COUNCIL MINUTES APRIL, 2026

Date Posted: 05/20/2026

CITY OF GASSVILLE, ARKANSAS
MINUTES FOR THE REGULAR CITY COUNCIL MEETING
APRIL 21, 2026

A regular meeting of the City Council of the City of Gassville, Arkansas was held on Tuesday, April 21, 2026, at the Gassville Community Center. Mayor Braim led those in attendance in reciting the Pledge of Allegiance and offered a word of prayer, after which the meeting was then called to order at 6:00 PM.

Upon the calling of the roll, those in attendance were Council Member Benjamin Frost, Council Member Tim McFarland, Council Member Anita Seaman, Council Member Ernest Adkins, Council Member Ralph Bird, Mayor Jeff Braim, and Recorder-Treasurer Jeff Lewis. Council Member Naomi Lassen was absent. Department Heads in attendance were Police Chief Tim Mayfield, Fire Chief Michael Glotzl, and Water and Street Superintendent Michael Dewey.

The minutes from the March 17, 2026 meeting had been provided to each Council Member. Council Member Bird moved to approve those minutes as submitted, which motion was then seconded by Council Member Seaman. Mayor Braim called for additions or corrections. None were forthcoming, whereupon he called for the vote. Council Members Frost, McFarland, Seaman, Adkins, and Bird voted for the motion. There were no nays, and the Mayor declared the motion carried.

The financial report for the month of March, 2026 was then presented for approval. Council Member Seaman moved to approve the report as submitted. This motion was seconded by Council Member McFarland. Mayor Braim called for additions or corrections. None were forthcoming, whereupon he called for the vote. Council Members Frost, McFarland, Seaman, Adkins, and Bird voted for the motion. There were no nays, and the Mayor declared the motion carried.

Mr. Brian Haas, CPA, addressed the City Council with respect to the 2024 water/wastewater audit report. Peer review requirements have mandated that he project net pension liability to the city for water and sewer department employees on the Arkansas Public Employees Retirement System (APERS) in the unlikely event that APERS was unable to fully fund their retirement benefits in the future. He presented Council Members with a five page handout that explained the situation. This will be included in the final audit report.

Police Chief Mayfield gave the police department report for the month of March, 2026. It was accepted into the record without objection. He reported there are two full time vacancies within the police department at this time.

Fire Chief Glotzl gave the fire department report for the month of March, 2026. It was accepted into the record without objection. He also reported that the first two KnoxBox orders have been received. Authorities will be coming in May to re-evaluate the ISO rating for Gassville. Chief Glotzl also reported that one SCBA unit has been damaged, which he would like to remove from the city inventory list. It has an inventory number of 0433. Council Member Bird moved to remove this damaged piece of equipment, inventory number 0433, from the city inventory list. This motion was seconded by Council Member Adkins. Mayor Braim called for the vote. Council Members Frost, McFarland, Seaman, Adkins, and Bird voted for the motion. There were no nays, and the motion was declared to be carried.

The Gassville Planning and Zoning Commission did not meet.

The Cotter-Gassville Joint Sewer Commission met on April 9th. Council Member Seaman gave a report from that meeting. Highlights of the report included, but were not limited to:

· The line crew is busy with tree trimming work along the walking trail

· Employee "Alex" has obtained his Class I Operator License

· Maintenance was performed on the tractor

· A new smoker unit was purchased at a cost of $3,944

· A new portable generator was purchased at a cost of $692

· Various spare pumps and parts have been received

· The new tractor for the WWTF has been received

· An equipment age and life expectancy list for the WWTF was prepared and distributed

· The engineer is in the process of closing out the Phase II collection system renovation project.

· Grant opportunities are being explored for WWTF plant renovations in the future

Mayor Braim gave the building inspection report for the period of March 14th through April 17th. It was also accepted into the record without objection.

The Public Safety Committee and the Personnel Committee had met, and minutes from those meetings had been distributed to Council Members. Council Member Bird moved to approve those minutes as presented, which motion was seconded by Council Member Seaman. Mayor Braim called for the vote. Council Members Frost, McFarland, Seaman, Adkins, and Bird voted for the motion. The motion was declared to be carried.

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There was no unfinished business.

Under new business, the City Council took up consideration of Proposed Ordinance No. 2026-01 on its first reading. This ordinance was referred by the Personnel Committee. Council Member McFarland moved to place the proposed ordinance on its first reading. This motion was seconded by Council Member Bird. Mayor Braim called for the vote. Council Members Frost, McFarland, Seaman, Adkins, and Bird voted for the motion. There were no nays, and the motion was declared to be carried. Thereupon, Recorder-Treasurer Lewis read aloud the proposed ordinance in its entirety, entitled:

"ORDINANCE NO. 2026-01. AN ORDINANCE ESTABLISHING MINIMUM STARTING HOURLY WAGES PER POSITION OF EMPLOYEES OF THE CITY OF GASSVILLE, ALLOWING FOR A SCALE FOR THE MAYOR TO HIRE WITHOUT COUNCIL APPROVAL, REPEALING ALL ORDINANCE OR PARTS THEREOF THAT CONFLICT AND FOR OTHER PURPOSES."

Council Member Seaman then moved to accept the proposed ordinance from its first reading. This motion was seconded by Council Member Bird. Mayor Braim called for the vote. Council Members Frost, McFarland, Seaman, Adkins, and Bird voted for the motion. There were no nays, and the motion was declared carried.

Council Member Bird then moved to suspend the rules and place the proposed ordinance on its second reading by title only. This motion was seconded by Council Member McFarland. Mayor Braim called for the vote. Council Members Frost, McFarland, Seaman, Adkins, and Bird voted for the motion. There were no nays, and the motion was declared to be carried. Thereupon, Recorder-Treasurer Lewis read aloud the title of the proposed ordinance.

Council Member Seaman then moved to accept the proposed ordinance from its second reading. This motion was seconded by Council Member Bird. Mayor Braim called for the vote. Council Members Frost, McFarland, Seaman, Adkins, and Bird voted for the motion. There were no nays, and the motion was declared to be carried.

Council Member McFarland moved to further suspend the rules and place the proposed ordinance on its third and final reading by title only. This motion was seconded by Council Member Seaman. Mayor Braim called for the vote. Council Members Frost, McFarland, Seaman, Adkins, and Bird voted for the motion. There were no nays, and the motion was declared to be carried. Thereupon, Recorder-Treasurer Lewis read aloud the title of the proposed ordinance.

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Council Member Bird then moved to adopt the ordinance as read. This motion was seconded by Council Member McFarland. Mayor Braim called for discussion, then for the vote. Council Members Frost, McFarland, Seaman, Adkins, and Bird voted for the motion. There were no nays, and the Mayor declared the motion carried and Ordinance No. 2026-01 to be adopted.

Council Member Bird then moved to approve the emergency clause that was included in the ordinance and had been read with it. This motion was seconded by Council Member Seaman. Mayor Braim called for the vote. Council Members Frost, McFarland, Seaman, Adkins, and Bird voted for the motion. There were no nays, and the Mayor declared the motion carried and the emergency clause to be adopted.

The City Council next took up consideration of Proposed Ordinance No. 2026-02, which was also referred by the Personnel Committee. Council Member Bird moved to place the proposed ordinance on its first reading, which motion was seconded by Council Member Seaman. Mayor Braim called for the vote. Council Members Frost, McFarland, Seaman, Adkins, and Bird voted for the motion. There were no nays, and the motion was declared to be carried. Thereupon, Recorder-Treasurer Lewis read aloud the proposed ordinance in its entirety, entitled:

"ORDINANCE NO. 2026-02. AN ORDINANCE AMENDING ORDINANCE NO. 2024-05 ADDING A CYBERSECURITY POLICY, INTERNET POLICY, AND AI POLICY TO THE PERSONNEL HANDBOOK OF THE CITY OF GASSVILLE, ARKANSAS AND FOR OTHER PURPOSES."

This will be brought back for a second reading next month.

Finally, the City Council took up consideration of Proposed Ordinance No. 2026-03, which had been referred by the Public Safety Committee. Council Member Seaman moved to place the proposed ordinance on its first reading, which motion was seconded by Council Member McFarland. Mayor Braim called for the vote. Council Members Frost, McFarland, Seaman, Adkins, and Bird voted for the motion. There were no nays, and the motion was declared to be carried. Thereupon, Recorder-Treasurer Lewis read aloud the proposed ordinance in its entirety, entitled:

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"ORDINANCE NO. 2026-03. AN ORDINANCE REGULATING THE OUTSIDE BURNING OF YARD WASTE, DOZER DECKS, BRUSH PILES OR ANY OTHER OUTSIDE BURNING IN THE CITY LIMITS OF GASSVILLE, ARKANSAS; PROHIBITING THE BURNING OF GARBAGE; PROVIDING PENALTIES FOR VIOLATIONS; REQUIRING PERMITS TO BE OBTAINED; REPEALING ANY ORDINANCE OR PARTS THEREOF THAT CONFLICT AND DECLARING AN EMERGENCY."

Council Member Bird then moved to suspend the rules and place the proposed ordinance on its second reading by title only. This motion was seconded by Council Member Adkins. Mayor Braim called for the vote. Council Members Frost, McFarland, Seaman, Adkins, and Bird voted for the motion. There were no nays, and the motion was declared to be carried. Thereupon, Recorder-Treasurer Lewis read aloud the title of the proposed ordinance.

Council Member McFarland then moved to further suspend the rules and place the proposed ordinance on its third and final reading by title only. This motion was seconded by Council Member Adkins. Mayor Braim called for the vote. Council Members Frost, McFarland, Seaman, Adkins, and Bird voted for the motion. There were no nays, and the motion was declared to be carried. Thereupon, Recorder-Treasurer Lewis read aloud the title of the proposed ordinance.

Council Member McFarland moved to adopt the proposed ordinance as read. This motion was seconded by Council Member Seaman. Mayor Braim called for discussion, then for the vote. Council Members Frost, McFarland, Seaman, Adkins, and Bird voted for the motion. There were no nays, and the Mayor declared the motion carried and Ordinance No. 2026-03 to be adopted.

Council Member Seaman then moved to approve the emergency clause that had been contained in Ordinance No. 2026-03 and which had been read. This motion was seconded by Council Member Frost. Mayor Braim called for the vote. Council Members Frost, McFarland, Seaman, Adkins, and Bird voted for the motion. There were no nays, and the Mayor declared the motion to be carried and the emergency clause to be adopted.

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Continuing under new business, the Mayor asked the City Council for appropriations to pay for the water tank painting. The bid was awarded at the last meeting at a cost of $179,820.00. The contract signing will take place later this month. Mayor Braim would like to use $110,000.00 from the Tank Maintenance Fund and $69,820.00 from the 5% Water Depreciation Fund to pay for the work. Council Member Bird then moved to make the following appropriations:

$110,000.00 transferred from the Tank Maintenance Fund #03417 into Water Operation and Maintenance expense budget line item.

$69,820.00 transferred from 5% Water Depreciation Fund #03263 into Water Operation and Maintenance expense budget line item.

This motion as seconded by Council Member Adkins. Mayor Braim called for discussion, then for the vote. Council Members Frost, McFarland, Seaman, Adkins, and Bird voted for the motion. There were no nays, and the Mayor declared the motion carried.

A bid had been obtained from Crawford Electric, Inc. for a new trailer-mounted towable generator for the sewer department for use at the lift stations when needed. The bid was for $38,750.00. The Mayor wanted to purchase this equipment using funding from the 5% Sewer Depreciation Fund #03298. After discussion, Council Member Adkins moved to appropriate and transfer $38,750.00 from the 5% Sewer Deprecation Fund #03298 into the budget to pay for this purchase. This motion was seconded by Council Member McFarland. Mayor Braim called for the vote. Council Members Frost, McFarland, Seaman, Adkins, and Bird voted for the motion. There were no nays, and the motion was declared to be carried.

One final equipment purchase was discussed. A bid had been received from Clark Office Products to replace the copy machine in the City Hall with a newer model. The existing machine is ten years old and can be traded in. The price to the city after trade-in would be $5,320.00. A separate maintenance plan was offered as well. After discussion, Council Member Bird moved to waive bidding and appropriate $5,320.00 from the General Fund into the budget to purchase this new copier for $5,320.00 and also to purchase the maintenance agreement being offered. This motion was seconded by Council Member Adkins. Mayor Braim called for the vote. Council Members Frost, McFarland, Seaman, Adkins, and Bird voted for the motion. There were no nays, and the motion was declared to be carried.

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It was noted that eight hours of state-mandated training (Act 671) for the Recorder-Treasurer and the bookkeeper is being offered by the Arkansas Municipal League. This will cover budgeting basics, fund accounting, municipal revenue, internal controls, fixed asset management, payroll administration, and other topics. The training will be offered in person at the summer convention and will also be offered online.

Mayor Braim noted that a restaurant in town may potentially be interested in serving alcohol for on-premises consumption on Sundays. The process for allowing such is found in Arkansas Code 3-1-101 et seq, and it involves a petition process and public vote on the issue.

Mayor Braim announced that the Planning and Zoning Commission is schedule to meet in May. He also announced that the Arbor Day Proclamation and the planting of two Redbud trees will take place on Friday at the Gassville Cemetery.

There being no further business to come before the City Council at this time, the meeting then adjourned at 7:36 PM upon motion of Council Member Bird, seconded by Council Member McFarland, with all members voting in favor.

Submitted by: /s/ Jeffrey Lewis,
Recorder-Treasurer

Approved by: /s/ Jeff Braim,
Mayor