COUNCIL MINUTES FEBRUARY, 2026

Date Posted: 03/18/2026

CITY OF GASSVILLE, ARKANSAS
MINUTES FOR THE REGULAR CITY COUNCIL MEETING
FEBRUARY 17, 2026

A regular meeting of the City Council of the City of Gassville, Arkansas was held on Tuesday, February 17, 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 Tim McFarland, Council Member Anita Seaman, Council Member Naomi Lassen, Council Member Ernest Adkins, Mayor Jeff Braim, and Recorder-Treasurer Jeff Lewis. Council Members Benjamin Frost and Ralph Bird were 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 January 27, 2026 Council Meeting were presented for approval. Council Member Lassen moved to approve the minutes as presented, which motion was seconded by Council Member Seaman. No corrections or additions were called for, whereupon the Mayor called for the vote. Council Members McFarland, Seaman, Lassen, and Adkins voted for the motion. There were no nays, and the motion was declared to be carried.

The financial report for the month of January, 2026 was presented for approval. Council Member Seaman moved to approve the financial report as presented. This motion was seconded by Council Member McFarland. There were no corrections asked for. Mayor Braim then called for the vote. Council Members McFarland, Seaman, Lassen, and Adkins, voted for the motion. There were no nays, and the motion was declared to be carried.

Police Chief Mayfield gave the police department report for the month of January, 2026. It was accepted into the record without objection. He also noted that there is currently a vacancy for a full time position within the police department due to a resignation.

Fire Chief Glotzl gave the fire department report for the month of January, 2026. It was accepted into the record without objection.

Mayor Braim gave the building inspection report for the period of 01/09/2026 through 02/13/2026. It was also accepted into the record without objection.

The Planning and Zoning Commission has not met, however Mayor Braim did inform the City Council that a draft of a comprehensive city master plan is nearing completion. This will be presented to other municipalities as well to see if they would be willing to partner with Gassville in this plan.

Council Member Seaman gave a report from the Cotter-Gassville Joint Sewer Commission, which met on February 12, 2026. Excerpts from the report included, but were not limited to:

1. A final cost estimate on the renovation of the collection system was given. Final cost estimates came to $4,365,913. Original funding obtained through the USDA was $2,170,000. Supplemental funding from USDA was $2,196,000

2. The removal of trees along the walking trail where the above ground line is located is underway, as well as the lining of manholes and the old ladders being replaced.

3. Routine maintenance issues involving the generator, backhoe, and tractor were discussed.

4. Grease trap inspections were completed. The only one needing attention was at the Cotter School.

5. The smoke testing equipment circa 1990 is in need of replacement. Estimated replacement cost will be $3,410.

6. Operations at the wastewater treatment facility are normal, however there were minor issues encountered with the recent extreme cold weather.

7. The treatment plant facility is in need of significant updates and renovations. The last significant upgrades were made about 25 years ago. The roof to the building is leaking and needs repaired or replaced. Cost estimates are being obtained.

8. The old tractor is in poor condition and needs to be replaced.

9. Another employee has obtained his Class III operator license.

The Personnel Committee had met on February 9, 2026. The meeting was primarily called for the purpose of discussing the city wage scale for employees. A copy of the minutes was presented to the Council Members for approval. Council Member Adkins moved to approve the minutes as submitted, which motion was seconded by Council Member Lassen. Upon calling for the vote, Council Members McFarland, Seaman, Lassen, and Adkins voted for the motion. There were no nays, and the motion was declared to be carried.

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Moving on to unfinished business, the City Council took up consideration of Proposed Ordinance No. 2025-14 on its third reading. Council Member Lassen 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 Adkins. Mayor Braim called for the vote. Council Members McFarland, Seaman, Lassen, and Adkins voted for the motion. There were no nays, and the Mayor declared the motion to be carried. Thereupon, Recorder-Treasurer Lewis read aloud the title of the proposed ordinance, entitled:

"ORDINANCE NO. 2025-14. AN ORDINANCE TO ALLOW FOR THE OPERATION OF UTILITY TASK VEHICLES ON CITY STREETS WITHIN THE CITY OF GASSVILLE IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE AUTHORITY GRANTED UNDER ACT 922 OF 2025 OF THE ARKANSAS GENERAL ASSEMBLY, AND FOR OTHER PURPOSES."

Council Member McFarland then 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 McFarland, Seaman, Lassen, and Adkins voted for the motion. There were no nays, and the motion was declared to be carried and Ordinance No. 2025-14 to be adopted.

A draft of an application form to obtain a city permit for Utility Task Vehicle operation under that ordinance was submitted by Recorder-Treasurer Lewis. Council Member McFarland moved to approve the use of this application form as amended. This motion was seconded by Council Member Adkins. Mayor Braim called for the vote. Council Members McFarland, Seaman, Lassen, and Adkins voted for the motion. There were no nays, and the motion was declared to be carried.

The matter of repainting the city water tower was next discussed. The Mayor and Water Superintendent met today with the Engineer, Trey Foster of Civil Engineering Associates, about this project. Bids are ready to be let for this work. The estimated project cost provided by the engineer was $243,350. Five coats of old paint will have to be removed, and the tank will be sandblasted back to bare metal. Then a primer, first coat, and second coat of new paint will be applied. There are two radio antennas on the tower that the city will have to arrange to be removed temporarily before the work can commence. One is a Baxter County 9-1-1 Center antenna and the other is for Yelcot Telephone Company. Solicitation for bids will take three weeks, followed then by a bid opening at a City Council Meeting.

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Work should be completed within 60 days of a contract being signed. During that time, the city will be purchasing water from the City of Mountain Home. Council Member Lassen moved to authorize the Mayor to advertise for bids for this project, which motion was seconded by Council Member Seaman. Mayor Braim called for discussion, then for the vote. Council Members McFarland, Seaman, Lassen, and Adkins voted for the motion. There were no nays, and the motion was declared to be carried.

The matter of the purchase of a replacement backhoe for the city was then discussed. At the last meeting, Council Member Bird asked Superintendent Dewey to obtain details about a lease of a new backhoe rather than an outright purchase. Superintendent Dewey reported back that a lease from "Riggs Cat" for a new Caterpillar Model 420 4AEM backhoe was available for 36 months at $2,751.41 per month. The city would have no equity in the backhoe at the end of that period, however a lease would include a service maintenance provision. At the end of the lease period, the city could then exercise an option to purchase the backhoe or enter into a new lease for another one. The ultimate cost of a lease/purchase deal after the 36 month period would be $143,070 according to documentation provided by Riggs Cat. An outright purchase of the backhoe would cost $127,709, with a $55,000 trade-in given for the existing backhoe. After discussion, Council Member Lassen moved to proceed with an outright purchase of the backhoe rather than enter into a lease agreement. This motion was seconded by Council Member Seaman. Mayor Braim called for further discussion, then for the vote. Council Members McFarland, Seaman, Lassen, and Adkins voted for the motion. There were no nays, and the Mayor declared the motion to be carried.

Mayor Braim then informed the City Council that he will be sending a letter to Superior Automotive Group in Lowell, Arkansas informing them that the city intends to purchase a new police vehicle, a Chevrolet Tahoe. Funding for this purchase was already included in the 2026 budget.

The next equipment item discussed was the old tractor at the wastewater treatment facility that needs to be replaced. A cost estimate for a new replacement tractor had been obtained from Massey-Ferguson in Harrison, Arkansas. The purchase price, which included a municipal discount deduction, would be $25,900. There would be a five year warrant provided on a new tractor. The City of Gassville and the City of Cotter would share the expense for this purchase at the current percentage level. After a period of discussion, which included how to pay for the purchase and how to dispose of the old equipment, Council Member McFarland moved the following resolution, seconded by Council Member Seaman:

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"RESOLVED, that the City of Gassville waive competitive bidding and proceed with purchasing the Massey-Ferguson tractor for $25,900 as quoted." This motion was seconded by Council Member Seaman. Mayor Braim called for discussion, then for the vote. Council Members McFarland, Seaman, Lassen, and Adkins voted for the motion. There were no nays, and the motion was declared to be carried.

Council Member Adkins then moved to pay for this new tractor purchase by authorizing the expenditure of $26,000 from the WWTF - Capital Reserve Fund #03506 for that purpose. This motion was seconded by Council Member Seaman. Mayor Braim called for the vote. Council Members McFarland, Seaman, Lassen, and Adkins voted for the motion. There were no nays, and the motion as declared to be carried.

Finally, Council Member McFarland then moved to authorize the sale of the old tractor and an old backhoe at the wastewater treatment facility, with revenue from those sales to be placed back into the WWTF - Capital Reserve Fund #03506. This motion was seconded by Council Member Seaman. Mayor Braim called for the vote. Council Members McFarland, Seaman, Lassen, and Adkins voted for the motion. There were no nays, and the motion was declared to be carried.

Returning to the issue of purchasing the new police department vehicle, it was remembered that the City Council would need to waive competitive bidding to allow an immediate purchase from Superior Automotive Group. Council Member Adkins then moved the following resolution, seconded by Council Member McFarland:

"RESOLVED that competitive bidding requirements be waived and that the City of Gassville proceed with purchasing the new Chevrolet Tahoe police vehicle from Superior Automotive Group in Lowell, Arkansas."

Mayor Braim called for the vote. Council Members McFarland, Seaman, Lassen, and Adkins voted for the motion. There were no nays, and the motion was declared to be carried.

The next item of discussion pertained to retroactive compensation of city employees at the new 2026 rate of pay for three days that were at the end of 2025 but were part of the first pay period of 2026, being December 29, 30, and 31, 2025. All employees were given a $1.00 per hour pay raise in the 2026 budget. Apparently, the new increased rate of pay had not been applied back to those three days in 2025.

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Council Member Lassen moved to make necessary payroll adjustments to compensate all city employees at their new 2026 rate of pay for December 29, 30, and 31, 2025 if they worked those days, as well as applying the same adjustment to any certificate pay differential that might be involved. This motion was seconded by Council Member Seaman. Mayor Braim called for discussion, then for the vote. Council Members McFarland, Seaman, Lassen, and Adkins voted for the motion. There were no nays, and the motion was declared to be carried.

The purchase and acquisition of a new city administration vehicle to replace the existing Chevrolet Traverse was discussed. The City Council has already appropriated $25,000 in the 2026 budget toward the purchase of a replacement vehicle. Mayor Braim stated that a new Dodge Durango AWD with a 5 year warranty is now available from Red River Dodge in Heber Springs, Arkansas as part of the state bid procurement at a cost of $35,094, and he asked the City Council to consider this option. After discussion, Council Member McFarland moved to appropriate an additional $10,100 from General Fund to add to the $25,000 already budgeted and to authorized the purchase of the Dodge Durango at the state bid price of $35,094. This motion was seconded by Council Member Seaman. Mayor Braim called for the vote. Council Members McFarland, Seaman, Lassen, and Adkins voted for the motion. There were no nays, and the Mayor declared the motion to be carried.

Prior to adjournment, Mayor Braim updated the City Council on the following items:

1. Depositions will be taken from the Mayor and Water Superintendent on March 5th and March 6th in Batesville pertaining to the city's lawsuit against the contractor on the new city well on Houser Ave. A mediation conference required by the court will then be held on June 10th in Little Rock.

2. The Mayor will be in Little Rock next week for meetings at Arkansas Municipal League.

3. Both Mayor Braim and the Mayor of Cotter have met with representatives of Yelcot Telephone Company with respect to cybersecurity issues.

4. Gassville In The Park will be on June 6th.

There being no further business to come before the City Council, the meeting then adjourned at 7:23 PM upon motion of Council Member Adkins, seconded by Council Member McFarland, with all members voting in favor.

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

Approved by: /s/ Jeff Braim,
Mayor

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