08 AUGUST 24, 2026 REGULAR CITY COUNCIL MEETING City of Van Buren, Arkansas
Minutes of the Regular Meeting of the City Council
Monday, August 24, 2026
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. Reverend and City Attorney Jacob Howell led the invocation. Mayor Joseph
P. Hurst led the Pledge of Allegiance.
PRESENTATIONS - AWARDS
None
ROLL CALL 5:32PM
Present: Council Member Madison Simmons, Council Member Tyler Wood, Council Member
Tonia Fry, Council Member Mike Kneeland, Mayor Joseph P. Hurst, City Attorney Jacob Howell,
City Clerk-Treasurer Shawnna Reynolds
Absent: None
Open Positions: Council Member Matt Dodson, Council Member Shannon-Newerth Henson
SPECIAL ANNOUNCEMENTS
None
CONSENT AGENDA 5:33PM
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 July 27, 2026
Appointment to Planning Commission—Chris Bell
Resolution 08-01-2026 Authorizing Payment of Annual Software Subscription -Omnigo
Resolution 08-02-2026 Amending Resolution 02-04-2020 Downtown Streetscape
Resolution 08-03-2026 Change Order for Northridge-Parkridge Overlay
Financial Statements
Department Reports:
Police Public Works/Planning
Fire Ambulance
Building Code Enforcement
Motion was seconded by Council Member Tyler Wood. Consent Agenda approved with a vote
of four yeas and zero nays. Mayor Hurst declared the consent agenda passed.
NEW BUSINESS 5:34PM
Resolution 08-04-2026 Authorize Architectural Services for New Community
Center
City Clerk-Treasurer Shawnna Reynolds read the resolution in its entirety. Mayor Joseph P.
Hurst stated that the selection committee determined that MAHG Architectural Services was
the most appropriate fit for the New Community Center design and oversight and asked that
the City Council approve going into contract with them for the design and oversight over the
project.
Motion to approve Resolution 08-04-2026 was made by Council Member Tyler Wood.
Seconded by Council Member Madison Simmons. Mayor Joseph P. Hurst asked City Clerk-
Treasurer Shawnna Reynolds to call roll.
Resolution 08-04-2026 Authorize Architectural Services for New Community Center 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 08-05-2026 Enter into Contract with Hawkins-Weir — King Opera
House Project
City Clerk-Treasurer Shawnna Reynolds read the resolution in its entirety. Mayor Joseph P.
Hurst stated that this was a resolution to go into contract with Hawkins-Weir for the King Opera
House Expansion Project. He invited Blake Peacock with Hawkins-Weir to address the council.
Mr. Peacock spoke of the scope of the project and stated it would be about an additional 1600
sq feet added to the King Opera House on the NW side of the building. The expected cost of
this project should not exceed $43,100.00 plus any applicable reimbursable expenses.
Motion to approve Resolution 08-05-2026 was made by Council Member Mike Kneeland.
Seconded by Council Member Tonia Fry. Mayor Joseph P. Hurst asked City Clerk-Treasurer
Shawnna Reynolds to call roll.
Resolution 08-05-2026 Enter into Contract with Hawkins-Weir— King Opera House Project 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.
Ordinance 28-2026 Rezone Property from Single Family Residential District (R-1)
to Planned Zoning District (PZD) — Rena Road
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.
This ordinance is for the purpose of rezoning property (legal description in Exhibit A) from R-1
Family Residential District to Planned Zoning District (PZD). Planning Director Wally Bailey
addressed the council and explained that there was a majority vote by the Planning
Commission to approve the rezone. Mr. Bailey explained all the details to the council
regarding the neighborhood meetings that were held with Mourning Wood and Goodwin
Engineering and there was a Planned Zoning District Project Booklet (Exhibit B) on file in the
City Clerk-Treasurer's office that outlined the scope of the project. He had photos available as
he described the project in detail.
After Mr. Bailey's presentation Mayor Joseph P. Hurst opened the floor to the public,
mentioning that there was a three (3) minute limit for whomever spoke. Many individuals from
the neighborhood spoke against the PZD rezoning. They claimed many reasons such as renters
instead of homeowners, the size of the duplexes, sanitation that could become an issue, trees
being removed,traffic issues etc. Every member of the audience that was from the residential
area was opposed to rezoning from R-1 to PZD.
There was a representative for the developer on hand to discuss each item that was brought to
the floor. He answered questions from the council and those in the audience.
After a long discussion and answering questions the determination from the residents was that
they did not want the rezone from R-1 to PZD, no matter the questions that were answered.
Motion to adopt Ordinance 28-2026 was made by Council Member Tyler Wood. Seconded by
Council Member Madison Simmons. Roll call.
Council Member Kneeland Nay
Council Member Madison Simmons Nay
Council Member Tonia Fry Nay
Council Member Tyler Wood Yea
Ordinance 28-2026 Rezone Property from Single Family Residential District (R-1)to Planned
Zoning District (PZD) — Rena Road is denied with one yea and three nays. Mayor Joseph Hurst
declared the ordinance denied.
MISCELLANOUS and GENERAL DISCUSSION 6:36PM
Connie Martin from Almost Home gave a quarterly report on the adoptions and fund-raising
events of the shelter. She thanked the Street Department for the new road to their facility.
Bruce Hellar was expected to speak but was a no show.
EXECUTIVE SESSION
Mayor Hurst explained that the City Council would be dismissing to go into Executive Session
and the audience was free to stay or could consider the meeting over.
City Council was dismissed and Executive Session began at 6:48PM.
City Council re-entered the council room and Executive Session was stopped at 6:59PM.
Resolution 08-06-2026 Appoint New City Council Member— Kody Morris
City Clerk-Treasurer Shawnna Reynolds read the resolution in its entirety. Mayor Joseph P.
Hurst stated that this was a resolution to appoint a new council member for Council Member
Shannon Newerth-Henson's open position. Mayor Hurst stated that Council Member Newerth-
Henson had moved out of the city limits and that Kody Morris was going to appear on the ballot
for the November election. Mayor Hurst invited both outgoing Council Member Shannon
Newerth-Henson to address the council as well as incoming Council Member Kody Morris. They
each thanked the other for their service and the council as well. They both mentioned it being
an honor to serve Van Buren and looked forward to the future.
Motion to approve Resolution 08-06-2026 Appoint New City Council Member Kody Morris was
made by Council Member Mike Kneeland. Seconded by Council Member Tonia Fry. Mayor
Joseph P. Hurst asked City Clerk-Treasurer Shawnna Reynolds to call roll.
Resolution 08-06-2026 Appoint New City Council Member Kody Morris 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.
ADJOURNMENT 7:04PM
Council Member Madison Simmons made a motion to adjourn, seconded by Council Member
Tyler Wood. The motion passed with four yeas and zero nays. The Regular Meeting of the Van
Buren City Council Meeting was adjourned at 7:04PM.
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ATTESTED: City of Van Buren APPROVED:
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