City Council

CITY OF JACKSONVILLE REGULAR CITY COUNCIL MEETING JULY 3, 2025 6:00 P.M. – 6:26 P.M. REGULAR CITY COUNCIL MEETING - CITY HALL - #1 MUNICIPAL DRIVE The City Council of the City of Jacksonville, Arkansas met for a regular session on July 3, 2025 at their regular meeting place. Council Member Ray delivered the invocation and Mayor Elmore led a standing audience in the “Pledge of Allegiance.” ROLL CALL: City Council Members: Dietz, Ruple, McCleary, McCoy, Ray, LaBron, Moss, Twitty, and Kinman answered ROLL CALL. Mayor Elmore also answered ROLL CALL declaring a quorum. PRESENT NINE (9) ABSENT ONE (1). Council Member Mimms was absent. Others present for the meeting were: Director of Engineering & Public Works Adam Whitlow, Finance Director Laura Collie, CDBG Director Michelle Spencer, Parks and Recreation Director Kevin House, Assistant City Clerk Emilia Vazquez, IT Director Brian Harvey, and Reginald Ford. PRESENTATION OF MINUTES: Mayor Elmore presented the minutes of the regular City Council meeting of June 5, 2025 for approval and/or correction at the next regularly scheduled City Council meeting. APPROVAL AND/OR CORRECTION OF MINUTES: Council Member Twitty moved, seconded by Council Member Ray that the minutes of the regular City Council meeting of May 22, 2025 be APPROVED. MOTION CARRIED. CONSENT AGENDA: Council Member Ray moved, seconded by Council Member McCleary to approve the consent agenda as presented. MOTION CARRIED. FIRE DEPARTMENT REGULAR MONTHLY REPORT/MAY Estimated fire loss for the month: $ 187,000.00 Savings total for the month: $ 0.00 POLICE DEPARTMENT REGULAR MONTHLY REPORT/MAY Topic 2025 2024 2025 2024 Total Complaint Calls 2907 2774 Homicide Reported 1 1 Theft Reported 74 56 Homicide Cleared 1 0 Theft Cleared 32 62 Rape/Sex Assault Reported 4 6 Vehicle Theft Reported 9 10 Rape/Sex Assault Cleared 2 4 Vehicle Theft Cleared 5 2 Robbery Reported 2 3 Felony Cases Reported 149 139 Robbery Cleared 0 6 Felony Cases Closed 142 148 Felony Assaults Reported 17 23 Misd Cases Reported 260 281 Felony Assaults Cleared 6 30 Misd Cases Closed 213 228 Burglary Reported 18 13 Burglary Cleared 1 11 CODE ENFORCEMENT REGULAR MONTHLY REPORT/MAY Assigned Calls 105 Demolition by City 1 Self-Initiated Calls 261 Demolition by Owner 11 Follow Up Inspections 762 Parking Violations 2 Complied after Notice 196 Garbage Cans Tagged 0 1  CITY OF JACKSONVILLE REGULAR CITY COUNCIL MEETING JULY 3, 2025 6:00 P.M. – 6:26 P.M. Three Day Notice 19 Basketball Goals 0 Seven Day Letter 322 Structures Inspected 1128 Citation Letters Mailed 34 Apartment Complexes Inspected 0 Citations Issued 4 Red Tags Issued 2 Vehicles Tagged 43 Search Warrants 7 Vehicles Towed 5 Grass Mowed 35 Unsafe Structures Tagged 0 Signs Removed 10 Structures Condemned 0 Shopping Carts 2 Structures Rehabbed 0 FINANCE DEPARTMENT INTERIM FINANCIAL REPORT/MAY Total Revenues Total Expenditures General Fund $ 7,265,650 $ 10,922,870 Street Fund $ 1,076,395 $ 796,015 Sanitation Services Fund $ 694,519 $ 935,386 AG&F Shooting Sports Complex $ 167,756 $ 184,248 EMS Fund $ 1,045,081 $ 1,190,765 WATER DEPARTMENT: WASTEWATER DEPARTMENT: FIRE DEPARTMENT: POLICE DEPARTMENT: ORDINANCE 1791 (#20-2025) AN ORDINANCE WAIVING COMPETITIVE BIDDING FOR THE JACKSONVILLE POLICE DEPARTMENT VEHICLES; FOR APPROPRIATE IMPLEMENTATION AND ACCESS FOR DEPARTMENT AND CITY OF JACKSONVILLE REPRESENTATIVES; DECLARING AN EMERGENCY; AND, FOR OTHER PURPOSES. Council Member Ray moved, seconded by Council Member McCleary to place Ordinance 1791 on FIRST READING. MOTION CARRIED. Whereupon City Attorney Friedman read the heading of Ordinance 1791. City Attorney Friedman noted the difference between the new ordinance in front of Council and the one in the packet is the vendor. Police Chief Brett Hibbs explained these are for PPV (Police Pursuit Vehicle) Chevrolet Tahoes. He confirmed three dealerships in Arkansas received them this year and he ordered last year from Superior Chevrolet. He mentioned a State contract through Bale Chevrolet, but they do not have black two-wheel drive models. He stated Superior got thirty, but only have four left after holding these three. He noted $51,000.00 each is less than what he budgeted and is $500.00 less than State contract, which is why he wants to waive bidding. He recalled being short on vehicles for years and getting rid of old ones that are unsafe or too costly to maintain. He told how a 2024 Tahoe was recently wrecked and quoted $30,000.00 to fix, but they will use it for parts to save money on upfitting a new one. Regarding the emergency, he brought up how dealerships do not want sold cars sitting on the lot and being responsible for them, so it does not make sense to wait. He noted they auction off old vehicles on govdeals.com and bought the most recent CID cars locally at Gwatney, who does not receive the PPV Tahoes to sell. 2  CITY OF JACKSONVILLE REGULAR CITY COUNCIL MEETING JULY 3, 2025 6:00 P.M. – 6:26 P.M. Council Member Dietz moved, seconded by Council Member McCoy to APPROVE Ordinance 1791 on FIRST READING and SUSPEND THE RULES and place Ordinance 1791 on SECOND READING. ROLL CALL: Council Member Dietz, Ruple, McCleary, McCoy, Ray, LaBron, Moss, Twitty, and Kinman voted AYE. MOTION CARRIED. Council Member Ray moved, seconded by Council Member Twitty to APPROVE Ordinance 1791 on SECOND READING and SUSPEND THE RULES and place Ordinance 1791 on THIRD AND FINAL READING. ROLL CALL: Council Member Dietz, Ruple, McCleary, McCoy, Ray, LaBron, Moss, Twitty, and Kinman voted AYE. MOTION CARRIED. Council Member Twitty moved, seconded by Council Member Dietz to APPROVE AND ADOPT Ordinance 1791 in its entirety. ROLL CALL: Council Member Dietz, Ruple, McCleary, McCoy, Ray, LaBron, Moss, Twitty, and Kinman voted AYE. MOTION CARRIED. Council Member Ray moved, seconded by Council Member Twitty that the EMERGENCY CLAUSE be approved and adopted. ROLL CALL: Council Member Dietz, Ruple, McCleary, McCoy, Ray, LaBron, Moss, Twitty, and Kinman voted AYE. MOTION CARRIED. ORDINANCE 1791 (#20-2025) APPROVED AND ADOPTED THIS 3RD DAY OF JULY, 2025. STREET DEPARTMENT: SANITATION DEPARTMENT: PARKS & RECREATION: PLANNING COMMISSION: APPEAL HEARING Rezoning denial of Forest Oaks Subdivision PH IV from R-0 to Planned Unit Development Mayor Elmore opened the hearing at approximately 6:11 p.m. Developer John Kennon withdrew the appeal, but wanted to clarify their scope of work since there has been misinformation and confusion. He confirmed they will submit a different plan to the Planning Commission and acknowledged the mistake of not addressing the area residents, so they will be having an open forum to address concerns. Mayor Elmore noted because they withdrew the appeal, there will be no discussion since this is potential future business. He closed the hearing at approximately 6:13 p.m. COMMITTEE(S): GENERAL: a. ORDINANCE 1790 (#19-2025) AN ORDINANCE AMENDING JACKSONVILLE MUNICIPAL CODE § 2.04.025, EFFECTIVE DATE OF LEGISLATION, AND FOR OTHER PURPOSES. 3  CITY OF JACKSONVILLE REGULAR CITY COUNCIL MEETING JULY 3, 2025 6:00 P.M. – 6:26 P.M. Council Member Twitty moved, seconded by Council Member Ray to place Ordinance 1790 on FIRST READING. ROLL CALL: Council Member Dietz, Ruple, McCleary, McCoy, Ray, LaBron, Moss, Twitty, and Kinman voted AYE. MOTION CARRIED. Whereupon City Attorney Friedman read the heading of Ordinance 1790. Council Member Ray moved, seconded by Council Member Kinman to APPROVE Ordinance 1790 on FIRST READING and SUSPEND THE RULES and place Ordinance 1790 on SECOND READING. ROLL CALL: Council Member Dietz, Ruple, McCleary, McCoy, Ray, LaBron, Moss, Twitty, and Kinman voted AYE. MOTION CARRIED. Council Member Ray moved, seconded by Council Member Kinman to APPROVE Ordinance 1790 on SECOND READING and SUSPEND THE RULES and place Ordinance 1790 on THIRD AND FINAL READING. ROLL CALL: Council Member Dietz, Ruple, McCleary, McCoy, Ray, LaBron, Moss, Twitty, and Kinman voted AYE. MOTION CARRIED. Council Member Ray moved, seconded by Council Member Twitty to APPROVE AND ADOPT Ordinance 1790 in its entirety. ROLL CALL: Council Member Dietz, Ruple, McCleary, McCoy, Ray, LaBron, Moss, Twitty, and Kinman voted AYE. MOTION CARRIED. ORDINANCE 1790 (#19-2025) APPROVED AND ADOPTED THIS 3RD DAY OF JULY, 2025. b. ORDINANCE 1792 (#21-2025) AN ORDINANCE DISSOLVING THE JACKSONVILLE HISTORIC DISTRICT COMMISSION; REPEALING CHAPTER 2.26 OF THE JACKSONVILLE MUNICIPAL CODE; AND FOR OTHER PURPOSES; DECLARING AN EMERGENCY; AND, FOR OTHER PURPOSES. Council Member Kinman moved, seconded by Council Member Twitty to place Ordinance 1792 on FIRST READING. ROLL CALL: Council Member Dietz, Ruple, McCleary, McCoy, LaBron, Moss, Twitty, and Kinman voted AYE. MOTION CARRIED with Council Member Ray voting NAY. Whereupon City Attorney Friedman read the heading of Ordinance 1792. Mayor Elmore stated they are not getting rid of any history; this is dissolving the City of the Historic Commission. He confirmed the Historical Society and the Jacksonville Historical District are still intact and it does not affect them. He reiterated all this is doing is eliminating the Commission, which made it a part of the City government. He confirmed this would end the use of City property and taxpayer dollars going to pay their utilities, etc., but does not get rid of historical items within the museum. He related those will be picked up by the owners or the Historical Society. Council Member Ray mentioned not having a public building to welcome visitors to view the history of Jacksonville. He noted those who grew up here may want to show their grandchildren the City and there will be no public viewing now. He believes the historical items should be on display. He recalled mentions of the Military Museum taking over the items, but now there are talks of giving them back to who loaned them. 4  CITY OF JACKSONVILLE REGULAR CITY COUNCIL MEETING JULY 3, 2025 6:00 P.M. – 6:26 P.M. Mayor Elmore reiterated the City is not getting rid of anything, but some owners have requested items back and others requested for them to still be displayed. He contacted the Military Museum curator who would love to curate this and there are original members of the Society who would still like to do their own thing. He confirmed if that is what they want to do, they can, but as a City government, we are not a part of it. He related how the Commission was not operating properly; no financials or minutes were turned in, so there was liability being placed on the City. He added with the incident that happened last summer, this is the best course of action for the City. Council Member Ray suggested reorganizing the Commission and keeping the building open to the public so anyone can stop by during operational hours to view the history of the City. Mayor Elmore noted the City has been giving use of the building, paying utilities, insurance, maintenance, and everything that has been required for the Museum to occupy the space. He confirmed the City was given the Jim’s Pawn Shop building. City Clerk Davitt stated the Museum building was donated a long time ago and was used as the WAGE Center. Mayor Elmore confirmed the Museum has not been open since August 2024; they would accept donations and charge a $5.00 admission fee, but the City has not seen or been given all records, just bank statements. Council Member Twitty moved, seconded by Council Member Dietz to APPROVE Ordinance 1792 on FIRST READING and SUSPEND THE RULES and place Ordinance 1792 on SECOND READING. ROLL CALL: Council Member Dietz, Ruple, McCleary, Twitty, and Kinman voted AYE. Council Member McCoy, Ray, LaBron, and Moss voted NAY. MOTION CARRIED to approve on first reading, but FAILED to suspend the rules. Mayor Elmore confirmed it did not pass to suspend the rules, therefore, it can be readdressed at a second meeting. APPOINTMENTS: UNFINISHED BUSINESS: NEW BUSINESS: ANNOUNCEMENTS: ADJOURNMENT: Without objection, Mayor Elmore adjourned the meeting at approximately 6:26 p.m. MOTION CARRIED. Respectfully, ________________________ _________________________ Susan L. Davitt MAYOR JEFF ELMORE City Clerk-Treasurer 5