APRIL 27,2026 REGULAR CITY COUNCIL MEETING City of Van Buren, Arkansas
Minutes of the Regular Meeting of the City Council
Monday, April 27, 2026
Van Buren Municipal Complex
CALL TO ORDER 5:32PM
The Regular Meeting of the Van Buren City Council was called to order by Mayor Joseph P.
Hurst at 5:32PM. City Attorney and Reverend Jacob Howell led the invocation. Mayor Joseph
P. Hurst led the Pledge of Allegiance.
PRESENTATIONS - AWARDS
None
ROLL CALL 5:33PM
Present: Council Member Mike Kneeland, Council Member Madison Simmons, Council Member
Tyler Wood, , Council Member Matt Dodson, Council Member Tonia Fry, Mayor Joseph P.
Hurst, City Clerk-Treasurer Shawnna Reynolds
Absent: Council Member Shannon Newerth-Henson
SPECIAL ANNOUNCEMENTS
None
CONSENT AGENDA 5:34PM
After determining there were no reported objections or unfinished business, Council Member
Tyler Wood moved to approve the consent agenda which consisted of:
Minutes from Regular Meeting of the City Council March 23, 2026
Street Closures—Current Church Vine Street June 12,4-10PM
Resolution 04-01-2026 Removal of Fixed Assets
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 5:35PM
Ordinance 19-2026 Contract with JM Display Fireworks
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 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
Mike Kneeland, 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 stated that we will be having a very big fireworks display for America's
250th anniversary. He stated the cost will be $75,000 of which we will have donations.
Crawford County has agreed to partner with the city in this endeavor with a $20,000
contribution. That, along with donations, the expected cost for the city is approximately
$40,000.
Motion to adopt Ordinance 19-2029 was made by Council Member Tyler Wood. Seconded by
Council Member Matt Dodson. Roll call. All in favor. None opposed.
Ordinance 19-2026 Contract with J&M Display Fireworks 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.
Ordinance 20-2026 Approve Purchase of Street Department Equipment
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 Mike
Kneeland, 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 stated that this is an ordinance to approve the purchase of a 2023 504
Sakai Asphalt Roller for the purchase amount of$69,000. Mayor Hurst explained that this was
money that had been approved in the 2026 budget. Street Department Superintendent John
Karstens said that the city has been renting rollers for years and this will last the city a long
time.
Motion to adopt Ordinance 20-2026 was made by Council Member Tyler Wood. Seconded by
Council Member Matt Dodson. Roll call. All in favor. None opposed.
Ordinance 20-2026 Approve Purchase of Street Department Equipment 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.
Ordinance 21-2026 Adopting Regulations for Childcare Family Homes
City Clerk-Treasurer Shawnna Reynolds read the ordinance in its entirety. Council Member
Tyler Woods 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 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 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 legislative standards
of childcare family homes. Previously there was no distinction between childcare family home
or day care center in the municipal code. Now, there will be two different definitions and there
will be standards to guide each one. A daycare family home will consist of 6-16 children and
will be based in a home. This cannot be denied in a residential neighborhood, and a business
license will be issued, and no appearance will be needed at a Planning Commission meeting. A
daycare center will be required to appear before the Planning Commission, and it will be for 17
or more children. There is no regulation for 0-5 children because that will be considered
"babysitting".
Motion to adopt Ordinance 21-2026 was made by Council Member Matt Dodson. Seconded by
Council Member Tonia Fry. Roll call. All in favor. None opposed.
Ordinance 21-2026 Adopting Regulations for Childcare Family Homes 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.
Ordinance 22-2026 Approve Purchase of Fire Department Ladder Truck
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 Tonia Fry, 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 Tonia Fry,
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 stated the emergency clause should be removed and if approved it will
be absent the emergency clause and the clerk will make that correction. Mayor Hurst
mentioned that the purchase of the ladder truck was approved with the special election on
March 3, 2026, and will be paid for from bond money. Signing the contract now allows us to
save about$130,000 and allows Pierce Fire Apparatus to begin building the truck which will
take approximately two years to build. The cost of the ladder truck will be locked in at
$2,164,894.00.
Motion to adopt Ordinance 22-2026 was made by Council Member Mike Kneeland. Seconded
by Council Member Matt Dodson. Roll call. All in favor. None opposed.
Ordinance 22-2026 Approve Purchase of Fire Department Ladder Truck 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.
Ordinance 23-2026 Approve Purchase of Street Department Dump Truck
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.
Mayor Joseph P. Hurst stated that it is a vehicle that was approved in the 2026 budget and will
replace a one-ton truck that does not have a dump bed on it. The proposed ordinance would
be to approve the purchase of a 2026 RAM 4X4 3500 Crew Cab/Cab & Chassis with flatbed
dump body from Breeden Dodge in the amount of$69,261.00.
Motion to adopt Ordinance 23-2026 was made by Council Member Mike Kneeland. Seconded
by Council Member Matt Dodson. Roll call. All in favor. None opposed.
Ordinance 23-2026 Approve Purchase of Street Department Dump Truck 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 6:04 PM
Tina and Rowland Barkley were on the agenda to speak about sidewalk repair but did not
appear.
Jonathan Baker spoke regarding sidewalks in the city. He mentioned that someone in a
wheelchair cannot navigate main street and oftentimes around the city park is an issue too. He
stated that the city should put up ADA sidewalks throughout the city. Mayor Hurst explained
that he is aware of the issues he mentioned and that there is a plan to address as many of these
issues as possible.
Almost Home Shelter presented their first quarter report. They explained the dogs that were
adopted and transported. They are making improvements to the play yard.
ADJOURNMENT 6:08PM
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 6:08PM.
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ATTESTED:
City of Van Buren APPROVED:
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Shawnna M. eynolds JoseplkJP. Hurst
City Clerk-Treasurer Mayor