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09 SEPTEMBER 28, 2026 REGULAR CITY COUNCIL MEETING City of Van Buren, Arkansas Minutes of the Regular Meeting of the City Council Monday, September 28, 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. Van Buren Police Chief Jonathan Wear led the invocation. Mayor Joseph P. Hurst led the Pledge of Allegiance. PRESENTATIONS - AWARDS None ROLL CALL 5:31PM Present: Council Member Madison Simmons, Council Member Kody Morris, Council Member Tonia Fry, Council Member Mike Kneeland, Mayor Joseph P. Hurst, Chief Deputy City Clerk- Treasurer Erica Mowder Absent: Council Member Tyler Wood Open Positions: Council Member Matt Dodson 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 Regular Meeting of the City Council August 22, 2026 Street Closure Request—Event—The Vault 10-6-2026 Appointment to Planning Commission—Jeramy Ransom Resolution 09-01-2026 Temporary Revocable License Simmons Ordinance 29-2026 Amending Ordinance 01-2026 In-House Concrete Purchase Financial Statements Department Reports: Police Public Works/Planning Fire Ambulance Building Code Enforcement Motion was seconded by Council Member Tonia Fry. Consent Agenda approved with a vote of four yeas and zero nays. Mayor Hurst declared the consent agenda passed. NEW BUSINESS 5:33PM Resolution 09-02-2026 Enter into Contract for Construction Management Services/Project Oversight for King Opera House Annex Project Chief Deputy City Clerk-Treasurer Erica Mowder read the resolution in its entirety. Mayor Joseph P. Hurst stated that he was excited to get to work with Beshears and that they have a good track record of working in the community. Rusty with Beshears was present but did not have any comments to add. Mayor Joseph P. Hurst stated that there will be more council meetings regarding the project. Motion to approve Resolution 09-02-2026 was made by Council Member Madison Simmons. Seconded by Council Member Tonia Fry. Mayor Joseph P. Hurst asked Chief Deputy City Clerk- Treasurer Erica Mowder to call roll. Resolution 09-06-2026 Enter into Contract for Construction Management Services/Project Oversight for King Opera House Annex 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 Chief Deputy City Clerk-Treasurer Mowder. Ordinance Authorizing Issuance of Sales and Use Tax Bonds — DISCUSSION ONLY Mayor Joseph P. Hurst stated that this item would not be voted on with this meeting. Due to the bond market our consultants are recommending that we hit the pause button on executing the purchase agreement. Kevin Faught detailed the fluctuations of the bond market over the last few weeks. Kevin stated that his office is monitoring the rates, waiting for them to stabilize and that when the market conditions are more favorable the council may need to meet in a special meeting to approve this sale. Council Member Mike Kneeland asked if there was a projected timeframe on when things would settle down. Kevin said that he could not. Council Member Tonia Fry asked if rates go down, would council be called in quickly. Kevin said he hopes there would be a day or two of notice. Council Member Kody Morris asked how this would impact the construction deadline. Mayor Joseph P. Hurst stated that the city is continuing to work with the design team which will take a while. Ordinance 30-2026 Authorizing Private Club Permit Application for Peyton Bullington Chief Deputy City Clerk-Treasurer Erica Mowder read the resolution 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 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 introduced Peyton Bullington. Mr. Bullington noted current locations in Fort Smith and in Ozark. They are traditional Mexican restaurants open 11AM to 9PM, seven days a week. There would be no outdoor events or loud music with a family-friendly environment and a standard drink menu. Motion to approve Ordinance 30-2026 was made by Council Member Tonia Fry. Seconded by Council Member Mike Kneeland. Mayor Joseph P. Hurst asked Chief Deputy City Clerk- Treasurer Erica Mowder to call roll. Ordinance 30-2026 Authorizing Private Club Permit Application for Peyton Bullington was adopted with four yeas and zero nays. Mayor Hurst declared the ordinance passed and signed the same in open council, duly attested by Chief Deputy City Clerk-Treasurer Mowder. Ordinance 31-2026 Annual Millage Tax Renewal Chief Deputy City Clerk-Treasurer Erica Mowder read the resolution 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 Kody Morris, 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 Kody Morris, 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 ordinance is something that must be done every year, it is not a new tax, it is renewing the current millage tax. Motion to approve Ordinance 31-2026 was made by Council Member Mike Kneeland. Seconded by Council Member Tonia Fry. Mayor Joseph P. Hurst asked Chief Deputy City Clerk-Treasurer Erica Mowder to call roll. Ordinance 31-2026 Annual Millage Tax Renewal was adopted with four yeas and zero nays. Motion to pass the emergency clause was made by Council Member Tonia Fry. Seconded by Council Member Mike Kneeland. Mayor Joseph P. Hurst asked Chief Deputy City Clerk-Treasurer Erica Mowder to call roll. The emergency clause was passed with four yeas and zero nays. Mayor Hurst declared the ordinance passed and signed the same in open council, duly attested by Chief Deputy City Clerk-Treasurer Mowder. MISCELLANOUS and GENERAL DISCUSSION 5:52PM Bruce Hellar was present to discuss water flow issues at his property at 7 Westward Street. There had been flooding issues at the back of his property in the past, and the city had done some work. He is having problems again at the front of the property. The water has been tested confirming it is not water provided by the city. Mayor Joseph P. Hurst said he would review the previous files and get back with Bruce. Charlene McDonough from the library was present and provided a flyer detailing the 2026 summer reading program for the Crawford County Library System.The statistics for Van Buren have almost doubled since last year. 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 5:57PM. City Council re-entered the council room and Executive Session was stopped at 6:1013M. A Resolution 09-03-2026 Appoint New City Council Member— Matthew Hicks Chief Deputy City Clerk-Treasurer Erica Mowder read the resolution in its entirety. Mayor Joseph P. Hurst stated that Matthew Hicks is a great person, very involved in the community and will be a great addition to the council. Motion to approve Resolution 09-03-2026 Appoint New City Council Member Matthew Hicks was made by Council Member Madison Simmons. Seconded by Council Member Tonia Fry. Mayor Joseph P. Hurst asked Chief Deputy City Clerk-Treasurer Erica Mowder to call roll. Resolution 09-03-2026 Appoint New City Council Member Matthew Hicks was adopted with four yeas and zero nays. Mayor Hurst declared the resolution passed and signed the same in open council, duly attested by Chief Deputy City Clerk-Treasurer Mowder. MISCELLANEOUS 6:11PM Council Member Tonia Fry wanted to brag on a young man from our community who, as part of his Eagle Scout Project, installed two benches and 4 bird feeders at Lake Louemma with the help of David Martin. His name is Samuel Morrison and she suggests everyone take a walk around the lake and see what he did. ADJOURNMENT 6:12PM Council Member Madison Simmons made a motion to adjourn, seconded by Council Member Tonia Fry. The motion passed with four yeas and zero nays. The Regular Meeting of the Van Buren City Council Meeting was adjourned at 6:12PM. ATTESTED: APPROVED: Shaw R Ids Jose P. 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