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Home My WebLink About2026-01-20 A =0RiC 'IRLi151:RC n�s ��ti51S'OLDESs CSC{ CITY OF BATESVILLE COUNCIL REGULAR CALLED MEETING City Hall January 20,2026 5:30 P.M. COUNCILMEMBERS: OTHERS: Landon Reeves, Ward]Position 1 (Absent) Rick Elumbaugh,Mayor Scott Fredricks, Ward I Position 2 (Absent) Jessica Davis, City Clerk Fred Krug, Ward 2 Position I Tim Meitzen, City Attorney Robb Roberts, Ward 2 Position 2 Julie Hinkle, Ward 3 Position I Brittany Bennett, Ward 3 Position 2 Paige Hubbard, Ward 4 Position I (Arrived @ 5:32) Lackey Moody,Jr., Ward 4 Position 2 CALL TO.ORDER The Mayor-called the meeting to order at 5:30 p.m. INVOCATION Bryce Cash 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 December 16, 2025 regular called meeting. The motion passed unanimously. APPROVAL OF AGENDA A motion was made by Councilmember Roberts, seconded by Councilmember Hinkle to approve the agenda. The motion passed unanimously. COMMENTS FROM CITIZENS None UNFINISHED BUSINESS None City Council Meeting January 20,2026 Page 2 of 5 NEW BUSINESS A) MS. MOLLY MOORE WITH GIRLS SCOUTS PROJECT Ms. Molly Moore with Troop 3091 addressed the council to propose a Girl Scout Gold Award project to restore the Veteran's Memorial Park on St. Louis Street. She plans to clean and restore the park. She has enlisted the help of Mr. Gary Sudal for site contracting services and Mr. Fred Ely to build benches and seats to play chess at. Councilmember Krug expressed appreciation for her desire to improve the park. He asked how she planned to raise the funds. Ms. Moore is not requesting any city funds for the project. She plans to fundraise and will seek private donations. Her goal is to begin work in March of 2026 and complete it by May with a deadline of September 2026. Councilmember Roberts also expressed an appreciation for her efforts and encouraged her to consider safety and the rules and regulations since the park is along a state highway. Mayor Elumbaugh proposed arranging a meeting with Ms. Moore, parks, and landscaping departments. B) POLICE DEPARTMENT REPORT Chief Scarbrough addressed the council for his monthly report. He announced the department was awarded a$575,000.00 grant with no city fund match for safety equipment for the Real-Time Crime Center. C) CITY ENGINEER REPORT City Engineer, Damon Johnson addressed the council with his monthly report. He stated the last required project under the Consent Administrative Order is a sanitary sewer rehab using trenchless technology. The Arkansas Division of Environmental Quality will issue a letter releasing the city from the order upon its completion and continued documentation. The project will take approximately 10-12 months to complete with Insituform. He requested approval from the council to move forward with the sewer rehab project with Insituform in the amount of 6.2 million dollars allocated from utility cash reserves. A motion was made by Councilmember Moody, seconded by Councilmember Hinke to approve the sewer rehab project with Insituform. The motion passed unanimously. He stated crews are preparing for potential winter weather next week. The Event Center roof is close to being installed and the enclosure will follow. Councilmember Krug asked for a Bethesda Water update. The City Attorney informed him the application had been sent in to Arkansas Natural Resources Division(ANRD) earlier that day. Mr. Johnson said it will be under ANRD's review for now. If things go as expected, Bethesda Water Utilities will be dissolved and they will become part of Batesville Water Utilities. Councilmember Roberts asked for a Cushman Water update. Mr. Johnson said he believes they have a project in progress to replace their service lines from the main to the meter. He expects it to have a significant impact on their water loss once the project is completed. Councilmember Roberts also asked about trash pickup regulations. Specifically what the rules are pertaining to overflowing cans. Mr. Johnson said there are rules in place that trash cans should not be overflowing with trash and if they are,the trash truck driver may issue City Cnnne 1 Rteeting Jan nary 20,2026 Page 3 of 5 communication or not pick it up if it is too overflowing. He is going to visit with the sanitation department and work on getting information out to the public regarding the rules and the option to purchase an additional can to avoid overflow. D) CONSIDER AN ORDINANCE ADOPTING THE RULES & PROCEDURES FOR THE TRANSACTION OF BUSINESS OF THE COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF BATESVILLE Councilmember Roberts introduced the ordinance. A motion was made by Councilmember Bennett, seconded by Councilmember Hubbard to suspend the rules and read the ordinance by title only. The'electronic roll call was 6 for, 0 against.Mr. Meitzen read the ordinance by title only. A motion was made by Councilmember Bennett, seconded by Councilmember Hinkle to further suspend the rules and waive the second and third reading. The electronic roll call was 6 for, 0 against. A motion was made by Councilmember Bennett, seconded by Councilmember Roberts to adopt the ordinance. The electronic roll call was 6 for, 0 against. The Mayor called for Mr. Meitzen to read the emergency clause. Mr. Meitzen read the emergency clause. A motion was made by Councilmember Bennett, seconded by Councilmember Hubbard to adopt the emergency clause. The electronic roll call was 6 for, 0 against. The ordinance was given#2026- 01-01. E) CONSIDER AN ORDINANCE WAIVING THE REQUIREMENTS OF COMPETITIVE BIDDING DURING CALENDAR YEAR 2026 ON CERTAIN PURCHASES Councilmember Moody introduced the ordinance. A motion was made by Councilmember Bennett, seconded by Councilmember Hinkle to suspend the rules and read the ordinance by title only. The electronic roll call was 6 for, 0 against. Mr. Meitzen read the ordinance by title only. A motion was made by Councilmember Moody, seconded by Councilmember Bennett to further suspend the rules and waive the second and third reading. The electronic roll call was 6 for, 0 against. A motion was made by Councilmember Bennett, seconded by Councilmember Roberts to adopt the ordinance. The electronic roll call was 6 for, 0 against. The Mayor called for Mr. Meitzen to read the emergency clause. Mr. Meitzen read the emergency clause. A motion was made by Councilmember Bennett, seconded by Councilmember Hubbard to adopt the emergency clause. The electronic roll call was 6 for, 0 against. The ordinance was given#2026- 01-02. F) CONSIDER AN ORDINANCE TO AMEND ORDINANCE 2025-12-01 DUE TO SCRIVENER ERROR Councilmember Roberts introduced the ordinance. A motion was made by Councilmember Bennett, seconded by Councilmember Hubbard to suspend the rules and read the ordinance by title only. The electronic roll call was 6 for, 0 against.Mr. Meitzen read the ordinance by title only. A motion was made by Councilmember Bennett, seconded by Councilmember Hubbard to further suspend the rules and waive the second and third reading. The electronic roll call was 6 for, 0 against.A motion was made by Councilmember Roberts, City e:naaneif'Lteeting Jan nary 20,2026 Page 4 of'5 seconded by Councilmember Bennet to adopt the ordinance. The electronic roll call was 6 for, 0 against. The ordinance was given#2026-01-03. G) EXECUTIVE SESSION A motion was made by Councilmember Hubbard, seconded by Councilmember Bennett to enter into executive session. The motion passed unanimously. The council entered executive session at 6:11 p.m.,upon their return at 6:21 p.m., Councilmember Bennett made a motion, seconded by Councilmember Hinkle to reappoint Dr. Terrell Tebbetts to the Historic District Commission for a three-year term. The motion passed unanimously. Councilmember Krug made a motion, seconded by Councilmember Hinkle to appoint Dr. Sarah Walker, Constance Johnson and Chrill Hill to the Parks and Rec Advisory Board. The motion passed unanimously. Councilmember Roberts made a motion, seconded by Councilmember Hinkle to appoint Beth Christian to a four-year term, Monica Griffan a two-year term, and Pam Palemo a two-year term to the A&P Commission. The motion passed unanimously. H) FINANCIAL REPORT The council as provided a copy of the December financial report. COMMENTS FROM THE MAYOR The Mayor announced the next council meeting is scheduled for February 171h, 2026 and it will be the only meeting for the month. A motion was made by Councilmember Bennett, seconded by Councilmember Krug to move the meeting date and have one meeting in February. The motion passed unanimously. He wished everyone a Happy New Year and said the winter Arkansas Municipal League Conference went well. Dates to Remember: • Council Meeting February 17th LIAISON REPORTS None COUNCIL COMMENTS Brittany Bennett—None Scott Fredricks—Absent Julie Hinkle—None City Council Meeting January 20,2026 Page S of 5 Paige Hubbard—None Fred Krug—None Lackey Moody,Jr.None Landon Reeves—Absent Robb Roberts—None ADJOURNMENT There being no further business to discuss, Councilmember Bennett made the motion, seconded by Councilmember Hinkle to adjourn. The motion passed unanimously and the meeting adjourned at 6:25 p.m. Rick El (11"J�essica Davis, ity Clerk