DECEMBER 2024 REGULAR MEETING City of Van Buren, Arkan
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Minutes of the Regular Meeting of the City Council
Monday, December 30, 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. Reverend and City Attorney Jacob Howell led the invocation. Mayor Joseph
P. Hurst led the Pledge of Allegiance.
ROLL CALL 5:31PM
Present: Council Member Tyler Wood, Council Member Tonia Fry, Council Member Kneeland,
Council Member Dodson, Mayor Joseph P. Hurst, City Clerk-Treasurer Shawnna Reynolds, City
Attorney Jacob Howell
Absent: Council Member Shannon Newerth-Henson, Council Member Madison Simmons
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 November 25, 2024, Regular City Council Meeting
o Minutes from December 9, 2024, Budget Study Session
o Street Closure: TOTMA 2025
o Resolution 12-02-2024 Destruction of Records
o Resolution 12-03-2024 Amending Res 01-01-2024 On Call Services Hawkins-Weir
o Financial Statements
o Department Reports
Motion was seconded by Council Member Tyler Wood. All in favor. None opposed. Consent
Agenda approved. Mayor Hurst declared the consent agenda passed.
NEW BUSINESS 5:32PM
Ordinance 23-2024 Setting the Salaries of Elected Officials
City Clerk-Treasurer Shawnna Reynolds read the ordinance in its entirety. Council Member
Tyler Wood moved that the rules be suspended, and the ordinance be placed on its second
reading. The motion was seconded by Council Member Matt Dodson, followed by a unanimous
vote by the council. The Clerk read the ordinance the second time by title only. Council
Member Tyler Wood moved that the rules be further suspended, and the ordinance placed on
the third and final reading. The motion was seconded by Council Member Matt Dodson,
followed by a unanimous vote by the council. The clerk then read the ordinance for the third
and final time by title only.
Mayor Hurst addressed the council and explained that although the city employees would be
receiving a 3% salary increase, if the 2025 budget is approved, the salaries for the elected
officials must be approved by ordinance. The salaries submitted are:
Mayor $98,674,00
City Clerk-Treasurer $75,723.00
City Attorney $15,844.00
Motion to adopt Ordinance 23-2024 was made by Council Member Tyler Wood. Seconded by
Council Member Matt Dodson. Roll Call. All in favor. None opposed.
Ordinance 23-2024 Setting the Salaries of Elected Officials is adopted with four yeas and zero
nays. Mayor Hurst declared the ordinance passed and signed same in open council, duly
attested by City Clerk-Treasurer Reynolds.
Resolution 12-04-2024 Adopting Proposed Budget 2025
City Clerk-Treasurer Shawnna Reynolds read the resolution in its entirety. Mayor Joseph P.
Hurst stated this budget proposal was very similar to the proposed budget that was presented
at the budget study session on December 9, 2024. He mentioned that he was increasing
property tax revenue slightly because there was a new valuation of homes, and he believes we
will be able to project higher revenue. He mentioned that the Crawford County Court will
increase their reimbursement rate to $400,000 in 2025. He stated that both the general fund
and street fund would end the year, if all the projections were accurate, in the positive.
Motion to adopt Resolution 12-04-2024 was made by Council Member Mike Kneeland.
Seconded by Council Member Matt Dodson. Roll Call. All in favor. None opposed.
Resolution 12-04-2024 Adopting Proposed Budget 2025 is adopted with four yeas and zero
nays. Mayor Hurst declared the resolution passed and signed same in open council, duly
attested by City Clerk-Treasurer Reynolds.
Ordinance 24-2024 Amending the Van Buren Municipal Code to Prohibit
Roosters
City Clerk-Treasurer Shawnna Reynolds read the ordinance in its entirety. Council Member
Mike Kneeland moved that the rules be suspended, and the ordinance be placed on its second
reading. The motion was seconded by Council Member Tyler Wood, followed by a unanimous
vote by the council. The Clerk read the ordinance the second time by title only. Council
Member Mike Kneeland moved that the rules be further suspended, and the ordinance placed
on the third and final reading. The motion was seconded by Council Member Tyler Wood,
followed by a unanimous vote by the council. The clerk then read the ordinance for the third
and final time by title only.
Planning Department Head, Wally Bailey and Code Enforcement Department Head, Steve
Gunter, explained to the city council that there was a study conducted regarding other cities
regarding prohibition of roosters, and it was found that only two cities, Van Buren being one,
did not prohibit roosters. There was enough evidence to present this information to the
Planning Commission who unanimously voted to carry this issue forward to the city council.
There was discussion regarding the handling of roosters that currently are kept in the city.
Code Enforcement Department Head, Steve Gunter stated that these would be handled on a
call-by-call basis and that his department would not be conducting a wide sweep eradication. It
was further confirmed that Crawford County does not prohibit roosters.
Both Wally Bailey and Steven Gunter mentioned that the roosters are dangerous, and we have
received complaints of residents being chased by them and some are very mean.
Motion to adopt Ordinance 24-2024 was made by Council Member Tyler Wood. Seconded by
Council Member Tonia Fry, Roll Call. All in favor. None opposed.
Ordinance 24-2024 Amending the Van Buren Municipal Code to Prohibit Rooters is adopted
with four yeas and zero nays. Mayor Hurst declared the ordinance passed and signed same in
open council, duly attested by City Clerk-Treasurer Reynolds.
MISCELLANOUS and GENERAL DISCUSSION 5:47PM
Almost Home, Connie Martin was scheduled to give a quarterly report but was not in the
audience. There was no further miscellaneous and general discussion.
ADJOURNMENT 5:48PM
Council Member Tyler Wood made a motion to adjourn, seconded by Council Member Matt
Dodson. The motion passed 4-0. The Regular Meeting of the Van Buren City Council was
adjourned at 5:48PM.
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ATTESTED: APPROVED:
Shawnna M. Reynolds 4yor
se, P. Hurst
City Clerk-Treasurer