JUNE 2024 REGULAR MEETING City of Van Buren, Arkansas
Minutes of the Regular Meeting of the City Council
Monday,June 24, 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. City Attorney and Reverend Jacob Howell led the invocation. The Pledge of
Allegiance was led by Mayor Joseph P. Hurst.
ROLL CALL 5:31PM
Present: Council Member Madison Simmons, Council Member Tyler Wood, Council Member
Tonia Fry, Mayor Joseph P. Hurst, City Attorney Jacob Howell, City Clerk-Treasurer Shawnna
Reynolds
Open Position: Council Member Kenneth Bell
Absent: None
PRESENTATIONS-AWARDS
None
CONSENT AGENDA 5:32PM
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 28, 2024, City Council Meeting
o Reappointment Letters: Historic District/Planning Commission
o Street Closures: Downtown Saturday,June 29th
o Resolution 06-01-2024 Updating Personnel Handbook
o Financial Statements
o Department Reports
Motion was seconded by Council Member Matt Dodson. All in favor. None opposed. Consent
Agenda approved.
VC
NEW BUSINESS 5:32PM
Ordinance 14-2024 Approving Purchase of Police Department Vehicles
Mayor Joe Hurst stated that the City of Van Buren has a need of two (2) police department
vehicles. The intended purchase is two (2) 2024 Dodge Durango's for the total sum of
$107,089.36. Vehicles to be purchased from Superior Chevrolet in Siloam Springs,Arkansas
Motion to adopt Ordinance 14-2024 was made by Council Member Tyler Wood. Seconded by
Council Member Tonia Fry. Roll Call. All in favor. None opposed.
Ordinance 14-2024 Approving Purchase of Police Department Vehicles is adopted with five yeas
and zero nays.
Motion to approve the emergency clause made by Council Member Tyler Wood, seconded by
Council Member Tonia Fry. Roll Call. All in favor. None opposed. The Emergency Clause
passed with a vote of five yeas and zero nays.
MISCELLANOUS and GENERAL DISCUSSION 5:36PM
Mayor Joe Hurst opened the floor to Lesa Crowell with Skip Stone Pictures to discuss the
request to close blocks 400-600 of downtown on Sunday,July 14, 2024,to film a movie titled,
"Broken Trail". The movie stars Rumor Willis and Graham Green and will be set in 1875. After
Lesa Crowell made her presentation describing the western drama Mayor Joe Hurst opened the
floor for further questions. There were none. The City Council did not express any
disagreements. A motion was made by Council Member Tyler Wood to approve the street
closing. Seconded by Mike Kneeland. No roll call but Mayor Joe Hurst confirmed all in favor.
Mayor Joe Hurst mentioned that he would like the council to approve that city offices be closed
on Friday,July 5, 2024, in addition to Thursday,July 4, 2024. No disapproval from the City
Council. City offices will be officially closed on Thursday,July 4 and Friday,July 5, 2024.
Charlene McDonnough, Crawford County Library Director gave an update of the Crawford
County Library System. She presented that the library system for 2023 received $1,453,158.00
from various revenue sources and expended$1,301,774.00. Additionally she mentioned that is
a return on investment of$2.38 for every$1.00 spent. She is a new director and plans to
present to the council updates on a regular basis.
John Wilson with the Marine Corp League spoke to the council regarding his desire to have the
155 Howitzer Cannon located in the Van Buren City Park donated to his military museum. He
stated the serial number of this weapon was 2600 and that he had researched it and believes it
was used in 1953-1954 in the Korean War by Unit 936 which was a tracking unit. He said many
cannons were donated to city parks after the Korean War. Mayor Joe Hurst and the City
Council stated they would take this into consideration and contact him accordingly.
EXECUTIVE SESSION—CITY COUINCIL POSITION VACANCY FOR WARD 3 POSITION 2
Mayor Joe Hurst stated that the council would be going into executive session regarding an
open position on the council. He dismissed anyone who wanted to leave.
Council Member Matt Dodson made a motion to dismiss for executive session. Seconded by
Council Member Tonia Fry. All in favor. None opposed.
Executive Session began and recording turned off at 5:50PM. Executive Session ended at
6:22PM and recording started.
Mayor Joe Hurst stated that there was no action taken during the executive session and that
there is a resolution to be presented to vote on the appointment of Shannon Newerth-Henson
to fill Council Member Kenny Bell's open position.
Resolution 06-02-2024 Appointing a New CitV Council Member
Mayor Joe Hurst presented Shannon Newerth-Henson, giving a brief introduction.
Motion to adopt Resolution 06-02-2024 was made by Council Member Tyler Wood. Seconded
by Council Member Mike Kneeland. Roll Call. All in favor. None opposed.
Resolution 06-02-2024 Appointing a New City Council Member is adopted with five yeas and
zero nays.
ADJOURNMENT 6:25PM
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 6:25PM.
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