We do have a public hearing at uh public hearing regarding the abandonment of green easement location of block 5R and the second edition of block Court of Arsenal discussion by anybody in the audience who would like to talk about this easement.

I don't see any, so that will be closed for the moment, and uh just in a few minutes, we'll open up City Council meeting.

Thank you.

It is five thirty, and we're gonna go ahead and start.

Um I'll lead us in a pledge allegiance, and then Dr.

Charles Coleman will lead us in invocation.

I pledge allegiance to the flag of the United States of America and to the Republican.

Under individual liberty.

All right, Council members, if you would please go ahead and cast your ballot for being present.

All right, we do have nine present this evening.

We do have a quorum, so next we'll move on to special presentations.

Uh council, I think it's very imperative that uh again, you brought it to my attention early on.

Um I think we need to have more special presentations in front of City Council, making council aware of things that we're doing, uh, and also things that you have voted on and supported uh when it comes to moving forward with the city budget.

We've made some really large decisions in the last five years when it comes to health insurance, the rising ex uh just cost um are becoming prohibitive for so many citizens across our community.

And so I want to say, first of all, when we bring it to council, uh the engagement piece that you all have is very important.

And again, I want you to know what we're doing behind the scenes as well with our department heads.

Dwayne, if you want to come forward and you can make an introduction here of the members that are present this evening.

I felt tonight it's very important for you to see the results of your decision and and ours that we brought to you the reflection of what we have done now in over a year being on a self-serving program.

That was a big step for the city of Jonesboro.

And as you know, it's always a priority of this administration to put our employees' uh needs first, and health care is one of those.

It's very important.

A lot of times we can't provide other needs and services, but with the health insurance uh participation levels that council approves every year in our budget, that allows us to be competitive for our employees and helps them in the pocketbook, and they can get the best health care.

So in turn, they're able to be at work.

So Duane, if you would feel free to go ahead, you have the floor, and I I appreciate counsel's attention.

Yeah, I think you also, and I think it's uh be very beneficial to everyone to see how the plan has been evolving as we started.

Uh I think you're going to be impressed with the numbers and information, and I'm pleased to have the Hatcher group with me tonight uh along with uh ADP as well, uh, because now we have the self-service on our mobile apps and things like that for employees.

So I'll talk a little bit about that, but I won't uh talk any more, but I'll turn it over to Greg Hatcher and let him explain about the plan.

Sure.

Well, um I think the first thing I'd like to do is just talk about health care costs in general, even before we get into the details, because you know, as it for a person that's not dealing with it every single day, it's like why are the costs going up and up and up?

It's like you're just running against a headwind all the time.

So there's several reasons.

One, you know, when we passed health care reform in 2008, it took place, 2010.

We added uh no pre-existing conditions, we added wellness to the plans that weren't covered before.

We we added birth control pills, we added psychiatric drug, alcohol um recovery with no with no limit.

Okay, it used to be used to have all these limits.

So any time you add to a plan more coverage, it's going to cost more money.

I always use the example that you can go buy a Camry, just the Bayes Camry, or you can buy one with leather seats with a spoiler with a sunroof with you know cool tires, and it's always going to cost more.

So there's no argument that the additional coverages that we added were really important, and um certainly take care of Americans better, but I think what Americans weren't ready for is the compounding of that year after year after year.

Then you have guys like me, baby boomers, the aging of the population.

So today our society for every for every one person that's you know retired, we have four working to pay for them.

In the next 10 years, it could be there's they're showing the ratios could be two to one.

Just the population is aging, and as we age, you know, we use more health care.

Um, and then I think everybody knows that we have more and more procedures.

You know, it used to be when I started in this business, somebody had a heart issue, they had a quadruple bypass.

Today, somebody has a heart issue, most of the time they get a stint, you know, in their home in a couple days.

Okay.

Used to be that people died from those things.

I have personally witnessed a heart attack um playing pickleball with a guy that they said 98% chance he shouldn't make it, but he had a doctor doing CPR, we did the work, you know, and I'm eating dinner with him a week later.

So health care is very important.

There's nothing more important than your health.

That being said, when we're going and we're delivering rate increases, it isn't fun.

So if you look back 15 years ago, how many groups did we have fully insured versus self-funded?

It would have been almost all fully insured except the big boys.

Okay, the really big groups today, groups at a hundred lives, 150 lives, are going self-funded because they're trying to battle those headwinds.

So one of the things that people don't realize is when we passed health care reform, we added those coverages, but we did not address prescriptions.

It was not part of health care reform.

They were it was just completely ignored.

So today, if you're fully insured, every time there's a health, there's a prescription drug claim, there is a drug rebate that goes under the table to the insurance company.

And I say under the table, not illegally, but just that you can't see.

So the farm the pharmaceutical companies are paying drug rebates to that vendor.

That's gotten to be quite substantial.

It also puts the vendor in a position that do they really care if we're using high cost drugs because the bigger the the higher the cost of the drug, the more the drug rebates.

So at some point, prescription drugs will have to be regulated.

You know, today the drug companies give all kinds of free drugs out to the doctors, and they even take care of people that are really, really sick at certain income levels.

But part of that is part of that's nice, and part of it helps them with Congress to not be messed with.

So it's really a delicate dance.

I don't have a solution.

I've been doing this for 44 years, and there's no just, hey, this is what you do, and it'll fix it.

So what we do is we do the best that we can each and every year.

And when a group goes self-funded, they're they're taking the first step to do the most that they can possibly do to help.

So if we look at these numbers, um on the first page, when you guys were fully insured with Blue Cross Blue Shield, your claims totaled 10 million dollars.

Um I need to hit something.

All right, so your claims hit totaled 10 million dollars, and you paid in six million in premium.

So I think everybody, whether you've ever dealt with an insurance renewal or not, if you pay in six million and you have 10 million in claims, you're gonna get hammered.

And you did, you got hammered with a 50% rate increase.

We tried to make you know some adjustments, you know, got it down, but the reality is just negotiating is never gonna change anything.

Okay.

So we stayed self-funded with the exact same carrier.

I mean, we're still with Blue Cross Blue Shield, it's just a difference in how you pay.

I like to use the example of you can you can build your house on a fixed bid, the builder builds it, if they make a profit, they keep the difference, or you can do it on a cost plus basis.

You pay as you go.

Well, in the insurance business, it's always better to pay as you go, because when you have a good year, you didn't spend the money.

So I say to people, if your claims are this much, they're gonna set the premium here, right?

If your claims go to here, they're gonna set the premium here.

But what happens when you have a good year here?

They leave the premium up here.

When you're self-funded, you never paid it.

So we decided to make a move based on that, and you have to realize that right now in Jonesboro, we have a very serious situation that the hospital's not, say, in the United Healthcare Network.

Okay.

So why do you see more battling between hospitals and the insurance carers on the reimbursement rates?

Because it makes a difference.

The hospitals are struggling to make it, but when they give a pay raise to a hospital or a doctor, up goes the cost at the same time.

And what I want to tell you is that it just gets keeps getting passed on.

So every time a carrier pays more, which may be needed.

I've been involved in a bunch of those negotiations, but but take Baptist and United, what was the last one?

You know, they they gave an increase.

When that occurs, then the claims go up, the client gets the increase.

Then the client has to deal with do I charge my employees more or do I raise the deductible?

Or do I shift them to Medicare?

Do I shift them, you know, to the insurance exchange.

So you know, we are we are battling those headwinds with your plan.

So to the numbers, if you go self-funded, you have several advantages that you don't have fully insured.

The first is the premium.

The first is the premium tax.

So there is a 7.5% premium tax in Arkansas and every fully insured premium dollar paid.

Some of that goes to the federal government to fund the exchange, some goes to the state insurance department, some goes to PACORI, which is patient-centered outcome research institute to solve dread diseases.

Okay.

But when you go self-funded, you do an end around, and you don't have to pay tax anymore on claims administration or claims, and claims is the biggest part of the equation.

You still have to pay the tax on the reinsurance portion, which is if a big claim, you know, say goes over $100,000, they eat the balance.

But if I can reduce the taxes on 80% of your cost, 80% is 7.5% is 6%, so you save the 6%.

The next thing is those drug rebates that I said that go under the table to the insurance carrier.

When you're self-funded, you are the carrier.

You are the provider.

Now those drug rebates go to the city.

And when we went self-funded, we got $671,000 worth of drug rebates that were going to the carrier.

Now make no mistake, Blue Cross still gets to keep some of it because it's still their PBM, but the majority of it you're getting.

Okay.

Each year we'll take a look at that.

Is it worth switching to another PBM where you can get it all, but then your admin fee with Blue Cross could be higher.

It's kind of an offset.

There's more benefit flexibility when you're self-funded.

Okay.

If you want GLP ones covered, we could do it.

Now, right now I don't have a single group that has covered GLP ones.

But the point is that any we can we can tailor our plan to the way we want it.

When you buy fully insured, you have to buy a cookie cutter plan that was filed with the state insurance department.

If you want to go up on your deductible 5% from $1,500 to $1,650, you could do it self-funded versus couldn't do it fully insured because they would they don't have that deductible filed.

So much more flexibility in the benefit design.

Okay.

The big one is we pay claims as we go.

Instead of sending that premium to the carrier on January 1st and they put it in their bank account and they mer they earn interest, okay, it sits in our bank account and we earn interest.

And more importantly, when we have that good year, we get to keep the money because we never sent it out.

A lot of people talked about Blue Cross had a tough year last year where they lost money, they did, but they didn't talk about the investment earnings on the billions of dollars they have sitting there waiting, which counts towards your net income.

Um here's a big one.

Access to your detailed claims data.

If I told you to manage the city's expenses, but I wouldn't give you any reports, I wouldn't tell you what you spent your money on.

That would be a pretty impossible thing.

But when you're fully insured due to due to HIPAA, but also due to the fact that carers don't always want to give you all that data because you can use that data against them to negotiate or negotiate with other carers, they won't give you the data that shows you where your large claims are, what drugs everybody's taken so that you can manage those.

When you're self-funded, that is your data.

You get a look at it, we can set the drug formularies to be smarter.

So one of the things we're most happy about with City of Jonesboro in the first year is a typical group, a person uses one and a half prescriptions for every insured member.

So you have about 700 members.

So you guys use about more than a thousand prescriptions a month.

When we went from fully insured to self-funded, we now could see those prescriptions and we could script source them.

We could go out of the country, we could go to a better place to buy them.

And out of your 1,000 plus prescriptions, we only looked, there were there were 36 that were really impactful, and we script sourced 36 prescriptions, only 36 out of a thousand, and we called those members up and said, hey, if you'll do this mail order, if you'll take your prescription this way, we'll make you have no copay, no deductible, it's a hundred percent payment because by doing this it saves the plan money.

It saved 1.6 million dollars on those 36 prescriptions.

You want to say that again?

Yeah, please.

So those 36 prescriptions, we saved 1.6 million on just by being able to get them in a different spot.

I'll give you an easy example.

If you can sing the jingle on TV, it's a really expensive prescription, okay?

So, like Sky Rizzy is my favorite, okay?

Jardiance is pretty good.

But if Sky Rizzy is $27,000 a month, and we go fix that and get it for $6,000 a month with a similar prescription that works, that's $21,000 a month times 12 is a quarter million dollars.

That's how we saved 1.6.

But if you're fully insured, they don't care.

They're getting the they're getting the rebate.

The higher the prescription, the bigger the rebate.

And I don't want to, I know I'm in a public forum, but I'll say it to anybody at any at any carrier.

They have no incentive to do that.

Okay.

So when we're self-funded, we spend a lot of time trying to manage those claims.

Okay.

And you know, just for the record, we we sell tons of blue cross fully insured.

This isn't about blue cross.

This is all carers deal with this.

Okay.

It's just that when you go self-funded, you have um you have more control.

So when we went from self-funded to fully insured, our claims, I mean, from fully insured to self-funded, our claims went from 10.1 million to 8.7.

Now that should not happen.

Because anybody that's been reading the newspaper knows that trend in health care right now, last year it was 12%.

That's the highest it's been in I don't know, 15, 20 years.

I don't remember it ever being that high.

Why was it so high in the previous year?

Because of the Transparency Act.

So the Transparency Act, you know, it's it's like we have this perfect storm.

We had health care reform that added all these coverages, okay.

That was when Obama was president.

Then Trump came in and he put in the Transparency Act.

Depending on which side you're at, you can blame them both.

Okay, they weren't meaning to do bad things, but it kind of works out that way sometimes.

So the Transparency Act said that the consumer should be able to see what the doctor hospitals charging them.

I have never had a customer call me and say, Can you get a can you help me get online and see what the doctor's charging for my knee replacement?

I want the cheapest one.

I want the guy that's got a sale this month on knee replacements.

No, they want the best guy.

They just want to know who's the best at it.

They don't care what the cost is because their cost is deductible coinsurance and out-of pocket.

It doesn't matter if they charge 49,000 or 25,000, it's going to cost them the same.

Deductible coinsurance and out of pocket.

But guess who can see all the prices?

All the providers can see the prices.

So if you were a hospital, you didn't know what the other hospital was getting paid by the care, but now you do.

And if it's lower than what you're getting paid, and for what if your hospital's even better?

You're gonna want more.

And even if you're the best hospital in Arkansas and you're getting paid the most, did you know Arkansas reimburses our providers in hospitals?

We're 50 out of 50.

So they're getting the lowest reimbursement rate.

So they have a pretty good argument when they're like, hey, we're not getting paid enough, we're not getting paid enough, we're barely making it.

Why is somebody in Texas getting paid 50% more?

Why in Louisiana are they getting paid?

Name your state, they're getting paid more.

So when they could now see this because all that was confidential data before, they have an argument.

And the thing that I like to tell people to really illustrate it, tomorrow, mayor, go print the salaries of all the city employees, you know, on the you know, or in your company, go put it on the front door and see how many problems you have, okay?

Because somebody's gonna say, I do a better job than them, you know, but what they're getting at, I should get this.

That's kind of what the Transparency Act did, and it it bumped up trend, okay.

Now, the hospitals and the and the doctors and the insurance companies have been signing contracts generally two or three years, so it'll slow it down a little bit.

But the Transparency Act is here to stay.

Okay, it's here to stay, and health care reforms here to stay.

We're not gonna go back to no pre-existing, okay.

So health care is a you know, a crazy time.

So desperate times, desperate measures, you're looking at everything.

So, but to think that our claims dropped with that trend and all that going on, definitely the management of being able to be self-funded and watch it, and we have to even watch it more.

We have to watch it even more.

At the hatch agency, we're looking for other ways to even get more uh data to help you.

Your drugs drop from 3.2 to 1.8 million during that year, from 24 to 25.

It should be going up, but it went down because we could source those drugs.

Um, especially drug management's key.

You know, I think you'll see a lot more coming on drugs, you know.

Can we buy our drugs in Canada?

We can we buy them in the UK.

So nobody ever wants to hear from an insurance agent for very long, okay.

But I hate to come here and not tell you the truth and hit you hard right in the nose with why it went why it goes up.

It's going up because we cover more than we used to, and everybody can see what the price is.

Okay.

That uh it was designed so you could see the price and negotiate it down, but the only product in the world that nobody cares what the price is health care because somebody else is paying for it.

And it's the only product in the world, like we don't have a right to eat steak every night.

We don't have the right to drive a Cadillac every day, but we do have the right to the very best health care.

That's the way we think in America, you know.

You don't have the right to the nicest anything except health care.

And frankly, it is the most important thing because try not having your health and see how important it is.

So any questions.

Council, I think too, I want to remind and Greg, if you if uh if I'm not incorrect on this, the year that we had the increase of 25%, um council uh approved that we assist in that for our city employees, because that was a significant rate increase, uh, and it was at 50 at one point.

You were able to negotiate that down, and then in the budget that year, we were able to absorb some of that uh uh for our city employees.

Yeah, and and a carer will not continue to lose money on you, they're gonna get that number right, so it was better to be proactive and take control of it ourselves.

I always tell people when I move them self-funded, this is not gonna fix health care.

There's it doesn't nothing fixes health care.

It's the best option for health care.

You know, it gives us a 13% advantage uh every year because we save the six percent in taxes, we save the three percent average on drug rebates that we're losing, we save the three percent underwriting gain that an insurance care normally gets to keep, and we make one percent of our money.

That's 13 percent, and that's before we start managing the drugs.

If we can manage the drugs and manage the claims, like I'll give you a perfect example.

Um, and you tell me when you want me to stop, okay.

But let's say you're fully insured, when you're fully insured, you're just driving along, you're asleep at the wheel, you're not paying attention to anything, it's somebody else's money.

As soon as you go self-funded, it's our money, it affects us.

Let's say an employee, and I just had this happen, employee gets in a car wreck, it's it's a terrible car wreck, he's in the hospital for a long time in the in the uh group now, it can't pay him anymore, and they got to put them on Cobra.

Well, you know, normal HR, hey, let's just put them on Cobra.

Well, if you're self-funded, you're like, wait a second, wait a second, the guy's not working anymore.

If I put him on Cobra, it's gonna run up the claims on my plan.

What about the insurance exchange?

He's not making money right now.

He gets subsidy on the insurance exchange.

Should we see if we can get him a policy on the exchange at a cheaper rate than the COPRA rate, which is better for him and better for us?

The answer is yes.

Okay.

So our job and your job is to keep your eyes open.

Are there ways to help both sides?

And um, I'll end with this.

Um how do I look?

Do I look like I'm a claim waiting to happen next year?

If I gave you $800 a month, make it a thousand, would you insure me?

David, would you take me for a thousand a month?

That feels good.

Most people won't take me.

They take them one month and they're like okay.

That's what it's like to insure somebody today.

No medical questions, don't get at, you know, you don't get it, you don't get a no, it's it's kind of risky.

But I'm gonna have what I'm gonna have this year.

I hope hopefully nothing.

But we're just fighting over who's gonna pay for it.

If we put me on Medicare, Medica, we shift it to the government.

If we put me on the exchange, we shift it to the exchange.

If Blue Cross has to pay more to the provider, it got shifted to Blue Cross, and they're gonna try to shift it back to you.

And since you're self-funded, if Blue Cross pays more of the provider, really you're paying more of the provider.

So it's one big battle.

If we can if we can get it at the if we can if we can script source our drugs, we shifted it away from you know our caremaking money to as much it's one big battle over who's gonna pay for it.

That's what's going on with health care, and that's why it will always be controversial.

But hopefully I've helped you um understand a little bit more about it and how we can better control our plan.

Greg, uh, first of all, thank you very much.

Um, council, this has been a work in progress for at least the like four years.

And we've taken steps every year, general steps, uh, we've gotten to this point.

Uh, Greg, how do we compare what what you see other self-funded programs uh in Arkansas per se?

So I I want to say one thing before that.

Most of the time I'm telling my staff, do not sell cities, counties self-funded plans.

Because there's too many decision makers.

There's there's there's people every everywhere, and they might not understand, and it it kind of it's just easier to stay fully insured.

But this situation was a little different.

Okay.

We had a mayor who understands insurance a little bit.

Okay.

We had really good HR team and our CFOs.

They got it, so we felt comfortable doing it.

Um, you know, uh a city and a county has a lot of uh blue-collar workers having to work on the streets, you know.

Uh it's a pretty good gig, you know, that that we tend to keep our people, they don't have t high turnovers, so sometimes the average age is higher.

You also have men, the older a man is the more claims they have, you know.

So um, you know, how you compare uh to the other certainly the way you manage the plan and the way we were able to do the script sourcing, that's better than most.

Um, you know, are our rates uh lower than the market?

No, probably about average.

Okay, but you're not an average group, you're an above-average, you know, age and risk type group.

So we're managing it.

Um I will say that most groups that go fully insured to self-funded, do not have their claims go down in year one.

They're just they're trying to avoid trend, they're trying to manage it.

So I was real pleased with the fact that it actually you know went down.

That doesn't mean anybody's gonna be happy.

Doesn't mean we're gonna avoid rate increases, but we're gonna try.

And um the best thing we can do is go hire a bunch of 22-year-olds, but you know, that it's not always doesn't always work, right?

So thank you.

All right, thank you.

Council, are there any questions?

Um I would just like to make a comment.

Sure.

Um the insurance plan uh paid for me to participate in a uh VERT uh weight loss program, and uh after years of failed attempts, uh I started on this program January 3rd and I've lost 22 pounds, and um my blood sugar blood cholesterol numbers are normal now, and uh this is uh something that a plan um that I can go with and stay with and and and be not miserable.

Thank you.

That's a really good point.

You know, the other thing we can do that I don't address is get healthier, right?

Work out more, eat better, and Dwayne is always honest.

What what wellness plan can we do?

So um HR is all on that, but yes, we we can all do the best we can do.

Thanks for sharing that.

And there's many others in the room that could share the same story, so that was a good add on.

I'd like to take a few minutes just to introduce the team, uh let them tell them about their role and I'll ask them to keep it short.

But these are the ones that I work with on a daily basis.

Hey council, my name's uh Jacob Still, I'm one of the healthcare consultants at the Hatcher Agency that works directly with Dwayne and his team pretty much daily, multiple times a day, managing the plan and also um kind of being the point of contact for a lot of employees as they're navigating health care because healthcare is uh you know definitely something that's frustrating, you know, when we're having to handle that in the employees.

You know, it's usually you know they're it's a pretty down day when they're having to go and get a procedure done or you know trying to understand bills and you know work through that process.

But I'll I'll keep this quick.

Um a few years ago, me and Dwayne started talking, and he he's you know, him and his team have had a real big push on wellness programs.

And when you're fully insured and you're trying to do a wellness program, you know, it's like you know, playing darts blindfolded.

You know, you're just throwing a dart, hoping it sticks on the board and hoping that works.

You know, it's it's very hard to pinpoint exactly what what you uh you know what you need to do and what you want to do.

Um so this year we had three goals, you know, increase the amount of people that got their wellness visit, which is their your preventive visit, which you get for free under the plan.

Um, you know, have a have a cancer program in place for anyone that has a cancer diagnosis and then something that can control the specialty medication.

So um led by Dwayne this year for the first time, he partnered with NYIT and Arkansas State and did on-site wellness clinics.

We had two of them this year, one outside of City Hall here in the parking lot, and then one outside at public works, and because of that, we had more people get their wellness visit this year than ever before, which is good because a lot of people were able to get their levels checked and you know, see their health risk and you know, notice things before they become a serious chronic condition.

You know, and that's part of you know, containing costs, kind of like what Janice was saying, you know, control you can control, um, and that was a big part of it.

The second thing is, you know, through all through the program that the city has, we have a cancer program that anyone that's had a cancer diagnosis and since 2023, we've had uh over 80 um cancer treatment claims hit the plan, which is um you know, obviously you always hope that that you know number goes down, but uh through this cancer program, uh employees now have um uh access to high oncology networks, um, you know, nurse care, and basically a uh a patient advocate that walks with them through the entire process and gives them second opinions on every single thing because when you have cancer, it's a very um scary thing, and a lot of people don't really like to navigate that by themselves.

And the most important thing about this program, we have a lot of or we have a handful of employees that are utilizing it now, is you know, there's a series of follow-ups with this program that makes sure that the employees feel secure about any future treatments or um anything that you know might come up on the horizon.

And then the third thing that we've obviously talked about is you know, managing the the uh specialty medication, um, the the program that we put into place, and and Greg kind of talked about it, allowing people that make below a certain amount of income get directly from the manufacturer and an extreme discounted price, you know, so these employees weren't having to pay as high out-of-pocket expenses for the specialty medications, which you know help them as well.

And uh, you know, now that we have the data in about 12 months, you know, looking forward into uh you know 2026 and 2027 and 2028, looking at adding some virtual health care, virtual PCP, um, virtual mental uh health counseling and uh virtual urgent care where employees will be able to access health care if they choose at no out-of-pocket expense virtually, you know, which will be big for um you know the police and fire department and and really anyone, especially you know, people with children.

So don't want to bore you to death, but just kind of wanted to give an update on some of the you know plans that we have put in place um with Dwayne and his team, and and that they're gaining a lot of traction.

So thank you for allowing me to be here.

And um, gonna pass it over to Don Wiener, he's uh with ADP, and he's gonna kind of talk about some of the technology the city has put into place.

Um so we're done talking about insurance now.

Hope I didn't bore everyone to death.

One statistic.

How many football games did you center in a row?

Uh well, uh 53 starts, which is the most ever.

You know, I was uh I'm originally from Germantown, Tennessee, then I came to Jonesboro in 2016 to play football.

Um I did six years, I red shirted and then uh had the COVID year, so I had six years before it was really cool, and uh played a lot of football.

Um actually my quarterback was Lane Hatcher, um, Greg's son.

So we were actually roommates, which was a cool story, and um kind of found my family here in Arkansas, so it's it's been a been a blessing.

Appreciate you, Jacob.

Thank you.

Uh good evening, Mayor and Council.

Uh, my name is Don Wiener.

I represent ADP.

Uh for the y'all's for those of y'all that may not be familiar with ADP, we're a leading provider of payroll in HR technology and services.

Uh, we pay every payday one in six Americans, and probably 80% of the Fortune 500 companies use us in some capacity.

Uh, we were originally engaged a couple years ago from Duane after council approved the project for a new system.

Um, because the HR team and Dwayne were struggling with multiple software solutions as the city had grown in size and in workforce over the last decade, they had had multiple software solutions that were managing the workforce and how employees interacted.

And because of this, it created a lot of manual processes.

As you can imagine, when you have different systems reporting from all these disparate systems can be challenging.

And uh as a matter of fact, any time the employees would have a question for HR, Duane and his team had deployed a ticketing system where the employees would send a general email to an HR inbox, and then Dwayne and his staff would respond accordingly.

And it had grown to the fact to the amount that they were having a hundred employee inquiries every week.

And their current technology had no self-service capabilities, no way for employees to either through their desktop or through their mobile phone, access information, whether it be on their pay stubs, their W-2s, or other HR information.

So Dwayne and his team naturally had the vision to hey, how can we streamline and automate processes?

How can we make things more efficient?

How can we have better reporting?

And so, as you can imagine, there's a three-person HR team besides Dwayne, there's also Kelly and Chris.

And so for a three-person team, they were strained and at capacity and had done the best they could.

And I think Mayor, you had the question for Greg.

Well, how do we compare to other cities?

And we get that question all the time at ADP.

What do you recommend ADP in terms of staffing levels and support and infrastructure for an organization like the city that's close to 800 employees?

There's a uh industry benchmark out there that was developed by what they call Sherm.

That stands for the Society of Human Resource Managers that recommends that any organization or company have one HR person for every 100 employees, and your team has three.

So you can imagine they were pretty strained.

And I'm proud to say a lot.

I know where that's going.

Yeah, and I'm proud to say that due to ADP's technology and our services, along with the great service and support that Greg and Jacob and the Hatcher team has, we've been not only able to streamline things, but relieve a lot of the administrative burden that Dwayne and his team have had to deal with.

I would like to recognize, besides Dwayne and Chris and Kelly, also Steve and Christy and Paige from the finance department that have done a great job rolling their sleeves up and putting a lot of effort behind it.

And you know, mayor, again, on behalf of ADP, we're grateful for the relationship we have with the city, and we look forward to continuing to build upon the success we've had so far.

Well, and you mentioned it well.

We do a whole lot more with a lot less.

And our commitment that our city employees do, they love their job.

And uh, Steve, uh, you and your team again, I'm glad he mentioned it because I was going to.

Um, they work well together, HR.

Uh again, I'm very proud of you guys, and I appreciate the hard work you've done.

Uh and we've got to continue this momentum moving forward and educate our employees.

So thank you for your time this evening.

Thank you.

You bet.

Mr.

Mayor, counsel.

How's everyone?

Uh I'm Scott Allison.

Uh, about five months ago, the city implemented a program called Benefits Me for its employees.

It gives those employees the opportunity to go to an online purchasing store and to purchase up to 70,000 different products.

What's unique about that?

Well, so 62 percent of Americans today are living paycheck to paycheck.

Many of them are struggling struggling with their credit.

This program goes that gives them that opportunity to go to purchase the products that they need.

The city payroll deducts the cost of the items for them, and it it opened it means that that employee can go and take care of their family with the products that they need.

Now, we've uh I said we've been doing this now for about five months.

We have 27% of the employees that are signed up and using this program.

Doesn't mean that they're all purchasing through the program, it simply means they're viewing the program on a monthly basis.

Well, what's this program really do, Scott?

It from a from a company, the company's perspective or from the city's perspective, it it's strengthening their benefits package.

It's giving them something unique that no one else can offer.

It's also improves the employer retention.

When I have an opportunity to go to my to take care of my family with a program where if I've lost all my credit, and God forbid, so many people have out there today, and they can go to an online purchasing store.

They can purchase up to 70,000 different products with Best Buy Ashley Fire Ace Hardware.

The products that we purchase on a day-in-doubt basis, is that good for them?

Well, sure it is.

It's giving them them the same opportunity that's people that basically have lost their credit will never have.

So again, we're increasing the employees' morale.

We now have 25% of the people that are signed up.

We just started a few months ago.

That number will increase.

And then we're reducing the employees' financial stress.

Because believe you me, we have lots of employees that are working more than one job.

They're coming to work tired.

If we can take the burden of financial stress at all off of them with a program like this, we think that's very beneficial.

What's it doing for what's it do for the employee?

Well, with this program, there are there is no interest.

There's no hidden fees.

The city is payroll deducting the cost of those items from the employees' paychecks.

They know exactly what's going to come out.

If they need a laptop computer for their children, if they need a washer dryer.

It's very simple.

When they open when they go into the store, and they have a credit limit in the store, it's all limited, what they can spend.

They basically purchase that item and it's sent directly to their front doorstep, and it takes there to take care of their family.

So you have instant access to thousands of products.

And this program is being very successful right now.

Thank you, Scott.

Sure.

I appreciate it.

Dwayne, you have any closing comments?

No, that's uh I just want to thank y'all for taking the time to uh listen to kind of what we're doing on the healthcare side.

And I think we're making positive moves, and uh appreciate the team that uh that supports us, and they have a lot to offer the employees.

So I appreciate it.

Thank you and appreciate you.

Be careful.

All right, council.

That's the end of special presentations.

Now we'll move on to item number five, and these are items on consent agenda.

Move to adopt unless there are any changes to be noted.

Second.

Do I have a motion and a second on the floor?

Yes.

I'll request that item uh 25-168 be removed.

Okay.

It's already all right.

168.

Any other it's already off 1688.

Oh, it is resolution on.

Okay.

So this is good.

Um more 26010.

All right.

It is I'll amend my motion to reflect resolution 26010.

And 26011.

I'm sorry.

And 26011.

Second on that.

Second.

We do have a motion and a second.

All in favor, say aye.

Aye.

Any opposed.

We'll move on to resolution 26010.

Resolution by the city council of the city of Jonesboro, Arkansas, to accept a permanent right-of-way at 3505 Stella Drive for the purpose of constructing and maintaining pedestrian and bicycle infrastructure improvements.

Whereas the City of Jonesboro, Arkansas desires to accept the following described right of way for the purpose of constructing and maintaining pedestrian and infrastructure improvements.

Uh, the property description follows.

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 accept the right-of-way described above.

Move to adopt.

I don't see any.

Anyone, Council Chambers?

If you would please state your name and address.

Yes, Patty Lack, 4108 Force Hill Road.

I just noticed on this, you guys, that um it is a right-of-way purchase, and there is uh no draft order form on this showing the price that it was um given by the city on this.

I look back at the public works meeting, and there's no amount that is shown for how much we're purchasing this right away.

So I'm just kind of concerned why it wasn't because the one right above it on Johnson, there's one, and that's for 39,000.

So I don't know why, unless I missed it, but I do not see a purchase price on that.

So I was just wondering how we can find that out.

Okay.

Thank you very much.

Mr.

Lyde, if you do have an answer to that question, if not, we can get back.

This is right away we obtained from Arkansas State University.

There was no cost.

Thank you very much.

Anyone else in the audience?

I don't see anyone.

If you would uh please cast your ballot.

And that resolution does carry.

Next, we'll move on to resolution 2601.

Resolution to waive competitive bidding and authorized purchase of street lights, whereas the city of Jonesboro Mayor's Office has determined that I don't even know what that says.

R A B A L E D 525T52 slash PCT LED post top light or equivalent light fixtures and RABPR4-11-15D2 or equivalent light poles to be the city standard for all pedestrian-friendly and pedestrian priority streets.

And whereas the local distributor can stock these fixtures as part of their normal inventory and can maintain an adequate supply of replacement parts as needed.

Now therefore be it resolved by the city council of the city of Jonesboro, Arkansas, that section one, the specified light fixtures and light poles are available from Tech Electric of Jonesboro, Arkansas, per the attached quote.

Section two, due to the need to be able to access this lighting and replacement parts quickly for the preservation of public safety in the community, the city council in accordance with the terms of ACA section 1458 303.

Hereby waves the requirement of competitive bidding and directs the purchasing agent to purchase the above described light fixtures and light poles for the prices set forth above.

Move to adopt second.

Do you have a motion on the floor and a second?

Any questions by council?

I don't see anyone.

Anyone in the audience?

If you would please state your name and address.

Yeah, first uh thanks, Craig, for explaining the one previous.

Name and address.

On this one right here is that I noticed that there was no competitive bidding on this, but also to is that where these it says the streets, where are these 60 lights going to be going?

And is who is going to be installing these because they look like pretty nice lights.

Okay.

Thank you.

The first 27 of the lights are going to be going on Huntington Avenue.

Uh they'll be going from Union Street West to Flint.

So there'll be 27 lights there.

Um the remaining lights, we've got a few other projects that were still in development.

Um we're getting a better price to buy them in bulk than we do just buying 27 a time.

So we're gonna do this project.

We're probably gonna do Monroe Street uh with a similar lighting pattern, and so that's what the other lights are for as those projects are developed.

We'll have those fixtures ready to go.

So we don't have to go through another wave competitive bidding process to get them purchased.

So purchasing on bulk is there'll be a better pricing as well.

And so it's it was money that was was in the budget this year to to do these lighting projects as part of the street fund.

So thank you.

Oh, and who's done the bids for installation opens uh on March the 5th, I believe, fourth or fifth, uh is when the bids will open.

So I don't know who the contractor will be yet on it.

Thank you.

All right, anyone else in the audience?

I don't see any.

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

And that does carry.

Next we'll move on to resolutions not on the consent agenda.

And the first resolution is 25168.

Resolution by the city council of the city of Jonesboro, Arkansas to condemn property located at 3806 School Street, Jonesboro, Arkansas, parcel number 01-144272-16500, owner Olga Hernandez.

Legal description follows, whereas the above property has been inspected and has been determined and suited for human habitation, whereas all the stipulations have been met in the condemnation process to proceed with the condemnation of this property.

Now, therefore, be it resolved by the city council of the city of Jonesboro, Arkansas that the city should proceed with the condemnation of the property located at 3806 School Street, Jonesboro, Arkansas, 72401.

Uh mayor, my understanding from the uh code enforcement is this property has recently sold, and they've requested that it be tabled.

Is that correct, Mr.

Roper?

Okay.

Tabled indefinitely.

Yes.

Table indefinitely, please.

Second that do have a motion on the floor to table and definitely.

All in favor say aye.

Aye.

Any opposed.

All right, council.

We'll move on to resolution 25169.

Resolution by the city council of the city of Jonesboro, Arkansas to condemn property located at 2410 West Matthews Avenue, Jonesboro, Arkansas, 72401.

Parcel number 01-14313, oh 3143-10190.

Owner George Hannah Senior, legal description follows, whereas the above property has been inspected and has been determined unsuited for human habitation, whereas all the stipulations have been met in the condemnation process to proceed with the condemnation of this property.

Now, therefore, be it resolved by the city council of the city of Jonesboro, Arkansas, that the city should proceed with the condemnation of the property located at 2410 West Matthews Avenue, Jonesboro, Arkansas, 72401.

Move to adopt.

You have motion on the floor.

Any discussion by council.

I don't see anyone in council chambers.

I don't see any as well.

If you would please cast your ballot.

That resolution does carry as well.

Now we'll move on to resolution 25216.

Resolution by the city council of the city of Jonesboro, Arkansas to condemn property located at 120 West Woodruff Street, Jonesboro, Arkansas, 72401.

Parcel number 01-144073-2450.

Owner Jonathan M.

Lyles legal description follows, whereas the above property has been inspected, it's been determined unsuited for human habitation.

Whereas all the stipulations have been met in the condemnation process to proceed with the condemnation of this property.

Now therefore, be it resolved by the city council of the city of Jonesboro, Arkansas that the city should proceed with the condemnation of the property located at 120 West Woodrow Street, Jonesboro, Arkansas 72401.

Second.

Anyone in council chambers?

Scott, if you would please come forward.

Council, would y'all hear that?

Okay.

All right.

All in favor, please cast your ballot.

All right, that resolution does carry.

Thank you, Scott, for the update.

Next we'll move to resolution 26006.

Resolution requesting free utility services from City Water and Light for a traffic signal, whereas the City of Jonesville is requesting that City Water and Light approve free utilities at the following location 6002 U East Johnson Avenue traffic signal cabinet.

Now therefore be it resolved by the city council for the city of Jonesboro, Arkansas that section one city water and light be requested by this resolution to provide free utilities to the location listed above.

Section two to permit such services to be provided without charge of City of Jonesworth hereby affirms to City Water and Light that the ultimate use of CWO utilities, so provided is now and shall remain a use or purpose which the city is engaged in as part of its governmental or proprietary functions under authority to it by state law.

Move to adopt.

Second.

Do you have a motion on the floor to adopt any questions by council?

Mayor it asked be recused because my membership on the board director CW.

Noted.

Anyone else?

Okay.

All right.

Anyone in the council chambers?

I don't see any.

Council, if you would please cast your ballot.

And that resolution does carry.

Now we're on uh let me see.

It's off, yeah.

All right, 26012.

Resolution by the city council of the city of Jonesboro, Arkansas, authorizing the offer and acceptance to purchase additional right-away on South Caraway Road for the purpose of the constructing and maintaining roadway improvements.

Whereas the City of Jonesboro, Arkansas desires to purchase the following described right away for the purpose of constructing and maintaining roadway improvements.

Property description follows.

Whereas the funding for this purchase shall come from the Capital Improvement Budget.

Now therefore be it resolved by City Council for the City of Jonesboro that section one, the mayor and city clerk are hereby authorized to execute the documents necessary to effectuate this transaction.

Mayor I got one change I need to make on this amend.

Yes, motion to amend.

So on the last whereas I'd like that to be changed to the funding shall come from the capital improvement revenue bond budget instead of just the capital improvement budget.

Motion is to amend that to revenue bond budget.

Yes.

Okay.

Second.

Second.

No.

Got a second.

Second.

Okay.

All right.

So is there can we get an opinion?

Is there any benefit to having it come from the revenue fund versus the capital improvement fund?

I know I know it can come from either.

I just want to know if there's so um, and I apologize, I said not anybody I'll kind of like towards council about this, but the capital improvement fund actually houses the revenue bond funds because those are all capital improvements that are approved by the revenue bond.

So while it says capital improvement fund, it's actually still it's always been revenue bond funded.

Um I got that clarity after the last meeting.

So you know, it doesn't really on the uh on on the amendment.

I mean it it's fine, but the the revolution or the revenue bonds are paying for this project, and that's housed under the capital improvement portion of the budget.

So but yeah, the clarity on that.

Um it's there's no problem with that.

Um just wanted to clarify that though from the get-go.

So Steve, it could be documented either way, is correct?

All right.

So initially it was fine as well.

Okay.

So do we need the amendment?

I have a motion and a second on the floor.

You can keep discussing, but then it's we need to vote.

All right, any discussion by council?

Anyone in council chambers?

We'll go ahead and accept that amendment.

Vote on that vote on that.

Please go ahead and cast your ballot.

All in favor.

All in favor, say aye.

Aye.

Any opposed?

Now we got to go back.

Okay.

Any discussion on the original with the amendment?

Anyone in the audience?

See so.

If you would please go ahead and cast your ballot.

Need a motion and second.

Move to adopt.

Second.

Do you have a motion to adopt?

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

All right, thank you very much.

And that does pass.

Next, we'll move on to items and new business.

These are ordinances on the first reading.

Ordinance 26005.

Move suspend the rules and offer by title only.

Second.

Do have motion on the floor.

All in favor say aye.

Aye.

Any opposed?

An ordinance to vacate and abandon a drainage easement located in lot five R of the second edition of block C, Southern Hills, Jonesboro, Arkansas.

Any discussion by council?

Anyone in council chambers?

I don't see any.

That'll move on to the next reading.

Next, we'll move on to ordinance 2600 seven.

Move suspend the rules and offered by title only.

Second.

Do we have a motion on the floor?

All in favor, say aye.

Aye.

Any opposed?

An ordinance to amend chapter 117, known as the zoning ordinance providing for changes in zoning boundaries from R1 to RS6 for property located at 900 North Caraway Road is requested by CLOSS Property Management LLC.

Any discussion by council?

Anyone in Council Chambers?

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

Patty Lack, 4108 Force Hill Road.

This was at the MAPC meeting last week.

And I had to tell you guys, I have been to a lot of MAPC meetings and I've looked at a lot of them.

The applicant did not even show up to the meeting to present.

He didn't even show up.

And what usually happens is when someone doesn't show up, you know, either Lonnie or Daryl would say they're running late, they're gonna stay around.

Well, there was only one agenda on the item.

They went ahead and passed it.

You guys, this is not fair.

This is establishing, you know, what was the point?

This person did not have enough common courtesy, um, and it wasn't important enough for him to show up to present it to all the MAPC.

So I decided that I was gonna do a FOIA to find out if he even showed up to the pre-meeting on Monday at three o'clock, and I did that.

I have not gotten that, and then also too, I requested to get a copy of the tape.

What they do is that they put their phone down in the middle of the table.

So I don't even know if they showed up there.

But I'm asking you guys is that out of you know, common courtesy to the city to the you know, to all of us.

This applicant did not take the time to show up to present what he wanted, but they went ahead and passed it.

So I'm just asking you guys, this should really, you know, table this again until the MAPC, he goes to the MAPC and says what he wants because usually at the pre-meeting, there's probably two or three of the MAPC commissioners there.

The rest of them just showed up and there was no discussion, none at all, and they passed it.

It's not the right way that we need to start doing things.

So I ask you guys if you can table this and then have the applicant come back to the MAC and MAPC meeting next week, and then go ahead and present it and then have it come back for three readings.

I think that's only fair to us.

Thank you.

Thank you.

Anyone else in the audience with comments?

Yes, sir.

If you would please come forward, state your name and address Nicholas Alman 2420 Jude's way.

I'm the president of Klaus Property Management.

I want to uh apologize to Mrs.

Lack.

Uh I do work a full-time job as an electrician.

Some days I do have to work late.

I've spoken with uh Mr.

Anik very closely on this project, and he knows my intentions are very uh are good on the rezoning for this property.

Okay, thank you very much.

Anybody else in the audience?

I don't see any.

That will now move on to its next reading.

Now I'm gonna move on to item seven.

These are items on unfinished business, these are ordinances on the second reading.

The first ordinance is 2600 four.

An ordinance to amend chapter 117, known as a zoning ordinance providing for changes in zoning boundaries from R1 to RS7 for property located at 1306 Charles Drive as requested by Weston Wagner.

Any discussion by council.

Anyone in council chambers?

I don't see any as well, so that'll move on to its next reading.

Now we'll move on to ordinances on the third reading, and these ordinances uh will be voted on by council tonight.

Ordinance 2601.

An ordinance to amend chapter 117, Article 3, known as the zoning ordinance of the City of Jonesburg, Arkansas, providing for change in zoning boundaries from R1 single family medium density district to C3 General Commercial District for property located at 2620 Alexander Jonesboro, Arkansas is requested by Paula Thompson.

Move to not second.

We do have a motion on the floor, any discussion by council.

This one that needs an amendment.

Yeah.

We're gonna go forward with that.

Yeah.

Okay.

Yes, I'm I'm Jim Graham and Graham Law Firm 2500 Alexander Drive on behalf of the applicant.

Um I sent an email to everybody, but there are a couple of revisions to this ordinance that I sent circulated yesterday.

Um one of them is simply correction at the MAPC, they part of their uh approval was that the 25-foot buffer between the property and any residential property remained untouched, and that didn't make its way into the ordinance, so I added that.

We also met with the neighbors, Miss Rogers, her husband are here about their concerns.

They had a list of uh several limited use overlay exclusions, and I spoke with my clients and they agreed to seven of those, so that's included in the revision.

And uh finally um we agreed to dedicate a portion of the property in the southeast quadrant or part of the property to green space, except for possible ingress egress.

So that keeps a lot of green space there between any possible future development and the neighbors.

And I believe Ms.

Rogers can correct me if I'm wrong, but I think everybody's on board.

Um I I have as I said in my email to you all.

I think that you know my folks have gone out of their way, and I think they've done a good job trying to meet with the neighbors and and get this squared away.

They would really like to not have additional delay because of that.

I think the council has the power to um move to suspend the rules and go ahead and vote on this tonight.

But uh that's that's what I would request.

It's up to y'all though.

Happy to answer any questions.

All right, thank you, Mr.

Gramling.

Um Carol, do we have a significant?

Well, I mean, the for going from a um rezoning to a rezoning with no UO is is not always a significant change.

I think it this is definitely more restrictive than what was approved by MAPC.

My biggest concern, Jim, is when I got a chance to read your ordinance is I don't know how a council member is gonna make a motion to make all of these changes from what the first ordinance it's significantly different.

I'm not saying that it's not different in what it does, it's different in how it reads because you added all the property descriptions that were not in the original ordinance you submitted, and then you added all of the because you submitted the original ordinance, right?

I did not.

Where did it come from?

I'm not sure.

That's before I was retained.

Well, I think that typically the city doesn't draft those, so it had to be submitted by the applicant, right?

So that's my only concern is I'm I don't know what the motion will be other than to remove the ordinance that as it exists in legislator and replace it with this ordinance.

There would be an additional cost for publication because it's much much longer.

Like this ordinance hasn't been published.

Well, the I mean I understand the amendment for the LUO.

I would just add that the the only thing that putting the legal legal description isn't a substantial change.

That just makes it more clear.

This is just saying this is what the property, every ordinance that I've submitted in all my rezonings has included legal description.

It just so happens that this one is meets and bounds and not lot three block four.

Right.

But it also adds a whole section three that was not published.

Sure.

No, absolutely.

And that's why I'm saying I think the council, if they are so inclined, has the power to suspend the rules and they did.

I'm just saying that the motion may not be to amend the motion, may have to be to replace.

Because this is, I mean, I guess if if one of you is talented enough to make a motion to go section by section to remove um what's here and replace it with what's here, you could do that.

Do you see what I'm saying?

It's just a lot.

Yeah.

The cleaner motion might be to remove with the ordinance that's pending and replace it with this, keep the same ordinance number, and then we discuss whether it has to how you move forward today.

But the first motion needs to be to get this version of the ordinance on the on the record as what you're voting on.

Does that make sense?

And everyone should have a copy of sent.

If you'll look down at your screen, you'll see what the original was.

And I'm certainly not blaming Jim.

I'm saying because he didn't submit the first one, but it did get submitted by the applicant.

So if a motion is made this evening to replace the ordinance, would it be on third reading at the next can we make it be on the it could be?

I mean, council, he's correct.

You have the authority to suspend those rules and do and vote on it tonight, should you choose to.

I mean, you always have the ability to suspend the rules and vote.

My recommendation is probably that you keep it on third reading, but you have the authority to do whatever y'all decide as a council.

May we know they're making the request.

Okay.

Second it, but I'll I'll make the motion to um replace the revised ordinance, have it revised ordinance replace the current ordinance.

I'll second that.

Vote on that first.

All right.

Council, we understand.

Okay.

All right.

If you would please, I don't think we're gonna cast just voice vote.

All in favor, say aye.

Aye.

Any opposed?

I move to adopt.

Second.

All right.

We do have a motion to adopt any discussion by council.

Anyone in council chambers?

Anyone in council chambers?

I don't see any.

Okay.

Clarify your voting on it tonight and not holding it.

Okay.

That is correct.

That's with the new changes.

Okay.

All right.

Please cast your ballot.

All right, and that does carry.

Thank you.

Thank you, Jim.

Next council will move on to ordinance 2600 two.

An ordinance for the approval of a private club permit for Monarca's rest Mexican restaurant LLC.

I don't know if I'm pronouncing that.

Move to adopt.

Second.

Do we have motion and a second?

Any discussion by council?

Anyone in council chambers?

If you would state your name and address.

Uh yes, my name is Scott Hunter of the Hunter Law Firm 514 West Washington Avenue.

Um I'm here representing Menarcas.

Um it's a Mexican restaurant in Elk Park that's currently in business, and we're here asking for a private club permit, and I'm just here to answer any questions, concerns that any of y'all may have questions.

All right.

Thank you, Mr.

Hunter.

Appreciate it.

Anyone else in the audience like to make a comment?

Please come forward, state your name and address.

Um Bob Besser 7096 CR333, Jonesboro.

Mayor, Council members, been a while since I've been here.

I'm asking you to not grant the two alcohol.

Can I address both these at the same time?

Is that okay to do?

No, sir.

We'll stay with this one.

So this one will be Monarch's without being addressing.

Okay, not to uh grant the I'm asking not to grant this permit to Menaca's Mexican restaurant.

Now I'm not asking you to deny it.

I'm asking you not to grant it.

If no council member makes a motion to approve the this permit, the applications cannot proceed.

There's no state law that compels a local official to sponsor or move an ordinance they do not support.

And action is generally not a deniable act in a way that triggers civil uh rights litigation as long as the council isn't violating specific constitutional protections, such as denying one applicant based on race while granting another.

If no council member makes a motion to grant a permit, then the request dies on the spot.

This is referred to as procedural death.

Therefore, regardless of what you have been led to believe by attorneys representing permit applicants in the past, they cannot be sued.

The city council cannot be sued for not granting a permit, not denying it, but not granting it.

One criteria the ABC board uses when deciding a permit application is whether an area is adequately served with alcohol outlets.

With 70 to 80 places to drink and alcohol in Jonesboro, there's no way on earth that this area is not adequately served.

The ABC board never grants or denies a permit, never, without having to give the reason for their decision.

This is called findings of fact.

If a state level regulatory body is required to provide findings of fact for their decisions, a local council, which is directly elected by the people, should be held to an even higher standard of transparency.

Therefore, I formally request that any motion made on this permit, as well as any other uh future permits, include a mandatory statement of fact.

If a if a uh this means if a council member makes a motion to grant, they must, they must explain why they believe the economic or social benefits of these permits outweigh the specific dry designation voted on by the citizens.

This practice ensures accountability, allows for appellate review, and provides a clear official record of the proceedings.

Specific findings ensure the decision maker actually considered the evidence rather than acting in an arbitrary or capricious manner.

Mayor Copenhaver, as presiding officer in this council, I believe it is your responsibility to ensure that this is what I think.

I may be wrong, but I believe it's your responsibility to ensure that the council member who makes a motion, whether it's to deny or grant a permit, gives their find findings of facts for the motion.

Apparently, this responsibility has been neglected or ignored in past council meetings.

Now I've got some other things here, but I'm going to skip it.

I'm not sure how much time's running.

But to reflect reflect the will of the people, this council does not need to grant this alcohol permit.

Don't deny it.

Just don't grant it.

This is your right.

This is also a matter of responsibility.

Where does your responsibility lie?

Is it to the people who you represent as elected officials or to someone wanting to make money from selling a poison?

And I had the WHO and these organizations consider it poisoned.

Not me saying it's poison, it's these organizations.

So are someone wanting to make money from selling poison?

Again, don't deny, just don't grant.

Thank you.

Any questions?

Okay, thank you for your comments.

Anyone else in the audience?

Yes, sir.

If you would please come forward, state your name and address, and please don't be redundant.

James Elwin Hines 508 read ridge crest, and he's already said it, so we'll just say amen to it and move on.

Uh you all do know that the alcohol beverage control board cannot grant a permit unless you have grant voted to grant it.

A lot of times we people want to pass the responsibility for a bad thing on to somebody else.

If if this was something you were really proud of, you'd be saying yes, we're the ones that do this, because you are the ones that do it.

Please vote against this.

Anyone else in the audience?

I don't see any.

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

There wasn't a motion.

I already made the motion.

Yeah, he made the motion.

Yeah, because we already had the council discussion.

All right, if you would please cast your ballot.

And that ordinance does carry.

Now we'll move on to ordinance 26003.

Ordinance for the approval of a private club permit for walk-on sports bistro.

Second.

Do we have a motion and second?

Any discussion with council?

I don't see any.

Anyone council chambers?

Mr.

Hunt.

Scott Hunter, the Hunter Law Firm 514 West Washington Avenue.

Uh once again to answer any of y'all's questions or concerns.

Questions or concerns?

I don't see any.

Anyone in the audience?

Thank you, Mr.

Hunter.

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

Bob Hesra 7096 CR 33.

Just oppose this for the exact same reasons that I that I gave you a while ago.

Thank you, Bob.

All right.

Anyone else in the audience?

Yes, sir.

Please come forward and state your name and address.

James Hilwen Hines 508 Ridge Quest.

I assume everybody in here knows what Alexander Drive is, that it is the service road for pretty much for I 555.

Folks, that thing is a mess already.

And uh it's near what State Farm a few years back determined was the worst most dangerous intersection outside of in Arkansas outside of the city of Little Rock.

We don't need to make the things there any worse.

Thank you for your comments.

Yes, sir, Mr.

Hunter.

Just a correction.

The address is actually 2809 East Highland Drive.

It's not on Alexander.

It's it's where Bayard Auto Group used to be.

Just clarification.

What was that again, Scotty?

28.

2809 East Highland Drive.

Yep.

Yeah, the ordinance is correct.

All right.

Any other any other people in the audience?

I don't see any.

If you would please go ahead and cast your ballot.

That ordinance does carry.

Next, we'll move on to the mayor's report.

Um council and and uh bear with me.

It's been a long evening already, but that's all right.

As this year's state of the city approaches, I know many remember last year's destination 100,000 theme.

The idea isn't to purposely grow Jonesboro to 100K.

Jonesboro is growing.

In 10 and 11 years or 12 years, Jonesboro will be a population of 100K.

This is the reality we're facing.

And we're working to prepare our city for that increased growth.

As a part of the planning for Jonesboro's expected population of 100K, we're building the blueprints.

Plan Jonesboro kicked off on Thursday, February 12th at Earl Bell Community Center with over 120 participants from Jonesboro community.

It was well attended event, had great conversations and input received through interactive booths.

Thanks to JPD, DARE, and Centennial Bank for providing and cooking burgers, chips, drinks, and desserts for attendees and planning and the communications department for their work and effort and hosting the event in conjunction with DPZ and Crafton Tall, as well as providing giveaways for attendees.

Keep your eyes peeled for upcoming meetings around the community coming soon.

And in the meantime, if you couldn't participate in the kickoff event, please visit the website.

It went live the evening of the event and will remain open for community members to visit.

Take the survey and map your ideas on an interactive map.

Make your voice heard in a constructive way that keeps Jonesboro moving forward.

Now, for those I saw many city council, uh I would hope others would participate as this process continues to move forward.

We're going to be having many of the meetings in uh uh houses of worship, so we can get a lot of in other individuals involved in the process.

We continue moving forward with the new jet bus shelters.

You may have seen the progress update shared February 4th, as 24 of the new 45 bus shelters have been installed through the Federal Transit Administration awarded the FYI 21 buses and facilities grant in 2021.

We accepted it in 2024.

Funding takes time, but the installation of the upgraded bus shelters is being executed quickly.

Of course, the project was impacted by the snow and ice we received, but progress is picking right up right now.

The installation of the shelters is just the start of keeping an eye on the upgrades coming.

The jet department has been working hard for the new improved services.

Hats off to our parks department.

Did you see the video, Jim, with the update on the icebreaker volleyball tournament during February 7th weekend?

With the spring around the corner, youth sports are kicking off with everything from cheer, football, soccer, and rugby.

Not only that, but progress also continues and be made at the new park on the east side of town.

We hope to have some updated renderings to share with you all very soon.

Another update to mention, many of you know is the city's incinerator has been down for some time.

We think that we may have found a company who may have qualified to fix it.

As spring cleaning and yard work will pick up, the weather gets warmer.

We want to encourage you to use paper bags for yard waste.

Due to ADEQ requirements, yard waste cannot go to the landfill, which is why we must have separate pickups for yard waste versus regular trash.

Obviously, we cannot burn plastic bags, so please take advantage of the free paper bags handed out at the neighborhood cleanups by Keep Jonesboro Beautiful.

After evaluating the neighborhood cleanup events last year, we modified this year's calendar in 2026 with a blend of six neighborhood cleanups, our most utilized locations and dates.

And we're offering five community cleanups at the city uh Lacey Park location on the alternative months.

A calendar for 2026 cleanups available is already circulating with a plan very much this year.

On Saturday, February 7th, we had a community cleanup at Lacey Allocation Park.

Location, excuse me, we collected 2.78 tons of junk with an additional 22 tons of trash collected through the bulky junk drop-off that we currently have.

Another news, E911 is in the process of evaluating our reevaluating our tornado siren locations to best serve our residents.

With consideration of Jonesboro's population growth and new developments within the community, we're working to move tornado sirens to different locations to best service all areas with minimal cost.

Some of you may have seen JPD's 2025 crime stats report.

Good job, Chief.

Is he still here?

There he is.

Thank you.

Despite our population growth, crime numbers for 2025 have decreased.

Congrats to JPD and thank you, Council, for providing necessary tools to keep Jonesboro safe.

And we continue every day to make that a priority.

There are a lot of upcoming events within the city, and I want to remind everyone that the kickoff of the Citizens Police Academy, a 14-week learning experience for citizens to learn about JPD's policies, services, and the real world operations is coming up on February 26th.

And I think you just have a few spots left.

Is that correct?

Okay.

Also, sign up for the Citizens Fire Academy.

It's open March 6th, beginning March 16th through May 11th.

This program is Monday evening from 6 to 9 at the JFD training site.

Learn firsthand how firefighters train, respond, and serve our community.

How's that, Chief?

He's over in the corner.

I can't see him.

Awesome.

Okay, please sign up.

FOA Prince of Egypt promotion production from February 20th through the 23rd.

Grab your tickets on the family-friendly event.

But if you also don't want to miss the extreme karaoke battle on February 28th this year, a City of Jonesboro representative will be Cliff Nash, our traffic operations manager.

So join in the free event to help Cliff and cheer him on and support raising funds for the FOA.

Now, Council and Every Organizational Enterprise and Endeavor, teamwork and attitude is determining factors of success.

That's true of our city government as well.

We serve the people of Jonesboro as a whole, and they expect that we serve them together as a team working together.

The mayor and city council.

Listen, there's a lot to run in the city of Jonesboro, the physical size and population of Jonesboro.

You heard this evening, we have 600 employees plus over 80 million to serve the citizens.

These priorities for the council and mayor are important.

Things like public safety, infrastructure, transportation, business attraction, and retention.

Citizens expect us to spend our time on these priorities, and they expect to see our progress and the results.

In closing, I have two more notes to add.

Congratulations are in order for the City February employee of the month, Christy Waugh.

Many of you know her.

She's uh one of a kind.

The finance manager for the finance department.

She even braved the snow and ice storm while offices were closed to ensure payroll went out right on time.

That's the dedication we see daily.

We're grateful for First Security Bank for sponsoring the salute to the City Award each month.

On behalf of the City of Jonesboro, I want to congratulate Donna Malone, our communications director, as she prepares for her retirement.

Her last day will be March 4th.

Doesn't seem possible that those years have passed.

But I want to personally thank Donna for her commitment.

This is going to be her second retirement.

So congratulations to her.

And I appreciate her dedication and service to the city, and we wish her the very best in her well-earned retirement.

So as we say, Jonesboro always moving, and that's the fact.

We are on the move.

And I'm proud that all of our city employees they do and they serve our community.

Let us continue to work together, moving in the same direction to benefit residents of our community.

Thank you for allowing me those that time.

Next, we'll move on to city council reports.

Ms.

Porter.

I think thank you.

Mr.

Emerson.

Only thing that I have is that early voting open today, so I encourage everybody to get out and vote.

Thank you.

Dr.

Charles Coleman.

Ms.

Williams.

Mr.

Gibson.

Audit this time.

Mr.

McLean.

Just real quick.

Mayor, I appreciate you touching on the email you sent out.

Just talking about the relationship with the council and you your administration.

But also, you know, have several questions regarding some of the stuff that's going on.

I emailed you about.

And I think as you said, our citizens do expect us to work together, but they also expect us to have some transparency, accountability.

And part of that, you know, some of the questions that have been raised for me or to me, and even that I have, I would love an answer.

You know, because as a council member and as a council, I believe we should know if there are any other any other allegations of department heads maybe taking money or have been paid in cash.

And also what have we done with that information?

I also would like to know when we visited with I know legislative audit was mentioned.

When we visited with them, what do we find out?

Do they tell us they could do anything or not?

Um, but I would like some answers to some of these questions that you know I think I feel like will help us again have an open relationship, but then at the same time uh restore the trust that the public will have in us.

Okay.

You got my answers to them.

It was on the email.

I attached them.

I didn't see a it would seem one.

It was one chance to okay.

It was one.

Well, you say you're gonna get the answers.

That was the only thing I got.

I haven't got anything else.

Oh, okay.

Yeah, I did attach.

So that's that's my uh I'll look and send that again to you.

So I I have answered those questions.

Yeah, I send it to the email that I sent out on Friday.

So if that attachment's in there, uh councilman let me know.

Obviously, you didn't get it, so I send it to you.

I've got big answers.

Okay.

Thank you.

Thank you.

Mr.

Hafner.

Uh yes, I just want to clear up something that was in the um, it was a letter to the editor on February 4th.

Um admission that the Jonesboro AMP commission financials weren't um audited, and um, I just wanted to clear up that they are audited on the AP financials that are considered a special revenue source of the city, and they're included in the city's legislative audit every year, and then uh furthermore, with the recent coordination of financing arranged by for the Ridge Athletic Center, separate audits were authorized by the AMP Commission for calendar years 2023 and 2024.

Um, these audit reports, including the related notes of the financial statements are filed on the city's website.

You can go to the departments under finance, and you'll see on the left side of the screen where it says financials, audits, budgets, etc.

So just wanted to clear up that the um AMP commission financials are audited every year.

That's all I've got.

Thank you, Mr.

Hafner.

Thank you.

Mr.

Miller.

Uh no, thank you.

Mr.

Street.

I just want to uh comment on uh make a wish was wonderful success this year this last Friday.

Hundreds and hundreds of volunteers raised well over 500,000 dollars, and it just shows what a big heart Jonesburn Northeast Arkansas has, and wonderful people who go above and beyond to make life uh the quality of life here.

Fantastic.

That's all I've got, Mayor.

All right, Brian, do you want to make a comment as well?

Sure.

I almost said this during the uh the resolution regarding that this the uh street lights that we purchased for downtown.

Um you know when we're gathering our CDBG information, there's surveys that go out every year.

And this is kind of a testament to why public input is important.

Um I think it was two years ago we did that same survey, and 81% of people in Jonesboro said that they felt like they needed any more street lighting.

You know, I think that the West End neighborhood kind of led the way on that as far as showing how important it is to light up your neighborhoods and and um so that's what we strive to do, and I say all that because giving public input is important.

Um we had the Plan Jonesboro meeting the other day.

We're lucky that you know 125, 130 people showed up.

We're gonna have more of those events, and I just can't stress to the public how important it is to come to those events.

Give your opinions because that's how shapes how we recommend dollars to be spent and how you approve dollars to be spent.

Um I think it was a CDBG meeting last week.

Chris, how many people showed up?

Yes.

Zero.

So zero people showed up to a public event that helps that helps direct us in how we appropriate city dollars to the city in the future.

And you know, luckily we have some older survey information that helped kind of direct what we wanted to do, but it's just it's absolutely critical that we have a once in a lifetime or for once and a half a lifetime opportunity as we're going through this master growth plan to really shape what the city looks like over the next 10 to 20 to 30 years.

And I've heard you know some comments that we need to fix our problems today.

Well, you you gotta address problems today and down the down the road, or you're never gonna get there.

And so one way we do that is everybody get involved, come to these public meetings, give your opportunity, your input, and you know, help be a part of a better Jonesboro, you know, tomorrow and in the future.

So that's all I got.

All right, that's the end of the council comments.

Now we'll move on to public comments.

Um they are limited to five minutes and individual up to 15 minutes.

Anyone in the audience?

Yes, sir.

If you would please come forward and state your name and address James Lwood Hines, 508 Ridge Crest.

And maybe this would have been better at the public service meeting you know at 4 30, but I didn't know that was going to happen, and it's not on the agenda, so we'll address it now.

There is something the city of Jonesboro really needs.

All of you know what an energy audit is, right?

You know, where they come out to your house, and if you're losing energy, they can tell you how it, whether it's going out your windows or or whatever.

I have talked to both City Water and Light and Summit, which most people would get their heating from, and apparently that's just not available in Jonesboro.

Some it says they in the Jonesboro area, they partner with Entergy.

The problem is the only people that receive can receive those services are entergy.

And this is one of the few times I I hate to say I'm on city water and light.

Usually I'm very happy about that.

But we need somebody, and uh I had some people say here's a list of things that you can do to make your house more energy efficient, but if you don't know which ones they are, you'd might be cheaper just tear your house down and build a whole new house because they can run into lots of thousands of dollars, and we need to have somebody to do that.

And I'm not saying necessarily totally free, but at a reasonable price that people who have houses can get it done and see what they need to do, and that helps a lot of ways.

You know, we won't be wasting as much energy.

Uh we'll have our poor people, in fact, all of us will have cheaper energy bills.

So we need to look at seeing good somebody to do that.

Thank you for your comments.

Anyone else in the audience?

I don't see any.

We'll move on.

Yes, sir.

If you would please come forward, Mr.

Stearns.

Yeah, I don't know if I'm a citizens or employee right now.

Uh Jim Stearns, 13 um 17 Bennett Drive.

I just want to give you a quick update of some park stuff.

I feel like you guys need to hear this on a regular basis.

So um, first thing I have some great news.

Gotta gotta recognize my pool manager, Darian Windham.

Um, we had uh recently had our health inspection for the youth center pool, and I spoke with the health inspector, and he made a comment that this was the best shape the youth center has been in the five years, the last five years that he has actually come out and inspected for us.

So just want to publicly recognize Darren for doing such a great job.

Um we're trying to attract great leaders to parks that can own their spots and do a good job, and and Daring's a great example of that.

Um secondly, I gotta recognize uh Billy Steve Cliff out of South Side Softball.

Recently, Terry Dancer sent us a letter stating that they do a over a hundred senior games in the morning during the softball season, and he complimented Billy Steve for the great work that he does out at Southside and having those facilities ready to play on a regular basis.

So we wanted to definitely shout out and recognize those two employees for doing exemplary job in parks for us.

Um real quick, uh the Disciple Drive project is coming along.

We're about the 60% mark now.

I just want to let y'all know in the Master Park plan that we're we're approaching some success and seeing some progress in that part.

Um the shared use connectivity trails.

We're close to having a shared use trail from Arkansas State all the way to G Street.

And there's just a few little items to have that complete.

So we're making really good progress in a master park plan.

Um and as you guys know, we're about to be we're about to be busy in sports, and I'll be real quick with this.

We have over 2,000 kids signed up right now for youth sports.

Um we have 875 starting uh signed up for basketball.

Games begin this Saturday, February 21st.

Um junior high softball league and a junior high soccer league.

Both of those one has 28 teams and 32 teams respectively, and they started playing and practicing this week, um, field weather permitting.

Softball first tournament is February 28th.

Um that's a tournament that we host.

Soccer games begin in April, rug begins begins in April.

Football has 120 sign up right now, they begin in April, and volleyball begins April 27th with 111 signed up right now with a month left.

So the state of youth sports, just to rest your minds at ease about that, we're taking care of the kids in Jonesboro.

And uh just want a quick correction.

The video was for the week here volleyball tournament, not the icebreaker tournament.

I just want to make sure I let you know that I apologize in that info I got to you.

So other than that, um I really appreciate your support and and we're looking forward to completing some more master project plans, uh, master park plans here in the near future.

Thank you, Jim, for your comments.

And counsel before we leave, and uh make the motion for adjournment.

Uh I do want to uh bring you up to date a little bit.

Uh we've been provided a uh uh initial proposal um and I'll get that to you on the possibility of the first United Methodist Church facility.

Uh maybe it could be used uh possibly for uh a potential police station in the city of Jonesboro.

Um but I wanted to make you all aware of that.

I'll be getting you the draft of that document so you'll have time to look over it.

That way it'll provide you the questions uh and you can have questions as we move through that process.

Again, it's just the beginning phase.

I want to make counsel aware um so everybody uh can have the same input uh on this and it might be an opportunity for us to really look at.

Um, but that's gonna be your decision.

So I'm next we'll move on to item 11.

That's adjournment.

All in favor, say aye.

Aye aye.

Any opposed.