MAY 27,2025 CITY COUNCIL MEETING MINUTES City of Van Buren, Arkansas
Minutes of the Regular Meeting of the City Council
Monday, May 27, 2025
Van Buren Municipal Complex
CALL TO ORDER 5:33PM
The regular meeting of the Van Buren City Council was called to order by Mayor Joseph P.
Hurst at 5:33PM. Reverend and City Attorney Jacob Howell led the invocation. Mayor Joseph
P. Hurst led the Pledge of Allegiance.
PRESENTATIONS - AWARDS
None
ROLL CALL 5:34PM
Present: Council Member Shannon Newerth-Henson, Council Member Madison Simmons, ,
Council Member Tonia Fry, Council Member Mike Kneeland, Council Member Dodson, Mayor
Joseph P. Hurst, City Clerk-Treasurer Shawnna Reynolds, City Attorney Jacob Howell
Absent: Council Member Tyler Wood
CONSENT AGENDA 5:34PM
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 Regular Meeting of the City Council, April 28, 2025
o Resolution 05-01-2025 Disposal of Fixed Assets
o Resolution 05-02-2025 Amending 05-04-2023 Development Agreement
o Street Closure: American Advocates for Equality-June 15, 2025
o Financial Statements
o Department Reports
Motion was seconded by Council Member Tonia Fry. All in favor. None opposed. Consent
Agenda approved. Mayor Hurst declared the consent agenda passed.
NEW BUSINESS 5:36PM
Resolution 05-03-2025 Entering into Engineering Contract w/Hawkins-Weir
City Clerk-Treasurer Shawnna Reynolds read the resolution in its entirety. Mayor Hurst advised
the council that their council packet contained the agreement information and invited Larry
Yancey from Hawkins-Weir to address the council if needed, and answer any questions. This
project is for an overlay on North 26 Street to Rudy Road. It will include drainage and inlets and
is a much needed improved to that area of street inside the city limits.
Motion to approve Resolution 05-03-2025 was made by Council Member Mike Kneeland.
Seconded by Council Member Tonia Fry. Mayor Joseph P. Hurst asked City Clerk-Treasurer
Shawnna Reynolds to call roll. Five Yays and zero nays Mayor Joseph P. Hurst declared the
motion carried.
Resolution 05-03-2025 Entering into Engineering Contract with Hawkins-Weir is adopted with
five yeas and zero nays. Mayor Hurst declared the resolution passed and signed the same in
open council, duly attested by City Clerk-Treasurer Reynolds.
Resolution 05-04-5025 Approving Final Plat Dora Lots
City Clerk-Treasurer Shawnna Reynolds read the resolution in its entirety. Mayor Joseph P.
Hurst stated that Planning Department Head Wally Bailey was not present and that the council
could read the memo, from Wally, that was in their council packet. He explained that there will
be single duplexes built on lots 1 and 2 and a detention pond on track A.
Motion to approve Resolution 04-04-2025 was made by Council Member Shannon Newerth-
Henson. Seconded by Council Member Mike Kneeland. All in favor. None opposed.
Resolution 05-04-2025 Approving Final Plat Dora Lots is adopted with five yeas and zero nays.
Mayor Hurst declared the resolution passed and signed the same in open council, duly attested
by City Clerk-Treasurer Reynolds.
Resolution 05-05-2025 Authorizing VBMU Commission to purchase Real
Property
City Clerk-Treasurer Shawnna Reynolds read the resolution in its entirety. Mayor Joseph P.
Hurst invited Water Utilities Director, Steve Dufresne, to the podium to discuss this purchase
with the council. He explained that this is property near industrial park and there is a water
tank that was constructed in 1990 on the current property. This purchase would be additional
land that would go from Kibler Road to 351h Street, to Co-Op Drive & 281h Street. This will be
increasing the size of the easement. This will give the city control of the land and will help the
city in the future as Van Buren grows and will give a place for another tank or for spillage to be
located. The purchase price negotiated with the seller is for$590,000.00 to be paid from
VBMU Water Capital Improvements. There were two questions from the council regarding the
location of the land and how it is currently accessed.
Motion to adopt Resolution 05-05-2025 was made by Council Member Mike Kneeland.
Seconded by Council Member Shannon Newerth-Henson. Roll Call.
Council Member Dodson Yay
Council Member Newerth-Henson Yay
Council Member Kneeland Yay
Council Member Wood Absent
Council Member Simmons No
Council Member Fry Yay
Resolution 05-05-2025 Authorizing VBMU Commission to purchase Real Property is adopted
with four yeas and one nay. Mayor Hurst declared the resolution passed and signed the same
in open council, duly attested by City Clerk-Treasurer Reynolds.
Resolution 05-06-2025 Allocating & Appropriating Insurance Proceeds
City Clerk-Treasurer Shawnna Reynolds read the resolution in its entirety. Mayor Joseph P.
Hurst stated that this is pretty straight forward. There was an auto accident in August of 2024
that damaged the traffic light at Hwy 282 & Hwy 64. He mentioned that there was an insurance
claim that we have received payment on already and will cover this repair in its entirety.
Motion to adopt Resolution 05-06-2025 was made by Council Member Tonia Fry. Seconded by
Council Member Madison Simmons. Roll Call. All in favor. None opposed.
Resolution 05-06-2025 Allocating and Appropriating Insurance Proceeds is adopted with five
yeas and zero nays. Mayor Hurst declared the resolution passed and signed the same in open
council, duly attested by City Clerk-Treasurer Reynolds.
MISCELLANOUS and GENERAL DISCUSSION 5:52PM
Charlene McDonnough gave a report on the Van Buren Library. She handed out a flyer of all
the summer activities for the community. She stated in 2024 there were about 800 participants
and she expected about the same this year.
There was no further miscellaneous and general discussion.
ADJOURNMENT 5:56PM
Council Member Madison Simmons made a motion to adjourn, seconded by Council Member
Mike Kneeland. The motion passed 5-0. The Regular Meeting of the Van Buren City Council
Meeting was adjourned at 5:5613M.
G\erk Treks,,
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ATTESTED: City of Van Buren APPROVED:
County,Pi�ac
Shawnna M. Reynolds Jos h P. Hurst
City Clerk-Treasurer