COUNCIL MINUTES MAY, 2026

Date Posted: 06/10/2026

CITY OF GASSVILLE, ARKANSAS
MINUTES FOR THE REGULAR CITY COUNCIL MEETING
MAY 19, 2026

A regular meeting of the City Council of the City of Gassville, Arkansas was held on Tuesday, May 19, 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 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.

The minutes from the April 21, 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 Adkins. 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 April, 2026 was then presented for approval. Council Member Lassen moved to approve the report as submitted. This motion was 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

Police Chief Mayfield gave the police department report for the month of April, 2026. It was accepted into the record without objection. He reported there are still two full time vacancies within the police department at this time, and the new police vehicle has been received.

Fire Chief Glotzl gave the fire department report for the month of April, 2026. It was accepted into the record without objection. He also reported that the Insurance Services Office (ISO) inspection has been completed, however their report has not yet been received.

The Gassville Planning and Zoning Commission met on May 18th. A copy of the minutes of that meeting are attached hereto and incorporated herein by reference. Council Member Bird moved to approve those minutes as submitted, which 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.

The Cotter-Gassville Joint Sewer Commission met on May 7th. Council Member Seaman presented a list of notes of topics of discussion at that meeting, which are attached hereto and incorporated herein by reference.

Mayor Braim gave the building inspection report for the period of April 18th through May 14th. It was accepted into the record without objection. He reported that Inspector Shane Marler is attending a conference at Mount Magazine, which will include his taking HVAC training and testing.

Under unfinished business the City Council took up consideration of Proposed Ordinance No. 2026-02 on its second reading. Council Member Seaman moved to suspend the rules and place the proposed ordinance on its second reading by title only. This motion was seconded by Council Member Lassen. 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."

Moving on to new business, the City Council heard a presentation from Mr. Kris Lloyd and Mr. Benny Magness with respect to partnering with the city to place one or more digital billboard signs in the city. These would be 10 x 30 or 10 x 40 in size, and the City of Gassville designation would be part of the signage. Mr. Lloyd explained that while this would primarily be a business venture to allow for advertising, from which the city would receive sales tax revenue. These digital signs would be for static messages only. There would be no video or flashing-type ads. If the city were to approve the request the signs can also be used to announce city events, festivals, school activities, announcements, and emergency notifications. It was pointed out to Mr. Lloyd that the city currently has an ordinance in place that prohibits the installation of any further billboard signs in the city limits. This would have to be re-evaluated by the City Council if the city is interested in allowing this proposal. It was agreed to hold further discussions with Mr. Lloyd on this possibility.

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Council Member Lassen moved to table the matter until the next meeting. This motion was seconded by Council Member Frost. 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.

Mr. Mark Kapshandy then addressed the City Council and provided a yearly activity and financial report from the North Arkansas Youth Center in Cotter. The center served approximately 5,000 children during calendar year 2025. The school bus drops off children at the center at 3pm and they are picked up by 6pm. The center is also open on weekends and can be rented for private parties and events. The North Arkansas Youth Center is on the National Register of Historic Places, having been constructed by the Works Progress Administration (WPA) between 1936 and 1938. The City of Gassville contributes funding towards the operations of the center.

The next order of business was discussion of a rate increase for trash pick-up services for the city. The monthly charge to the city hall will increase from $181.13 to $217.35 per month beginning in June. Mayor Braim suggested that the City Council look at the possibility of contracting with a specific trash pick-up service company for all trash pick-up in Gassville in order to potentially receive reduced rates. This would require that all Gassville addresses use the same trash pick-up service rather than being able to choose one of their own liking, with monthly billing being handled by the water and sewer department. The City Council seemed to be open to exploring this possibility.

Continuing under new business, the City Council took up a proposal to increase wages of existing employees. The Personnel Committee had previously referred a new wage scale chart to the City Council that raised the minimum starting rate of pay for each position for new employees, which the City Council has already approved. The Personnel Committee also recommended, in conjunction with this, that all existing city employees receive a wage increase to correlate with the increase in starting wages for newly hired employees if funding is determined to be available for it. The Mayor's proposal for this increase was to provide all full time city employees, except one, with a $1.00 per hour wage increase beginning with the first pay period in June, 2026. The exception would be that the water/sewer clerk would receive a $1.75 per hour wage increase because of her agreeing to take on an extra work load beyond her normal duties.

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After a period of discussion, Council Member Bird moved to approve the wage increases as requested by the Mayor's proposal. This motion was seconded by Council Member Lassen. 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.

As the Arkansas Municipal League's summer conference will be taking place at the same time as the regularly scheduled June City Council meeting, the Mayor asked the City Council to approve re-scheduling the June meeting to another day. The City Council agreed to instead meet on Tuesday, June 9th, in regular session.

Under updates, the Mayor reported the following:

1. The water tank painting project is currently underway.

2. Bid letting for state aid street projects for Gassville will be delayed until 2027.

3. The new city administration vehicle has been received.

4. The Mayor requested an additional appropriation for the purchase of seat covers and floor mats for the new city vehicle. Council Member Lassen moved to appropriate $1,000 from the General Fund into the 2026 budget, expense line item no. 6980 operation and maintenance - Mayor's vehicle, for this purpose. The motion was seconded by Council Member Bird, with all members voting for the motion. Motion was carried.

Prior to adjournment, Council Member Bird suggested that all city workers be provided with and carry with them photo ID cards to identify them as city employees when asked.

There being no further business to come before the City Council, the meeting then adjourned at 7:35 PM upon motion of Council Member Bird, seconded by Council Member Adkins, with all members voting in favor.

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

Approved by: /s/ Jeff Braim,
Mayor

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