Jonesboro City Council Meeting Summary, January 6, 2026
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Jonesboro City Council Meeting Summary, January 6, 2026
The Jonesboro City Council committee convened to review and approve several administrative resolutions regarding property acquisition and traffic infrastructure, alongside routine minute approvals. The meeting concluded with public comments addressing safety concerns regarding a local bus stop.
Consent Calendar
- Minutes from the public works meeting held on Tuesday, December 2nd, 2025, were approved unanimously without corrections.
Public Comments & Testimony
- Patty Lack (4108 Forest Hill Road) voiced strong concern regarding the safety of the bus stop located on the side of Dollar General. She noted that the area is transitioning to a five-lane road, which she described as being highly dangerous given the volume of pedestrians darting out in front of cars from nearby apartments. She expressed worry that an accident could occur similar to a previous incident at "Johnson" and urged the council to review safety measures for the site.
Discussion Items
- Resolution 25-218 (Right-of-Way Purchase): A resolution authorizing the purchase of the right-of-way at 3229 South Caraway Road for $60,041.40 for roadway improvements, funded by Capital Improvements Revenue Bonds.
- A committee member sought clarification on whether this was the final easement and requested a timeline for construction. Staff responded that while this is likely one of two necessary purchases, construction will not begin in the first or second quarter of 2026 due to the time required for utility work and bidding processes. The city engineer confirmed the project remains within the three-year funding window despite these delays.
- Resolution 25-218 (Traffic Control Device Agreement): A resolution authorizing an agreement with the Arkansas Department of Transportation to install a new traffic signal at Highway 1B and Forest Hill Road and replace the existing signal at Highway 1B and Parker Road.
- A committee member, Patty Lack, asked for clarification on maintenance responsibilities upon installation. Staff confirmed the Arkansas Department of Transportation will install the signals, but the City of Jonesboro will assume responsibility for maintenance and electricity provision afterward.
Key Outcomes
- Resolution 25-218 (Caraway Road Right-of-Way): The committee approved the resolution and forwarded it to the full council. The purchase is authorized for $60,041.40 from capital improvement bonds.
- Resolution 25-218 (Traffic Signal Agreement): The committee approved the resolution and forwarded it to the full council to execute agreements for traffic signal installation and replacement at Highway 1B.
- The meeting was adjourned following the approval of the agenda items.
Meeting Transcript
Second 10. If not, need you say this has to be voice vote. All those in favor, please signify by saying aye. Aye. Opposed. Okay, next item is approval of minutes, minutes from uh the public works meeting on Tuesday, December 2nd, 2025. We'll give you a minute to look over the minutes and be rate to entertain a motion. I make a motion that we approve if there's no corrections. Second. I have motion second to approve minutes presented. Any further any comments or questions by anyone on the committee? If not, please mark your vote. Okay, those minutes will be approved. Next item is resolution 25-218. Oh, excuse me, 25201. Resolution by the city council of Jonesboro, Arkansas authorizing the offer and acceptance to purchase right away at 3229 South Careway Road for the purpose of constructing and maintaining roadway improvements. Whereas the City of Jonesburg, Arkansas desires to purchase the following described right away for the purpose of constructing and maintaining roadway improvements. Legal description follows. Whereas an offer has been made and accepted to sell the above described property for the price of $60,041 and 40 cents. Whereas the attached offering acceptance will be executed upon passage of this resolution. Whereas the funding of this purchase shall come from the Capitol Improvements Revenue Bonds budget. Now therefore be it resolved by the city council for the city of Jonesboro, Arkansas. That section one, the mayor and city clerk are hereby authorized to execute the documents necessary to effectuate this transaction. Make a motion we forward the full council. Second. Motion second forward full council. Any comments or questions by anyone on the committee? Yes, sir. Um so I do know that this is a part of that uh bond. I knew us about the caraway. But is this the last of those ease easements or I'm sorry, not easements, but right-aways. See, Craig, but uh I I believe there is one more after this. Um I can double check on that for sure, but there was two, and I believe there this would make one. So when do you think that uh this part of the capital improvement bond would would start or we always start it? Because well um the construction probably won't won't start any time soon. I mean there they'll have to work through the the other easement purchase, and I think there's also some uh some utility work that needs to be done. So as far as when you're actually gonna start seeing a road wide, and I've been it's still gotta go go out to bid um and then you know we'll have to bring that back to council to approve it to approve a bid. So that'll I would suspect that that will not be within the first quarter or two of 2026. But we'll stay within the three-year window or something like that, right? Yeah, I there um I we I have talked with the city engineer about this, and at this point he didn't see anything that would delay that beyond that window. Like this was with the utilities involved. I mean, this is always gonna be several months after after approval to get those get that stuff moved out of the way so we can we can start constructing the roadway. That's all thank you, Chairman. Any other questions by anyone on the committee? Anyone in attendance or staff? If not, have a motion second uh please indicate your vote. And that does carry will be forward to full counsel. Next item resolution 25218. Resolution to execute a traffic control device agreement to maintain traffic control devices at the intersections of Highway 1B and Forest Hill Road and Highway 1B and Parker Road. Whereas the City of Jonesboro has received an Arkansas Department of Transportation Traffic Control Device Agreement, whereas this traffic control device agreement is for the purpose of installing a traffic signal at the intersection of Highway 1B and Forest Hill Road and replacing the existing traffic signal at the intersection of Highway 1B and Parker Road, whereas the City of Jonesboro believes said agreement is for use and benefit of the city of Jonesboro and all of its residents, and whereas it is in the best interest of the city of Jonesboro that the city council authorized the execution of this agreement.
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