FEB 23,2026 REGULAR CITY COUNCIL MEETING City of Van Buren, Arkansas
Minutes of the Regular Meeting of the City Council
Monday, February 23, 2026
Van Buren Municipal Complex
CALL TO ORDER 5:30PM
The Special Meeting of the Van Buren City Council was called to order by Mayor Joseph P.
Hurst at 5:30PM. Reverand and City Attorney Jacob Howell 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 Madison Simmons, Council Member
Shannon Newerth-Henson, Council Member Matt Dodson, Council Member Tonia Fry, City
Attorney Jacob Howell, Mayor Joseph P. Hurst, City Clerk-Treasurer Shawnna Reynolds
Absent: Council Member Tyler Wood
SPECIAL ANNOUNCEMENTS
None
CONSENT AGENDA 5:33PM
After determining there were no reported objections or unfinished business, Council Member
Mike Kneeland moved to approve the consent agenda which consisted of:
Minutes from Special Meeting of the City Council February 9, 2025
Resolution 02-07-2026 Removal of Fixed Assets
Resolution 02-08-2026 Adopting a Revised Personnel Handbook Section 7.7 AI Policy
Resolution 02-09-2026 Authorize to Pay Annual Crawford County Emergency 911
Resolution 02-10-2026 Authorize a Revised Personnel Handbook Section 7.6 Marital Status
Financial Statements
Department Reports:
Police Public Works/Planning
Fire Ambulance
Building Code Enforcement
Motion was seconded by Council Member Matt Dodson. Consent Agenda approved with a vote
of five yeas and zero nays. Mayor Hurst declared the consent agenda passed.
NEW BUSINESS 5:34PM
Ordinance 16-2026 Public Hearing for ROW Abandonment — Rick Mooney
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 Madison Simmons, 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 in regard to a Right of Way
Abandonment of a public street right of way in the Mountain View Addition between blocks L
and D and Blocks E and D. Due notice was given as required by law and the City Council was
available to hear any public hearing. No one spoke in opposition. There were a couple of sign
offs on the proposal granting approval that was attached as exhibits to the ordinance.
Motion to adopt Ordinance 16-2025 was made by Council Member Shannon Newerth-Henson.
Seconded by Council Member Matt Dodson. Roll call. All in favor. None opposed.
Ordinance 16-2025 Public Hearing for ROW Abandonment— Rick Mooney is adopted with five
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 5:55 PM
Mayor Hurst presented his State of the City address in which he discussed the achievements
and possible issues the city faced in 2025. He presented statistics for each department,
discussed the financial health of the city and plans for the future. A copy of Mayor Hurst's
power point presentation is made part of the permanent records.
Connie Martin with Almost Home Shelter presented the quarterly report. She discussed the
number of dog intakes, adoptions, claimed and transported during the last quarter. She also
mentioned upcoming fund raisers.
ADJOURNMENT 6:26PM
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
Meeting was adjourned at 6:26PM.
G\erk Tie
ATTESTED: City of Van Buren APPROVED:
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Shawnna M. Re olds eph P. Hurst
City Clerk-Treasurer Ma r