OPENPUBLICA · PUBLIC MEETING RECORD
Record of Proceedings

Jonesboro City Council Meeting - September 16, 2025

Meeting Portal — Tuesday, September 16, 2025
BodyJonesboro, Arkansas
SessionMeeting Portal
DateTuesday, September 16, 2025
StatusFILED
Video Record
0:00 / 29:30

Transcript — Verbatim
0:00

The morning that's scary.

0:01

Good evening, everybody.

0:02

Let me look at my clock here, 5 31.

0:04

So we're a minute behind.

0:06

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

0:14

I'll go ahead and get us started.

0:16

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

0:23

I pledge allegiance to the United States of America.

0:28

And to the republic under God with liberty and justice.

0:37

Our heads, if you would.

0:39

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

0:42

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

0:48

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

0:52

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.

1:02

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

1:06

We thank you for that favor.

1:08

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

1:13

Amen.

1:15

Thank you, Doc.

1:17

Thank you, Councilman.

1:19

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

1:22

If you we would please mark your attendance.

1:29

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

1:32

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

1:37

And this evening we do not have any special presentations.

1:40

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

1:44

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

1:47

Second.

1:48

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

1:54

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

2:05

And that does carry.

2:07

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

2:13

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

2:17

We have ordinance 25030.

2:20

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

2:32

Do we have any discussion by council?

2:36

I don't see any anyone in council chambers.

2:40

I don't see any as well.

2:41

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

2:44

Now we'll move on to ordinance 25031.

2:48

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

2:55

Any discussion by council.

2:58

I don't see any.

2:59

Anyone in council chambers.

3:02

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

3:07

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

3:13

This will be ordinance 25032.

3:16

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.

3:33

Move to dump second.

3:35

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

3:39

Any discussion by council.

3:43

I don't see any anyone in council chambers.

3:47

I don't see any as well.

3:48

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

3:58

And that ordinance does pass.

4:01

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

4:03

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

4:08

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

4:13

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

4:19

Uh for 40 years being an insurance business.

Discussion Breakdown — Share of Meeting
Parks and Recreation███████████████████████████████████35%
Economic Development███████████████████████23%
Procedural█████████████13%
Transportation Safety██████████10%
Public Engagement██████████10%
Governance Accountability██████6%
Environmental Protection███3%
Summary of Proceedings

Jonesboro City Council Meeting - September 16, 2025

The Jonesboro City Council met on September 16, 2025, at 5:30 PM in the Municipal Center. The meeting included approval of a consent agenda, passage of a zoning ordinance, updates from Mayor Harold Copenhaver on multiple city projects, council reports, and public comments. All votes were unanimous with 10 members present and 2 absent.

Consent Calendar

  • Minutes: Approved the minutes from the September 2, 2025 City Council meeting.
  • RES-25:112: Authorized the Mayor to enter into a 5-year renewal agreement with Urban SDK for comprehensive speed and volume data. (Enactment No. R-EN-127-2025)
  • RES-25:113 through RES-25:120: Placed municipal liens on eight properties for unpaid mowing fees, each in the amount of $275 or $315, with passage on the consent agenda. (Enactment Nos. R-EN-128-2025 through R-EN-135-2025)

Public Comments & Testimony

  • Patti Lack (4108 Forest Hill Road) urged the city to adopt a cashless payment system for all city functions, citing Jonesboro Public Schools and First National Bank Arena as examples. She expressed concerns about the lack of accountability at park events, including the absence of receipts, numbered tickets, and identification for gate attendants at Joe Mack Campbell Park. She asked for actual crowd counts and financial totals from park events.
  • Jordan Carlo (575 Jill Drive), founder of the NEA Children’s Museum, requested that the city consider the Justice Complex property (410 W. Washington) as a potential location for the museum if the city cannot use the site. She noted that a feasibility study supported a downtown location and that the museum has completed a master plan and is ready to begin a capital campaign once a site is secured.

Discussion Items

  • Mayor Harold Copenhaver’s Reports:
    • Justice Complex: An insurance adjuster deemed structural damage not weather-related, so no coverage. Structural engineers recommend reinforcing wooden beams with steel, which would make the building safe for only 2–3 years, not 5–10. The building is currently unsuitable for use, and short-term relocation of workers is needed. Options will be provided to the council by the end of the week.
    • Citizens Bank Property: The city received an appraisal of $307,000 for the corner lot (the former bank building site). The city is exploring redevelopment to create a revenue-producing area.
    • Turtle Creek Mall: The mall has sold, and the city looks forward to redevelopment as a regional economic boost.
    • Christmas Parade: The parade will again be held on Main Street, chaired by Heather Talley.
    • Neighborhood Cleanup: The city’s cleanup program has collected 150 tons of trash this year (up from 100 tons last year), plus 75 tons of bulky junk, 10 tons of glass (new this year), and nearly 80 tons from neighborhood cleanups. The next cleanup is October 4th at Rock Church on Johnson.
    • Parks and Recreation: Recent events included: Joe Mack Campbell Park – 1,200 soccer players, 350 flag football players, 52 cheerleaders, and a 34-team baseball tournament (one-day event); Southside Complex – 43 teams; Miracle League season opened with Fire Department buddies; Craighead Forest Park hosted “Market in the Park”; Earl Bell Community Center hosted a trading card show.
    • Traffic and Safety: A second HAWK light has been approved for Parker Park. The Mayor teased a future announcement from ARDOT Director Jared Wiley about a potential ARDOT presence in Jonesboro, which would provide immediate engineering capabilities.
    • St. Bernard’s Recuperative Care Center: Ribbon cutting for a grant-funded program that bridges hospital, behavioral health, emergency care, and homeless shelters, providing housing and medical/mental health support with follow-up for a full year.
    • Defense of Volunteer Committees: The Mayor defended city council and committee members against claims of corruption or unethical behavior, urging the public to seek firsthand information rather than rely on social media.
  • Council Reports:
    • Councilmember John Street praised the upcoming gate at Craighead Forest Park to protect the RV park and investment.
    • Councilmember Dr. Anthony Coleman requested updates on the audit of park finances and the status of Eastside Park.
    • Councilmember David McClain asked about the Aggie Road Trail; the Mayor noted ongoing discussions with ARDOT about an intersection change at Aggie Road and RedWolf Boulevard, including a possible overpass and trail connection.
    • Councilmember Ann Williams reported that the MPO reviewed projects including a pedestrian overpass over RedWolf Boulevard and completion of the sidewalk on the south side of Johnson Avenue between Marion Berry and Melrose, which will improve ADA accessibility.
    • Councilmember Chris Moore expressed excitement about the Citizens Bank property redevelopment.
    • Councilmember Brian Emison announced that the Bond Task Force meeting has been rescheduled to September 30, 2025, at 5:00 PM, pending receipt of a report from engineering firm Brackett-Kennerich by Thursday.
    • Councilmember Janice Porter thanked citizens serving on committees.

Key Outcomes

  • Consent Agenda: Approved unanimously (10-0, 2 absent).
  • ORD-25:030 (Modifying traffic patterns near JPS campuses): Held at second reading; moved to third reading.
  • ORD-25:031 (Placing traffic signs): Held at second reading; moved to third reading.
  • ORD-25:032 (Rezoning 3412 Southwest Drive from PD-M multi-family/office/senior living to PD-M commercial, requested by Jeremy Bevill for Southern Hills Real Estate, LLC): Passed on third reading (10-0, 2 absent). Enactment No. O-EN-035-2025.
  • July 2025 Financial Statements: Filed.
  • Next Bond Task Force Meeting: September 30, 2025, at 5:00 PM.
  • Meeting Adjourned: Motion by Councilmember LJ Bryant, seconded by Brian Emison, passed unanimously.

Meeting Transcript

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.

SUMMARIZED BY OPENPUBLICA AI
TRANSCRIPT VIA PUBLIC VIDEO
openpublica.com