OCTOBER 27, 2025 CITY COUNCIL MEETING MINUTES City of Van Buren, Arkansas
Minutes of the Regular Meeting of the City Council
Monday, October 27, 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 5:31PM
Present: Council Member Mike Kneeland, Council Member Shannon Newerth-Henson, Council
Member Matt Dodson, Council Member Tyler Wood, Council Member Madison Simmons,
Council Member Tonia Fry, Mayor Joseph P. Hurst, City Clerk-Treasurer Shawnna Reynolds
Absent: City Attorney Jacob Howell
PRIOR TO MEETING ANNOUNCEMENT
Mayor Joseph P. Hurst announced that item number 8 on the agenda regarding business
license would be removed for this meeting. Additionally, he mentioned that the City of Van
Buren had received their official Arkansas Legislative Audit Report and that there were no
changes since the initial report. He stated that each member of the council will, if they have
not already, receive a copy in the mail.
CONSENT AGENDA 5:34PM
After determining there were no reported objections or unfinished business, Council Member
Matt Dodson moved to approve the consent agenda which consisted of:
o Minutes from Regular Meeting of the City Council, September 22, 2025
o Historic District Committee Commission Appointment: Tom Wing
o Street Closures: 410 Drennen St—Josselin Inn Grand Opening 11.09.2025
o Resolution 10-01-2025 Adopting a Revised Personnel Handbook—Per Diem
o Resolution 10-02-2025 Remove and Dispose of Fixed Assets
o Financial Statements
o Department Reports
Motion was seconded by Council Member Tonia Fry. Consent Agenda approved with a vote of
six yeas and zero nays. Mayor Hurst declared the consent agenda passed.
NEW BUSINESS 5:33PM
Ordinance 15-2025 Amendment Chapter 9.44 Install Sidewalks
City Clerk-Treasurer Shawnna Reynolds read the ordinance in its entirety. Council Member
Madison Simmons moved that the rules be suspended, and the ordinance be placed on its
second reading. The motion was seconded by Council Member Mike Kneeland, 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 Madison
Simmons, followed by a unanimous vote by the council.The clerk then read the ordinance for
the third and final time by title only.
Mayor Joseph P. Hurst invited Planning Department Director, Wally Bailey, to speak to the
council. Mr. Bailey explained that the proposed ordinance is an update to reflect the market
value of a property, not the assed value of a property to determine the cost to install sidewalks.
He mentioned this will not affect new construction. This will update the current municipal
code.
Motion to adopt Ordinance 15-2025 was made by Council Member Tyler Wood. Seconded by
Council Member Madison Simmons. Roll call. All in favor. None opposed.
Ordinance 15-2025 Amendment Chapter 9.44 Install Sidewalks is adopted with six yeas and
zero nays. Mayor Joseph Hurst declared the ordinance passed and signed same in open
council, duly attested by City Clerk-Treasurer Shawnna Reynolds.
Ordinance 16-2025 Amendment ACT 313 Establishing Regulations for Accessory
Dwelling Units
City Clerk-Treasurer Shawnna Reynolds read the ordinance in its entirety. Council Member
Tonia Fry 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 Tonia Fry 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 Joseph P. Hurst invited Planning Department Supervisor, Wally Bailey, to speak to the
council. Mr. Bailey explained that this was a direct action by the General Assembly amending
accessory dwelling units. The City of Van Buren did not have anything on record, and it is now
required that we must allow accessory dwelling units, and they can be regulated. This will
update the Municipal Code. A property can have an accessory dwelling unit no more than 75%
of primary home. We cannot require a sidewalk or additional parking, and it can be connected
to the current primary water supply.
Motion to adopt Ordinance 16-2025 was made by Council Member Mike Kneeland. Seconded
by Council Member Tonia Fry. Roll call. All in favor. None opposed.
Ordinance 16-2025 Amendment ACT 313 Establishing Regulations for Accessory Dwelling Units
is adopted with six yeas and zero nays. Mayor Joseph Hurst declared the ordinance passed and
signed same in open council, duly attested by City Clerk-Treasurer Shawnna Reynolds.
Ordinance 17-2025 Repeal City Planning Jurisdiction ACT 314
City Clerk-Treasurer Shawnna Reynolds read the ordinance in its entirety. Council Member
Madison Simmons 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 Madison Simmons 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.
Mayor Joseph P. Hurst invited Planning Department Director Wally Bailey to address the
council. Mr. Bailey explained that this is also a new ruling from the General Assembly and we
must repeal any reference to jurisdiction outside the corporate city limits of Van Buren,
Arkansas. In the past we had a one-mile radius which will no longer be the case. The Municipal
Code will be updated.
Ordinance 17-2025 Repeal City Planning Jurisdiction ACT 314 is adopted with six yeas and zero
nays. Mayor Joseph Hurst declared the ordinance passed and signed same in open council, duly
attested by City Clerk-Treasurer Shawnna Reynolds.
Ordinance 18-2025 Approve Purchase of New Equipment for Fire Department
City Clerk-Treasurer Shawnna Reynolds read the ordinance in its entirety. Council Member
Tonia Fry moved that the rules be suspended, and the ordinance be placed on its second
reading. The motion was seconded by Council Member Mike Kneeland, followed by a
unanimous vote by the council. The clerk read the ordinance the second time by title only.
Council Member Tonia Fry moved that the rules be further suspended, and the ordinance
placed on the third and final reading. The motion was seconded by Council Member Madison
Simmons, followed by a unanimous vote by the council. The clerk then read the ordinance for
the third and final time by title only.
Mayor Joseph P. Hurst invited Fire Chief Tim Arnold to address the council. Chief Arnold stated
this was a purchase for the City of Van Buren's third set of Jaws of Life. It will go on Pumper 4.
This is an upgraded model and allows for faster and better responses to emergencies. The City
of Van Buren's old sets have been donated to adjoining fire departments which will extend our
safety area.
Motion to adopt Ordinance 18-2025 was made by Council Member Tonia Fry. Seconded by
Council Member Mike Kkneeland. Roll call. All in favor. None opposed.
Ordinance 18-2025 Approve Purchase of New Equipment for Fire Department is adopted with
six yeas and zero nays. Mayor Joseph Hurst declared the ordinance passed and signed same in
open council, duly attested by City Clerk-Treasurer Shawnna Reynolds.
MISCELLANOUS and GENERAL DISCUSSION 6:02PM
Van Buren Public Library Director Charlene McDonnough addressed the council to give a report.
She mentioned that online access to books is growing from 53,000 copies to 58,000 copies. She
discussed various library programs for adults and children.
Almost Home Director Connie Martin addressed the council to report activities for the last
quarter. There were 27 intakes, 5 claimed, 7 adopted and 17 transported animals in the last
quarter. She stated they are still working on public awareness.
ADJOURNMENT 6:12PM
Council Member Madison Simmons made a motion to adjourn, seconded by Council Member
Matt Dodson. The motion passed 6-0. The Regular Meeting of the Van Buren City Council
Meeting was adjourned at 6:1213M.
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