COUNCIL MINUTES NOVEMBER, 2023

Date Posted: 01/02/2024

CITY OF GASSVILLE, ARKANSAS
MINUTES FOR THE REGULAR CITY COUNCIL MEETING
NOVEMBER 14, 2023

A regular meeting of the City Council of the City of Gassville, Arkansas was held on Tuesday, November 14, 2023, at the Gassville Community Center. The meeting was conducted one week earlier than normal by consensus of the City Council Members, after notice of the meeting date had been provided to the public. Mayor Braim led those in attendance in saying the Pledge of Allegiance to the flag, and Police Chief Mayfield offered 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 Tim McFarland, Council Member Anita Seaman, Council Member Naomi Lassen, Council Member Ralph Bird, Mayor Jeff Braim, and Recorder-Treasurer Jeff Lewis. Council Member Kenneth Smith and Council Member Ernest Adkins were 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 last regular meeting held October 24, 2023 were then up for consideration. Council Member Lassen moved to approve those minutes as presented, which motion was seconded by Council Member Bird. No corrections or additions were called for, whereupon the Mayor called for the vote. Council Members McFarland, Seaman, Lassen, and Bird voted for the motion. There were no nays, and the Mayor declared the motion carried.

The financial report for the month of October, 2023, was presented for approval. One correction had been made on the Water and Sewer Department financial report after the original report had been presented. Council Member McFarland moved to approve the October financial report as submitted with the corrected Water and Sewer Department report, which motion was seconded by Council Member Seaman. The motion was then put to a vote. Council Members McFarland, Seaman, Lassen, and Bird voted for the motion. There were no nays, and the Mayor declared the motion carried. Mayor Braim advised that a reimbursement of $10,800 has been received regarding the Lancaster Park walking trail grant project.

Police Chief Mayfield gave the police department report for the month of October, 2023. It was accepted into the record without objection.

Fire Chief Glotzl gave the fire department report for the month of October, 2023. It also was accepted into the record without objection.

The Gassville Planning and Zoning Commission had not met, and thus no report was given.

Council Member Seaman gave a report from the Cotter-Gassville Joint Sewer Commission, which had met on November 9th at Cotter. She noted that there are some components/parts in need of repair at the Wastewater Treatment Facility (WWTF) that will cost approximately $5,900. A new DO (dissolved oxygen) hand held device was purchased but did not work. It has been returned. Otherwise, the WWTF is operating normally. The old truck used by the line crew has been sold for $7,000. The line crew personnel have been performing grease trap inspections and performing general maintenance. Work has commenced on the "Phase II" renovation project to the collection system along the walking trail at Cotter. Digging work for the lift station has begun, and new piping has been ordered. Training will be undertaken on the use of the crane that is on the new line crew truck. The two cities are still in the process of trying to secure additional funding for further renovation of the collection system in what is deemed to be "Phase IIB". Gassville is responsible for 66% of the costs, while Cotter is responsible for 34%.

Mayor Braim announced that the Water/Wastewater Committee of the City Council had recently met. The main topic of discussion was commercial usage rates.

The Mayor gave the building inspection report for the period of October 13th through November 13th. It was accepted into the record without objection.

With respect to the several nuisance properties identified in the city that were discussed at last months meeting, the Mayor stated that the Fire Chief, Police Chief, and Building Inspector are still in the process of finalizing their detailed reports on each of these properties. The issue will be returned to the City Council for further consideration at either the December or January meeting. Fire Chief Glotzl informed the City Council that a number of those properties have now been officially posted with signage indicating they are unsafe to enter.

Superintendent Dewey reported an unresolved problem with the pump at the new city well that needs to be corrected. This will require the pump being pulled for inspection and repairs, followed by a new inspection by the Arkansas Department of Health afterwards.

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In unfinished business, Mr. Brian Haas, the auditor for the Water and Sewer Department was present. He gave a revised preliminary audit report on the Water and Sewer System for 2022. The final report will be forthcoming later for City Council review and approval.

The next order of business was consideration of Proposed Ordinance No. 2023-08 concerning the process for rezoning of commercial property on its second reading. Council Member Bird moved to suspend the rules and place the proposed ordinance on its second reading by title only. This motion was seconded by Council Member Lassen. The Mayor called for the vote. Council Members 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 title of the proposed ordinance, entitled:

"ORDINANCE NO. 2023-08. AN ORDINANCE AMENDING ORDINANCE 98-08 SPECIFICALLY ADDRESSING PROPERTIES WITH HIGHWAY FRONTAGE WITHIN THE CITY OF GASSVILLE, ARKANSAS FOR COMMERCIAL ZONING AND FOR OTHER PURPOSES."

The City Council then addressed several articles of new business on the agenda.

The first item under new business was consideration of Proposed Ordinance No. 2023-09 regarding the posting places for adopted ordinances. Council Member McFarland moved to place the ordinance on its first reading, which motion was seconded by Council Member Bird. The Mayor then called for the vote. Council Members McFarland, Seaman, Lassen, and Bird voted for the motion. There were no nays, and the Mayor declared the motion to be carried. Thereupon, Recorder-Treasurer Lewis read aloud the proposed ordinance in its entirety, including an emergency clause in Section 4, entitled:

"ORDINANCE NO. 2023-09. AN ORDINANCE DESIGNATING PLACES FOR THE POSTING OF ORDINANCES; REPEALING ORDINANCE NO. 2014-03; PRESCRIBING OTHER MATTERS RELATED THERETO; AND DECLARING AN EMERGENCY."

Council Member Bird then moved to suspend the rules and place the proposed ordinance on its second reading by title only. This motion was seconded by Council Member Seaman. The Mayor then called for the vote. Council Members McFarland, Seaman, Lassen, and Bird voted for the motion.

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There were no nays, and the Mayor declared the motion to be carried. Thereupon, Recorder-Treasurer Lewis read aloud the title of the proposed ordinance.

Council Member McFarland then moved to further 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. The Mayor called for the vote. Council Members McFarland, Seaman, Lassen, and Bird voted for the motion. There were no nays, and the Mayor declared the motion to be carried. Thereupon, Recorder-Treasurer Lewis read aloud the title of the proposed ordinance.

Council Member Bird then moved to adopt the proposed ordinance as read. This motion was seconded by Council Member Lassen. The Mayor called for discussion, then for the vote. Council Members McFarland, Seaman, Lassen, and Bird voted for the motion. There were no nays, and the Mayor declared Ordinance No. 2023-09 to be adopted.

Council Member Lassen then moved to approve the emergency clause in Section 4 of Ordinance No. 2023-09. This motion was seconded by Council Member Bird. The Mayor called for discussion, then for the vote. Council Members McFarland, Seaman, Lassen, and Bird voted for the motion. There were no nays. The Mayor declared the motion to be carried and the emergency clause contained in Ordinance No. 2023-09 to be adopted.

The City Council next took up consideration of Proposed Ordinance No. 2023-10 regarding the levy of a permanent one-half of one percent sales and use tax for the Water and Sewer Department. Council Member Lassen moved to place the proposed ordinance on its first reading, which motion was seconded by Council Member McFarland. The Mayor called for the vote. Council Members 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 in its entirety, entitled:

"ORDINANCE NO. 2023-10. AN ORDINANCE PROVIDING FOR THE LEVY OF A ONE-HALF OF ONE PERCENT (0.5%) SALES AND USE TAX WITHIN THE CITY OF GASSVILLE, ARKANSAS; AND PRESCRIBING OTHER MATTERS PERTAINING THERETO."

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Council Member Seaman then moved to suspend the rules and place the proposed ordinance on its second reading by title only, which motion was seconded by Council Member Lassen. The Mayor called for the vote. Council Members 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 title of the proposed ordinance.

Council Member Seaman then moved to further suspend the rules and place the proposed ordinance on its third and final reading by title only. This motion was seconded by Council Member McFarland. The Mayor called for the vote. Council Members McFarland, Seaman, Lassen, and Bird voted for the motion. There were no nays, and the Mayor declared the motion to be carried. Thereupon, Recorder-Treasurer Lewis read aloud the title of the proposed ordinance.

Council Member Lassen moved to adopt the proposed ordinance. This motion was seconded by Council Member Seaman. The Mayor called for discussion, then for the vote. Council Members McFarland, Seaman, Lassen, and Bird voted for the motion. There were no nays, and the Mayor declared the motion carried and Ordinance No. 2023-10 to be adopted.

Continuing under new business, the City Council took up consideration of Proposed Ordinance No. 2023-11 regarding calling a special election on the sales and use tax proposal. Council Member Lassen moved to place the proposed ordinance on its first reading, which motion was seconded by Council Member Seaman. The Mayor called for the vote. Council Members McFarland, Seaman, Lassen, and Bird voted for the motion. There were no nays, and the Mayor declared the motion to be carried. Thereupon, Recorder-Treasurer Lewis read aloud the proposed ordinance in its entirety, entitled:

"ORDINANCE NO. 2023-11. AN ORDINANCE CALLING A SPECIAL ELECTION IN THE CITY OF GASSVILLE, ARKANSAS ON THE QUESTION OF LEVYING A ONE-HALF OF ONE PERCENT (0.5%) SALES AND USE TAX WITHIN THE CITY OF GASSVILLE, ARKANSAS; AND PRESCRIBING OTHER MATTERS PERTAINING THERETO."

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Council Member McFarland then moved to suspend the rules and place the proposed ordinance on its second reading by title only. This motion was seconded by Council Member Lassen. The Mayor called for the vote. Council Members McFarland, Seaman, Lassen, and Bird voted for the motion. There were no nays, and the Mayor declared the motion to be carried. Thereupon, Recorder-Treasurer Lewis read aloud the title of the proposed ordinance.

Council Member Seaman moved to further suspend the rules and place the proposed ordinance, which she incorrectly specified to be Ordinance No. 2023-10, but then corrected to be Ordinance No. 2023-11 now under consideration, on its third and final reading by title only. This corrected motion was seconded by Council Member Lassen. The Mayor called for the vote. Council Members McFarland, Seaman, Lassen, and Bird voted for the motion. There were no nays, and the Mayor declared the motion to be carried. Thereupon, Recorder-Treasurer Lewis read aloud the title of the proposed ordinance.

Council Member McFarland moved adopt the proposed ordinance as read, which motion was seconded by Council Member Seaman. The Mayor called for discussion, then for the vote. Council Members McFarland, Seaman, Lassen, and Bird voted for the motion. There were no nays, and the Mayor declared the motion to be carried and Ordinance No. 2023-11 to be adopted.

Moving along under new business, the City Council took up the issue of city employee healthcare benefit options. Several options and variations were presented to the City Council for its review and consideration. Council Member Bird moved to approve the "Enhanced Plan" for the city employees and their family option with the $500 deductible. This motion was seconded by Council Member Seaman. The Mayor called for discussion, then for the vote. Council Members McFarland, Seaman, Lassen, and Bird voted for the motion. There were no nays, and the Mayor declared the motion to be carried.

At the conclusion of new business, Mayor Braim updated the City Council on various items, to-wit:

1. The Mayor provided each Council Member with his proposed operating budget for calendar year 2024. One budget workshop has already been held, and the Mayor will be setting another budget workshop for either November 27th or November 28th.

2. A new generator for the new city well house has been ordered. It will be 30 to 34 weeks before delivery is available.

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3. With respect to the upcoming Christmas holiday, Mayor Braim informed the City Council that city employees have asked to be able to take off Friday, December 22nd and Monday, December 25th for the holiday dates rather than Monday, December 25th and Tuesday, December 26th as specified in the policy manual. Council Member Lassen moved to approve this request, which motion was seconded by Council Member Seaman. Upon calling for the vote, Council Members McFarland, Seaman, Lassen, and Bird voted for the motion. There were no nays, and the motion was declared to be carried.

4. Mayor Braim sought guidance from the City Council with respect to the rental of the community center by non-Gassville residents. Prior to 2020, non-Gassville residents had been permitted to rent the community center for events, but this was later restricted to Gassville residents only. Council Member Lassen moved to again allow non-Gassville residents to rent the community center, which motion was seconded by Council Member Bird. The Mayor called for the vote. Council Members McFarland, Seaman, Lassen, and Bird voted for the motion. There were no nays, and the motion was declared to be carried.

5. Mayor Braim will be scheduling meetings of the Personnel Committee and the Public Safety Committee later this month.

Council Member McFarland stated that the City Council needs to look at revising the travel policy to provide for an increased allowance for the rental of hotel rooms. The current authorized amount has become insufficient.

An audience member, Diana Roller, inquired as to the cost of the special election being called under Ordinance No. 2023-11. Mayor Braim answered that it will cost the City of Gassville $5,000, which will be paid from the General Fund.

Fire Chief Glotzl announced there will be a controlled structure fire for training purposes on Saturday, November 18th, off Highway 126 North.

There being no further business to come before the City Council at this time, the meeting was then adjourned at 7:18 PM upon motion of Council Member Bird, seconded by Council Member Lassen, with all members voting in favor.

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

Approved by: /s/ Jeff Braim,
Mayor

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