05 MAY 22,2026 REGULAR MEETING OF CITY COUNCIL City of Van Buren, Arkansas
Minutes of the Regular Meeting of the City Council
Tuesday, May 26, 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 5:32PM
Present: Council Member Shannon Newerth-Henson, 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: None
SPECIAL ANNOUNCEMENTS
None
CONSENT AGENDA 5:34PM
After determining there were no reported objections or unfinished business, Council Member
Tonia Fry moved to approve the consent agenda which consisted of:
Minutes from Regular Meeting of the City Council April 27, 2026
Resolution 05-01-2026 Removal of Fixed Assets
Resolution 05-02-2026 Updating Signature Cards—District Court
Financial Statements
Department Reports:
Police Public Works/Planning
Fire Ambulance
Building Code Enforcement
Motion was seconded by Council Member Mike Kneeland. Consent Agenda approved with a
vote of five yeas and zero nays. Mayor Hurst declared the consent agenda passed.
NEW BUSINESS 5:35PM
Resolution 05-03-2026 Enter into Contract with MAHG for Architectural Services
New Fire Station
City Clerk-Treasurer Shawnna Reynolds read the resolution in its entirety. Mayor Joseph P.
Hurst stated that there had been different agencies submitting documentation regarding the
new fire station, but that MAHG was the best in connection with the design and project
oversight of the new fire station. Mayor Hurst also reminded everyone that this will be paid for
with bonds that were approved at the special election that was held in March of 2026.
Motion to approve Resolution 05-03-2026 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.
Resolution 05-03-2026 Enter into contract with MAHG for Architectural Services New Fire
Station was adopted with six 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 05-04-2026 Accepting Bid for Northridge Drive & Park Ridge Drive
Overlay
City Clerk-Treasurer Shawnna Reynolds read the resolution in its entirety. Mayor Joseph P.
Hurst stated that this is part of an ongoing list of needs that is being taken care of and will
include two street overlays. McKenzie Asphalt was the lowest bidder that met the
specifications needed at a cost of$331,222.10.
Motion to approve Resolution 05-04-2026 was made by Council Member Tonia Fry. Seconded
by Council Member Mike Kneeland. Mayor Joseph P. Hurst asked City Clerk-Treasurer
Shawnna Reynolds to call roll.
Resolution 05-04-2026 Accepting Bid for Northridge Drive and Park Ridge Drive Overlay was
adopted with six yeas and zero nays. Mayor Hurst declared the resolution passed and signed
the same in open council, duly attested by City Clerk-Treasurer Reynolds.
Ordinance 24-2026 Authorizing Consuelo Socorro Posada to Submit Application
Private Club
City Clerk-Treasurer Shawnna Reynolds read the ordinance in its entirety. Council Member
Tyler Wood 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 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 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.
Consuelo Socorro Posada addressed the council and stated that this is a family-friendly
restaurant that will be in the 700 block of Main. It will be a business known as "Perez Familia
and Co., LLC" to dba "Tres Amigos Mexican Grill. Mayor Joseph P. Hurst stated that the council
is only approving the application to be submitted to the Alcoholic Beverage Control Division.
Motion to adopt Ordinance 24-2026 was made by Council Member Madison Simmons.
Seconded by Council Member Shannon Newerth-Henson. Roll call. All in favor. None opposed.
Ordinance 24-2026 Authorizing Consuelo Socorro Posada to Submit Application for Private Club
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 25-2026 Amending Height Restrictions C-2
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 Tonia Fry, 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
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 asked Planning Director Wally Bailey to address the council. Mr. Bailey
stated that with the approval of the new hotel that was on the agenda in the previous month it
was determined that there needed to be a rezoning since it will be a very tall building. He
stated that there is a need to amend section 14.04.51 (3) of the Van Buren Municipal Code
concerning the requirements that regulate the height of structures in the C-2 Thoroughfare
Commercial District. He said the Planning Commission reviewed the amendment at a public
hearing that was held on May 5, 2026, and it was approved by a majority vote. The proposal
will be a formula that allows for a one foot of height increase for each one foot from all the
minimum setbacks. The maximum height of a structure shall be two stores and not exceed 35
feet.
Motion to adopt Ordinance 25-2026 was made by Council Member Madison Simmons.
Seconded by Council Member Tonia Fry. Roll call. All in favor. None opposed.
Ordinance 25-2026 Amending Height Restrictions C-2 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 26-2026 Rezone Northridge R-2 to C-2
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 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 Director, Wally Bailey, to speak to the
council. Mr. Bailey explained that the proposed ordinance is about a rezoning request from R-2
to C-2 of a portion of the proposed Legacy Place Phase III. Franklin Construction was
represented by Briey Engineering & Land Surveying was the requestor.
The Planning Commission held a public hearing on May 5, 2026, and a notice was published in
the Southwest Times Record on April 19, 2026. It was approved unanimously with special
condition that no convenience stores will be permitted, and any building or site lighting does
not produce any nuisance glare or lighting to the neighboring residential properties.
Motion to adopt Ordinance 26-2026 was made by Council Member Mike Kneeland. Seconded
by Council Member Tonia Fry. Roll call. All in favor. None opposed.
Ordinance 26-2026 Rezone Northridge R-2 to C-2 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 6:02 PM
Charlene McDonnough with the Van Buren Public Library presented her quarterly report and
presented the council with a summer program of planned events.
ADJOURNMENT 6:03PM
Council Member Madison Simmons made a motion to adjourn, seconded by Council Member
Tonia Fry. The motion passed with six yeas and zero nays. The Regular Meeting of the Van
Buren City Council Meeting was adjourned at 6:03PM.
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ATTESTED: City of Van Buren APPROVED:
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Shawnna M. nolds Jos ph P. Hurst
City Clerk-Treasurer Mayor