FEBRUARY 2023 REGULAR City of Van Buren, Arkansas
Minutes of the Regular Monthly Meeting of the City Council
Monday, February 27, 2023
5:30 PM
Van Buren Municipal Complex
CALL TO ORDER 5:30PM
The regular monthly 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 invocation. Girl
Scouts, Red Oak Service Unit led the Pledge of Allegiance.
ROLL CALL 5:33PM
Present: Council Member Matt Dodson, Council Member Madison Simmons, Council Member
Mike Kneeland, Council Member Tonia Fry, Council Member Tyler Wood, Mayor Joseph P.
Hurst, City Attorney Jacob Howell, City Clerk-Treasurer Shawnna Reynolds
Absent: Council Member Kenneth Bell
AWARDS 5:33PM
Officer of the Year was awarded to Lieutenant Wesley Marsh.
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:
o Minutes from January 23, 2023, City Council Meeting
o Resolution 02-01-2023 Disposal Fixed Asset
o Resolution 02-02-2023 Amending Fixed Asset Amount
o Resolution 02-03-2023 Destruction of Records
o Financial Statements
o Department Reports
Motion was seconded by Council Member Mike Kneeland. All in favor. None opposed.
Consent Agenda approved.
NEW BUSINESS 5:38PM
Resolution 02-04-2023 Approve AJ Greenwood City Park Demo
Mayor Hurst stated this was the first step in constructing the new skate park in the City Park.
This resolution is to move forward with demolition of the old city pool.
Council Member Wood asked what was being demolished and if there would be any further
demolition. Mayor Hurst stated that the demolition was for the pool and pool building and at
this point no further demolition is expected.
Council Member Tyler Wood moved to adopt Resolution 02-04-2023, seconded by Council
Member Matt Dodson. Roll Call. All in favor. None Opposed.
Resolution 02-04-2023 passed with a vote of five yeas and no nays.
Resolution 02-05-2023 Approve Funding for Van Buren Municipal Utilities
Mayor Hurst stated this was first discussed in 2022 during the ARPA funding discussion meeting
and was an anticipated expense of the city. Steve Dufresne from the Van Buren Municipal
Utilities stated that the water line on Baldwin by the football field and King School had twelve
(12) breaks and had to be replaced. The cost of that project was $640,000 and was an
unbudgeted expense. The city had agreed to use$300,000 from ARPA funds to share
approximately half the cost of the repair. There are now new meters and service lines in that
area.
Council Member Tonia Fry moved to adopt Resolution 02-05-2023, seconded by Council
Member Madison Simmons. Roll Call. All in favor. None Opposed.
Resolution 02-05-2023 passed with a vote of five yeas and no nays.
Resolution 02-06-2023 Approve Steve Beam Construction Azure Hills Drainage
Mayor Hurst stated this was on the city's "to do" list for a very long time and will address many
drainage issues. John Karstens from the Street Department discussed the need for this
resolution to be approved as the road starting south of Fir Drive has sunk down several inches
and will give way if not repaired asap.
Council Member Matt Dodson moved to adopt Resolution 02-06-2023, seconded by Council
Member Mike Kneeland. Roll Call. All in favor. None Opposed.
Resolution 02-06-2023 passed with a vote of five yeas and no nays.
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Resolution 02-07-2023 Adopting Revised Budget 2022
Mayor Hurst stated this was a resolution to amend the 2022 budget, as is done annually. There
were no questions as all data was straightforward in the presentation.
Council Member Tyler Wood moved to adopt Resolution 02-07-2023, seconded by Council
Member Tonia Fry. Roll Call. All in favor. None Opposed.
Resolution 02-07-2023 passed with a vote of five yeas and no nays.
Ordinance 08-2023 Purchase Trucks—Street Department
Mayor Hurst stated that the purchase of two trucks for the Street Department was approved
for the 2022 budget but due to COVID the trucks had still not been built as there is a shortage
on parts. Street Department Head,John Karstens found two trucks at Lewis Ford in Fayetteville
almost exactly as those his was waiting for and requested the purchase from Lewis Ford,
instead of waiting on the two outstanding vehicles.
Motion to adopt Ordinance 08-2023 made by Council Member Tyler Wood. Seconded by
Council Member Madison Simmons. Roll Call. All in favor. None opposed.
Ordinance 08-2023 Purchase Trucks-Street Department is adopted with five yeas and no nays.
Motion to approve emergency clause made by Mike Kneeland, seconded by Matt Dodson. Roll
Call. All in favor. None opposed. Emergency Clause passed with a vote of five yeas and no
nays.
Ordinance 09-2023 Purchase Mini Excavator—Street Department
Mayor Hurst again stated that the purchase of a mini excavator for the Street Department was
approved for the 2022 budget but due to COVID had been delayed as well. Street Department
Head,John Karstens found a mini excavator at Riggs Cat almost exactly as that of which he was
waiting for and requested the purchase from Riggs Cat, instead of waiting on the previous
order. He said it is needed to work on streets and ditches. He will have to add a trailer at a
later point.
Motion to adopt Ordinance 09-2023 made by Council Member Tyler Wood. Seconded by
Council Member Mike Kneeland. Roll Call. All in favor. None opposed.
Ordinance 09-2023 Purchase Mini Excavator-Street Department is adopted with five yeas and
no nays.
Motion to approve emergency elause made by Matt Dodson, seconded by Mike Kneeland. Roll
Call. All in favor. None opposed. Emergency Clause passed with a vote of five yeas and no
nays.
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Ordinance 10-2023 Purchase Concrete—Street Department
Mayor Hurst stated that the purchase of a concrete is an annual request with an expected cost
threshold to the city. This gives the Street Department to authority to purchase concrete for in
house projects, as needed and ensures projects continue without interruption.
Motion to adopt Ordinance 10-2023 made by Council Member Matt Dodson. Seconded by
Council Member Mike Kneeland. Roll Call. All in favor. None opposed.
Ordinance 10-2023 Purchase Concrete—Street Department is adopted with five yeas and no
nays.
Motion to approve emergency clause made by Tyler Wood, seconded by Mike Kneeland. Roll
Call. All in favor. None opposed. Emergency Clause passed with a vote of five yeas and no
nays.
Ordinance 11-2023 Purchase Asphalt—Street Department
Mayor Hurst stated that the purchase of asphalt is an annual request as well,with an expected
cost threshold to the city. This gives the Street Department to authority to purchase asphalt for
in house projects, as needed and ensures projects continue without interruption.
Street Department Head,John Karstens states he does anticipate having to come to the council
with a request for more funding as there will a lot of repairs and patching this year. His hope is
to patch, as much as possible, and avoid any overlays. These projects will begin when the
weather gets nicer, and school is out. It was suggested that these projects be put on social
media for the community to see the projects.
Motion to adopt Ordinance 11-2023 made by Council Member Tyler Wood. Seconded by
Council Member Matt Dodson. Roll Call. All in favor. None opposed.
Ordinance 11-2023 Purchase Asphalt—Street Department is adopted with five yeas and no
nays.
Motion to approve emergency clause made by Tyler Wood, seconded by Mike Kneeland. Roll
Call. All in favor. None opposed. Emergency Clause passed with a vote of five yeas and no
nays.
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Miscellaneous and General Discussion 6:08PM
Mayor Hurst asked if there were any questions or statements from the public. There were
none. He had no further miscellaneous or general discussion items.
ADJOURNMENT 6:08PM
Council Member Madison Simmons made a motiori to adjourn,seconded by Council Member
Matt Dodson. The motion passed 5-0. The Regular Meeting of the Van Buren City Council was
adjourned at 6:0813M.
ATTESTED: APPROVED:
Shawnna M. Reynolds Jos h P. Hurst
City Clerk-Treasurer Mayor
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