25 NOV 6REGULAR CITY COUNCIL MEETING - CITY HALL - #1 MUNICIPAL DRIVE
The City Council of the City of Jacksonville, Arkansas met for a regular session on November 6, 2025 at their regular meeting place. Council Member Ray delivered the invocation and Mayor
Elmore led a standing audience in the “Pledge of Allegiance.”
ROLL CALL: City Council Members: Dietz, Ruple, McCoy, Ray, LaBron, Moss, Twitty, Kinman, and Mimms answered ROLL CALL. Mayor Elmore also answered ROLL CALL declaring a quorum. PRESENT
NINE (9) ABSENT ONE (1). Council Member McCleary was absent.
Others present for the meeting were: Parks & Rec Director Kevin House, Finance Director Laura Collie, Assistant City Clerk Emilia Vazquez, CDBG Director Michelle Spencer, Assistant Fire
Chief Dewan Laws, Battalion Chief Drew Cargile, IT Support Shawn Sutterfield, Officer Devin Junior, and Jim Moore.
PRESENTATION OF MINUTES: Mayor Elmore presented the minutes of the regular City Council meeting of October 16, 2025 for approval and/or correction at the next regularly scheduled City
Council meeting.
APPROVAL AND/OR CORRECTION OF MINUTES: Council Member Ray moved, seconded by Council Member LaBron that the minutes of the regular City Council meeting of October 2, 2025 be APPROVED.
MOTION CARRIED.
CONSENT AGENDA: Council Member Ray moved, seconded by Council Member LaBron to approve the consent agenda as presented. MOTION CARRIED.
ENGINEERING DEPARTMENT REGULAR MONTHLY REPORT/OCTOBER
PERMITS/LICENSE ISSUED INSPECTIONS PERFORMED
Building Permits 12 Building 32
Business License 8 Electrical 56
Jobs Added 24 Plumbing 42
HVACR 21
WATER DEPARTMENT:
WASTEWATER DEPARTMENT:
FIRE DEPARTMENT:
POLICE DEPARTMENT:
STREET DEPARTMENT:
SANITATION DEPARTMENT:
PARKS & RECREATION:
PLANNING COMMISSION: a. FINAL PLAT Aubethany Estates Phase I
Director of Engineering & Public Works Adam Whitlow stated this subdivision is located on Military Road, it will have two phases, and all infrastructure is in.
Council Member Ray moved, seconded by Council Member LaBron to accept the final plat of Aubethany Estates Phase I. MOTION CARRIED.
b. FINAL PLAT Graham Woods Phase 4B
Director Whitlow explained the size of the houses will be comparable to the other Graham Woods phases; usually being a small starter home.
Council Member Kinman moved, seconded by Council Member Dietz to accept the final plat of Graham Woods Phase 4B. MOTION CARRIED.
COMMITTEE(S):
GENERAL: DISCUSSION 2026 Budget
Mayor Elmore related that Council received the proposed 2026 budget last Friday via email. When Council Member McCoy and Ruple inquired, he replied that the raise will be 3% for full-time
employees’ cost of living adjustment; not a merit.
Council Member McCoy asked how many employees are currently not at the midpoint for their salary.
Human Resources Director Charlette Nelson noted she would have to review the Arkansas Municipal League salary survey, which changes each year.
When City Clerk Davitt pointed out that information is usually included on the inhouse salary roster, Director Nelson concurred and agreed to send it out.
Council Member Kinman moved, seconded by Council Member Moss to ENTER INTO EXECUTIVE SESSION at approximately 6:06 p.m. regarding personnel. MOTION CARRIED.
Council Member Ray moved, seconded by Council Member LaBron to RECONVENE FROM EXECUTIVE SESSION at approximately 6:49 p.m. MOTION CARRIED.
Mayor Elmore announced Council entered into executive session to discuss several personnel matters, but no decisions or actionable items were made, so there is nothing to report at this
time. He confirmed no action will be taken on the budget tonight, but it will be voted on at the next meeting.
City Clerk Davitt mentioned just receiving a copy of the salary roster with the maximum salary column, but it did not include the midpoint column. She requested it be resent with that
column present.
Mayor Elmore instructed Director Nelson to disregard the request, since the roster will be revamped.
APPOINTMENTS:
UNFINISHED BUSINESS:
NEW BUSINESS:
ANNOUNCEMENTS: Christmas Parade
Mayor Elmore announced the Christmas Parade will be held on December 6th.
Birthday
Mayor Elmore shared that today is Council Member McCoy’s birthday.
Willow Bend Update
Mayor Elmore mentioned, as of tomorrow, the last resident should be out. He confirmed they all have vouchers, but CDBG Director Spencer is assisting with shelter and deposits. He noted
some still have belongings there, but they hope to be able to move soon. He stated the water was disconnected from the complex recently.
Council Member McCoy thanked Director Spencer for her help in working with Housing Authority to get the citizens assistance.
Council Member Kinman brought up that the same thing is happening in North Little Rock with Shorter College Gardens.
Mayor Elmore related it is the same company, Millennia, who owns Willow Bend.
Council Member Ruple inquired if barricading the area is possible to help reduce car and foot traffic until the buildings are demolished.
Mayor Elmore replied they cannot barricade it, since it would limit first responders’ access in case of an emergency. He affirmed the police department has stepped up tremendously with
extra patrol and arrested 11 people in one day that were not supposed to be there.
Police Chief Brett Hibbs added that fire is very likely with the cold temperatures coming up with the homeless. He confirmed they patrol it multiple times a day, so officers need to
be able to drive through. He told how they tried to get the owners to board the apartments up, but almost every one is wide open.
Fire Chief Alan Laughy noted any barricade his department can move is just as easy for anyone else to, and they will. He gave an example of people moving the barricades from the one-lane
bridge and driving over all of the time.
Chief Hibbs stated that Code Enforcement tagged every door, and if anyone is found, they would be trespassing.
ADJOURNMENT: Without objection, Mayor Elmore adjourned the meeting at approximately 7:00 p.m. MOTION CARRIED.
Respectfully,
________________________ _________________________
Susan L. Davitt MAYOR JEFF ELMORE
City Clerk-Treasurer