Finance & Administration Council Committee Meeting – August 11, 2026

The Finance & Administration Council Committee of Jonesboro, Arkansas, met on August 11, 2026, at 4:00 PM in the Municipal Center. The committee considered several municipal liens, two grant applications, a property purchase for the police department, and a related financing ordinance. All items except one lien were forwarded to the full council.

Consent Calendar

• Minutes Approval: The minutes from the July 28, 2026, Finance Committee meeting were approved unanimously.
• Municipal Liens (RES-26:092 through RES-26:096): Resolutions to place liens on properties at 211 Scott, 2612 Crawford Drive, 2404 Brazos, 213 Nisbett, and 700 Melody, each in the amount of $275, were moved forward to full council without discussion.
• RES-26:097 (823 Parkview): A motion to postpone indefinitely was made and seconded, citing that the lien had been paid. The committee voted to postpone indefinitely.

Discussion Items

• RES-26:098 – FY2027 Outdoor Recreation Matching Grant for Craighead Forest Park: The resolution authorizes applying for a grant of $999,980 from the Arkansas Department of Parks, Heritage and Tourism, with a city match of $499,990. The funds would be used for inclusive playground equipment, a splash pad, and other amenities. Councilman McLean questioned the probability of receiving the grant and the impact on funding for the East Jonesboro Park project. Grant writer Mr. J. noted the grant is competitive and the city recently received a similar grant for Allen Park. Councilman Street and others emphasized that the Craighead Forest playground is heavily used (over 100,000 visitors per year) and needs significant repairs, and that the city would likely need to invest regardless of the grant. The Parks Advisory Board is exploring a capital campaign with the Rotary Club to help cover the match. The committee voted to forward the resolution to full council.
• RES-26:100 – Delta Regional Authority Community Infrastructure Fund Grant for Incinerator: This resolution authorizes applying for $671,000 (90% grant, 10% city match of $67,100) to retrofit the city’s incinerator. Councilman McLean asked if the funds were for repairs. Staff confirmed the incinerator has been down and needs new heat-resistant panels. The committee voted to forward to full council.
• RES-26:099 – Purchase of 1709 East Highland Drive for Police Department Operations: The resolution authorizes purchasing the former Shelter Insurance building for $2,750,000 plus closing costs, to consolidate police operations currently spread across five temporary facilities. Councilman McLean raised concerns about the lack of an inspection report and financial analysis showing the impact on staffing, pay raises, and other costs. He moved to postpone to the next finance meeting, but the motion failed for lack of a second. Councilman Street read a statement from Mayor Copenhager supporting the purchase, noting the building is well‑kept, priced at ~$200 per square foot, and that doing nothing would require repairs at the old city hall. City staff indicated an independent inspection had been completed and would be shared. The committee voted to forward the resolution to full council.
• ORD-26:028 – Promissory Note for Police Facility Purchase: This ordinance authorizes issuing a $3,000,000 general revenue promissory note under Amendment 78 to finance the purchase and improvements at 1709 East Highland Drive. The note from Arvest Bank has a fixed interest rate of 4.83% over 60 months, with no fees or prepayment penalties. The committee voted to forward to full council.

Key Outcomes

• Forwarded to full council: RES-26:092, 093, 094, 095, 096, 098, 100, 099, and ORD-26:028.
• Postponed indefinitely: RES-26:097 (lien paid).
• Next steps: The inspection report for 1709 East Highland Drive will be provided to council members before the full council meeting. The Parks Advisory Board will present a needs assessment on August 19, 2026.

Public Comments & Testimony

No public comments were made.