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Record of Proceedings

Texarkana City Board of Directors Regular Meeting - August 3, 2026

Board of Directors & Commissions — Monday, August 3, 2026
BodyTexarkana, Arkansas
SessionBoard of Directors & Commissions
DateMonday, August 3, 2026
StatusFILED
Video Record
0:00 / 55:51

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

Speaker numbers apply only to this recording.

Speaker 1

0:39

I'd like to call this regular meeting of the Texra County, Arkansas Board of Directors to order a couple of housekeeping things.

0:46

If you have your cell phone with you, we would appreciate if you'd silence your cell phone during the course of the meeting.

0:51

If you wish to address the board tonight, there are citizens' communication cards on the ledge.

0:55

If you could complete one of those, get that to our city clerk.

0:57

She can get that to me so we can have a record of you speaking tonight.

1:01

This time we'll have a roll call.

Speaker 2

1:02

Director Harris?

Speaker 1

1:04

Here.

Speaker 2

1:04

Director Holobesh?

1:06

Here.

1:06

Assistant Mayor Brewer?

Speaker 1

1:08

Here.

Speaker 2

1:08

Director Jewel?

Speaker 1

1:10

Here.

Speaker 2

1:10

Director Smith?

Speaker 1

1:12

Here.

Speaker 2

1:12

Director Roberts?

Speaker 1

1:13

Here.

Speaker 2

1:14

Mayor Brown.

Speaker 1

1:15

Here.

1:15

At this time we'll stand for our Pledge of Allegiance and uh invocation given by Director Terry Roberts.

Speaker 3

1:22

Let us pray.

1:24

Almighty God, may your grace cover each aspect of this meeting.

1:28

We pray that all voices will be heard and that we have a mindset of being inclusive and not exclusive.

1:34

May this be a safe place for people to express their opinions in a place where ideas matter more than titles.

1:41

May everyone be engaged and involved and all concerns be addressed.

1:46

May each member of this board feel valued and that we recognize the skill set and knowledge that each person brings to this meeting.

1:52

In Christ's name we pray.

1:54

Amen.

Speaker 4

2:08

And there's injustice for

Speaker 1

2:10

maybe seated.

2:12

But this time we'll move right on into our citizens' communication time.

2:15

Is there anyone here wishing to address the board tonight?

2:19

Any citizen wishing to address the board during citizens' communication time.

2:25

Seeing and hearing none, we'll move right on into our presentations.

2:29

We have a couple of employee service awards tonight.

2:32

Our first is Mr.

2:33

Clay Hicks.

2:34

Is

Speaker 5

2:34

Clay here?

2:35

Do you make

Unassigned speaker

2:36

it?

Speaker 1

2:38

We have Clay Hicks and I believe it's a Dreeka Allen.

2:42

Uh Clay works for public works for five years.

2:45

Miss Allen works for TWU for five years.

2:48

So would you please give them a round of applause?

Unassigned speaker

2:54

At

Speaker 1

2:55

this time we'll move right on into our consent agenda.

2:57

We have six items on the consent agenda tonight.

3:00

Item number two is approval of the minutes of the regular meeting of July the 20th.

3:04

Item number three is to adopt a resolution authorizing the city manager to enter to a contract for the Lindbergh Street six-inch water main replacement project.

Unassigned speaker

3:13

Item number four is adopt a resolution authorizing city manager to enter to a construction contract with contact contractors for Sanderson Lane, Senator Street, Garland Avenue, Washington Street, rehab projects.

Speaker 1

3:42

What is the board's desire on the consent agenda?

3:45

Motion to add

Speaker 6

3:46

to pull one.

Speaker 1

3:47

Yes.

Speaker 6

3:49

The one about the context.

3:51

Which number is that?

Speaker 1

3:52

Contact contractors?

3:54

Yes.

Discussion Breakdown — Share of Meeting
Pending Litigation█████████████████████21%
Engineering And Infrastructure████████████████████20%
Procedural████████████████16%
Affordable Housing████████████12%
Public Engagement██████████10%
Economic Development████████8%
Public Safety█████5%
Water And Wastewater Management█████5%
Environmental Protection███3%
Summary of Proceedings

Texarkana City Board of Directors Regular Meeting - August 3, 2026

The Texarkana, Arkansas Board of Directors held its regular meeting on August 3, 2026. The meeting was called to order by Mayor Brown with all directors present. The board addressed a consent agenda, street rehabilitation contracts, property liens, several zoning ordinance amendments, and heard extensive board commentary on city maintenance and development.

Consent Calendar

  • The board unanimously approved Items 2 (minutes), 3 (Lindbergh Street water main contract), 5, and 6. Item 4 was pulled for separate discussion.

Public Comments & Testimony

  • No members of the public spoke during the initial citizens' communication period.
  • Gary Davis, prospective owner of the property at 1401 Dudley Street, addressed the board during the public hearing for the rezoning. He stated his support for a C1 zoning to operate a funeral home, specifying the building would be used as an office/conference center.

Discussion Items

  • Consent Item 4 - Street Rehabilitation Contract: Director Jewel pulled the item for clarification on alternate bids for the Sanderson Lane, Senator Street, Garland Avenue, and Washington Street project. Staff confirmed Contact Contractors was the low bidder at $3,093,969.99. The selected bid utilizes asphalt on straightaways and concrete at truck turn sections. The resolution was adopted unanimously.
  • Item 7 - 110 East Broad Street Demolition Lien: A public hearing was held for the demolition of the property. The total demolition cost was $630,000, but state law limits the tax lien to $15,000. The board adopted the resolution placing the $15,000 lien, with the city intending to pursue the remaining balance.
  • Item 8 - Liens for 43 Overgrown Lots: The board held a public hearing and adopted a resolution to place liens on 43 properties for overgrowth cleanup. Staff confirmed the liens are prioritized over property taxes, improving collection rates.
  • Item 9 - Rezoning of 1401 Dudley Street (O1 to C1): The board considered an ordinance to rezone the property for a funeral home. 21 property owners were notified with no opposition received. The ordinance passed on its final adoption.
  • Item 10 - Rezoning of 6600 Sugar Hill Road (R1 to A1): The board adopted an ordinance rezoning 20 acres to allow an owner to build a personal storage building before constructing a residence. The A1 zone permits this for large parcels. The slab had already been poured. The ordinance passed unanimously on adoption.
  • Item 11 - Rezoning of Parcel at Beach & MLK Jr. Blvd (C3/R4 to R2): The board rezoned a split-zoned parcel to R2 to restrict development to a single-family home. The ordinance was adopted 6-1, with Director Holobesh dissenting.
  • Board Commentary:
    • Director Harris provided a comprehensive list of unresolved Ward 2 issues, including drainage problems on multiple streets (Grant, Garfield, Clyde, Park, Morris, Seba). He expressed strong frustration with the city manager's response time, stating he felt his ward was being deprioritized. He advocated for a grocery store incentive program for College Hill, a housing coordinator position, and utilizing a new federal housing bill (HR 6644) for funding.
    • Director Smith announced a Ward 4 community meeting scheduled for September 24, 2026.
  • Removal from Commission: The board unanimously approved a resolution removing Diane Patterson from the Advertising and Promotion Commission upon discovering her Texas residency, which violates state law.

Key Outcomes

  • Consent Calendar: Approved unanimously.
  • Item 4 (Street Rehab Contract): Adopted unanimously. Authorized contract with Contact Contractors ($3,093,969.99).
  • Item 7 (110 E. Broad St Lien): Adopted unanimously.
  • Item 8 (43 Overgrown Lots): Adopted unanimously.
  • Item 9 (1401 Dudley St Rezone to C1): Ordinance adopted.
  • Item 10 (6600 Sugar Hill Rezone to A1): Ordinance adopted unanimously.
  • Item 11 (Beach & MLK Rezone to R2): Ordinance adopted 6-1 (Director Holobesh dissenting).
  • Diane Patterson Removal: Approved unanimously.
  • Next Meeting: August 17, 2026.

Meeting Transcript

I'd like to call this regular meeting of the Texra County, Arkansas Board of Directors to order a couple of housekeeping things. If you have your cell phone with you, we would appreciate if you'd silence your cell phone during the course of the meeting. If you wish to address the board tonight, there are citizens' communication cards on the ledge. If you could complete one of those, get that to our city clerk. She can get that to me so we can have a record of you speaking tonight. This time we'll have a roll call. Director Harris? Here. Director Holobesh? Here. Assistant Mayor Brewer? Here. Director Jewel? Here. Director Smith? Here. Director Roberts? Here. Mayor Brown. Here. At this time we'll stand for our Pledge of Allegiance and uh invocation given by Director Terry Roberts. Let us pray. Almighty God, may your grace cover each aspect of this meeting. We pray that all voices will be heard and that we have a mindset of being inclusive and not exclusive. May this be a safe place for people to express their opinions in a place where ideas matter more than titles. May everyone be engaged and involved and all concerns be addressed. May each member of this board feel valued and that we recognize the skill set and knowledge that each person brings to this meeting. In Christ's name we pray. Amen. And there's injustice for maybe seated. But this time we'll move right on into our citizens' communication time. Is there anyone here wishing to address the board tonight? Any citizen wishing to address the board during citizens' communication time. Seeing and hearing none, we'll move right on into our presentations. We have a couple of employee service awards tonight. Our first is Mr. Clay Hicks. Is Clay here? Do you make it? We have Clay Hicks and I believe it's a Dreeka Allen. Uh Clay works for public works for five years. Miss Allen works for TWU for five years. So would you please give them a round of applause? At this time we'll move right on into our consent agenda. We have six items on the consent agenda tonight. Item number two is approval of the minutes of the regular meeting of July the 20th.

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