbook
o Financial Statements
o Department Reports
Motion was seconded by Council Member Matt Dodson. All in favor. None opposed. Consent
Agenda approved.
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NEW BUSINESS 5:33PM
Ordinance 01-2024 Rezone for 8 North 151"Street
Planning Director Wally Bailey stated that Hwy 64 was set as commercial zoning back in the
1960's before the land was actually considered in the city. Keenan Winters bought a house on
Hwy 64 and wants to keep it as residential. The Planning Commission recommended rezoning
from C2 throughfare to R2 residential and that the zoning map be amended.
Motion to adopt Ordinance01-2024 was made by Council Member Tyler Wood. Seconded by
Council Member Matt Dodson. Roll Call. All in favor. None opposed.
Ordinance 01-2024 Rezone for 8 North 15th Street is adopted with six yeas and zero nays.
Resolution 01-03-2024 Authorization for Lease Agreement with Pointer Golf and
Social Club
Mayor Joseph Hurst opened the floor for a resolution that was put before the council regarding
authorization for Lease Agreement with Pointer Golf and Social Club. Mayor Hurst limited all
public comment to three (3) minutes.
There was standing room only in attendance with the foyer filled as well. Many residents took
the podium to speak either for or against Cedars Country Club to remain a golf course. The
proposed plan before the city council was a proposed lease agreement with Pointer Golf and
Soci.al Club for a period of not less than two (2)years and not more than three (3)years to lease
the golf course and country club from the city. The golfers than formed a group and those
residents who want the land where the golf course is located to remain a golf course spoke on
behalf of the lease agreement and presented their business plan to the council.
Those who did not have a defined group such as the golfers but those residents that wanted
the golf course property to be used for something different than a golf course spoke about their
desires for the land. For example,they would like to see the land used for a community
building,sand volleyball, bike trails,walking trails, disc golf etc.
Once both sides made their remarks the city council members began to ask questions to Ponter
Golf and Social Club head, Kent Henderson, primarily but many others answered questions as
well. Council member Mike Kneeland expressed concern for the golfer's financial future in the
golf course was a failure and wanted to see the city do a more comprehensive study for the use
of the land. Council member Tyler Wood expressed concern that there was not enough time
spent on the decision before coming to council. He stated that he had received numerous
contacts stating that they wanted to have more community involvement regarding the use of
the land.
After much discussion from both sides,the council members and anyone else who wanted to
speak on the topic of the City of Van Buren entering into a lease agreement with Pointer Golf
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and Social Club was put to a vote. City Clerk-Treasurer Shawnna Reynolds called roll and
recorded the following votes:
Council Member Matt Dodson No
Council Member Kenny Bell Yea
Council Member Mike Kneeland No
Council Member Tyler Wood No
Council Member Tonia Fry Yea
Council Member Madison Simmons No
Resolution 01-03-2024 Authorization for Lease Agreement with Pointer Golf and Social Club
was denied with two yeas and four nays.
MISCELLANOUS and GENERAL DISCUSSION 6:35PM
Connie Martin with Almost Home Shelter presented her quarterly report regarding the animal
shelter. She stated that there were 480 intakes in 2023, twenty-three dogs were claimed and
fourteen were local adoptions. She mentioned that the shelter spent$58,680 in vet bills to
care for the animals.
She stated that there was a successful prosecution of a local animal cruelty case and that it set
the bar high with a guilty verdict. She hopes this will deter anyone else who considers
neglecting an animal and expressed gratitude to the council for passing the new dog ordinance.
ADJOURNMENT 6:45PM
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 6:45PM. perk Tre
City of Van Buren
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Shawnna M. Reynolds �"N' ''f� Jose P. Hurst
City Clerk-Treasurer Mayor
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