Board of Directors

MINUTES OF THE REGULAR MEETING OF THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS OF THE CITY OF SILOAM SPRINGS, BENTON COUNTY, ARKANSAS, HELD NOVEMBER 7, 2023 The City of Siloam Springs, Arkansas, met in regular session at the City of Siloam Springs Administration Building on November 7, 2023. The meeting was called to order by Mayor Judy Nation. Roll Call: Allen, Smiley, Carroll, Hunt, Wiles, Rissler, Blair— Present. City Representatives Present: Allan Gilbert, City Administrator; Renea Ellis, City Clerk; Chief Jeremey Criner, Fire Department; Interim Chief Scott Miller, Police Department; Kevin Moore, City Engineer; Ben Rhoads, Sr. City Planner; Kris Paxton, Community Development Director; and Maegan Thomas, Planner 1. Opening prayer. Director Hunt led the opening prayer. The mayor led the Pledge of Allegiance. The mayor asked if there were any comments from the audience regarding an item not on the City' s agenda. Mary Nolan, 2124 B W. Central, on behalf of the Rotary Club, pointed out there would be a ribbon cutting for the Healing Garden immediately following the Veteran' s Day Parade on Saturday; thanked La-Z- Boy for its generous donation in helping make it possible along with other doners; and invited the audience to attend. Blake Jones, 1105 E. Courage, pointed out an email from Benton County Prosecutor, Seth Segovia and the transcript from Judge Brad Karren' s courtroom wherein charges against Jones were nolle pros' d; and served the city clerk with a lawsuit that has been filed against several city employees and Benton County. The mayor asked if there were any comments from the audience regarding an item on the Consent Agenda. No one came forward. Consent Agenda: A. Regular Meeting Minutes/ October 17, 2023 B. Pre- Agenda Meeting Minutes/ November 1, 2023 C. Resolution 58- 23 / Setting Hearing Date for Easement and Alleyway Vacation/ 800 Block of East Jefferson Street D. Resolution 62- 23 / Ratifying 2023 Payments to Main Street Siloam Springs made to date E. Resolution 64- 23 / Use of Veto by the Mayor of the City of Siloam Springs A motion was made by Smiley and seconded by Allen to approve the Consent Agenda. Motion passed unanimously. Board of Directors Meeting Minutes Page 12 November 7, 2023 Item F. Budget Amendment/ Land Purchase and Construction of Stub Street on Simon Sager Avenue/$ 700,000. Kevin Moore briefed items F and G simultaneously. A motion was made by Wiles and seconded by Hunt to approve the item. Motion passed 6- 1 with Allen abstaining. Item G. Authorization of Discretionary Purchase/ Type I Land Acquisition/$ 350, 000. A motion was made by Smiley and seconded by Rissler to approve the item. Motion passed 6- 1 with Allen abstaining. Item H. Contract/ AECI Volume Commitment/ Electric/$ 5, 939, 878. Tommy Vaught briefed the item. A motion was made by Smiley and seconded by Rissler to approve the item. Motion passed unanimously. Item I. Contract for Construction Management at Risk/ Siloam Springs Courts Alteration/ Ellingson Contracting, Inc. /$ 400, 000. Kevin Moore briefed the item. A motion was made by Allen and seconded by Carroll to approve the item. Motion passed unanimously. d Item J. Ordinance 23- 23 / 3` Reading/ Amending City Municipal Code/ Chapter 102 Zoning/ G- I Zone. Ben Rhoads briefed the item. A motion was made by Smiley and seconded by Rissler to place Ordinance 23- 23 on its third reading, suspending the rules and reading title only. Motion passed unanimously. An ordinance entitled: An Ordinance Amending Chapter 102 of the Municipal Code with Respect to General Institutional Zone Building Limits; was read on its third reading. A motion to adopt Ordinance 23- 23 was made by Smiley and seconded by Rissler. Motion passed unanimously. Item K. Ordinance 23- 25 / lst Reading/ Amending City Municipal Code/ Chapter 54 Land Use/ Minor Subdivisions. Ben Rhoads briefed the item. Allen had questions about the need for possible revisions. Rhoads stated the revisions would be made before the next reading. A motion was made by Smiley and seconded by Allen to place Ordinance 25- 23 on its first reading, suspending the rules and reading title only. Motion passed unanimously. An ordinance entitled: An Ordinance Amending Chapter 53 of the Municipal Code with Respect to Platting and Minor Subdivision Review; was read on its first reading. Item L. Ordinance 23- 26/ 1st Reading/ Amending Section 102- 21 of the City Municipal Code/ Rezoning from G- I to I- 1 / 2200 Block of S. Lincoln Street. Ben Rhoads briefed the item. A motion was made by Smiley and seconded by Carroll to place Ordinance 23- 23 on its first reading, suspending the rules and reading title only. Motion passed unanimously. Board of Directors Meeting Minutes Page 13 November 7, 2023 An ordinance entitled: An Ordinance Amending Section 102- 21 of the Siloam springs Municipal Code ( City Zoning Map); Rezoning ( From G- I to I- 1) Property Located at the 2200 Block of South Lincoln Street; was read on its first reading. Item M. Ordinance 23- 27/ 1St Reading/ Amending Section 102- 21 of the City Municipal Code/ Rezoning from R- 2 to R- 3 / 1000 Block of Cheri Whitlock Drive. Mayor Nation announced the applicant/ developer had withdrawn this item. Item N. Ordinance 23- 28 / 1" Reading/ Amending Section 102- 21 of the City Municipal Code/ Rezoning from A- 1 to C- 2/ 3861 Hwy. 412 E. Maegan Thomas briefed the item. Steve Harriman with Burke Collins addressed the Board and requested that the second and third reading be combined to allow the developer to proceed. A motion was made by Smiley and seconded by Rissler to place Ordinance 23- 28 on its first reading, suspending the rules and reading title only. Motion passed unanimously. An ordinance entitled: An Ordinance Amending Section 102- 21 of the Siloam Springs Municipal Code( City Zoning Map); Rezoning ( From A- 1 to C- 2) Property Located at 3861 Highway 412 East; was read on its first reading. Item O. Ordinance 23- 29/ 1" Reading/ Amending Section 102- 21 of the City Municipal Code/ Rezoning from R- 2 ( H- 1) to C- 2 ( H- 1)/ 500 Block of S. Britt St. Maegan Thomas briefed the item, including the fact that the wrong zoning had been listed in the ordinance and it would be corrected before the second reading. Chris Bakunas with McClelland Consulting Engineers, Inc., on behalf of the applicant, stated he was present on behalf of Sycamore Investments, LLC and available for questions; and explained what the planned use for the property was. A motion was made by Smiley and seconded by Allen to place Ordinance 23- 23 on its third reading, suspending the rules and reading title only. Motion passed unanimously. An ordinance entitled: An Ordinance Amending Section 102- 21 of the Siloam Springs Municipal Code( City Zoning Map); Rezoning( From R-2 to C- 2) Property Located at the 500 Block of South Britt Street; and Amending the Future Land Use Map of the Siloam Springs 2040 Comprehensive Plan; was read on its first reading. Item P. Resolution 63- 23 / Directing a Complaint be Filed with the AR Public Service Commission to Enforce Electric Service Territory. Glenn Severn, Electric Department Superintendent, briefed the item. Jason Carter, legal counsel for Siloam Springs, explained that past attempts to resolve the issues weren' t fruitful and gave a background of the issues requiring the need for filing a complaint with the commission to resolve the issues and allow for future continuation for a good relationship with Carroll Electric. A motion was made by Wiles and seconded by Allen to approve Resolution 63- 23. Motion passed unanimously. Board of Directors Meeting Minutes Page 14 November 7, 2023 Item Q. September Financials. Gilbert pointed out that a copy of the September Financials had been provided and any questions should be directed to him or Christina Petriches. Administrator' s Report: Gilbert reviewed the Administrator' s report attached hereto and thanked the Board for working together and coming to the extra meetings. Mayor Nation said the attendants at the ACMA conference were very complimentary of the city, staff, and Sager Creek, and thanked those who had provided the food and the venues; pointed out that LaTorcia celebrated its one- year anniversary today with a ribbon cutting; and that Sunday the Assembly would be celebrating its 100' anniversary in Siloam. The mayor went on to point out the 20' anniversary edition of Celebrate Arkansas magazine and the Ones to Watch article which each year accepts nominations for trendsetters and trailblazers in NWA. The Nominees are given to a team of judges of influential citizens and that one of the incredible individuals from the group of" Ones to Watch 2023" was our own, Fire Chief Jeremey Criner! Directors reports: Hunt thanked those responsible for the 4`h Fridays, and said it was really neat to see the community come together; pointed out that the lack of budgeting for a city attorney did not mean that the city would be without representation, but the city would be using outside counsel when necessary. Blair said there were amazing people who were going to sing at the Assembly' s 100-year celebration Sunday; thanked staff for providing the taxi service; thanked the military veteran' s; asked about the Christmas decorating contest; and pointed out great non-profits that we have intown, including the Senior Center, Choices and Ability Tree. Rissler thanked the military veterans and their families for the sacrifices made to allow our freedoms; pointed out the Levi Douthit Post 1674, Veterans of Foreign Wars, VFW) accepts donations and to consider them when donating to non-profits; and mentioned the Veteran' s Day Parade and ribbon cutting for the Healing Garden this Saturday at 9: 30 am. Marc Hayot with the Herald Leader pointed out that" Mothering Matters" would be presenting this year' s Tour ofHomes and that one of the homes featured would be Chief Jeremey and Kim Criner' s home. Directors reports continued: Carroll stated that safety for our people and that we had been named the 2nd busiest entrance and exit in the State of Arkansas; that Siloam was segmented and how scary Hwy. 412 is and the need for a by- pass; that the overpass at Lincoln needed sidewalks; we are a" super region" and we are also segmented by the railroad, we need sidewalks on East Main Street to allow safe passage for pedestrians; we need to make efforts toward that as we grow; and that the renovations on Lake Francis will include sidewalks. Smiley thanked the Rotary Club and all those involved with the Healing Garden and said she appreciates it; invited everyone to enjoy the fall color; thanked Gilbert for the tour of the golf Board of Directors Meeting Minutes Page 15 November 7, 2023 course; thanked Megan Whitworth for the outstanding newsletter; and encouraged the city to keep the street and sidewalk maintenance schedule. Allen also mentioned the ribbon cutting for the Healing Garden immediately after the Veteran' s Day Parade; asked about the colored lights in our street lamps; congratulated Jeremey Criner for being named Ones to Watch and that we are lucky to have him in Siloam; congratulated the Assembly on their anniversary; congratulated the Rotary Club on their 100th anniversary celebration; said he went to the Ability Tree event; mayor was one of the judges; and there was a lot of amazing acts; Caleb Cooper won the event; Matthew Vanatta did a great job; congratulated the Chamber of Commerce for bringing back the Pool ofSiloam and it means a lot about the life of Christ; thanked Marc for bringing up the Holiday Home Tour; that safety is the key to city government and that he appreciated the safety officers who attend the meetings; thanked the street crew for the work on Villa View; and pointed out that we haven' t always had a fulltime city attorney but we would have representation. Gilbert announced city offices would be closed Friday in recognition of Veteran' s Day. A motion to adjourn was made by Allen and seconded by Smiley. Nation called for a voice vote. Motion passed unanimously. Meeting adjourned. TEST: APP: i VED: Renea 1lis Clerk, CAMC/ CMC J i dy ation, ayor t. o Wu 1U uttuuul// il pRPORgrF Pf3Ai i i/, CITY 00 e *.. j*/SCO4M . SPRfNG3 , a o: L moo• 11 1f1111t1t  SnoamSprmgs Administrator' s Report November 7, 2023 Expenditures: In excess of$ 30, 000 40, 090/ LED Bypass Fixture and Poles/ Electric 34, 147. 70/ Repair Variable Frequency Drive at River Intake/ Water Treatment 39, 192/ Polymer to Process Solids/ Wastewater 45, 800/ Distribution Right of Way Clearing Roselawn/ Electric 51, 400/ Distribution Right of Way Clearing Twin Springs/ Electric 40, 000/ 250 Tons Road Salt/ Streets 44, 922/ 16 Position Traffic Signal Cabinet/ Electric 32, 273. 28/ 8, 000 Gallons 100LL Fuel/ Airport Per Resolution 34- 23 98, 304/ 256 AMR Water Meters/ Water Department 1. This Saturday at 9: 30 AM, American Legion Post 29 will host the annual Veterans Day parade, honoring and celebrating our veterans. 2. This Sunday, join us for the Holiday Open House downtown from 1 to 5 PM. With every purchase you make at downtown shops and eateries during the event, you' ll have the chance to enter and win a door prize. 3. The Fall Conference of the Arkansas City Managers Association took place at the library, where participants were delighted by the charm of Siloam Springs' attractions and dining. Page 1