COUNCIL MINUTES JUNE, 2026

Date Posted: 07/22/2026

CITY OF GASSVILLE, ARKANSAS
MINUTES FOR THE REGULAR CITY COUNCIL MEETING
JUNE 9, 2026

A regular meeting of the City Council of the City of Gassville, Arkansas was held on Tuesday, June 9, 2026 at the Gassville Community Center. The meeting was held one week earlier than the usual meeting date due to a conflict. 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 Naomi Lassen, Council Member Ernest Adkins, Council Member Ralph Bird, Mayor Jeff Braim, and Recorder-Treasurer Jeff Lewis. Department Heads in attendance were Police Chief Tim Mayfield, Fire Chief Michael Glotzl, and Water and Street Superintendent Michael Dewey. City Attorney Christopher Floyd was also present.

The minutes from the May 19, 2026 meeting had been provided to each Council Member. Council Member Lassen 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, Lassen, 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 May, 2026 was then presented for approval. It had just been completed, and the Council Members had not yet had time to review it. Council Member Lassen moved to table consideration of approval of the report until next month. This motion was seconded by Council Member Seaman. Mayor Braim called for the vote. Council Members Frost, McFarland, Seaman, Lassen, and Bird voted for the motion. Council Member Adkins voted against the motion. Mayor Braim declared the motion to be carried by majority vote of 5 to 1 , and the consideration and approval of the financial report was tabled for later action.

Police Chief Mayfield gave the police department report for the month of May, 2026. It was accepted into the record without objection. He reported that one full time police officer position has been filled with the hiring of Caleb Jenkins. The second full time position remains open and unfilled.

Fire Chief Glotzl gave the fire department report for the month of May, 2026. It was accepted into the record without objection. He also requested that the City Council authorize the removal from inventory of a 2010 Cardiac Science Automated External Defibrillator (AED) carrying inventory tag no. 0185 as having exceeded its life span and usefulness. Council Member Bird moved to authorize this item to be removed from the inventory list. The motion was seconded by Council Member Lassen. Upon the Mayor's calling for the vote, Council Member Frost, McFarland, Seaman, Lassen, Adkins, and Bird voted for the motion. There were no nays, and the motion was declared to be carried. Fire Chief Glotzl also reported that he was one of eighteen persons who just graduated from the Executive Fire Officer Program.

The Cotter-Gassville Joint Sewer Commission has not yet met for the month.

The Gassville Planning and Zoning Commission has not met.

The City Tree Board Committee met on June 1, 2026. A copy of the minutes from that meeting are attached hereto and incorporated herein by reference. Council Member McFarland moved to approve those minutes as submitted, which motion was seconded by Council Member Seaman. Mayor Braim called for the vote. Council Members Frost, McFarland, Seaman, Lassen, Adkins, and Bird voted for the motion. There were no nays, and the motion was declared to be carried.

Mayor Braim gave the building inspection report for the period of May 5th through June 5th. It was accepted into the record without objection. He reported that Inspector Shane Marler has obtained his HVAC certification and also attended a Building Inspector Conference.

Under unfinished business the City Council took up consideration of Proposed Ordinance No. 2026-02 on its third reading. Council Member Bird moved to 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, Lassen, 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, 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."

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

The agenda called for the City Council to review and approve the 2024 Water and Wastewater Audit, however Mayor Braim stated that according to the auditor, Brian Haas, CPA, the audit is still not finalized. Being as the audit must be approved by the City Council no later than the end of this month, Mayor Braim indicated that a special meeting will need to be called for that purpose once Mr. Haas has finalized the audit report.

Under new business, Mayor Braim and City Attorney Floyd addressed the City Council with respect to the ongoing litigation involving the new city water well on Houser Avenue. The court is requiring the parties to the lawsuit to attend a mediation conference tomorrow in Little Rock. Mayor Braim asked the City Council to consider granting him authorization to approve any settlement terms that might be agreed to by the respective parties. Accordingly, Council Member Bird moved the following resolution, seconded by Council Member Adkins:

RESOLVED, that the Mayor be, and he hereby is, authorized and empowered to accept and approve on behalf of the City of Gassville any settlement terms that he deems to be in the best interests of the city that may be reached and agreed to by the respective parties to the lawsuit at the mediation conference herein referenced.

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

The Mayor then provided the following updates to the City Council:

1. He will be attending the Arkansas Municipal Leage Summer Conference next week.

2. He noted that the financial report reflects that funds have already been transferred into the Water O & M Account to pay for the water tank painting now underway, but the expenditure has not yet been made.

3. The former Chevrolet Traverse city administration vehicle has been sold for $9,000.

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4. The Gassville In The Park event took place last weekend, and the Mayor expressed his appreciation for the recognition award he was presented with by the Council Members.

5. The 2026 filing dates for municipal candidates will be July 29th through August 5th at 12:00 noon.

At this point, the Mayor asked the City Council to adjourn into executive session to discuss personnel issues. Council Member Bird moved to go into executive session for that purpose. The motion was seconded by Council Member Lassen. The Mayor called for the vote. Council Members Frost, McFarland, Seaman, Lassen, Adkins, and Bird voted for the motion. There were no nays, and the motion was declared to be carried. The City Council then moved into closed executive session at 6:19 PM.

The City Council came out of executive session at 6:30 PM, and Council Member Bird moved to resume the open meeting. This motion was seconded by Council Member McFarland. Mayor Braim called for the vote. Council Members Frost, McFarland, Seaman, Lassen, Adkins, and Bird voted for the motion. There were no nays, and the motion was declared to be carried.

Once back in open public session, Mayor Braim announced that two matters had been discussed, and he requested the City Council to take action on those matters.

The Mayor first requested that the Water Clerk, Jamie Peeples, be also designated as Assistant Bookkeeper, with an amended job description, and receive an additional $2.00 per hour pay increase for assuming additional duties. Council Member Lassen moved to approve this request, which motion was seconded by Council Member Bird. Mayor Braim called for discussion, then for the vote. Council Members Frost, McFarland, Seaman, Lassen, Adkins, and Bird voted for the motion. There were no nays, and the motion was declared to be carried.

Secondly, the Mayor asked that the Recorder-Treasurer receive a wage increase in the amount of $100 per month. Council Member Bird moved to approve this request, which motion was seconded by Council Member Adkins. Mayor Braim called for the vote. Council Members Frost, McFarland, Seaman, Lassen, Adkins, and Bird voted for the motion. There were no nays, and the motion was declared to be carried.

Prior to adjournment, the Mayor indicated he will need to call a meeting of the Personnel Committee, potentially later this month.

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There being no further business to come before the City Council at this time, the meeting then adjourned at 6:35 PM upon motion of Council Member Bird, seconded by Council Member Seaman, with all members voting in favor.

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

Approved by: /s/ Jeff Braim,
Mayor