COUNCIL MINUTES MARCH, 2024

Date Posted: 05/01/2024

CITY OF GASSVILLE, ARKANSAS
MINUTES FOR THE REGULAR CITY COUNCIL MEETING
MARCH 19, 2024

A regular meeting of the City Council of the City of Gassville, Arkansas was held on Tuesday, March 19, 2024 at the Gassville Community Center. Mayor Braim led those in attendance in saying the Pledge of Allegiance to the flag and offering a word of prayer. The meeting was then called to order at 6:00 PM by Mayor Jeff Braim, Presiding Officer.

Upon the calling of the roll, those in attendance were Council Member Kenneth Smith, Council Member Tim McFarland, Council Member Anita Seaman, Council Member Naomi Lassen, Council Member Ralph Bird, Mayor Jeff Braim, and Recorder-Treasurer Jeff Lewis. Council Member Ernest Adkins was absent. Department Heads in attendance were Water and Street Superintendent Michael Dewey, Police Chief Tim Mayfield, and Fire Chief Michael Glotzl.

The minutes from the February 20, 2024 meeting were presented to the City Council for consideration and approval. Council Member Seaman moved to approve the minutes as submitted. This motion was seconded by Council Member Lassen. Mayor Braim called for corrections or additions. None were forthcoming, whereupon he called for the vote. Council Members Smith, McFarland, Seaman, Lassen, and Bird voted for the motion. There were no nays, and the motion was declared to be carried.

The financial report for the month of February, 2024 was submitted to the City Council for review and approval. Council Member McFarland moved to approve the financial report as presented. This motion was seconded by Council Member Seaman. The Mayor called for discussion, then for the vote. Council Members Smith, Seaman, Lassen, Adkins, and Bird voted for the motion. There were no nays, and the motion was declared to be carried.

Police Chief Mayfield gave the police department report for the month of February, 2024. It was accepted into the record without objection. Chief Mayfield indicated there are currently two full time and one part time police officer positions open for hire within the police department.

Mayor Braim gave the fire department report for the month of February, 2024. It, too, was accepted into the record without objection.

Mayor Braim then gave the building inspection report for the period of February 17th through March 15th. It also was accepted into the record without objection as well.

Council Member Seaman stated that the Cotter-Gassville Joint Sewer Commission did not meet as scheduled due to illness. Mayor Braim gave a progress report on the Phase II project. One of the new lift stations is going online. The contractor is due back in June to finish the project once additional funds have been received.

Council Member Lassen gave a report from the Gassville Planning and Zoning Commission. A copy of the minutes of that meeting, which was held on March 11th, are attached hereto and incorporated herein by reference. The Commission made one recommendation to the City Council that is being reviewed by the City Attorney.

Under unfinished business, the City Council took up consideration of Proposed Ordinance No. 2024-01 on its third reading. This proposal deals with the placement of shipping containers and semi-truck trailers for storage on residential properties. Council Member Bird moved to suspend the rules and place the proposed ordinance on its third and final reading by title only. This motion was seconded by Council Member Lassen. Mayor Braim called for the vote. Council Members Smith, McFarland, Seaman, Lassen, and Bird voted for the motion. There were no nays, and the Mayor declared the motion carried. Thereupon, Recorder-Treasurer Lewis read aloud the proposed ordinance entitled:

"ORDINANCE NO. 2024-01. AN ORDINANCE REGULATING SHIPPING CONTAINERS AND SEMI-TRUCK TRAILERS FOR THE PURPOSE OF ANY TYPE OF STORAGE ON RESIDENTIAL PROPERTIES IN THE CITY OF GASSVILLE, ARKANSAS, DEFINING SUCH CONTAINERS AND FOR OTHER PURPOSES."

Council Member McFarland then moved to adopt the proposed ordinance as read. This motion was seconded by Council Member Seaman. Mayor Braim called for discussion, then for the vote. Council Members Smith, McFarland, Seaman, Lassen, and Bird voted for the motion. There were no nays, and the motion was declared to be carried and the ordinance adopted.

The City Council next took up consideration of Proposed Ordinance No. 2024-02 on its third reading. This proposal deals with starting minimum salaries for city employee positions. Council Member Lassen moved to suspend the rules and place the proposed ordinance on its third and final reading by title only. This motion was seconded by Council Member Bird. Mayor Braim called for the vote. Council Members Smith, McFarland, Seaman, Lassen, and Bird voted for the motion. There were no nays, and the Mayor declared the motion carried.

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Thereupon, Recorder-Treasurer Lewis read aloud the proposed ordinance entitled:

"ORDINANCE NO. 2024-02. AN ORDINANCE AMENDING ORDINANCE 2021-06 SPECIFICALLY "ATTACHMENT A" ESTABLISHING MINIMUM SALARIES PER POSITION IN THE CITY OF GASSVILLE AND ALLOWING FOR A SCALE FOR THE MAYOR TO HIRE WITOUT COUNCIL APPROVAL AND FOR OTHER PURPOSES."

Council Member Lassen then moved to adopt the proposed ordinance as read. This motion was seconded by Council Member McFarland. Mayor Braim called for discussion, then for the vote. Council Members Smith, McFarland, Seaman, Lassen, and Bird voted for the motion. There were no nays, and the Mayor declared the motion carried and the ordinance adopted.

Moving on to new business, the City Council took up consideration or Proposed Resolution No. 2024-03, which deals with the adoption of Baxter County's Hazard Mitigation Plan update, prepared by NWAEDD, as it pertains to the City of Gassville. Council Member Seaman moved to have the proposed resolution read aloud, which motion was seconded by Council Member Bird. Mayor Braim called for the vote. Council Member Smith, McFarland, Seaman, Lassen, and Bird voted for the motion. There were no nays, and the Mayor declared the motion carried. Thereupon, Recorder-Treasurer Lewis read aloud the proposed resolution in its entirety, entitled:

"RESOLUTION NO. 2024-03. A RESOLUTION OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF GASSVILLE, ARKANSAS ADOPTING THE 2023 BAXTER COUNTY HAZARD MITIGATION PLAN UPDATE."

Following the reading of the proposed resolution, Council Member Lassen moved to adopt, which motion was seconded by Council Member McFarland. Mayor Braim called for discussion, then for the vote. Council Members Smith, McFarland, Seaman, Lassen, and Bird voted for the motion. There were no nays, and the motion was declared to be carried and the resolution adopted.

Mayor Braim then went on to update the City Council on various topics, to-wit:

1. He has been working on plans with department heads to handle the expected crowds for the eclipse event on April 8th.

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2. With respect to the litigation initiated on the issues and deficiencies with the new city well, the contractor and bond company have managed to get the lawsuit moved from state court into the federal court system, specifically to the United States District Court for the Western District of Arkansas.

3. Paving at the walking trail at Lancaster Park should begin soon.

4. The Baxter County Election Commission provided the Mayor with official certification of the results of the election for the ½ cent sales tax measure, which passed on a vote of 120 to 113. A Mayoral proclamation for this will be published in The Baxter Bulletin. This tax will start being collected in either July or October, depending on publication dates.

5. The new telephone system for the City Hall has been installed.

6. The Arkansas Division of Legislative Audit will soon begin auditing city records for years 2022 and 2023.

7. The Arkansas Municipal League's "Arkansas Civic Education System" for continuing education for city officials is now available in a virtual format at a cost. The initial fee is $50 if the official is not already certified by AML. Afterwards, the costs will be $20 per course or group of courses. The Mayor asked if the City Council would be open to reimbursing city officials for out of pocket registration fees when they take these classes. Council Member Lassen moved to authorize such reimbursements for the stated purpose. The motion was seconded by Council Member Bird. Mayor Braim called for discussion, then for the vote. Council Members Smith, McFarland, Seaman, Lassen, and Bird voted for the motion. There were no nays, and the Mayor declared the motion carried.

8. The Arkansas Municipal League's summer convention will be held in Little Rock on June 12th, 13th, and 14th. Registration is now underway for those officials interested in attending.

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9. Council Members were provided with a proposal for the purchase of new accounting software for the city. The city currently uses QuickBooks. The new software is called "CenterPoint Fund Accounting". It is designed specifically for municipalities, whereas QuickBooks is a general "off-the-rack" accounting software program for general commercial or private use. It was reported that there have been recent issues with obtaining customer support from QuickBooks when problems or issues arise. The City Council will review the material and discuss it further at the next meeting.

10. Prior to the next regular city council meeting, public hearings will be held to decide whether or not formal condemnation proceedings will be initiated against the dilapidated nuisance properties at 104 Hopper St. and 516 Hwy 62. This prompted questions from Council Members with respect to other such properties on Lakeview Drive, Factory Place, and S. Johnson Street that have been discussed in the past. No work has been done to mitigate the various issues with those properties either.

There being no further business to come before the City Council, the meeting then adjourned at 6:43 PM upon motion of Council Member Bird, seconded by Council Member Seaman, with all members voting in favor.

Submitted by: /s/ Jeffrey Lewis,
Recorder-Treasurer

Approved by: /s/ Jeff Braim,
Mayor

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