Van City Council Regular Meeting - September 10, 2026

The Van City Council held a regular meeting on Thursday, September 10, 2026, at 7:00 PM at Van City Hall. The meeting covered a range of administrative, public safety, and community development items, including the selection of a new EMS provider, a citizen request to remove stop signs, and multiple budget approvals.

Consent Calendar

• Approved minutes from the August 13, 2026 regular meeting and the financial report.

Public Comments & Testimony

• Timothy Sims (150 West Florida Street, resident of 29 years) requested lowering the speed limit on West Florida Street from 30 mph to 15 mph, citing narrow, winding road conditions that make travel dangerous and prevent children from playing outside. He offered to purchase signs.
• Richard Callaway (First Call Restoration, Van native) presented a proposed "Victims Assistance Program" to provide free emergency board-up and tarp-up services for residential fire victims at no cost to the city, fire department, or homeowner, with no endorsement or exclusive referral required. He requested continued discussion on implementation.

Discussion Items

• City Manager's Report: September sales tax allocation figures not yet received; radar trailer placed on Florida Street to collect speed data; water well #3 test results were excellent, proceeding with boring; the annual fishing day is being prepared with a new dock and sponsor Faith Co.
• Information and Discussion:
  • Hazard Mitigation Plan: Submitted action items to remain eligible for grant funds, including weather radios, safe room incentives in building codes, drought-tolerant landscaping, and flood warning signs.
  • Oil Festival Parade & Halloween Event: Council members expressed willingness to participate in a parade entry (e.g., in a truck with top hats) and a Halloween event with children; no formal action taken.
  • City Hall Remodel: Discussed possible relocation of the library to the EDC's Movie House and subsequent remodeling of City Hall. City Manager noted significant costs and emphasized the need for a workshop to define objectives (accessible parking, IT, public services) before committing to a plan.
• Action Items:
  • EMS Provider Selection: Mayor Burns recused himself. Council discussed chronic poor response times (20–30 minutes vs. contractual 8:59), lack of improvement, and an existing contract expiring June 2028. A motion passed to enter a contract with a new provider to begin no later than June 2028 and simultaneously terminate the current contract due to default.
  • Stop Signs at West Kansas & Cherry: A citizen argued signs were installed without proper traffic study and are not warranted. Council discussed a similar precedent and agreed to conduct a traffic study (similar to the prior Magnolia study) before deciding removal. The City Manager will collect speed/car counts and accident data.
  • FY2025-2026 Budget Amendment: Passed to reallocate EDC payroll reimbursements and document a $95,000 hotel/motel tax transfer to an interest-bearing savings account for transparency; no net expenditure changes.
  • EDC Budget FY2026-2027: Approved, including a new $40,000 Business Improvement Grant (BIG) and continuation of a Facade Grant, with projects over $10,000 requiring council approval.
  • Certification of Unopposed Candidates: Approved.
  • Cancellation of November 3, 2026 General Election: Approved, saving approximately $5,000 due to no contested races.
  • Destruction of Outdated Records: Approved per state retention standards; documentation provided.

Key Outcomes

• New EMS Provider: Council voted to authorize a contract with a new provider (start date no later than June 2028) and initiate default termination of the current provider. Mayor Burns recused himself. (Motion made and seconded; all others voted aye.)
• Stop Sign Study: City Manager will conduct a traffic study of the West Kansas and Cherry Street intersection; signs will remain in place pending results.
• Budget Amendments: Both the FY2025-2026 amendment and the FY2026-2027 EDC budget were approved unanimously.
• Election Cancellation: The November 3, 2026 general election was canceled due to unopposed candidates; savings of ~$5,000.
• Florida Street: Immediate actions include mowing and tree trimming on the south side to improve visibility, plus radar data collection.
• Next Steps: City Manager noted a rough draft of a subdivision ordinance (including potential tree preservation language) will be brought to the October 24 meeting (special meeting set for September 24).