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AUGUST 25,2025 CITY COUNCIL MEETING MINUTES City of Van Buren, Arkansas Minutes of the Regular Meeting of the City Council Monday, August 25, 2025 Van Buren Municipal Complex CALL TO ORDER 5:30PM The regular meeting of the Van Buren City Council was called to order by Mayor Joseph P. Hurst at 5:30PM. Police Chief Jonathan Wear led the invocation. Mayor Joseph P. Hurst led the Pledge of Allegiance. PRESENTATIONS - AWARDS None ROLL CALL 5:32PM Present: Council Member Shannon Newerth-Henson, Council Member Matt Dodson, Council Member Tyler Wood, Council Member Madison Simmons, Council Member Tonia Fry, Council Member Mike Kneeland, Mayor Joseph P. Hurst, City Clerk-Treasurer Shawnna Reynolds Absent: City Attorney Jacob Howell CONSENT AGENDA 5:32PM After determining there were no reported objections or unfinished business, Council Member Madison Simmons moved to approve the consent agenda which consisted of: o Minutes from Regular Meeting of the City Council, July 28, 2025 o Resolution 08-01-2025 Disposal of Fixed Assets o Ordinance 10-2025 Amending Ordinance Pertaining to Posting Ordinances o Financial Statements o Department Reports Motion was seconded by Council Member Shannon Newerth-Henson. Consent Agenda approved with a vote of six yays and zero nays. Mayor Hurst declared the consent agenda passed. NEW BUSINESS 5:33PM Resolution 08-02-2025 Amending Resolution 01-01-2025 Entering into Contract with Hawkins-Weir City Clerk-Treasurer Shawnna Reynolds read the resolution in its entirety. Mayor Joseph P. Hurst stated that this was taken to council earlier this year and was approved in the amount of $30,000 but it has been determined that there is a need to raise this agreement from $30,000 to $45,000 for engineering costs with Hawkins-Weir for 2025. Motion to approve Resolution 08-02-2025 was made by Council Member Tyler Wood. Seconded by Council Member Matt Dodson. Mayor Joseph P. Hurst asked City Clerk-Treasurer Shawnna Reynolds to call roll. six yays and zero nays. Mayor Joseph P. Hurst declared the motion carried. Resolution 08-02-2025 Amending Resolution 01-01-2025 Entering into Contract with Hawkins- Weir is adopted with six yays and zero nays. Mayor Hurst declared the resolution passed and signed the same in open council, duly attested by City Clerk-Treasurer Reynolds. Resolution 08-03-2025 Approving a Tax Lien —2116 Baldwin Street City Clerk-Treasurer Shawnna Reynolds read the resolution in its entirety. Mayor Joseph P. Hurst opened the floor for Code Enforcement Supervisor, Steve Gunter, to address the council regarding the history of cleaning up a real property at 2116 Baldwin. He stated that the resident was contacted on March 13, 2025, initially to clean up their property. The time was extended until June 25, 2025, when the city cleaned up the lot. He stated the city had received multiple complaints prior to this concerning the condition of this property. It took the city three days to complete the cleanup. An invoice was sent to the property owner on July 29, 2025, and there has been no further contact. This resolution would be for the council to approve a lien for the cleanup cost plus 10% penalty is $885.14. Motion to approve Resolution 08-03-2025 was made by Council Member Shannon Newerth- Henson. Seconded by Council Member Mike Kneeland. Mayor Joseph P. Hurst asked City Clerk-Treasurer Shawnna Reynolds to call roll. Six yays and zero nays. Mayor Joseph P. Hurst declared the motion carried. Resolution 08-03-2025 Approving a Tax Lien —2116 Baldwin Street is adopted with six yays and zero nays. Mayor Hurst declared the resolution passed and signed the same in open council, duly attested by City Clerk-Treasurer Reynolds. Resolution 08-04-2025 Intent Regarding VBMU Parkview Drive/Woodrow Street Sewer Improvement City Clerk-Treasurer Shawnna Reynolds read the resolution in its entirety. Mayor Joseph P. Hurst opened the floor for Van Buren Municipal Utilities, Steve Dufresne, to address the council regarding the purpose of this resolution (along with the following three resolutions) being brought to the City Council. He mentioned that this is for loans that will be obtained by VBMU, and the council needs to approve the VBMU paying the upfront payment and then being reimbursed when the funds are received (on a monthly basis). There are four projects that the Van Buren Municipal Utilities will begin in the next month or so that will update the water/sewer lines throughout the city and is expected to take approximately 15 months. The oldest of these pipes were laid in 1893, 1924 and in the 1960's. In addition, there will be three water tanks that will be rehabbed, (Crestview tank, Lover's Lane tank, Dora Tank). For clarification, these funds are currently available and have been on the Capital Improvement plan for years. The cost of the Parkview Drive/Woodrow Street Project is approved in the amount of$3,435,000.00. Motion to approve Resolution 08-04-2025 was made by Council Member Tyler Wood. Seconded by Council Member Tonia Fry. Mayor Joseph P. Hurst asked City Clerk-Treasurer Shawnna Reynolds to call roll. Six yays and zero nays. Mayor Joseph P. Hurst declared the motion carried. Resolution 08-04-2025 Intent Regarding VBMU Parkview Drive/Woodrow Street Sewer Improvement is adopted with six yays and zero nays. Mayor Hurst declared the resolution passed and signed the same in open council, duly attested by City Clerk-Treasurer Reynolds. Resolution 08-05-2025 Intent Regarding the Downtown Van Buren Water System Improvement Protect City Clerk-Treasurer Shawnna Reynolds read the resolution in its entirety. Mayor Joseph P. Hurst opened the floor for Van Buren Municipal Utilities, Steve Dufresne, to address the council regarding the purpose of this resolution (along with the following two resolutions) being brought to the City Council. He mentioned that this is for loans that will be obtained by VBMU, and the council needs to approve the VBMU paying the upfront payment and then being reimbursed when the funds are received (on a monthly basis). There are four projects that the Van Buren Municipal Utilities will begin in the next month or so that will update the water/sewer lines throughout the city and is expected to take approximately 15 months. The oldest of these pipes were laid in 1893, 1924 and in the 1960's. In addition, there will be three water tanks that will be rehabbed, (Crestview tank, Lover's Lane tank, Dora Tank). For clarification, these funds are currently available and have been on the Capital Improvement plan for years. The cost of the Downtown Van Buren Water System Improvement Project is approved in the amount of$3,750,000.00. Motion to approve Resolution 08-05-2025 was made by Council Member Madison Simmons. Seconded by Council Member Tonia Fry. Mayor Joseph P. Hurst asked City Clerk-Treasurer Shawnna Reynolds to call roll. Six yays and zero nays. Mayor Joseph P. Hurst declared the motion carried. Resolution 08-05-2025 Downtown Van Buren Water System Improvement is adopted with six yays and zero nays. Mayor Hurst declared the resolution passed and signed the same in open council, duly attested by City Clerk-Treasurer Reynolds. Resolution 08-06-2025 Intent Regarding VBMU 2025-2026 Tank Rehabilitation and Recoating Project City Clerk-Treasurer Shawnna Reynolds read the resolution in its entirety. Mayor Joseph P. Hurst opened the floor for Van Buren Municipal Utilities, Steve Dufresne, to address the council regarding the purpose of this resolution (along with the following resolution) being brought to the City Council. He mentioned that this is for loans that will be obtained by VBMU, and the council needs to approve the VBMU paying the upfront payment and then being reimbursed when the funds are received (on a monthly basis). There are four projects that the Van Buren Municipal Utilities will begin in the next month or so that will update the water/sewer lines throughout the city and is expected to take approximately 15 months. The oldest of these pipes were laid in 1893, 1924 and in the 1960's. In addition, there will be three water tanks that will be rehabbed, (Crestview tank, Lover's Lane tank, Dora Tank). For clarification, these funds are currently available and have been on the Capital Improvement plan for years. The cost of the 2025-2026 Tank Rehabilitation and Recoating Project is approved in the amount of $2,300,000.00. Motion to approve Resolution 08-06-2025 was made by Council Member Shannon Newerth- Henson. Seconded by Council Member Tyler Wood. Mayor Joseph P. Hurst asked City Clerk- Treasurer Shawnna Reynolds to call roll. Six yays and zero nays. Mayor Joseph P. Hurst declared the motion carried. Resolution 08-06-2025 Intent Regarding VBMU 2025-2026 Rank Rehabilitation and Recoating Project is adopted with six yays and zero nays. Mayor Hurst declared the resolution passed and signed the same in open council, duly attested by City Clerk-Treasurer Reynolds. Resolution 08-07-2025 Intent Regarding the 28th Street Interceptor Sewer Improvement Phase 1 Project City Clerk-Treasurer Shawnna Reynolds read the resolution in its entirety. Mayor Joseph P. Hurst opened the floor for Van Buren Municipal Utilities, Steve Dufresne, to address the council regarding the purpose of this resolution (along with the following resolution) being brought to the City Council. He mentioned that this is for loans that will be obtained by VBMU, and the council needs to approve the VBMU paying the upfront payment and then being reimbursed when the funds are received (on a monthly basis). There are four projects that the Van Buren Municipal Utilities will begin in the next month or so that will update the water/sewer lines throughout the city and is expected to take approximately 15 months. The oldest of these pipes were laid in 1893, 1924 and in the 1960's. In addition, there will be three water tanks that will be rehabbed, (Crestview tank, Lover's Lane tank, Dora Tank). For clarification, these funds are currently available and have been on the Capital Improvement plan for years. The cost of the 28th Street Interceptor Sewer Improvement Project is approved in the amount of $4,430,000.00. Motion to approve Resolution 08-07-2025 was made by Council Member Madison Simmons. Seconded by Council Member Matt Dodson. Mayor Joseph P. Hurst asked City Clerk-Treasurer Shawnna Reynolds to call roll. Six yays and zero nays. Mayor Joseph P. Hurst declared the motion carried. Resolution 08-07-2025 28th Street Interceptor Sewer Improvement Project is adopted with six yays 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 Arthur Didion of 1416 E. 315t Street, Sallisaw, OK addressed the City Council regarding city owned property at 311 S. Washington, which is next to property he owns in downtown. His request to the City Council was to purchase the property so that he could develop it. The council stated they would table this for the time being to allow for further conversation. This is a topic that may be added to the agenda again in the future. ADJOURNMENT 6:25PM Council Member Madison Simmons made a motion to adjourn, seconded by Council Member Tonia Fry. The motion passed 6-0. The Regular Meeting of the Van Buren City Council Meeting was adjourned at 6:25PM. k Trreas� 01 ATTESTED: City of Van Buren APPROVED: �` tl ���r�County.Pt�a�a b Shawnna M. eynolds Jose P. Hurst City Clerk-Treasurer Mayor