Board of Directors

MINUTES OF THE REGULAR MEETING OF THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS OF THE CITY OF SILOAM SPRINGS, BENTON COUNTY, ARKANSAS, HELD JULY 2, 2024 The City of Siloam Springs, Arkansas, met in regular session at the City of Siloam Springs Administration Building on July 2, 2024. The meeting was called to order by Mayor Judy Nation. Roll Call: Hunt, Blair, Wiles, Rissler, Allen, Carroll, Long— present. City Representatives Present: Allan Gilbert, City Administrator; Jene' Fain, City Clerk; Jay Williams, City Attorney; Scott Miller, Police Chief; Kris Paxton, Community Development Director; Ben Rhoads, Senior City Planner; Maegan Thomas, City Planner I; Kevin Moore, City Engineer; Dustin Kindell, Interim Fire Chief; Phil Stokes, Electric Manager; and Christina Petriches, Finance Director. Director Hunt led the opening prayer. Mayor Nation led the Pledge of Allegiance. Mayor Nation asked if there were any comments from the audience regarding an item not on the City' s agenda. The mayor asked if there were any comments on an item on the Consent Agenda. Consent Agenda A. Regular Meeting Minutes/ June 18, 2024 B. Reactivate Contract/ GovDeals, Inc./ Option B4/ City Surplus A motion to approve the consent agenda as presented was made by Long and seconded by Rissler. Motion passed unanimously. Item C: Ordinance 24- 16/ 3rd Reading/ Amending Section 102- 21 of the City Municipal Code/ Rezoning from A- 1 to C- 2/ 3990 Highway 412 East. Kris Paxton briefed the item. A motion was made by Hunt and seconded by Rissler, to place Ordinance 24- 16 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 A- 1 TO C- 2) PROPERTY LOCATED AT 3990 HIGHWAY 412 EAST; was read on its third reading. A motion to adopt Ordinance 24- 16 was made by Allen and seconded by Rissler. Motion passed unanimously. Board of Directors Meeting Minutes Page 2 July 2, 2024 d Item D: Ordinance 24- 17/ 3` Reading/ Clerk Retirement/ Renea Ellis. Christina Petriches briefed the item. A motion was made by Allen and seconded by Carroll, to place Ordinance 24- 17 on its third reading, suspending the rules and reading title only. Motion passed 4- 2. Blair abstained from the vote. An ordinance entitled: AN ORDINANCE APPROVING RETIREMENT BENEFITS FOR CITY CLERK; was read on its third reading. A motion to adopt Ordinance 24- 17 was made by Allen and seconded by Long. Motion passed 4- 2. Blair abstained from the vote. Item E: Ordinance 24- 18/ 2nd Reading/ Amending City Municipal Code/ Chapter 6 Alcoholic Beverages/ Neighboring Properties Exception. Maegan Thomas briefed the item. Rebecca Wyatt, 1109 E. Jewell, questions if these businesses are allowed to open will they deteriorate the areas surrounding them with seediness. She feels by passing this ordinance there is an erosion of the biblical heritage of the city. She would like to see it remain as is. Ken Wyatt, 1109 E. Jewell, feels that it is a major step away from what the majority of the citizens want and their Christian heritage. He does not feel that alcohol brings anything good to the city. Kris Paxton clarified that there are exceptions if the business began to have issues. Allen feels it is unfair to allow historic downtown district to have a different set of rules than the remainder of the city regarding alcohol sales. He feels that it would fair to other business outside the historic downtown district to allow the ordinance regardless of his personal feelings in the matter. A motion was made by Hunt and seconded by Allen, to place Ordinance 24- 18 on its second reading, suspending the rules and reading title only. Motion passed unanimously. An ordinance entitled: AN ORDINANCE AMENDING CHAPTER 6, ALCOHOLIC BEVERAGES, OF THE MUNICIPAL CODE WITH RESPECT TO SPACING REQUIRMENTS FROM PLACES OF WORSHIP; was read on its second reading. Item F: Ordinance 24- 19/ 2nd Reading/ Annexation of 9. 89 acres/ 700 Block of West Pittsfield Street. Ben Rhoads briefed the item. Doyle Carroll, 2008 N. Carl Street, they welcome the new neighbors, however, they are afraid that the new subdivision will create more flooding and drainage issues on an area that already has those issues. He is afraid it will become more of an issue. Ron Homeyer, Civil Engineering, 701 S. Mt. Olive, believes drainage would be okay with how they plan to develop the property. Long would like to have time to go out and look at the property prior to voting on this ordinance. A motion was made by Long and seconded by Rissler, to table Ordinance 24- 19 until the 07/ 16/ 24 board meeting. Motion passed with Carroll abstaining. An ordinance entitled: AN ORDINANCE ACCEPTING THE ANNEXATION OF CERTAIN TERRITORY DESCRIBED AS 700 BLOCK OF WEST PITTSFIELD STREET TO THE CITY OF SILOAM SPRINGS, ARKANSAS AND ASSIGNING SAME TO A WARD; was tabled until the board meeting on 07/ 16/ 24. Board of Directors Meeting Minutes Page 1 3 July 2, 2024 d Item G: Ordinance 24- 20/ 2"Reading/ 2024 Annexation Election. Ben Rhoads briefed the item. Long questions cost estimates for streets, water and sewer. Kris Paxton stated these issues would be long range goals for the city as development comes to those areas. The estimate provided to buy out Carroll Electric in the annexation area was covered in the amount provided by Ben Rhoads. Allen wants to stress to those affected that obtaining future services to the area will take time. Rissler and Blair believe the citizens and people affected should have a vote on annexation. A motion was made by Rissler and seconded by Carroll, to place Ordinance 24- 20 on its second reading, suspending the rules and reading title only. Motion passed unanimously. An ordinance entitled: AN ORDINANCE SUBMITTING TO THE VOTERS OF THE CITY OF SILOAM SPRINGS AND OTHER AFFECTED PERSONS, THE QUESTION OF ANNEXATION OF CERTAIN CONTIGUOUS TERRITORY FOR THE PURPOSE OF RESPONSIBLE GROWTH, IMPROVED TRANSPORTATION NETWORKS, AND UTILITY COST CONTROL; was read on its second reading. d Item H: Ordinance 24- 21 / 2"Reading/ Electric Department/ Agricultural Interruptible Rate. Phil Stokes briefed the item. Rissler questioned if we heard from any citizens regarding this Ordinance. Phil Stokes states he has not heard from anyone since the last board meeting. A motion was made by Long and seconded by Hunt, to place Ordinance 24- 21 on its second reading, suspending the rules and reading title only. Motion passed unanimously. An ordinance entitled: AN ORDINANCE AMENDING SECTION 98- 58 OF THE SILOAM SPRINGS MUNICIPAL CODE TO ESTABLISH THE AGRICULTURAL INTERRUPTIBLE RATE ( AIR) FOR THE SILOAM SPRINGS ELECTRIC DEPARTMENT; AND FOR OTHER PURPOSES; was read on its second reading. Item I: Ordinance 24- 23/ 1' Reading/ Amending Section 102- 21 of the City Municipal Code/ Rezoning from I- 1 to P- D/ 2200 Hwy. 16. Kris Paxton briefed the item. Long questioned the quality of the road and the plans for repair. Allen states he does not support this Ordinance until further discussion at which point it changed his mind. Blair does not feel we have enough industrial zoning. Kevin Williams, 2604 Courtney Circle, remembers a developer wanted to previously repair Quarter Road and knows it would cost more money today than previously thought and questions why the board would not approve an ordinance and allow a developer to pay that amount instead of the city just because they do not agree with the type of homes that will be built on the property. Hunt and Allen thank Kevin Williams for bringing attention to this matter. A motion was made by Rissler and seconded by Hunt, to place Ordinance 24- 23 on its first reading, suspending the rules and reading title only. Motion passed 5- 2. Board of Directors Meeting Minutes Page 14 July 2, 2024 An ordinance entitled: AN ORDINANCE AMENDING SECTION 102- 21 OF THE SILOAM SPRINGS MUNICIPAL CODE( CITY ZONING MAP); REZONING FROM I- 1 TO P- D) PROPERTY LOCATED AT 2200 HIGHWAY 16; AND AMENDING THE FUTURE LAND USE MAP OF THE SILOAM SPRINGS 2040 COMPREHENSIVE PLAN; was read on its first reading. Item J: Resolution 29- 24/ Final Plat Development Permit/ Whispering Oaks Addition, Phase 1A/ 300- 500 Block of Oak Crest Road. Ben Rhoads briefed the item. Ron Homeyer Civil Engineering, 701 S. Mt. Olive does not feel the conditions are warranted or necessary for advanced grading. He feels that the site drains now and wants that provision removed. Blair and Hunt feel that drainage was previously an issue in that area. Moore does not feel there is a guarantee that there will not be more issues, however, if they would like to provide a new plat removing that requirement that it would be considered. A motion to table Resolution 29- 24 until the 07/ 16/ 2024 board meeting was made by Rissler and seconded by Long. Motion passed unanimously. Jim Krein is the developer and would like to clarify this is not a fight but a disagreement. He works well with Kevin Moore. He does not feel there is a need for the grade but understands that it is in the plan set provided. He hopes this matter can be resolved with discussions. Wiles would like to make a motion to place an item on the agenda. He would like to add gasification to the agenda. Said motion was seconded by Rissler. He spoke with a state representative from a neighboring district who is interested in more information regarding a gasification site. He would like to make a motion for staff to bring forth a resolution for a gasification study and was seconded by Allen. Item K: Annual Planning Commission Report was provided in the board packet. Item L: May Financials was provided in the board packet Item M: Administrator' s Report is attached. Gilbert announces that as of July 1 2024 Jene' Fain has been promoted to the role of City Clerk for the city. Directors Reports- Mayor — She would like to wish everyone a happy and safe 4th of July. Thank you to everyone who participated and to the directors for their cooperation tonight. To Gary Turner and his family for allowing him to give to this city. The service was very humbling and moving. She wishes the Turner family peace at this time. Long— Passes his opportunity to speak. Allen— He apologizes to the riding club for the trash mix-up. He wants everyone to understand the liquor license next to a church will not be an issue. Congratulations to Jene' Fain and to Renea Ellis for her retirement. He came across a newspaper article that stated the board follows Roberts Rules but the Mayor is correct that there are different circumstances. He wants to reduce the number of days that fireworks are allowed within city limits. Gary Turner was a great deputy chief and Vietnam veteran. Hunt— Thank you staff for the July 4t block party. Thank you, Renea Ellis, for your years of service to the city.She welcomes Jene' Fain to the city and states it has been good working with you so far.  Page 5 Board of Directors Meeting Minutes July 2, 2024 Wiles— He thanks everyone for allowing him to add to the agenda tonight. He wishes everyone a good safe fun 461, He looks forward to the city' s fireworks display. Blair—Congratulations and we are happy to have you Jene' Fain. She wants to provide an update on Lincoln and Hwy 59 and states ARDOT has started a study. Have a great 4d' of July. This heat is hideous please keep an eye on the elderly. Rissler— Congratulations Jene' Fain and we are glad you are here. She offers her condolences to Gary Turner' s family. She recognizes everything he did for the city and the nation. She is already getting complaints regarding fireworks so please respect your neighbors. Constitution Camp is August 1' and 2"d at New Life Church. You can register at constitutioncampnwa. com. There is no fee this year due to a sponsor picking up all costs. She thanks the fire department and the police department for all they do. Carroll— Rodeo last month was really impressive. Would like to express that the city and the community come together so that it may continue. Last Friday was the second 46' Friday and he was very impressed. He is looking forward to the block party on July 46. Thank you to Renea Ellis for her years of service. Congratulations Jene' Fain and welcome. With no further business, a motion to adjourn was made by Carroll and seconded by Rissler. Meeting adjourned. TEST: APPROVED: 41Ik Je ' ai` ssistant City Clerk Ju Natio Mayo ER,r' ,,,;/ SILOAM .. ' SEAL SPRINGS •- Q el- : 0, 9A• - it G jMY' P S. rnNGS +  p, ci Siloam Sprinos Administrator' s Report July 2, 2024 Expenditures: In excess of$ 30, 000 36, 015 / Garrett X/ Helena Street Surface Material/ Streets Division 30, 135 / Garrett X/ Britt Street Surface Material/ Streets Division 37, 702/ AECI/ Parts to Repair Transmission Switch Damaged in Storm/ Electric Per Resolution 07- 24 148, 540/ AECI/ 7 Manual Pad Mount Switchgear For Line Extensions/ Electric 1. This Thursday marks the inaugural Fourth of July Block Party! Enjoy food trucks, yard games, and bounce houses. On stage, Maud Crawford will perform at 6 pm followed by Clay Page at 7: 45 pm. Other activities include line dancing, a skydiving display, the presentation of colors, and fireworks beginning at dark. 2. City offices will be closed on Thursday so that staff can celebrate Independence Day with their families. 3. As a reminder, July 2nd, 3rd, and 4th, fireworks can be enjoyed between the hours of noon and 10: 00 pm.