City Council

Lonoke City Council Lonoke City Council Meeting May 11, 2026 The Lonoke City Council held a city council meeting at the municipal building at 6:00 p.m. Monday, May 11, 2026. Mayor Wayne McGee called the meeting to order with the Invocation was given by Pastor Jeff Huber, Cross Covenant Church. Deputy City Clerk, Regina Ibbotson called the roll and declared a quorum. Mayor Wayne McGee City Clerk Jeribeth Edwards (absent) Treasurer (Vacant) Deputy Clerk Regina Ibbotson Council Members Sean Simpson, Raymond Hatton (arrived late), Stan Moran (arrived late), Wendell Walker, Jane Derning, Dale Carothers, Shane Hamilton, and Jim Ed Ransom City Attorney Ginger Stuart (absent) Police Chief Keith Graham (absent) W/S/S Supt. Anthony Smith C.C. Director Mike Brown Fire Dept. Justin Whittenburg Parks Director Jonathan Curry Community Dev. (Vacant) News Media none Visitors: Torrey Bradley, Rachel Whittenburg, Katie Beth Whittenburg, Matt Boyles, Lila McKewen, Allison Bridges, Earmon Ferguson, Mike Jones, Roderick Bunton, Jim Wiertelak, Wayne Rathbun, Neil Schafer, Charles McCaa, Son Lee, Robert Nickles, Rickey Walley, Terry Taykowski, and Cindy Reaves Minutes: Mayor Wayne McGee asked for acceptance of the April 13th council minutes. Jim Ed Ransom made a motion to accept the minutes as read. Sean Simpson seconded the motion. Motion carried. PUBLIC COMMENTS: (1) Jeff Lingo was present and spoke to the council about code enforcement concerns with the property located at 315 Lincoln Street and other rentals in the vicinity. He was asking for assurance that the properties in question were going to be held to current code enforcement standards and/or restored according to current building codes. Vonda Evans will be contacting him to provide the information he requested. (2) Wayne Rathbun of Green Environmental Services addressed the city council asking for a fuel adjustment as allowed by his contract. He would like to increase the rate from $13.82 per household to $14.82 per household until the gas prices recede. Shane Hamilton made the motion to increase the trash collection price to $14.82 until the gas prices go back down and then reduce it accordingly. Janie Derning seconded the motion. Motion carried. LONOKE COUNTY LIBRARY: A calendar to show the May activities was presented. BUDGET/FINANCE- A. Review Monthly Financials- Jane Derning made a motion to approve the April financials. Dale Carothers seconded the motion. Motion carried. Page 1 of 3  Lonoke City Council Lonoke City Council Meeting May 11, 2026 PARKS AND MOSQUITO: Director Johnathan Curry was present and gave report. He made the council aware that Mosquito spraying would start the following Friday evening. COMMUNITY CENTER: Mr. Mike Brown was present and gave the report. FIRE DEPARTMENT: Chief Whittenburg was present and gave the report. PUBLIC WORKS (WATER AND SEWER): Anthony Smith and James Smart were present and gave a report. POLICE DEPARTMENT: Chief Keith Graham was absent, and Captain Torrey Bradley gave the report. A. Approval to Sell old Taser Inventory on Govdeals – A list of the old taser inventory was provided. These items will only be sold to law enforcement agencies. B. Take Home Vehicles for Officers – Captain Bradley addressed the City Council wanting to give more information about allowing the police officers to drive their vehicles home. He provided statistics for several police departments in our area citing starting pay and radiuses allowed for take-home vehicles. He also noted that take-home vehicles generate faster emergency response, improve accountability, and better care of their car. After much back-and-forth discussion from Capt. Bradley and the council members, he requested a “test run”. After Alderman Derning said she was against it, he asked to try it for a month to see what the actual cost will be. They could choose to try out all the staff or just the command staff. She was still against it. Janie Dernie made a motion to not allow out of town vehicles to be driven home. Motion failed for lack of a second. Sean Simpson made a motion to table the discussion. Stan Moran seconded the motion. Motion carried with Janie Derning voting no. OLD BUSINESS: A. Solar Array Site Production report- Report was presented. No action needed. B. Acceptance of Corrected Water Pipeline Easement and Right of Way for Mallard Point – Corrected easement was provided to the city council. Wendell Walker made the motion to accept the corrected easement. Dale Carothers seconded the motion. Motion carried. NEW BUSINESS: A. Approve Planning Commission Members – Mayor McGee has appointed Janice Rowell and Neil Scafer to fill vacant seats on the Planning Commission. Jim Ed Ransom made the motion to approve. Sean Simpson seconded the motion. Motion carried. B. Approve Change Order #1 on Mallard Point Waterline Installation – A change order for $19,191.20 was submitted by PMI on behalf of J&R Contractors for the Mallard Point Waterline project. Due to property line issues not known at the beginning of the project, the line had to be shifted at the north end. This change order reflects those changes. Jim Ed Ransom made a motion to approve the change order for $19,191.20. Raymond Hatton seconded the motion. Motion carried. C. Approve Pay Request #2 on Mallard Point Waterline Installation – An invoice for $86,390.80 that reflects the change order and remainder of the Mallard Point Waterline project was provided to the city council. This project has been completed. Jim Ed Ransom made a motion to approve the invoice for $86,390.80. Raymond Hatton seconded the motion. Motion carried. Page 2 of 3  Lonoke City Council Lonoke City Council Meeting May 11, 2026 APRROVAL TO PAY BILLS: Jim Ed Ransom made a motion to pay bills. Raymond Hatton seconded the motion. Motion carried. BILLS ALREADY PAID In APRIL 2026 City General $119,483.44 Water $192,412.68 Street $30,965.83 Community Center $30,275.47 Retail One Cent $11,303.34 Police Fire .25 $125,000.00 Court Automation $560.56 BILLS TO BE PAID MAY 2026 City General $24,367.13 Water $35,042.57 Street $5,079.30 Community Center $4,945.20 ANNOUNCEMENTS: A. THE PLANNING COMMISSION WILL MEET ON MONDAY, MAY 18TH AT 6 PM FOR ITS REGULAR MONTHLY MEETING. A PUBLIC HEARING WILL BE HELD AT THE BEGINNING OF THE MEETING TO HEAR ANY COMMENTS/CONCERNS OVER A PROPOSED NEW RESIDENTIAL ZONING DISTRICT AND STATE MANDATED CHANGES TO OUR UNIFIED DEVELOPMENT CODE. THE CITY COUNCIL WILL BE REQUIRED TO ADOPT THESE CHANGED BY ORDINANCE AT A FUTURE MEETING. B. CITY HALL WILL BE CLOSED ON MONDAY, MAY 25TH IN OBSERVANCE OF MEMORIAL DAY. C. A PUBLIC HEARING WILL BE HELD BY THE LONOKE CITY COUNCIL ON TUESDAY, MAY 26TH AT 6 PM TO HEAR ANY COMMENTS/CONCERNS REGARDING AN APPEAL OF THE DENIAL OF THE CONDITIONAL USE PERMIT REQUESTED BY THE LONOKE SCHOOL DISTRICT TO CONSTRUCT A BUS BARN/SHOP IN AN R-1 DISTRICT TO BE LOCATED AT 215 CARVER STREET ON PARCEL NO. 781-909409-000. (THIS PERMIT WAS DENIED DUE TO LACK OF A MAJORITY VOTE OF THE TOTAL PLANNING COMMISSION.) ADJOURNMENT- Jane Derning made a motion to adjourn. Shane Hamilton seconded the motion. Motion carried. ____________________________ Mayor Wayne McGee Attest: ____________________________ Clerk Page 3 of 3