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OPENPUBLICA · PUBLIC MEETING RECORD

Record of Proceedings

Jonesboro City Council Meeting April 21, 2026: Consent Agenda, Zoning, and Public Concerns

Meeting Portal — Tuesday, April 21, 2026

BodyJonesboro, Arkansas

SessionMeeting Portal

DateTuesday, April 21, 2026

StatusFILED

Video Record

0:00 / 41:03

Transcript — VerbatimClick a timed line to jump · ⧉ to share it

0:00

Will this motion out?

0:01

All right, council.

0:02

We're gonna go ahead and uh get this meeting started.

0:04

Uh I'm gonna have to um uh talk to Brian Emerson about uh his length of meeting schedules and times, but mosquitoes are important, and now that y'all are all etymologist, uh we can move forward with that.

0:18

So uh that's a lot of good question and answer session.

0:21

That's what we're here to do.

0:23

Um I just wanted to uh make you aware um as well that um uh we got ball games going on, so I got a grandson, so we gotta get out there tonight.

0:33

So anyhow, let's go ahead and begin tonight's city council meeting.

0:37

Uh we'll start it off.

0:38

Uh I'll lead us in pledge allegiance, and then councilman Janet will uh lead us in prayer.

0:44

Okay.

0:44

I pledge allegiance to the United States of America and to the Republicans one nation undervisible.

0:59

Please pray with me.

1:01

Dear Father in Heaven.

1:03

We thank you with grateful hearts for your bountiful blessings.

1:08

We thank you for family, friends, and neighbors.

1:12

We ask for your protection for our public servants.

1:16

Please grant us understanding and wisdom as we tend to the people's business.

1:21

Help us to act justly, love mercy, and walk humbly with you.

1:25

This we ask in the name of Christ.

1:28

Amen.

1:28

Amen.

1:29

Thank you, Ms.

1:30

Board.

1:30

Council, if you would please go ahead and mark your presence.

1:47

And we do have members present, all members present.

1:50

So I would like to um make this.

1:53

She doesn't know I'm going to do it, but April Leggett.

1:56

She's dedicated a decade of service to the city of Jonesboro.

2:01

We yes, please come on down.

2:03

Come on down.

2:05

Um you play a vital role in ensuring transparency, accuracy, and accessible to local government.

2:12

She began her tenure at the city clerk's office in April of 2016, advancing the deputy clerk and ultimately being elected as city clerk in 2020.

2:23

Throughout her service, Leggett has been responsible for maintaining city records, supporting city councilman operations, and serving as a key link between the citizens and their local government.

2:35

Duties that are in high standard with integrity, and I appreciate that, April.

2:40

April also has contributed to the professional beyond Jonesboro.

2:45

She is in leadership involvement with the Arkansas City Clerk, Recorders, and Treasurers Association, AML, and our own citizens fire academy.

2:55

So her 10 years of service reflect a continued commitment of excellence, accountability, and public service for the residents of Jonesboro.

3:03

So I'm going to thank you for your service.

3:05

Here's your tenure pen.

3:46

Move to adopt.

4:24

Whereas the City of Jonesboro is requesting that City Water and Light provide free utilities at the following location, 423 U West Huntington Avenue.

4:31

Now therefore be it resolved by City Council for the City of Jonesboro, Arkansas that section one that City Water and Light requested this resolution to provide free utilities to the locations listed above.

4:40

Section two to permit such services to be provided without charge.

4:48

So provided is now in shower main, a use or purpose which the city is engaged in as part of its governmental or proprietary functions under the authority to it by state law.

5:03

Same movement to adopt.

5:08

Any discussion by council.

5:10

Anyone in council chambers?

5:12

I don't see any.

5:13

If you would please go ahead and cast your ballot.

5:21

Okay, that does carry.

5:22

Next we'll move on to resolution 26042.

5:26

Resolution requesting free utility services from Citywater and Light for City Owned property.

5:30

The City of Jonesboro is requesting that City Water and Light provide free utility services at the following location.

5:47

Section two to permit such services to be provided without charge.

5:50

City of Jonesboro hereby affirms to City Water and Light that the ultimate use of CWL utility so provided is now in shower main a use or purpose which the city is engaged in as part of its governmental or proprietary functions under authority to it by under authority to it by state law.

6:04

Move to adopt be recused from voters because we do have a motion on the floor.

6:14

If you would please cast your ballot any discussion, first of all.

6:18

I don't see anyone in council chambers.

6:21

I don't see any as well.

Discussion Breakdown — Share of Meeting

Public Engagement███████████████████████████████31%

Procedural█████████████████████████████29%

Parks and Recreation█████████████████17%

Engineering And Infrastructure█████████9%

Affordable Housing███████7%

Public Safety████4%

Arts And Culture███3%

Summary of Proceedings

Jonesboro City Council Meeting - April 21, 2026

The Jonesboro City Council met on Tuesday, April 21, 2026, at 5:30 PM in the Council Chambers of the Municipal Center. The meeting included approval of several consent agenda items, first and second readings of zoning ordinances, and a series of public comments addressing financial transparency, park maintenance, property codes, and a cemetery error. Mayor Harold Copenhaver presided.

Consent Calendar

MIN-26:031: Minutes from the April 7, 2026 City Council meeting were approved.
RES-26:038: A resolution to accept the low bid and enter into a contract with Atlas Asphalt Inc. for the 2026 Asphalt Milling and Overlays Selected City Streets Project (Job No. 2026:03) was approved (Enactment No. R-EN-057-2026).
RES-26:039: A resolution to accept the low bid and enter into a contract with Crabtree & Son Construction, Inc. for the Hwy. 91 Sidewalk and Lane Reconfiguration Project (Job No. 2026:10) was approved (Enactment No. R-EN-058-2026).
RES-26:040: A resolution expressing willingness to utilize Federal-Aid Transportation Alternatives Program (TAP) funds and authorizing the Grants and Community Development Department to apply for the FY26 TAP through the Arkansas Department of Transportation (ARDOT) was approved (Enactment No. R-EN-059-2026).
RES-26:041: A resolution to place a municipal lien on property at 505 W. Woodrow, owned by Thomas & Linda Bobbitt, in the amount of $5,826.87 was approved (Enactment No. R-EN-060-2026).
RES-26:037 (removed from Consent Agenda): A resolution requesting free utility services from City Water and Light (CWL) for a lighting pedestal along Huntington Avenue was approved (Enactment No. R-EN-061-2026), with Councilmember John Street recused due to his CWL board membership. The vote was 11 ayes, 1 recusal.
RES-26:042 (removed from Consent Agenda): A resolution requesting free utility services from City Water and Light for city-owned property was approved (Enactment No. R-EN-062-2026), with Councilmember John Street recused. The vote was 11 ayes, 1 recusal.

Public Comments & Testimony

Patti Lack (4108 Forest Hill Road) expressed concern about the city losing trust and respect, citing inconsistent financial reporting on volleyball tournaments (initially reported as a $6,500 loss, later as a $10,000 gain). She questioned specific expense items including $3,100 for Potbelly lunch boxes, hotel costs, cleaning staff ($600), and a concession stand manager paid $22/hour. She requested a clearer, more transparent expense report.
Carol White (5001 Nicole Cove) questioned the cost and efficiency of using $3 printed tickets for flag football games, noting that long lines caused her husband to leave before the game started. She also praised Craighead Forest groundskeepers but raised concerns about foul language, unsupervised adults, and disruptive behavior by teenagers at the playground and fishing area.
Eugene Holloway (408 Marshall Street) urged the council to address landlord-tenant issues, referencing a property maintenance code passed in 2016 that was later reversed. He described a friend's uninhabitable apartment and his daughter's substandard rental conditions, including a snail inside and overgrown shrubbery not trimmed by management.
Latoya Yarbrough (4610 Prospect Road) expressed outrage that her father was buried in the wrong grave at Oaklawn Cemetery due to incorrect records from the Parks and Recreation Department. She stated that the error requires exhumation at city expense, and criticized the department's recordkeeping as "old and ancient." She demanded action beyond apologies and noted the city cannot be sued.

Discussion Items

ORD-26:014 (First Reading): Ordinance to rezone property at 5925 East Johnson Avenue from I-1 to C-3 (LUO). Held at one reading.
ORD-26:015 (First Reading): Ordinance to rezone property at 1601 Granger Drive from RM-8 to RS-5. Councilmember Chris Moore noted the applicant, Mr. Conrad, intends to split the property and build two single-family homes. Held at one reading.
ORD-26:008 (Second Reading): Ordinance to reinstate four-way stop signs at Rains and Wilkins intersections. Held at second reading.
ORD-26:009 (Second Reading): Ordinance to place various traffic signs as determined by the Traffic Control Committee. Held at second reading.
ORD-26:010 (Second Reading): Similar ordinance for additional traffic signs. Held at second reading.
ORD-26:012 (Second Reading): Ordinance to rezone property at 6904 E. Highland Drive from R-1 to C-3. Held at second reading.
ORD-26:011 (Third Reading): Ordinance to rezone property at 2005 East Highland Drive from C-2 to C-3. Approved unanimously (12 ayes). Enactment No. O-EN-015-2026.
ORD-26:013 (Walk-on, First Reading): Ordinance to establish a Sports Advisory Committee. The council suspended rules to allow a first reading, but decided not to waive second and third readings, so it will go to second reading at the next meeting.
Mayor's Reports: Mayor Copenhaver reported the Main Street One Lane Pilot Project (Washington to Creath) is a six-month initiative with positive feedback; youth council will collect feedback via surveys. The Plan Jonesboro 30-year plan design is complete; public input survey is open at planjonesboro.com. He also reported on the Chamber of Commerce fly-in to D.C., the Business Expo (largest since COVID with over 215 participants), the Foundation of Arts Porchlight Film Festival, and upcoming events.
City Council Reports: Councilmember Dr. Anthony Coleman requested updates on the Eastside park project (Mayor said it is 60% complete and a presentation should be ready by end of week) and called for a traffic study on Prospect and Kathleen streets due to speeding and rapid development. He also noted his 25th wedding anniversary and 30 years as a Jonesboro resident.

Key Outcomes

All consent agenda items and removed resolutions were approved with recorded votes.
Ordinance ORD-26:011 was passed on third reading (12-0), rezoning 2005 East Highland Drive from C-2 to C-3.
Commission meeting minutes (COM-26:020, February 2026 Financial Statements) were filed.
The council heard multiple public concerns regarding financial transparency, park supervision, landlord-tenant relations, and cemetery recordkeeping errors, with Mayor promising follow-up on the cemetery issue.

Meeting Transcript

Will this motion out? All right, council. We're gonna go ahead and uh get this meeting started. Uh I'm gonna have to um uh talk to Brian Emerson about uh his length of meeting schedules and times, but mosquitoes are important, and now that y'all are all etymologist, uh we can move forward with that. So uh that's a lot of good question and answer session. That's what we're here to do. Um I just wanted to uh make you aware um as well that um uh we got ball games going on, so I got a grandson, so we gotta get out there tonight. So anyhow, let's go ahead and begin tonight's city council meeting. Uh we'll start it off. Uh I'll lead us in pledge allegiance, and then councilman Janet will uh lead us in prayer. Okay. I pledge allegiance to the United States of America and to the Republicans one nation undervisible. Please pray with me. Dear Father in Heaven. We thank you with grateful hearts for your bountiful blessings. We thank you for family, friends, and neighbors. We ask for your protection for our public servants. Please grant us understanding and wisdom as we tend to the people's business. Help us to act justly, love mercy, and walk humbly with you. This we ask in the name of Christ. Amen. Amen. Thank you, Ms. Board. Council, if you would please go ahead and mark your presence. And we do have members present, all members present. So I would like to um make this. She doesn't know I'm going to do it, but April Leggett. She's dedicated a decade of service to the city of Jonesboro. We yes, please come on down. Come on down. Um you play a vital role in ensuring transparency, accuracy, and accessible to local government. She began her tenure at the city clerk's office in April of 2016, advancing the deputy clerk and ultimately being elected as city clerk in 2020. Throughout her service, Leggett has been responsible for maintaining city records, supporting city councilman operations, and serving as a key link between the citizens and their local government. Duties that are in high standard with integrity, and I appreciate that, April. April also has contributed to the professional beyond Jonesboro. She is in leadership involvement with the Arkansas City Clerk, Recorders, and Treasurers Association, AML, and our own citizens fire academy. So her 10 years of service reflect a continued commitment of excellence, accountability, and public service for the residents of Jonesboro. So I'm going to thank you for your service. Here's your tenure pen. Move to adopt. Whereas the City of Jonesboro is requesting that City Water and Light provide free utilities at the following location, 423 U West Huntington Avenue. Now therefore be it resolved by City Council for the City of Jonesboro, Arkansas that section one that City Water and Light requested this resolution to provide free utilities to the locations listed above. Section two to permit such services to be provided without charge. So provided is now in shower main, a use or purpose which the city is engaged in as part of its governmental or proprietary functions under the authority to it by state law. Same movement to adopt. Any discussion by council. Anyone in council chambers? I don't see any. If you would please go ahead and cast your ballot.

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