The morning that's scary.

Good evening, everybody.

Let me look at my clock here, 5 31.

So we're a minute behind.

Um welcome to the City of Jonesboro and City Council meeting on September 16, 2025.

I'll go ahead and get us started.

We'll stand for pledge allegiance, and then uh Councilman Coleman will lead us in invocation.

I pledge allegiance to the United States of America.

And to the republic under God with liberty and justice.

Our heads, if you would.

Father, we thank you for this day and this time you have gathered us together.

I thank you, Father, for this moment that we can call you our Lord and our Savior.

Father, thank you for the men and women who serve this great community.

We thank you, God, for their safety and their continued support and wisdom as we continue to go in and out and to and fro.

Well, your word declares that among the righteous there is favor.

We thank you for that favor.

And as we share tonight, you speak to us and through us in Jesus' name.

Amen.

Thank you, Doc.

Thank you, Councilman.

Next, we'll move on to item number three, and this is roll call.

If you we would please mark your attendance.

And we do have a quorum present with 10 members this evening.

So we'll move on to item number four, and these are items uh special presentation.

And this evening we do not have any special presentations.

So we'll move on to consent agenda, and this is item number five.

Move to adopt unless there's an item to be removed.

Second.

We do have a motion on the floor to adopt unless there's an item removed.

I don't hear any counsel, so if you would please go ahead and cast your ballot on items on consent agenda.

And that does carry.

So next, council, we'll move on then to items number seven.

These are items on unfinished business, and we'll start with ordinances on the second reading.

We have ordinance 25030.

An ordinance modifying ordinance 24037, which established and consolidated special traffic patterns near Jonesboro Public Schools, campuses, and for other purposes.

Do we have any discussion by council?

I don't see any anyone in council chambers.

I don't see any as well.

So that item will now move on to its third reading.

Now we'll move on to ordinance 25031.

An ordinance to the city of Jonesboro to place various traffic signs at designated locations as determined by the traffic control committee.

Any discussion by council.

I don't see any.

Anyone in council chambers.

I don't see any as well, so that item will now move on to its third reading as well.

Now we'll move on to ordinances on the third reading, and this is ordinance that city council will vote on.

This will be ordinance 25032.

An ordinance to amend chapter 117, known as the zoning ordinance providing for changes in zoning boundaries from PDM multifamily use and office senior living use to PDM commercial use for property located at 3412 Southwest Drive as requested by Jeremy Bevel on behalf of Southern Hills Real Estate LLC.

Move to dump second.

We do have a motion on the floor to adopt with a second.

Any discussion by council.

I don't see any anyone in council chambers.

I don't see any as well.

So council, if you would please go ahead and cast your ballot.

And that ordinance does pass.

That's the end of the ordinances for this evening.

So we'll move on to item number eight, and this is mayor's reports.

So tonight I'd like to share several updates on projects and developments across Jonesboro.

So first of all, I'm gonna start with the justice complex.

Uh for 40 years being an insurance business.

I felt it necessary that we look into uh the structural uh component of our downtown justice complex to see if it was weather related.

Uh the insurance adjuster deemed that it was not, and so it would not cover the structural repairs.

So structural engineers have advised that wooden beams need to be reinforced with steel.

Those repairs could make the building safe for occupancy for two to three years, but not for five to ten.

Until repairs are made, the building is unsuitable for use.

And while the repairs are not a permanent solution, they will require short-term decisions by relocating our workers currently in community centers.

So what we'll do, council, is provide you with the options that are available here by the end of the week now that we have this information, and then we will uh come back and discuss those options and what City Council would like to do in moving forward.

Also, we received yesterday finally an appraisal of the Citizens Bank property.

And now keep in mind that is just the corner lot only that the Citizens Bank building structure was on.

The appraisal came in at $37,000.

So we're exploring the next steps to turn this into a vital revenue-producing part of town.

So as talks turn into hopeful negotiations for redevelopment, I'll keep this council informed as well.

And Carol might have a future comment if need be on that as well.

So in addition, you've probably heard that the Turtle Creek Mall has sold.

That's exciting news.

That's really big news.

We look forward to the redevelopment of this property as a regional economic boost for Jonesboro.

Again, you were all here, many of you when the tornado occurred, and we know that it's a slow process, but I'm excited that now we've got a turning point, and I think we're well planned for development here in the near future.

The Christmas parade.

I'm it's hard to believe I'm already talking about that again, but uh we're excited to announce that the city of Jonesboro will again host the Christmas parade.

And this year the route will remain on Main Street.

Thank you to Heather Talley for serving once again as the parade chair, and what a difference a year makes.

So let's move into neighborhoods and community.

The Jonesboro citizens continue to support a neighborhood cleanup led by code and sanitation, and a recycling participation is growing.

Now let me get let me just shoot this from the hip.

Four and a half years ago, we didn't even have any of this in place.

And it has come now to last year we had over a hundred tons of trash being taken out of our community.

Now we're at a hundred and fifty tons for this year.

So bulky junk, we're at 75 tons.

Glass, which was initiated just this year, we're already at 10 tons.

Neighborhood cleanup, almost 80 tons.

So as we continue to grow with this, I think we could approach almost 200 tons of trash cleanup in our community.

So our next cleanup is October 4th at the Rock Church on Johnson.

We had a great turnout for Paint the Town Red for the first A-state football game, and because of that success, we'll now host a downtown event every Friday evening before an Arkansas State home game supporting A State.

And as always, it's an honor, and our growing partnership benefits both the university and our city and downtown community.

Parks and recreation.

I I can't say enough about this, but I want to bring it to council to reiterate again the activities that are going in our community.

And I'm sure I'm going to miss a few, but they've been very active.

Joe Mack Campbell Park hosted a recreational soccer event uh this past weekend.

Many are the first-time soccer grandparents, myself included, uh, with over 1,200 players.

We had flag football, 350 players.

We had cheerleading, 52 participants.

Last Sunday at Joe Mac, then we hosted a baseball tournament with 34 teams, and that was just on uh is Danny here.

I think he's in, yeah.

Danny, that was what on Sunday only.

So it was a one-day event.

We're seeing that being done more frequently.

Uh, but that was 34 teams.

So again, many of those individuals came the day before to enjoy our community.

Southside Complex hosted 43 teams over the weekend.

Miracle League also opened its season with the Jonesboro Fire Department serving as buddies, and then this coming week it'll be the Jonesboro Police Department.

So it's critical that this community realize that not only do we have many of our city employees doing their job every day, but they also volunteer their time and efforts back into our community that they love and serve.

Crackhead Forest Park hosted market in the park with vendors, food, trucks, and live music, and then the Earl Bell Community Center was packed with a trading card show that drew strong attendance all day.

One thing I really want to talk about to reiterate to City Council.

Uh relationships are important, and it's those relationships that continue to build on our community.

So partnership and services.

A lot of it has to do with traffic and safety.

You know those are our priorities.

There's been hundreds of millions of dollars that the state of Arkansas and the City of Jonesboro have participated in and working together.

We need to continue that partnership wholeheartedly.

I'm very pleased that Director Wiley immediately granted our second Hawk Light after asking for a period of time, and I know Craig's pleased with that.

But our second Hawk night now has the approval.

That'll be done at Parker Park and it'll be safety for all of us there.

Now I'm going to give you a little teaser.

I can't tell you exactly what it is, but I'm really excited about it.

And Director Wiley will be naked making this announcement next month.

But uh I think there's going to be hopefully an R DOT presence here not only in Northeast Arkansas but in the city of Jonesboro.

Now what that'll provide us is immediate engineering capabilities.

So when that announcement, I want Jared Wiley to make it formally.

So I'm looking forward to that announcement.

Finally, today we did a ribbon cutting at St.

Bernard's new recuperative care center.

It's a grant-funded program that bridges hospital, behavioral health, emergency care, and homeless shelters.

It provides not just housing but ongoing medical and mental health support with follow-up for a full year permanent housing that can be obtained by those that attend.

We heard the program and its graduates today, and it's clear this is an initiated event and initiative that we both need, and it is deeply appreciated.

Now, council, I'd like to finish my comments here, and I think it's really important.

Next, I want to take a moment to thank each and every person who serves on the city council or serves on one of our city committees.

Out of roughly 82,000 people in Jonesboro, roughly 200 have this distinct honor.

And thankfully, we have a waiting list of people who'd like to join them.

I take personal offense what it's implied or outright stated that a council city or committee action is claimed by someone to be corrupt or unethical.

The most recent example of this was a claim that BZA committee acted unethically to show favoritism.

So I want to say to the public, please, if you have any questions about any item or action by the city, reach out to us and get the information firsthand and don't assume everything you read on Facebook is true.

And to the city council and our volunteer committee and commission members.

While we may disagree occasionally on an item, I understand your opinion comes from a place of what you feel is the best interest of this community.

Each of you take pride in your role.

I appreciate that.

Please know that myself, this administration, and the vast majority of Jonesboro residents appreciate the work you do, and any time we hear an agenda-based misinformation being circulated, we will do our best to make sure the truth is available and transparent.

So thank you, Council, for allowing me time for that.

Next we'll move on to item number nine, and this is City Council reports.

Mr.

Street.

You made my day earlier, Mayor, when you told me that gate was soon coming to Craig Edforce.

So I pushed for that for a long, long, long time, but not to be an aggravation, but to protect the people who are in there that come as our guests and stay in RV Park.

But the also the millions of dollars of investment we've got.

It's a beautiful park, and I see people come in later at night and trace it.

It's impossible to provide police protection to adequately cover it.

So I think that's going to be a big deal.

And I really appreciate your efforts on getting that done.

That's all I've got.

Thank you, Councilman.

Mr.

Miller.

No, thank you.

Mr.

Bryant.

Mr.

Hackner.

No, thanks.

Dr.

Anthony Coleman.

Yes.

Thank you.

A couple things.

One, you mentioned about the park, and when I say park, I'm talking uh Joe Mack on Saturday, and I too was out there.

And uh granddad got a chance to see um both my grandchildren play soccer, and that was the first time for me.

And uh unfortunately my daughter, my granddaughter, I think she's a little too girly and too prissy.

Because she got out there at hot and she said uh done.

So she went and sat herself down on the bench.

But uh but it was fun, it was beautiful, it was nice.

Uh, all the people were there were nice, and it was great time.

I I do have a question.

I know that um it had been talked about before, and I don't see Danny, but uh we had talked about the audit and other things that was going on and all that, and I don't if y'all did it.

I apologize, I just haven't seen it, don't remember, uh, but I'd like to see where we are on that and what it what the outcome was because I do know that funding is there uh with parking and well the gate rather and the concessions and so on and so forth, and uh just kind of want to get my head around how it's benefiting Jonesboro more even financially.

I know this the park and all of that, but but just thinking how we can how that partnership works financially.

And then the other question was about East Side Park, and I have not heard much about where we are on that.

So if y'all can kind of get that to me, I'd be great.

Danny's behind the poll, I think.

So we'll get that to you.

Matter of fact, Danny and I had that discussion as well uh after I attended the event on Saturday, too.

Um so we'll follow up with you on that.

Thank you for your question.

Mr.

McLean.

On request um, Mayor, do we have uh where we are as far as on the agri roads with trail and um uh as far as I know we've had some discussion about I believe we have a set of plans, if I'm not mistaken.

Um do you think we'll see movement as far as dirt or um where we are in that process?

Craig.

And I will say too, as we continued, uh the director and myself discussed the intersectional change there at Aggie Road and Redwood Boulevard, and not only for an overpass option, but a possible another option that the state of Arkansas might be very interested in looking at for that as well as connecting the trail uh from one side of the university to Aggie as well.

Um so, yes, that those conversations, but Craig, do you we'll give him an update uh on email me too?

We'll yeah, that's fine.

Okay, thank you, Councilman.

Ms.

Williams.

We had and speaking of the project, we had a review today at MPO of some major projects coming up, and it's really exciting, and um, including that one, and uh I think it's gonna be really good for this whole area, including the uh pedestrian overpass over Red Wolf, which will make a significant difference as far as use of that area, I think.

So um, and also uh Craig um indicated and and this was great news as far as the completion of um the permission to go ahead with the um completion of the sidewalk on the south side of Johnson there between Mary and Barry and Melrose leading up to that light at Mary and Barry, because I think this is something I've been mentioning for a long time because even though it's not a huge length of sidewalk, it's a significant stretch of sidewalk as far as the terrain and the fact the slope and um uh ADA accessibility, which is a big concern, and now this will enable a lot, you know, that passage through that area and make it navigable.

And so I I think this is a huge step, and I think that I've been missing it for a long time because I felt that that is very important for that whole area for pedestrians.

Well, and adding to what uh council uh is talking as well, even the Hawk Light there is up to 30,000 within a year of ticks on the Hawk Light.

So uh, as the community gets adjusted to it, they're using it more.

Yeah, and that that's great great news as far as Parker Park because um we've noticed, and it's anecdotal, but I think there's some validity to it that it has had a calming effect on the traffic speed there on Johnson.

So that has led to overall safety for that that stretch of uh Johnson.

And I'm I'm thinking that will carry forward to part on the Parker Park Light in that area.

Um thank you, Councilman.

Mr.

Moore.

I just wanted to comment.

I'll be looking forward to your negotiations on the citizens bank.

Um I'm pretty excited about the redevelopment possibilities on that whole corner.

So thank you, Mayor.

Mr.

Emerson.

Sure.

Only thing that I have this evening is an update for the bond task force.

Um, know that we had tentatively set that meeting time for today.

However, that was um some of the information that was coming in from our engineering firm Brackett Kendrich.

We were made aware of those findings uh yesterday.

They're currently in the process of finalizing that report, which we hope to have by this Thursday, and getting that information out to the committee members along with getting it scheduled out.

We're currently looking, and it's actually been booked as of today for September the 30th at five o'clock.

Just wanted to give enough time for everybody to go over that information to be able to digest it and also give plenty of time for the public to make any kind of um arrangements in their schedule to attend that meeting.

So September the 30th at five o'clock will be the next set meeting for the bond task force.

Thank you, Councilman.

Ms.

Porter.

Um I would just like to uh echo thanks for the citizens who serve on our committees.

They donate their time, they make hard decisions, and it's uh often a thankless task.

And uh uh I would like to just again uh thank them for their service.

Sure.

Thank you, Councilman.

Next, we'll move on to item 10.

These are public comments, those in the audience can come forward.

Uh you will have five minutes to make your if you would please state your name and address.

Patty Lack, 4108 Forrest Hill Road.

And I have to say what a lot of you have said is that there's a lot of really good news what's happening with Craighead Forest Park with the gate and citizen the bank building in the land right there.

Um, the one thing that I want to bring up today is um talking about how Jonesboro, the city of Jonesboro needs to go cashless with their functions that they have.

On August the 9th, there was an article in the newspaper that said that Jonesboro Public Schools announced that they were transitioning to a cashless ticket at their gates, and this is the last team in their conference to go cashless at their gates that they have.

I like this because they have plans for even people who struggle with purchasing things online, you know, like a 60-year-old um they're gonna make an exception for Jonesboro taxpayers, grandparents in the district, any volunteers are gonna make a golden pass or a lifetime pass, and I think that what needs to be done also too with our facilities that we have.

They have a website, and then also too.

I think all of you are probably familiar with a GoFund.com, what a lot of schools and colleges are going to right now to purchase tickets for different functions that they have at their facilities.

In the last week, the first national bank arena announced that their concession stands were gonna go cashless.

And the reasons for that, I don't know.

You know, is it convenience?

Is it gonna be because of faster service, or is it gonna be maybe probably maybe a little bit less of maybe money being stolen?

Who knows the reason why?

But they're gonna go to a cashless system.

The sports plaques that we have on Parker Road, I know that I talked to the people in the AMP, and I learned that they're going to be hiring a company, it's an expensive company to manage their fees, um, entrance fees, their concessions fees, and everything.

So they're going to be in charge of that.

I don't know if that's something that maybe we can look into that we look into the parks and recreations that we join them because we're all under the same dome.

So uh the only thing that I heard from that was that it was expensive.

In the past months, I know that we questioned the um accounting and the numbers of a local soccer group and the city youth group, and then it's really unfortunate that that needed to be done.

But in the past, and even like tonight, Mayor, you said we had a bunch of people here, which was awesome this weekend, because it sh kind of spotlights Jonesboro as a community, and that's what we want to do.

But there's a lot of questions and concerns that people have, and one of them is that you say there was a lot of people.

What was the actual account of those crowds that were out at Joe Mac this weekend?

You know, do we know that?

What was the total amount collected out at Joe Mac or the other parts?

What were the amount of money that was sold at the concession stand?

And did it all balance?

And I think that's what all of us need to be concerned about.

An example of this, and I think this is where it's a concern of the people is that I have a ticket here that some friends of mine went to uh an event at Joe Mac, and it was on May the 31st, and it was a parking pass on right here.

How many passes were sold that weekend?

How much money was collected that weekend on this?

We don't know because there's no number of how many tickets were sold.

And that's a real concern.

You know, if we can say exactly what it is, but we don't know, and I think that's a concern that I think all of us should have.

On this last weekend, some friends of mine went out there and they were showing pictures and stuff, and I just said, I've got a couple questions for you.

And I just said, I've got a couple questions for you.

I said, How much did it cost for you to get in?

And they said it was three dollars a piece.

They said that they had a friend of theirs that walked in to the gate or walked in to pay the mission fee or entrance fee, and they didn't have enough money because they were used to paying online or go through and go fund me, not that we don't have it here.

They actually found a dollar and they persuaded the two people at the gate that they would let them in for a dollar on that.

So if we look at the amount of money that was deposited on the gate fee, it should be an even number if you add three and three, and then you have one, so it should be an even or an odd number with that.

I asked them what the ages were of the people collecting the money at the gate, and they said that it was probably a lady in her mid 40s and a college-age man.

They said that last year when they went through, it was just kids that were collecting the money.

I asked them if they had any ID that they worked for the city, and they said that there was no name tags and no vest.

And the last question oh, well, they said that they had a red shirt and a white shirt on.

The last question that I thought that was really important was is that did you get a receipt for the payment for going in?

And the answer was no.

So the question to all of you is that how do we know how many people are seeing this city?

How many people are going to the events?

And I think it's important as far as the budget for the parks is that we see how many people that we're bringing in and what we're doing is right.

And as far as I guess the question would be is that why are we so behind everybody else?

Because when I look at this line right here, it says progress.

So I hope all of you find enough time and concern that we change this.

So thank you.

Is there anyone else in the audience who would like to speak?

Yes, ma'am.

If you would please come forward, state your name and address.

Hi, I am Jordan Carlo.

My address is 505 Jill Drive.

And I am uh the founder of the NEA Children's Museum along with my partner Kristen Amick.

Um, for those who don't know, we are a nonprofit organization that is dedicated to creating a children's museum that focuses and highlights our region's interests and industries in a way that our children can get hands-on experience.

Um in the beginning of this process, we were able to get a feasibility study with the help of the City of Jonesboro and the AMP Commission.

Um, this study supported a children's museum in various different parts of the city with downtown being a top contender.

The city has been wonderful in helping us explore different options, um, but we have been unable to find the perfect location within the specifications of our feasibility study in regards to visibility, accessibility, the size, and adjacent amenities.

Um in regards to 410 Washington or the justice complex.

I know these conversations are just beginning to happen, but it may be the only location in the downtown area that takes all of these boxes, and we would just love to learn more about this site as a viable option if the city is unable to utilize this site as it is.

Um right now we have received our master plan, which was funded by Jonesboro Unlimited, um, which includes our exhibit renderings, a cost analysis of these exhibits.

We have found an architect, we've been working with them on what the bidding process looks like.

So we are fully prepared to begin our capital campaign and apply for capital grants upon securing our location, and so this conversation comes at a pivotal time in this process for us.

Um so again, we would just love to be considered in this conversation.

We think a children's attraction would be a great addition to downtown if the city is unable to utilize the site in the near future.

So just a thought.

Thank you, Ms.

Jordan.

Appreciate your comments.

Is there anyone else in the audience who would like to make any comments?

I don't see any, so we'll move on to item 11 that's adjournment.

Second.

Do we have a motion?

All in favor say aye.

Aye, any opposed?