COUNCIL MINUTES MARCH, 2026

Date Posted: 04/22/2026

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

A regular meeting of the City Council of the City of Gassville, Arkansas was held on Tuesday, March 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 Benjamin Frost, Council Member Tim McFarland, Council Member Anita Seaman, Council Member Naomi Lassen, Council Member Ralph Bird, Mayor Jeff Braim, and Recorder-Treasurer Jeff Lewis. Council Member Ernest Adkins 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 February 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 Lassen. Mayor Braim called for additions or corrections. None were forthcoming, whereupon he called for the vote. Council Members Frost, McFarland, Seaman, Lassen, and Bird voted for the motion. There were no nays, and the Mayor declared the motion carried.

The financial report for the month of February, 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, Lassen, and Bird voted for the motion. There were no nays, and the Mayor declared the motion carried.

Police Chief Mayfield gave the police department report for the month of February, 2026. It was accepted into the record without objection. Chief Mayfield also reported that the new police vehicle on order, a 2026 Chevrolet Tahoe, should be delivered in April, after which the existing Ford Explorer will be sold.

Fire Chief Glotzl gave the fire department report for the month of February, 2026. It was accepted into the record without objection. He also reported that community education is underway on the availability and use of the Knox Box system.

Neither the Cotter-Gassville Joint Sewer Commission nor the Gassville Planning and Zoning Commission met, and thus no reports were available from them.

Mayor Braim gave the building inspection report for the period of February 13th through March 13th. It was also accepted into the record without objection.

The water and sewer committee met on March 12th during which bid opening was conducted for bids solicitated for the exterior painting of the water tower. The city engineer was in attendance. Council Member McFarland gave a synopsis of the events of the meeting. A copy of the minutes from that committee meeting are attached hereto and incorporated herein by reference. Council Member Seaman moved to approve those minutes, which motion was seconded by Council Member Bird. Mayor Braim called for the vote. Council Members Frost, McFarland, Seaman, Lassen, and Bird voted for the motion. There were no nays, and the Mayor declared the motion carried.

There was no unfinished business.

Under new business, Council Members Lassen and Bird gave a report from the city tree board committee. The city received recognition for its fourth year as being designated as a Tree City USA. The signs at the corporate limits will be updated to reflect this achievement, and a new banner was presented. The city tree board will meet again prior to the Gassville In The Park festival. There will also be an Arbor Day proclamation issued at Lancaster Park on April 24th at 10:00 AM, which may include the planting of a new tree at the park.

The bids that had been received and opened at the city water and sewer committee meeting for exterior water tank painting were then discussed. Of the eight bids received, the lowest bid was from Kimrey Painting, Inc. of Glenpool, Oklahoma for $179,820.00. The city engineer, Mr. Trey Foster, wrote in a letter to the Mayor wherein he recommended the City Council approve this bid. The bid included lead paint abatement, and work is expected to commence within sixty days of the contract signing. Council Member Lassen moved to approve and accept the bid from Kimrey Painting, Inc. for $179,820.00. This motion was seconded by Council Member Bird. Following discussion, the Mayor called for the vote. Council Members Frost, McFarland, Seaman, Lassen, and Bird voted for the motion. There were no nays, and the Mayor declared the motion carried. A date for the contract signing and pre-construction meeting will be set.

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Continuing under new business, the purchase of the new 2025 Caterpillar Model 420 4AEM, Serial No. 0H8T06342 from Riggs Cat for the street department was discussed. The purchase price after trade-in allowance was $78,025.09. There is already $60,000.00 allocated in the 2026 street department budget for equipment purchases. Mayor Braim asked the City Council for an additional appropriation from the Street Fund in the amount of $18,026.00 to cover the remaining cost. Council Member Bird then moved to appropriate an additional $18,026.00 from the Street Fund into street department expense budget line item #6510 Equipment Purchases for this purpose. This motion was seconded by Council Member Lassen. Mayor Braim called for discussion, then for the vote. Council Members Frost, McFarland, Seaman, Lassen, and Bird voted for the motion. There were no nays, and the Mayor declared the motion carried.

Mayor Braim then provided the City Council with various updates, to-wit:

1. Gassville In the Park will be on Saturday, June 6th.

2. The Arkansas Municipal League summer convention will be June 17th to June 19th.

3. A final draft of an intergovernmental cooperation agreement for procurement of planning and related consulting services was provided to Council Members regarding a city master plan. This has been sent to four other local municipalities that the Mayor has been in contact with regarding joint planning services.

4. Depositions are still ongoing with respect to the litigation involving the new city well. Additional depositions will take place on March 25th in Fayetteville. A medication conference is expected to take place in June.

A meeting of the public safety committee and the personnel committee will take place on March 24th at 5:00 PM.

Council Member McFarland asked about the status of the dilapidated building still standing at 516 Main Street owned by Jamie Mann. Mayor Braim replied that attorney Kerry Chism is still working on that issue and that there should be a resolution with the situation soon.

Council Member Seaman asked the Police Chief to increase speed enforcement efforts on Red Bud Rd.

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Council Member Lassen asked the Mayor if there are other derelict properties in the city that the City Council needs to consider for condemnation proceedings. He replied that there are two locations on Factory Street that are being looked into.

Superintendent Dewey reported that the generator is operational at the new city well site.

There being no further business to come before the City Council at this time, the meeting then adjourned at 6:49 PM upon motion of Council Member Bird, seconded by Council Member Lassen, with all members voting in favor.

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

Approved by: /s/ Jeff Braim,
Mayor