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Record of Proceedings

Texarkana Board of Directors Meeting - September 22, 2026

Board of Directors & Commissions — Tuesday, September 22, 2026
BodyTexarkana, Arkansas
SessionBoard of Directors & Commissions
DateTuesday, September 22, 2026
StatusFILED
Video Record
0:00 / 28:17

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

Speaker numbers apply only to this recording.

Speaker 1

0:00

Bit of a unique situation this evening since both the mayor and assistant mayor are out.

0:05

Um I'll start with letting you know that um we do have to pull items number four and five from tonight's agenda.

0:15

That's the TWU budget and the airport budget.

0:19

Um I've got four oh and four, five, and six.

0:25

I'm sorry.

0:27

So two of those items are the airport budget, one is the TWU budget.

0:31

Um but we will have to have um you four decide on who's going to chair this meeting uh amongst you.

Speaker 2

0:41

Well ward five would be the next uh uh assistant mayor here.

0:47

So I I'll nominate uh Danny Jewell to chair.

Speaker 3

0:50

But also is the senior board memo.

Speaker 2

0:54

Well then I'll nominate whichever one of y'all want it.

Speaker 3

0:56

Okay, I'm just saying no, I'm just throwing that out so

Speaker 4

1:01

as long as it's not the ends.

1:03

I'll second the motion for Danny to see.

1:05

He said he wants

Unassigned speaker

1:06

it.

Unassigned speaker

1:07

I'll

Speaker 4

1:07

take it.

1:08

Let's let him have a little practice, Director Harris.

Speaker 1

1:10

Can we get a voice vote?

Speaker 4

1:16

I've seen you've got a lot of you know,

Speaker 3

1:19

what I'm uh some people out well.

1:22

I know

Speaker 1

1:23

so we've got a motion for Director Jewell to chair the meeting in a second.

1:29

Um all in favor say aye.

1:31

Aye.

1:32

Any opposed?

Speaker 3

1:33

I'm not gonna say

Unassigned speaker

1:34

no.

Unassigned speaker

1:34

So

Speaker 1

1:37

director Jewel, you can take it from there.

Unassigned speaker

1:40

Well, I'm with you right here, maybe.

Unassigned speaker

1:43

Can we move around and say what we want to do?

Unassigned speaker

1:46

I will

Speaker 5

1:46

sit

Unassigned speaker

1:47

right here because I haven't done this in a while.

Unassigned speaker

1:51

Well, I say I am

Speaker 2

1:56

you got a big chair to feel now.

Speaker 5

1:58

All right.

1:59

Looks like first thing is roll call, please.

2:03

Well, no, call an order.

2:06

The roll call.

Speaker 6

2:08

Director Holobish is absent.

2:10

Assistant mayor brewer is absent.

2:12

Acting mayor jewel.

Speaker 5

2:15

Here

Unassigned speaker

2:17

uh

Speaker 6

2:17

director Smith?

Speaker 5

2:18

Here.

Speaker 6

2:19

Director Roberts?

Speaker 5

2:20

Here.

Speaker 6

2:21

Director Harris?

2:22

Here and Mayor Brown is absent.

Speaker 5

2:26

Now invocation and pledge allegiance, and I guess I'll here Robert.

2:31

You want to do that for us, please?

Unassigned speaker

2:36

Our

Speaker 2

2:37

Heavenly Father, we appreciate you so much for letting us come together tonight to take care of the city's business.

2:44

We pray that it would be done orderly in a fashion that would benefit everyone, always putting the citizens first and would glorify your name.

2:52

Christ's name we pray.

2:54

Amen.

Discussion Breakdown — Share of Meeting
Animal Welfare█████████████████████████████29%
Procedural██████████████████████████26%
Affordable Housing████████████████16%
Engineering And Infrastructure█████████████13%
Public Engagement████████████12%
Cannabis Regulation████4%
Summary of Proceedings

Texarkana Board of Directors Meeting - September 22, 2026

The Texarkana Board of Directors met on September 22, 2026, with Acting Mayor Danny Jewell presiding after the Mayor and Assistant Mayor were absent. Four members were present. Items 4, 5, and 6 (TWU budget and airport budget) were pulled from the agenda at the start of the meeting due to the absence of key members.

Consent Calendar

  • Unanimously approved the minutes of the rescheduled regular meeting on September 8, 2026.
  • Adopted a resolution to reschedule Board of Directors meetings in 2027 that conflict with holidays.
  • Adopted a resolution authorizing the city manager to execute a contract with WSB LLC for the predictive LSW model project.

Public Comments & Testimony

  • Brandon Norman addressed the Board regarding a citation he received for abandoning a stray puppy. He explained that on September 16, 2026, he found a stray puppy in his yard, contacted the Animal Care and Adoption Center, and brought the puppy to the facility but was turned away after failing to provide a physical ID. He was later cited. Board members expressed strong concern and frustration, with Director Harris calling the situation ridiculous and suggesting the citation should be withdrawn. The City Manager stated he would investigate the matter, speak with shelter employees, and contact Mr. Norman.

Discussion Items

  • Private Club Application (The Salty Pilot LLC): The Board conducted the first reading of an ordinance granting prerequisite municipal approval for a private club application at 2905 Arkansas Boulevard. Because only four members were present, the Board could not pass the emergency clause or proceed to a second reading. The item will be taken up at the next meeting on October 5, 2026.
  • Bridge on SIBA and Washington Street: Director Harris inquired about the status of the bridge closed by ARDOT. The City Manager reported that ARDOT does not project construction for at least another 18 months. The city is exploring demolishing the bridge and installing a temporary crossing at its own expense, pending resolution of reimbursement questions with ARDOT.
  • Housing Initiatives: Director Harris discussed a new federal housing bill providing over $200 million annually and advocated for a housing study and hiring a housing coordinator. The City Manager agreed that a housing study is a priority for the upcoming budget and noted that grant funds could eventually cover such a position.

Key Outcomes

  • The Board unanimously approved all consent agenda items.
  • The private club ordinance will return for a second reading and potential passage at the October 5, 2026, meeting.
  • The City Manager will investigate the citation issued to Brandon Norman and report back to the Board.
  • The City Manager will continue working with ARDOT on the bridge and pursue a housing study.
  • Director Brewer's Ward 4 meeting was announced for Thursday, September 24, 2026, at 6 p.m. at the Recreation Center.

Meeting Transcript

Bit of a unique situation this evening since both the mayor and assistant mayor are out. Um I'll start with letting you know that um we do have to pull items number four and five from tonight's agenda. That's the TWU budget and the airport budget. Um I've got four oh and four, five, and six. I'm sorry. So two of those items are the airport budget, one is the TWU budget. Um but we will have to have um you four decide on who's going to chair this meeting uh amongst you. Well ward five would be the next uh uh assistant mayor here. So I I'll nominate uh Danny Jewell to chair. But also is the senior board memo. Well then I'll nominate whichever one of y'all want it. Okay, I'm just saying no, I'm just throwing that out so as long as it's not the ends. I'll second the motion for Danny to see. He said he wants it. I'll take it. Let's let him have a little practice, Director Harris. Can we get a voice vote? I've seen you've got a lot of you know, what I'm uh some people out well. I know so we've got a motion for Director Jewell to chair the meeting in a second. Um all in favor say aye. Aye. Any opposed? I'm not gonna say no. So director Jewel, you can take it from there. Well, I'm with you right here, maybe. Can we move around and say what we want to do? I will sit right here because I haven't done this in a while. Well, I say I am you got a big chair to feel now. All right. Looks like first thing is roll call, please. Well, no, call an order. The roll call. Director Holobish is absent. Assistant mayor brewer is absent. Acting mayor jewel. Here uh director Smith? Here. Director Roberts?

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