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Home My WebLink About2025-10-07 / A \ /f"STpRTC \4/ ASSAS'OLD&S�C� CITY OF BATESVILLE COUNCIL REGULAR CALLED MEETING City Hall October 7,2025 5:30 P.M. COUNCILMEMBERS: OTHERS: Landon Reeves, Ward IPosition I Rick Elumbaugh,Mayor Scott Fredricks, Ward 1 Position 2 Jessica Davis, City Clerk(Absent) Fred Krug, Ward 2 Position 1 (Absent) Tim Meitzen, City Attorney Robb Roberts, Ward 2 Position 2 Julie Hinkle, Ward 3 Position I Jennifer Corter,Admin Asst. to Mayor Brittany Bennett, Ward 3 Position 2 Paige Hubbard, Ward 4 Position I Lackey Moody,Jr., Ward 4 Position 2 CALL TO ORDER The Mayor called the meeting to order at 5:30 p.m. INVOCATION Clint Crain ROLL CALL BY CITY CLERK The clerk verified the roll. APPROVAL OF MINUTES A motion was made by Councilmember Bennett, seconded by Councilmember Hinkle to approve the minutes from the September 23,2025 regular called meeting. The motion passed unanimously. APPROVAL OF AGENDA A motion was made by Councilmember Hinkle, seconded by Councilmember Fredricks to approve the amended agenda. The motion passed unanimously. COMMENTS FROM CITIZENS Mr. Jon Perkins, 2815 Cedar St., addressed the Council with a petition on behalf of the Dogwood East residents. He spoke on behalf of the residents in that area, and stated they are unhappy with the current building project and would like to see the project stopped or the scope of the project changed. Councilmember Reeves offered his apologizes for not making sure his Ward was notified better and would like to work with others to find ways to do better with the publication and notification of zoning changes going forward. City Council Meeting October 7.2025 Page 2 of 5 UNFINISHED BUSINESS A) SECOND READING OF AN ORDINANCE AUTHORIZING THE CITY OF BATESVILLE TO CONDUCT BUSINESS WITH CERTAIN INDIVIDUALS WHO SERVE AS MEMBERS OF CITY COUNCIL,CITY EMPLOYEES,VARIOUS COMMISSIONS AND BOARDS OF THE CITY OF BATESVILLE A motion was made by Councilmember Fredricks, seconded by Councilmember Bennett to read the ordinance by title only. The electronic roll call was 6 for,0 against, I abstained (Hinkle). Mr. Meitzen read the ordinance by title only. Councilmember Bennett made a motion to further suspend the rules and waive the third reading. Councilmember Fredricks seconded. The electronic roll call was 6 for,0 against, 1 abstained (Hinkle). Councilmember Moody made a motion to adopt the ordinance. Councilmember Bennett seconded. The electronic roll call was 6 for and 0 against, I abstained (Hinkle). Mr. Meitzen read the emergency clause. Councilmember Moody made a motion to adopt the emergence clause and Councilmember Bennett seconded. The electronic roll call was 6 for,0 against and 1 abstained (Hinkle). B) SECOND READING OF AN ORDINANCE AUTHORIZING THE CITY OF BATESVILLE TO CONDUCT BUSINESS WITH CERTAIN INDIVIDUALS WHO SERVE AS MEMBERS OF CITY COUNCIL,CITY EMPLOYEES,VARIOUS COMMISSIONS AND BOARDS OF THE CITY OF BATESVILLE A motion was made by Councilmember Bennett, seconded by Councilmember Fredricks to read the ordinance by title only. The electronic roll call was 6 for, 0 against, 1 abstained (Roberts). Mr. Meitzen read the ordinance by title only. Councilmember Bennett made a motion to further suspend the rules and waive the third reading. Councilmember Hinkle seconded. The electronic roll call was 6 for,0 against, 1 abstained (Roberts). Councilmember Moody made a motion to adopt the ordinance. Councilmember Reeves seconded. The electronic roll call was 6 for and 0 against, 1 abstained (Roberts). Mr. Meitzen read the emergency clause. Councilmember Bennett made a motion to adopt the emergence clause and Councilmember Fredricks seconded. The electronic roll call was 6 for,0 against and 1 abstained (Roberts). NEW BUSINESS A) CONSIDER A RESOLUTION ADOPTING A REDEVELOPMENT PLAN FOR THE FORMER GRAY'S HOSPITAL LOCATION Councilmember Moody introduced the resolution. Councilmember Reeves made a motion to read the resolution by title only, seconded by Councilmember Bennett. The electronic roll call was 7 for,0 against. Mr. Meitzen read the resolution by title only. Councilmember Reeves made a motion to adopt the resolution, seconded by Councilmember Bennett. The electronic roll call was 7 for, 0 against. City Council Meeting October 7,2025 Page 3 of 5 B) CONSIDER THE LEVY OF TAXES FOR THE YEAR 2025, PAYABLE IN 2026. Mayor Elumbaugh informed the Council the current millage is 5 Mills for City General Fund and 1 Mill for Firemen's Pension Fund. There have been no changes from the previous year. Councilmember Roberts made a motion to set the millage as presented and Councilmember Bennett seconded. The electronic roll call was 7 for and 0 against C) CONSIDER A RESOLUTION AUTHORIZING THE PURCHASE OF PROPERTY LOCATED AT 1495 20TH STREET IN BATESVILLE. Councilmember Moody introduced the resolution. Councilmember Reeves made a motion to read the resolution by title only and was seconded by Councilmember Bennett. The electronic roll call was 7 for and 0 against. Mr. Meitzen read the resolution by title only. Councilmember Reeves made a motion to adopt the resolution, seconded by Councilmember Fredricks. The electronic roll call was 7 for and 0 against. D) POLICE DEPARTMENT REPORT Police Chief John Scarbrough addressed the Council with his monthly report. Chief Scarbrough reported that Lt. Leonard and Investigator Williford have secured grants from the Arkansas Highway Safety Office for 2026. These grants help supply PBTs, (Preliminary Breath Test) and radars for our officers. The STEP Grants help cover the cost of overtime incurred by State and National campaigns like Click It or Ticket, etc. Chief Scarbrough also reported that all officers have completed training and certification on the use of less lethal shotguns,which uses beanbags for ammo. E) ENGINEERS REPORT City Engineer, Damon Johnson addressed the Council with his monthly report. He said that all of our on-going projects are making progress. There should be some specific parts of the park project visible soon. The water intake structure is taking a lot of planning to help both contractors continue to make progress and avoid too much construction congestion in one area. The Water Treatment Plant is continuing to run fairly well. The Wastewater Treatment Plant had a major failure with two of the three screw pumps recently. Those have both been repaired but Mr. Johnson noted the plant was able to function with one screw pump while the other two were being repaired. Mr. Johnson also reported the Street Department has been working on repainting lines on streets and parking spaces before cold weather sets in. Everything is running as smooth as can be expect. F) FIRE DEPARTMENT REPORT Due to a scheduling conflict, Fire Chief Mark McCollum could not attend tonight's meeting G) FINANCIAL REPORT The council as provided a copy of the September financial report. City Council Meeting October',.2025 Page 4 of 5 COMMENTS FROM THE MAYOR The Mayor mentioned the next council meeting is scheduled for October 28t". He also listed the following fixed assets transfers: *2011 Ford F720 box truck was transferred from Sanitation to Parks Dept. *2023 Mack Truck was traded in on the buyback program from Sanitation. Mayor Elumbaugh congratulated both Meme's Burgers and Jesse James Foods LLC on their recent winnings. Meme's Burgers was chosen as the People's Choice award in the 2025 Best Burger AR Food Hall of Fame and Jesse James Foods LLC won first place in Blind Judging at the Miricle League of Arkansas Burger Competition. Mayor Elumbaugh, along with Councilmember Lackey Moody,Jr, Parks Director, Lowen Lermitte, Steve Nichols and Mr. Danny Owens attended an award presentation where former Parks Director, Mr. Jeff Owens,post-houmous, was presented with a Lifetime Achievement Award from Arkansas Recreation and Parks Association. Mayor Elumbaugh also invited the public to attend the October City County Connections meeting on Thursday, October 9`"at 5:00 p.m. Bad Boy Inc. will be our presenter this month. A ribbon cutting for the newest section of the Greenway Trail has been scheduled for October 23rd at 1:00 p.m. The ribbon cutting will take place at the Methodist Church parking lot on Main Street. Dates to Remember: • City County Connections- October 9tn • Greenway Trail ribbon cutting October 23rd • Council Meeting October 28tn LIAISON REPORTS None COUNCIL COMMENTS Brittany Bennett—None Scott Fredricks—None Julie Hinkle—Has had some calls regarding the hours of operation for Animal Control and questions about what animals are and are not picked up. Paige Hubbard—None Fred Krug—Absent Lackey Moody,Jr.—None City Council Meeting October?.2025 Page 5 of 5 Landon Reeves—None Robb Roberts—None ADJOURNMENT There being no further business to discuss, Councilmember Bennett made the motion, seconded by Councilmember Moody to adjourn. The motion passed unanimously and the meeting adjourned at 6:04 p.m. /J- - Rick El Jennife orte , dmin Assistant