COUNCIL MINUTES MAY, 2025

Date Posted: 06/25/2025

CITY OF GASSVILLE, ARKANSAS
MINUTES FOR THE REGULAR CITY COUNCIL MEETING
MAY 20, 2025

A regular meeting of the City Council of the City of Gassville, Arkansas was held on Tuesday, May 20, 2025 at the Gassville Community Center. The Mayor led those in attendance in saying the Pledge of Allegiance, followed by a word of prayer. The meeting was then called to order at 6:00 PM.

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

The minutes from the April 15, 2025 regular meeting were presented to the City Council for consideration. Council Member Bird moved to approve the minutes as submitted, which motion was seconded by Council Member McFarland. There were no corrections or additions called for, whereupon the motion was put to a vote. Council Members Smith, McFarland, Seaman, 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 April, 2025 was then presented to the City Council for consideration. Council Member Seaman moved to approve the report as submitted, which motion was seconded by Council Member McFarland. Mayor Braim called for the vote. Council Members Smith, McFarland, Seaman, 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 April, 2025. It was accepted into the record without objection.

Fire Chief Glotzl gave the fire department report for the month of April, 2025. It was accepted into the record without objection as well. Chief Glotzl also made a request for the City Council to remove several items from inventory, which list is attached hereto. Council Member McFarland moved to authorize the removal of those items from inventory. The motion was seconded by Council Member Seaman. Mayor Braim called for the vote. Council Members Smith, McFarland, Seaman, and Bird voted for the motion. There were no nays, and the motion was declared to be carried.

The Public Safety Committee had met on May 1, 2025. The minutes from that meeting had been distributed to Council Members. Council Member McFarland moved to approve the minutes from the Public Safety Committee, which motion was seconded by Council Member Bird. Mayor Braim called for the vote. Council Members Smith, McFarland, Seaman, and Bird voted for the motion. There were no nays, and the motion was declared to be carried.

Mayor Braim gave the building inspection report for the period of April 12th through May 9th. It was accepted into the record without objection.

The Cotter-Gassville Joint Sewer Commission has not met since the last Council Meeting.

The Gassville Planning and Zoning Commission has not met since the last Council Meeting either.

Under unfinished business, Proposed Ordinance No. 2025-04 was up for consideration on its third reading. Council Member McFarland 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 Seaman. The Mayor called for the vote. Council Members Smith, McFarland, Seaman, and Bird voted for the motion. There were no nays, and the motion was declared to be carried. Thereupon, Recorder-Treasurer Lewis read aloud the title of the proposed ordinance, entitled:

"ORDINANCE NO. 2025-04. AN ORDINANCE ADOPTING THE ARKANSAS STATE PLUMBING AND GAS CODES, REPEALING ORDINANCES OR PARTS THEREOF THAT CONFLICT AND FOR OTHER PURPOSES."

Council Member Seaman 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, and Bird voted for the motion. There were no nays, and the Mayor declared the motion carried and Ordinance No. 2025-04 to be adopted.

Proposed Ordinance No. 2025-05 was then up for consideration on its second reading. Council Member Bird moved to suspend the rules and place the proposed ordinance on its second reading by title only. The motion was seconded by Council Member Seaman. Mayor Braim called for the vote. Council Members Smith, McFarland, Seaman, and Bird voted for the motion. There were no nays, and the motion was declared to be carried. Thereupon, Recorder-Treasurer Lewis read aloud the title of the proposed ordinance, entitled:

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"ORDINANCE NO. 2025-05. AN ORDINANCE ESTABLISHING PROCEDURES FOR THE SALE AND TRANSFER OF REAL ESTATE LOTS AND SPACES IN THE GASSVILLE CEMETERY, AFFIXING THE MONETARY PRICE FOR THE SALE AND TRANSFER OF SAID LOTS AND SPACES, REPEALING ORDINANCE OR PARTS THEREOF THAT CONFLICT AND FOR OTHER PURPOSES."

Under new business, the purchase of a used fire engine to replace two pieces of fire apparatus that had previously been sold was up for consideration. The vehicle in question was a 2006 HME Rescue Pumper for sale from Red Truck Sales. The sale price is $135,000. Delivery charges and other incremental items would bring the overall cost to approximately $140,000. This purchase had been discussed by the Public Safety Committee, which had recommended to the City Council that the vehicle be purchased. Fire Chief Glotzl gave a brief overview of the proposal. Council Member Smith spoke in favor of the purchase. It would be necessary to waive competitive bidding to approve the purchase now.

Council Member Bird then moved the following resolution, seconded by Council Member McFarland:

RESOLVED, that the city purchase the 2006 HME Rescue Pumper from Red Truck Sales, and that the competitive bidding process be waived as permitted by state law due to the vehicle being unique in nature and it not being feasible or practical to solicit bids.

Mayor Braim called for discussion, then for the vote. Council Members Smith, McFarland, Seaman, and Bird voted for the motion. There were no nays, and the motion was declared to be carried.

Council Member Bird then moved to authorize the following appropriations and use of funds to pay for the purchase of the fire truck, as well as to create a new vehicle purchase income line item in the 2025 fire department budget, which motion was seconded by Council Member McFarland:

Truck Fund #03344: $ 87,000
Capital Improvement Fund #02577: $ 10,000
SCBA Fund #02690: $ 18,000
General Fund #67615: $ 25,000
Total Appropriations: $140,000

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Mayor Braim called for discussion, then for the vote. Council Members Smith, McFarland, Seaman, and Bird voted for the motion. There were no nays, and the Mayor declared the motion carried.

Continuing under new business, Proposed Resolution No. 2025-03 regarding unclaimed funds was up for consideration. Council Member Seaman moved to have the proposed resolution read aloud, which motion was seconded by Council Member Bird. The Mayor called for the vote. Council Members Smith, McFarland, Seaman, and Bird voted for the motion. There were no nays, and the motion was declared to be carried. Thereupon, Recorder-Treasurer Lewis read aloud the proposed resolution entitled:

"RESOLUTION NO. 2025-03. A RESOLUTION ESTABLISHING A POLICY FOR THE CITY OF GASSVILLE, ARKANSAS FOR RETURNED CITY CHECKS, RETURNED DEPOSIT REFUNDS OR OTHER PAYMENTS MADE BY THE CITY OF GASSVILLE THAT ARE RETURNED OR UNCLAIMED TO THE CITY AND FOR OTHER PURPOSES."

Council Member McFarland moved to approve the proposed resolution as read, which motion was seconded by Council Member Seaman. The Mayor called for discussion, then for the vote. Council Members Smith, McFarland, Seaman, and Bird voted for the motion. There were no nays, and the motion was declared to be carried and Resolution No. 2025-03 to be adopted.

At the conclusion of new business, Mayor Braim then update the City Council on several matters, to-wit:

1. There will be no recycling trailer in June. The next recycling trailer will be here on July 12th.

2. Gassville In The Park will be June 7th from 9am to 4pm.

3. With regards to the property at 104 Hopper St that the City Council condemned by resolution last year, Attorney Kerry Chism has prepared legal documents from the Circuit Court to be served on the property owner, who resides in Alaska, that will secure the city's lien on the property. The owner will have 30 days to file an objection or response once served.

4. With regards to the litigation over the new city well, trial date has tentatively been set for July 28th to July 31st of 2026.

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5. An inspection of the city water tank was made on April 27th. Only a small amount of sediment was observed. The inspection report has been received and will be reviewed with the engineer, following which it will be sent to the Arkansas Department of Health.

6. Due to a newly passed state law, the city will be requireD to alter its website domain and email addresses to a "dot gov" domain in place of the current "dot org" designation. The Mayor will be working with the website provider and Yelcot to prepare for these changes.

7. It was announced that the widening and renovation of the walking trail at the City Park has been completed.

8. Farmers and Merchants Bank will be donating an oak tree to be planted at Lancaster Park on June 6th in observance of the bank's 80th anniversary.

A member of the audience asked if there had been any consideration of fluoridating the water in the city's water system and was informed that there has not.

There being no further business to come before the City Council at this time, the meeting adjourned at 6:42 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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