Finance & Administration Council Committee Meeting - April 14, 2026
Finance & Administration Council Committee Meeting - April 14, 2026
The Finance & Administration Council Committee of Jonesboro met on April 14, 2026, at 4:00 PM at the Municipal Center. The committee reviewed and forwarded several resolutions to the full council, discussed tournament finances and city programs, and requested future reports.
Consent Calendar
- Approval of Minutes (March 31, 2026): Moved by John Street, seconded by Brian Emison. Passed 4-0-2 (Absent: Anthony Coleman, Ann Williams).
- RES-26:040 – TAP Funding Application: A resolution authorizing the city to apply for FY26 Transportation Alternatives Program funds for the Cobra House multi-use trail connector to Craighead Forest Park. The project is estimated at $2,144,639.73 with 80% federal ($1,715,711.73) and 20% local match ($428,928) plus a 1% ARDOT admin fee ($17,157 from federal share), totaling $446,085 local funding. Moved by John Street, seconded by Brian Emison. Passed 4-0-2.
- RES-26:041 – Municipal Lien on 505 W. Woodrow: A lien of $5,826.87 on property owned by Thomas & Linda Bobbitt. Moved by John Street, seconded by Brian Emison. Passed 4-0-2.
- RES-26:042 – Free Utility Services from City Water and Light: Requesting free utilities for city-owned property at 6106 Southwest Drive. Councilmember John Street recused himself due to his position on the CWL Board. Moved by Brian Emison, seconded by David McClain. Passed 3-0-2, with Street abstaining.
Discussion Items
- Tournament Finances: Councilmember David McClain questioned the financial performance of city-run tournaments. Parks Director Jim Stearns explained that a new expense report accounted for staff time (e.g., community center staffing, sports coordinator planning) which totaled $8,000 in non-cash time expenses. In real dollars, the two tournaments generated approximately $10,000 net revenue. Stearns clarified that the city is not exiting the tournament business but will shift focus to The Ridge when ready, avoiding competition. McClain requested a more detailed financial report on tournaments for a future meeting.
- Gun Range Performance: McClain also requested a financial performance report on the gun range. Stearns noted that a new point-of-sale system was ordered and will be installed by April 18 or 25. He agreed to provide a report by the next meeting (April 21).
- Bank Deposit Rates: McClain recommended rebidding the city's bank deposits to seek better interest rates, noting that public entities should review every few years. The chair acknowledged the suggestion.
Key Outcomes
- All four resolutions (minutes approval and three new business items) were recommended to the full city council.
- Parks Director Jim Stearns will prepare a detailed financial report on tournaments and gun range performance for the next committee meeting on April 21, 2026.
- The committee discussed but took no formal action on rebidding bank deposit rates; the matter may be revisited.
Meeting Transcript
Everybody like it. All right, good afternoon, everybody. It's four o'clock. I'm gonna get today's um finance administration council meeting going. Um please record your attendance by pushing the appropriate button. We do have a quorum. Um we'll move to item number three approval of minutes from the finance committee meeting on Tuesday, March 31st, 2026. Move to approve unless there's a no to change. Second. Motion second to approve any comments or questions on the minutes as presented. If not, please um record your vote on whether or not to approve the minutes. All right, we'll move into new business. Um first items resolution 23040. It's a resolution expressing the willingness of the city of Jonesville, Arkansas to utilize federal aid transportation alternative programs and authorizing the city of Jonesboro grants and community development department to apply for the FY 2026 transportation alternatives program through the Arkansas Department of Transportation, whereas the City of Jonesboro understands the federal aid tap funds are available at 80 percent federal participation and 20 percent local match to continue the construction of the Cobra House multi-use trail connector to Craighead Forest Park, and whereas the City of Jones, Arkansas understands that federal aid funds are available for this program on a reimbursable basis requiring work to be accomplished and proof of payment prior to actual monetary reimbursement, and whereas the estimated project cost is two million one hundred forty-four thousand six hundred and thirty-nine dollars and seventy-three cents, and the city of Jonesville, Arkansas is requesting one million seven hundred and fifteen thousand seven hundred eleven dollars and seventy-three cents and TAP funding with a local match of four hundred twenty-eight thousand nine hundred and twenty-eight dollars and an additional one percent R Dot administration fee of seventeen thousand one hundred fifty-seven dollars calculated from the TAP federal share for a local funding total of four hundred forty-six thousand and eighty-five dollars. Whereas this project using federal funding will be open and available for use by the general public and maintained by the applicant for the life of the project. Now, therefore, be it resolved by city council for the city of Jonesville, Arkansas that section one, the Jonesville City Council supports the submission of the FY26 TAP application to continue the construction of the Cobra House multi-use trail connector to Craighead Forest Park and hereby authorizes the R DOT to initiate action to implement this project. Section two, the mayor and city clerk are hereby authorized by the city council for the city of Jonesville, Arkansas to execute all necessary documents to effectuate the application. Section three, the city of Jonesville, Arkansas will participate in accordance with its examinated responsibility, including maintenance of this project project. Section four, the mayor and city clerk are hereby authorized and directed to execute all appropriate agreements and contracts necessary to expedite the construction of the above stated project. Section five, the Jonesville City Council pledges it full support and hereby authorizes the R Dot to initiate action to implement this project. Anything from staff or the public in attendance? If not, please record your vote on whether or not to forward resolution 26040 to full council. Next up, resolution 26041. This is just a municipal link, so I'll read it by title only. Um resolution by the city council of City of Johnsville, Arkansas to place the municipal lien on property located at 505 West Woodrow, parcel 01-144-073-17500, owned by Thomas and Linda Bobbitt in the amount of $5,826 and 87 cents. Moving forward to full council. Second. Any questions or comments regarding this item? Anything from staff to the public in attendance. If not, please record your vote on whether or not to forward resolution 26041 to full council. Last item under new business is resolution 26042. A resolution requesting free utility services from city water and light for city owned property, whereas the city of Jonesville is requesting that city water and light provide free utilities at the following location 6106 Southwest Drive. Now therefore be resolved by the city council for the city of Jonesville, Arkansas at the section one, the city water and light requested by this resolution that city water and light is requested by this resolution to provide free utilities to the location listed above. Section two to prevent to permit such services to be provided without charge. The City of Jonesboro hereby firms to city water and light that the ultimate use of city water and light utilities so provided is now and shall remain a use or purpose which the city is engaged and as part of its governmental or proprietary functions under authority to it by state law. That's it. Second. Motion saving forward full council. Any comments or questions from the committee? Due to your position on the and you'll have to vote, I guess. Yeah. Board of directors for city water. All right. Anything from staff or public in attendance? If not, please record your vote on whether or not to forward the full counsel. All right. That was the last item under new business. I'm not aware of any pending items. Does anybody on the committee have any other business? Mr.
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