07 JULY 27,2026 REGULAR CITY COUNCIL MEETING City of Van Buren, Arkansas
Minutes of the Regular Meeting of the City Council
Tuesday, July 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. Reverend and City Attorney Jacob Howell led the invocation. Mayor Joseph
P. Hurst led the Pledge of Allegiance.
PRESENTATIONS - AWARDS
None
ROLL CALL 5:33PM
Present: Council Member Madison Simmons, Council Member Tyler Wood, Council Member
Matt Dodson, Council Member Tonia Fry, Mayor Joseph P. Hurst, City Attorney Jacob Howell,
City Clerk-Treasurer Shawnna Reynolds
Absent: Council Member Shannon Newerth-Henson, Council Member Mike Kneeland
SPECIAL ANNOUNCEMENTS
SGT James Blount retires on July 31, 2026, after 25 years of service. He was recognized by
Mayor Hurst and City Council for his achievement and awarded his service side arm.
CONSENT AGENDA 5:36PM
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 June 22, 2026
Resolution 07-01-2026 Removal of Fixed Assets
Resolution 07-02-2026 Updating Signature Cards District Court
Resolution 07-03-2026 Amending Resolution 09-03-2020 CCTV
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 four yeas and zero nays. Mayor Hurst declared the consent agenda passed.
NEW BUSINESS 5:36PM
Resolution 07-04-2026 James Blount Retirement
City Clerk-Treasurer Shawnna Reynolds read the resolution in its entirety. Mayor Joseph P.
Hurst invited Deputy Police Chief Larry Brown to present SGT James Blount with his service side
arm, a Glock G45MOS, Generation 5, 9mm caliber pistol, Serial Number CETF913. SGT Blount
retired after 25 years of service to the City of Van Buren.
Motion to approve Resolution 07-04-2026 was made by Council Member Tonia Fry. Seconded
by Council Member Madison Simmons. Mayor Joseph P. Hurst asked City Clerk-Treasurer
Shawnna Reynolds to call roll.
Resolution 07-04-2026 James Blount Retirement was adopted with four 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 07-05-2026 Public Hearing Condemning Certain Real Property 128
South 22nd Street
City Clerk-Treasurer Shawnna Reynolds read the resolution in its entirety. Mayor Joseph P.
Hurst stated that the floor was open for a public hearing before the resolution was read. No
one in the audience or with City Council had any objections or statements.
The property at 128 South 22nd Street was set for condemnation per Van Buren Municipal Code
11.28.01. Exhibit A was attached with photos of the property. The property was found to be
dangerous, unsightly, unsanitary, dilapidated, unsafe, obnoxious, a fire hazer, and/or a menace
to abutting properties. The legal address is Lots 17 and 18. Block 3 Roosevelt Subdivision in the
City of Van Buren, Crawford County, Arkansas (Parcel No. 700-06482-000, located at 128 South
22nd Street and owned by Larry Norwood.
Motion to approve Resolution 07-05-2026 was made by Council Member Tonia Fry. Seconded
by Council Member Tyler Wood. Mayor Joseph P. Hurst asked City Clerk-Treasurer Shawnna
Reynolds to call roll.
Resolution 07-05-2026 Public Hearing Condemning Certain Real Property at 128 South 22nd
Street was adopted with four 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 07-06-2026 Authorizing Architectural Contract for New Fire Station
City Clerk-Treasurer Shawnna Reynolds read the resolution in its entirety. Mayor Joseph P.
Hurst stated that this was authorized earlier but this is an estimate of the charges. Mayor Hurst
requested to go into a contract for architectural services for design and project oversight of a
new fire station with MAHG Architecture in the amount not to exceed $338,000.00 plus any
applicable reimbursable expenses.
Motion to approve Resolution 07-06-2026 was made by Council Member Matt Dodson.
Seconded by Council Member Tyler Wood. Mayor Joseph P. Hurst asked City Clerk-Treasurer
Shawnna Reynolds to call roll.
Resolution 07-06-2026 Enter into contract with MAHG for Architectural Services New Fire
Station was adopted with four 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 07-07-2026 Amending Resolution for Drainage Improvements
Downtown
City Clerk-Treasurer Shawnna Reynolds read the resolution in its entirety. Mayor Joseph P.
Hurst stated that this is to clean up paperwork that had been coded incorrectly and adding the
additional cost of the Downtown Drainage Improvements and amending Resolutions 10-05-
2022 and 07-05-2024.
Amendment No 1 to the initial agreement was approved on July 22, 2024, in the amount of
$138,970.00. Amendment No. 2 to the initial agreement has been submitted totaling
$170,920.00 as payment to Hawkins-Weir.
Motion to approve Resolution 07-07-2026 was made by Council Member Tonia Fry. Seconded
by Council Member Madison Simmons. Mayor Joseph P. Hurst asked City Clerk-Treasurer
Shawnna Reynolds to call roll.
Resolution 07-07-2026 Amending Resolution for Drainage Improvements Downtown was
adopted with four 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 07-08-2026 Amending Resolution for Boatwright Drainage Phase II
City Clerk-Treasurer Shawnna Reynolds read the resolution in its entirety. Mayor Joseph P.
Hurst stated that that this is to amend Resolution 02-05-2026 for Hawkins-Weir to include the
additional amount for Amendment No. 1. This project was approved originally for$46,400.00
and has increased to $105,950.00
Motion to approve Resolution 07-08-2026 was made by Council Member Matt Dodson.
Seconded by Council Member Tonia Fry. Mayor Joseph P. Hurst asked City Clerk-Treasurer
Shawnna Reynolds to call roll.
Resolution 07-08-2026 Amending Resolution for Boatwright Drainage Phase II was adopted
with four 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 07-09-2026 Accepting Bid for Boatwright Drainage Phase II Goodwin
& Goodwin
City Clerk-Treasurer Shawnna Reynolds read the resolution in its entirety. Mayor Joseph P.
Hurst stated that this is to accept the bid from Goodwin & Goodwin for the Boatwright
Drainage Improvements Phase II through Hawkins-Weir Engineers. Mayor Hurst mentioned
that this is a project that is down by the football field.
Bids were received and opened in accordance with Arkansas Law and Goodwin & Goodwin was
the lowest bidder meeting the bid specifications. The cost of the project is expected to be
$452,715.00.
Motion to approve Resolution 07-09-2026 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.
Resolution 07-09-2026 Accepting Bid for Boatwright Drainage Phase II Goodwin & Goodwin was
adopted with four yeas 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 5:56PM
Connie Martin from Almost Home was expected to speak but was not in the audience.
Dewey Pepple spoke to the council about wanting to be able to kayak at the lake at the City
Park. Mayor Hurst and the City Council said they would discuss it further and take it into
consideration.
Mayor Joseph P. Hurst read the following statement to the City Council, so they are aware of
the mandatory training required for the City Clerk-Treasurer has been completed:
"Act 671 of 2025 is a new law establishing Mandatory Treasurer Training for municipalities
across the state. It is mandatory for the City Clerk-Treasurer to complete an eight-hour
educational course covering budgeting, fund accounting, internal controls etc. However,
anyone who has any financial responsibilities within a municipality is encouraged to attend,
free of charge. The City Clerk-Treasurer's office has completed this training, thus meeting the
standard. This will be reported to Arkansas Legislative Audit."
It was not mentioned during the council meeting, but it was learned afterwards that this was
the last council meeting that would be attended by Council Member Matt Dodson. He is not
seeking re-election and has moved outside his ward leaving an open position. It is noted here
for future reference, if needed.
ADJOURNMENT 6:02PM
Council Member Madison Simmons made a motion to adjourn, seconded by Council Member
Matt Dodson. The motion passed with four yeas and zero nays. The Regular Meeting of the
Van Buren City Council Meeting was adjourned at 6:0213M.
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ATTESTED: City of Van Buren APPROVED:
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