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Record of Proceedings

Texarkana, Arkansas Board of Directors Regular Meeting - August 17, 2026

Board of Directors & Commissions — Monday, August 17, 2026
BodyTexarkana, Arkansas
SessionBoard of Directors & Commissions
DateMonday, August 17, 2026
StatusFILED
Video Record
0:00 / 30:18

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

Speaker numbers apply only to this recording.

Speaker 1

0:00

Arkansas Board of Directors to order a couple of housekeeping things.

0:04

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

0:09

The second thing is if you wish to address the board tonight, there are citizens' communication cards on the ledge.

0:14

If you would get one of those and fill it out, get that to our city clerk.

0:17

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

0:20

At this time, we'll have a roll call.

Speaker 2

0:22

Director Harris?

Speaker 1

0:24

Here.

0:27

Here.

Speaker 2

0:28

Director Jewel?

Speaker 1

0:29

Here.

Speaker 2

0:29

Director Smith?

Speaker 1

0:30

Here.

Speaker 2

0:31

Director Roberts?

Speaker 1

0:32

Here.

Speaker 2

0:32

Mayor Brown.

Speaker 1

0:33

Here.

0:34

This time we'll stand for an invocation and pledge of allegiance given by Director Stephen Hollywood.

Speaker 3

0:41

Lord, thank you for this wonderful day that you blessed us with.

0:44

God thank you for the opportunity to come together and handle the business of the city.

0:49

God, we pray that you would be with us as we make decisions on behalf of our citizens.

0:53

Give us your wisdom and guidance.

0:55

Jesus' name I pray.

0:56

Amen.

Speaker 4

1:07

Under

Speaker 5

1:07

God.

Speaker 4

1:08

Individual.

Speaker 1

1:11

Maybe seated.

1:14

This time we'll move right on into citizens' communication time.

1:17

The first card I have is Adri Smith.

Speaker 6

1:31

Good evening.

1:33

I'm here tonight as vice chair for the uh Republican committee.

1:40

And wanted to talk about issue three.

1:45

We have a uh a uh meeting that we're gonna is gonna be held Thursday September the 10th at Hickory Street Baptist Church.

1:56

And it's uh we're gonna have two gentlemen.

1:58

Actually, one of the gentlemen uh is is the man that that drew this up, and uh he they're there gonna be there to answer all the questions for the public.

2:09

Anybody that that comes, they're gonna talk with or they're willing to answer questions.

2:14

Um the Republican Party is doing this jointly with the Democratic Party.

2:20

It's a nonpartisan meeting.

2:22

Democrats, Republicans can come here.

2:25

Um this is issue three is something that we really need

Speaker 7

2:31

in our community,

Speaker 6

2:33

and uh uh I'm kind of the second string on this deal.

Unassigned speaker

2:37

Uh

Speaker 6

2:37

Vicky Lacey couldn't be here tonight, and uh Diana could not be here tonight, so that'll got me on this thing, and I'm uh not real informed about it yet.

2:48

Uh but uh the meeting will be uh September the 10th at uh starting at 6 p.m.

2:55

at the Hickory Street uh Baptist Church, and uh the public is invited, everybody's invited.

3:02

Thank you.

3:03

Thank you.

3:04

George.

Unassigned speaker

3:10

My

Speaker 8

3:10

name is George Dotson.

3:11

I live at 220 East Broad, downtown Texarkana.

3:14

I was here about a month ago talking about the weeds and the grass and just the overgrown broad street, which I kind of consider to be Tetra Canada, Arkansas's golden egg, if you will, because that's kind of where it's the draw of the city, it really is.

3:32

And so I took some pictures.

3:34

The Eagles just had their grand opening.

3:36

Next picture, please.

Unassigned speaker

3:40

And

Speaker 8

3:40

this is what it looks like in front of their building.

3:43

I mean, they just celebrated one year.

Discussion Breakdown — Share of Meeting
Procedural█████████████████████████████████████████████55%
Parks and Recreation██████████████████████27%
Engineering And Infrastructure██████████12%
Public Engagement█████6%
Summary of Proceedings

Texarkana, Arkansas Board of Directors Regular Meeting - August 17, 2026

The meeting was called to order at 6:00 PM with roll call, invocation, and pledge of allegiance. The board addressed routine consent items, conducted a public hearing on weed liens, heard public comments on downtown maintenance and an upcoming community meeting, and held a lengthy discussion on the process for adding agenda items.

Consent Calendar

  • Approved the minutes of the regular meeting of August 3, 2026.
  • Adopted a resolution authorizing a change order for the ready site water and sewer extension project.
  • Adopted a resolution approving change order number one for the runway 4/22 extension overlay project at Texarkana Regional Airport.
  • Adopted a resolution to award an engineering contract with A.L. Franks Engineering for design of Nick's Creek walk and trail from Seibert Street to 500 feet past Pinehurst Street.
  • All consent items passed unanimously.

Public Comments & Testimony

  • Adri Smith (Vice Chair, Republican Committee) announced a nonpartisan public meeting on Issue 3, scheduled for September 10, 2026 at 6:00 PM at Hickory Street Baptist Church. She expressed support for Issue 3 as something needed in the community.
  • George Dotson (resident, 220 East Broad) presented photographs showing overgrown weeds, trash, and hazardous sidewalk conditions in downtown Texarkana, Arkansas. He expressed frustration with the city's lack of maintenance, noting that new businesses are investing but the city is not keeping up with beautification. He stated that he personally maintains the area in front of his home but cannot do the entire sidewalk. Mayor Brown suggested concrete as a safety solution, but Dotson opposed, preferring foliage. City Manager stated an RFP for maintenance of the entertainment district is being prepared for bid. Discussion ensued about whether A&P funds could be used, with the city attorney opining that they likely could for trash pickup and maintenance (not capital improvements). The board agreed to have the AMP council address the legal findings.

Discussion Items

  • Public Hearing on Weed Liens (27 overgrown lots): Roger (public works) presented the item. The board held a public hearing, no one from the public spoke. City attorney read the resolution. The resolution passed on a roll call vote: Director Harris abstained; Director Holbes, Assistant Mayor Brewer, Director Jewel, Director Smith, Director Roberts, and Mayor Brown voted yes.
  • Board Discussion on Agenda-Setting Process: Director Harris raised concerns about why two of his requested agenda items had not been added. City Attorney explained that the items lacked sufficient information to draft a legal resolution or ordinance, and the City Manager must approve legal sufficiency. Director Harris noted that he had sent questions but had not received answers. City Manager confirmed that if a board member requests a workshop, it must be scheduled within 30 days. Director Jewel stated he would second any request if all information is provided. The discussion clarified that the city attorney drafts ordinances/resolutions, and items requiring legal review cannot proceed without necessary details.
  • Recognition and Updates: Director Smith thanked Gary Smith (TWE) for resolving a water issue at Sunrise RV. Director Smith also promoted programs at the recreation center, noting services from Alzheimer's support to chair aerobics. He announced a Ward 4 town hall meeting on September 24, 2026 at 6:00 PM at the recreation center.
  • Closing Remarks: Mayor Brown thanked the public utilities commission and others for their work.

Key Outcomes

  • Adopted consent agenda (4 items) unanimously.
  • Adopted resolution placing liens on 27 overgrown lots (8 yes, 1 abstention).
  • City Manager to finalize and issue RFP for maintenance of the entertainment district.
  • Board to schedule a workshop (if requested) within 30 days to address Director Harris's agenda items once sufficient information is provided.
  • Meeting adjourned unanimously.

Meeting Transcript

Arkansas Board of Directors to order a couple of housekeeping things. If you have your cell phone with you, we'd appreciate if you'd silence your cell phone during the course of our meeting. The second thing is if you wish to address the board tonight, there are citizens' communication cards on the ledge. If you would get one of those and fill it out, get that to our city clerk. She can get that to me so we can have a record of you speaking tonight. At this time, we'll have a roll call. Director Harris? Here. Here. Director Jewel? Here. Director Smith? Here. Director Roberts? Here. Mayor Brown. Here. This time we'll stand for an invocation and pledge of allegiance given by Director Stephen Hollywood. Lord, thank you for this wonderful day that you blessed us with. God thank you for the opportunity to come together and handle the business of the city. God, we pray that you would be with us as we make decisions on behalf of our citizens. Give us your wisdom and guidance. Jesus' name I pray. Amen. Under God. Individual. Maybe seated. This time we'll move right on into citizens' communication time. The first card I have is Adri Smith. Good evening. I'm here tonight as vice chair for the uh Republican committee. And wanted to talk about issue three. We have a uh a uh meeting that we're gonna is gonna be held Thursday September the 10th at Hickory Street Baptist Church. And it's uh we're gonna have two gentlemen. Actually, one of the gentlemen uh is is the man that that drew this up, and uh he they're there gonna be there to answer all the questions for the public. Anybody that that comes, they're gonna talk with or they're willing to answer questions. Um the Republican Party is doing this jointly with the Democratic Party. It's a nonpartisan meeting. Democrats, Republicans can come here. Um this is issue three is something that we really need in our community, and uh uh I'm kind of the second string on this deal. Uh Vicky Lacey couldn't be here tonight, and uh Diana could not be here tonight, so that'll got me on this thing, and I'm uh not real informed about it yet. Uh but uh the meeting will be uh September the 10th at uh starting at 6 p.m. at the Hickory Street uh Baptist Church, and uh the public is invited, everybody's invited. Thank you. Thank you. George.

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