Board of Directors

MINUTES OF THE REGULAR MEETING OF THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS OF THE CITY OF SILOAM SPRINGS, BENTON COUNTY, ARKANSAS, HELD NOVEMBER 19, 2024 The City of Siloam Springs, Arkansas, met in regular session at the City of Siloam Springs Administration Building on November 19, 2024. The meeting was called to order by Mayor Judy Nation. Roll Call: Hunt, Blair, Carroll and Long, Rissler, Allen and Wiles— 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; Kevin Moore, City Engineer and Public Works Director; Jason Davis, Public Service Director; Dustin Kindell, Fire Chief; Misty McGlothlin, Human Resources Director; and Christina Petriches, Finance Director. Director Carroll 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. Mothering Matters( names and addresses have been omitted due to the lack of live feed during the board meeting) stated they would like to address the parks and splash pad. They would like this to be moved up in importance to the City. They would like to see safe, engaging, challenging additions to the parks. They would also like to see an enclosed park for the safety of the children. The splash pad is not actually a splash pad, and they do not feel it is safe for their children. They have overheard inappropriate comments regarding the spouts spraying and the nozzles above ground. They also do not like the homeless or transients hanging out by the splash pad. The mayor asked if there were any comments on an item on the Consent Agenda. There were none. Consent Agenda A. Regular Meeting Minutes/ November 6, 2024 B. Special- Called Meeting Minutes/ October 29, 2024 C. Annual Chemical Bids/ Public Works Department/ Water- Wastewater Divisions/ Multiple Vendors and Costs D. City of Siloam Springs, Arkansas Public Education Facilities Board( John Brown University) Kameron Slater( Reappointment) E. Appointments/ Parks Advisory Board/ Holly Wiles and Mike Henry (Reappointments) A motion to approve the consent agenda was made by Long and seconded by Carroll. Motion passed unanimously. Board of Directors Meeting Minutes Page 12 November 6, 2024 F. Budget Amendment/ Fire Department/ ALS 360 Stryker Lease Program/ Cardiac Monitors, Cots, Loaders, and Lucas devices/$ 151, 000. Dustin Kindell briefed the item. Chief Miller briefed the board regarding the process of utilizing Source Well and that it is like what was previously called state bidding. Motion to approve was made by Long and seconded by Allen. Motion passed unanimously. G. Contract/ Digester 2& 3 Improvements/ Public Works Department/ Wastewater Division/ Clean Infusion/$ 266, 413. Kevin Moore briefed the item. Motion to approve was made by Allen and seconded by Long. Motion passed unanimously. Item H: Ordinance 24- 30 / 3rd Reading/ Annexation of 0.21 acres / 2270 Dawn Hill Road. Ben Rhoads briefed the item. A motion was made by Allen and seconded by Long, to place Ordinance 24- 30 on its third reading, suspending the rules and reading title only. Motion passed unanimously. A Motion to adopt Ordinance 24- 30 was made by Allen and seconded by Carroll. Motion passed unanimously. Item I: Ordinance 24- 31 / 3rd Reading/ Vacation of a Right- of-Way/ 800 Block of South Lincoln Street. Maegan Thomas briefed the item. A motion was made by Long and seconded by Carroll, to place Ordinance 24- 31 on its third reading, suspending the rules and reading title only. Motion passed unanimously. A Motion to adopt Ordinance 24- 31 was made by Allen and seconded by Long. Motion passed unanimously. Item J: Resolution 50-24/ Settlement/ Litigation/ Christopher Lockhart. Jay Williams advised that the settlement conference scheduled for December 2, 2024, has been canceled. A motion to withdraw was made by Allen and seconded by Long. Motion passed unanimously. Item K: Administrator' s Report is attached. The board conducted a voice vote to retain the Christmas Decorating Contest on behalf of the city. The voice vote was unanimous to take over the contest as of this year. Directors Reports— Mayor— She wants to let the public know that the Lights of the Ozarks in Fayetteville will begin on Friday, November 22nd Hunt— Thank you to Allan and the staff for the State of the City event. Thank you, Misty and Jene', for the Christmas decorations in the boardroom. Thank you to Mothering Matters for coming about the parks and splash pad. The parks are always full, but she notices it being more older people utilizing the pickleball courts and skate park. She thinks it is a good idea to look into improvements. She wants to clarify that the city does not have an employee on staff who has worked here for more than 20 years making$ 20/ hour. We have some that do not make much more Board of Directors Meeting Minutes Page 13 November 6, 2024 than $ 20/ hour but she feels that they are here for more reasons than money. She was happy to get information on the history of the employee raises showing the last couple of years were to get us closer in line with neighboring cities. She questioned the lead letters that citizens are receiving. She questioned if Parks and Recreation were being moved to a new building and if the classes were to continue. She was advised by Gilbert that all classes will continue at the current building. She wants to wish everyone a happy Thanksgiving. Wiles — He was out of town last week during the State of the City. He heard a lot of positive comments about it. Thank you, Allan and staff for all the hard work. Blair- Finn — She had more questions regarding lead in the pipes. She questioned if homes with well water would need to be tested. Kevin Moore indicated they would need to be checked if the homes were constructed prior to 1989. The holidays are approaching, and the Mana Center and Gensis House would be happy to receive any donations. Rissler— She received a lot of compliments regarding the State of the City. Thank you to the staff for their hard work. She had questions about the document and was advised that there is a QR Code on the city website to access the full document. She wishes everyone a safe and happy Thanksgiving. Carroll— Thank the ladies with Mothering Matters and their husbands for attending the meeting. He met with Christina Petriches, and she advised if the board wants changes made the staff will need direction. He thanked her for bringing that to his attention. He would like to see the City hire an employee who could go around to citizen' s homes to help them locate cost effective ways to save money on their utility bills. He would like to wish everyone a happy Thanksgiving. Long — Many years ago he knew the city would give certificates for turkeys or hams to the employees to assist with the cost in providing a meal for the holidays. He would like to see something similar done for the employees this year. Allan advised that it was in the budget to give all employees a Christmas bonus to help with those costs. Those will be distributed to employees by direct deposit this year. Allen— Happy Thanksgiving to everyone. Allan and the staff did a wonderful job on the State of the City. He would like to have some booklets printed out for those who would like one. He states we do have employees who have been here more than 20 years making less than$ 20/hour but they are with the Fire Department. He believes employee raises should be more education and experience based( preferably more experienced base than education in his opinion) and not straight across the board. He states the Board has not discouraged the staff from presenting a utility rate increase. He states we will be required to raise the utility rate due to the increase from the City' s supplier. Executive Session: The mayor asked for a motion to retire into an executive session. Allen made such a motion, seconded by Wiles. Motion passed unanimously. The mayor announced the board Board of Directors Meeting Minutes Page 14 November 6, 2024 would now retire into executive session. Time began: 7: 30p. m. The Board reconvened from executive session at 9: 37 p. m. Mayor Nation stated no decisions were made in executive session. The Board has called a Special- Called Meeting for Thursday, November 21 st at 6: 00 p. m. With no further business, a motion to adjourn was made by Long and seconded by Allen. oomulisiusko Meeting adjourned. P4RATFs''%,,,,,, EST: APP VED: SILOAM au= SPRINGS NGS.. 4' in, City Clerk Nati , Ma Je, : or kn.,'... SEAL g41NnS  1 SpY` ngs Administrator' s Report November 19, 2024 Expenditures: In excess of$ 30, 000 None Per Resolution 07- 24 146,448/ Henard Utility Products/ 324 AMI Water Meters/ Water Services Division 1. Siloam Springs has been selected as one of the 2024 Arkansas Volunteer Community of the Year Award winners. We were the winner of the Innovation award for a city over 10, 000. Thank you to the many volunteers in our community who make this a special place to live! 2. The upcoming run- off election for Director Positions 5 and 6 has been scheduled for December 3`d. Early voting will be available from November 26 through December 2. 3. Light Up Siloam Springs is scheduled for December 7th this year. Christmas caroling begins at 4: 00 PM at Chautauqua Amphitheater, the downtown parade is at 5: 30, and the Twin Springs Park lighting ceremony will happen at 6: 00 PM.