[1:06] Dear heavenly father, we thank you for

[1:08] this day and all your many blessings.

[1:10] Remove anything that hinders us from a

[1:12] relationship with you. We pray for our

[1:14] country, our president, our state, local

[1:16] leaders. We pray for the military, our

[1:18] first responders, and their families.

[1:20] Lord, forgive us where we fail you.

[1:22] Lead, guide, and direct us in all that

[1:23] we do. And we will be sure to give you

[1:25] the praise in Jesus name. Amen. Amen.

[1:33] Call to order the January 20th, 2026

[1:36] council meeting. Uh Ally, will you lead

[1:38] us in the pledgece

[1:44] to the flag of the United States of

[1:46] America to the

[1:49] standy

[1:55] for all.

[1:59] Miss Vicki, call roll when you're ready.

[2:22] here.

[2:25] >> Here.

[2:30] Let the record show we have a quorum

[2:33] and we will start with a resolution for

[2:36] [clears throat] council procedures.

[2:41] » Make a motion.

[2:43] >> Second

[2:46] change.

[2:49] Who was the second?

[2:51] >> Lewis uh was made the motion and JP did

[2:54] the second. Any discussion

[2:59] » when you're ready? And what's the

[3:02] number? 01.

[3:16] » Oh, I'm ready.

[3:21] Oh, we can. Louis, do you mind to read

[3:24] it?

[3:29] » I can.

[3:30] >> Okay.

[3:32] [clears throat]

[3:32] >> Is this 01?

[3:35] Uh resol resolution 202601, a resolution

[3:39] establishing procedures for the conduct

[3:41] of meetings for the Hebrew Springs City

[3:42] Council. Whereas Arkansas Code annotated

[3:45] 1443501A1C

[3:47] requires that the governing body of the

[3:49] city of Hebrew Springs, Arkansas,

[3:51] determine the rules of its proceedings

[3:53] during the first meeting in January. Now

[3:55] therefore, be it ordained by the city

[3:57] council of the city of Hebrew Springs,

[3:59] Arkansas, section one, meetings of the

[4:00] city council of the city of Hebrew

[4:02] Springs, Arkansas shall be held in the

[4:04] council room at city hall.

[4:08] >> Yeah,

[4:09] >> it says,

[4:10] >> oh, okay, it does say 101 West Main

[4:14] Street or Community Center, 2011 Bobby

[4:16] Gene Lane, Springs, Arkansas. However,

[4:19] nothing shall preclude the relocation of

[4:21] meetings, regular or special, to an

[4:23] alternate location. Notice will be given

[4:26] to the public at least seven days in

[4:28] advance in the event of scheduled

[4:30] relocation. All meetings of the city

[4:32] council, regular or special, will be

[4:34] recorded in accordance with Arkansas

[4:36] Code 2519106.

[4:39] Section two, regular meeting of the

[4:41] Hebrew Springs City Council will be held

[4:42] the third Thursday of each month

[4:45] beginning at 6 PM. Special meeting times

[4:48] and locations will be posted on the door

[4:50] of the Hebrew Springs Council room as

[4:52] otherwise required. Section three and

[4:54] agend agenda shall be prepared by the

[4:57] Hebrew Springs City Clerk for every

[4:59] regular and special meetings of the city

[5:01] council. The agenda shall contain any

[5:04] item of business that any member of the

[5:06] Heber Spring City Council or the mayor

[5:08] presents for inclusion on the agenda.

[5:10] Any item of business to be included will

[5:12] be submitted with a brief written

[5:15] explanation for their requested

[5:17] consideration to the city clerk no later

[5:20] than 4 p.m. on Wednesday, one week prior

[5:23] to the regular meeting date. Agendas for

[5:25] special meetings will be prepared with

[5:27] the consideration of the requirement for

[5:29] public notice. Agenda shall be delivered

[5:32] by mail or other means to members to the

[5:34] city council, mayor, and press no later

[5:37] than seven days prior to the meeting

[5:38] date. Section four, notwithstanding the

[5:42] foregoing subsection of this ordinance,

[5:44] the city council may by a majority vote

[5:46] of the members present elect to place

[5:48] any matter before the city council for

[5:50] consideration of that meeting. Section

[5:52] five. The city clerk shall place any

[5:54] items of business to be before the

[5:56] members of the Hebrew Spring City

[5:58] Council on the agenda under the

[5:59] appropriate category according to the

[6:01] following order of business. Items under

[6:04] new business which are not resolved are

[6:06] to be again placed under old business

[6:08] under until resolution or removal by

[6:11] council vote. A call to order. B. Pledge

[6:14] of allegiance. C. Roll call.

[6:17] D. Motion to wave the reading of the

[6:20] minutes and approval of minutes. E.

[6:22] Approval of payments. F. Financial

[6:24] statements. G. Supervisor reports. H.

[6:27] Old business. I. New business. J. Open

[6:30] mic. K. Announcements. I. Adjournment.

[6:34] Section six. A council member may vote

[6:37] to approve minutes of a meeting even

[6:39] though he or she was not present at said

[6:41] meeting as an expression of confidence

[6:43] in the veracity of the SEC secretary.

[6:46] The actions of his or her colleagues in

[6:48] the corrections of the minutes

[6:49] preparation process. Section seven, any

[6:52] ordinance or parts of ordinances in

[6:54] conflict here are hereby repealed to the

[6:56] extent of such conflict. Section 8, that

[6:59] the provisions of this resolution are

[7:01] hereby declared to be severable, and if

[7:03] any section, phrase, or provision shall

[7:05] be declared or held in invalid, such

[7:09] invalidity shall not affect the

[7:11] remainder of the sections, phrases, or

[7:13] provisions.

[7:19] » Sorry. [snorts]

[7:20] >> Yeah, we need to change the address.

[7:22] >> Address is not a thousand. Yes. 860 or

[7:24] 806.

[7:25] >> 806.

[7:26] [snorts]

[7:35] Okay, Vicki, you're ready.

[7:41] » Yes. [clears throat]

[7:42] >> Yes.

[7:51] >> Motion carried. Next a motion to wave

[7:54] the reading of the minutes and approve

[7:55] the minutes as presented. excerpts of

[7:57] December 18th, 2025 company meeting.

[8:00] [snorts]

[8:06] » Any discussion?

[8:10] » Vicki, when you're ready.

[8:15] » Yes.

[8:25] Motion carried. Next, approval of

[8:28] payments journals dated December 1st to

[8:31] December 31st, 2025.

[8:36] » So move

[8:38] second.

[8:40] >> Any discussion?

[8:47] >> Yes.

[9:01] >> Motion carried. Next. Approval of street

[9:03] fund, financial statement, sanitation

[9:05] fund, general fund, community center,

[9:07] ON&M, and miscellaneous funds dated

[9:09] December 31st, 2025.

[9:13] >> I make a motion we approve those.

[9:15] Second.

[9:17] >> Any discussion?

[9:20] Miss Vicki?

[9:23] Yes.

[9:25] >> Yes.

[9:36] >> Motion carried.

[9:38] On to supervisor reports.

[9:42] Um,

[9:44] Chief Hell, would you like to go first?

[9:52] He had

[9:54] >> he had a report included included in our

[9:57] packet

[10:01] a letter to the mayor and council in

[10:04] your packet. Uh, I have had a unforeseen

[10:09] engine failure on the 2014 Explorer

[10:14] and

[10:16] um, it's going to be about $4,000 to fix

[10:19] it.

[10:21] In my opinion,

[10:23] I think [clears throat] I can make this

[10:25] work with $25,000 from general fund.

[10:30] I've already ordered the the one that

[10:31] was approved, the unit that was approved

[10:33] for 26 already. Um,

[10:37] but I can take

[10:40] the rest of it out of police equipment

[10:42] fund. Got about 45,000 in there. Um,

[10:47] maybe just a hair less and still have

[10:49] enough money to cover body armor and any

[10:53] unforeseen

[10:56] problems, radios, anything like that.

[10:58] Hopefully, we're good on all of that.

[11:00] So,

[11:02] uh I'm asking for 25,000 out of general

[11:06] fund. I intended on doing this in June.

[11:08] I know.

[11:10] >> I at least expected like March or

[11:12] something. I [laughter] mean, this is

[11:13] >> I No, I No, I really wanted June. That

[11:17] was that was the plan. We We had a plan.

[11:19] and I was planning on sticking to, but I

[11:22] hate to throw good money over over bad.

[11:26] And that's where we're at. Um,

[11:29] >> on the on this one, [snorts] there was

[11:31] also the upfit on the vehicles. Was that

[11:34] out of the equipment fund or was that

[11:35] >> No, some of it will come out of

[11:37] equipment fund for the first one. The

[11:39] second one we will have to come up with

[11:41] out of police equipment fund. That's

[11:43] what's going to Yeah, it's going to be

[11:44] run, you know, seven

[11:46] >> if I get Levi to do it, which he really

[11:48] don't want to do, but I think we'll have

[11:50] to. So,

[11:52] >> um, if y'all approve this, otherwise,

[11:55] uh, if y'all don't want to go that

[11:57] route, then I'll be spending about a

[12:00] fifth of my budget on one unit in

[12:02] January.

[12:04] >> Two questions for you. Do you have a

[12:05] sense of what the 2012 and 2015 could be

[12:08] sold for?

[12:09] >> Yes, ma'am. I I I actually did uh I had

[12:12] Dodge

[12:14] uh put an offer on them and it was

[12:16] $3,000 for both. 2,000 for the 15 and

[12:20] $1,000 for the old white car,

[12:23] >> which goes along with what the Witcher

[12:24] auction kind of gave us some numbers and

[12:28] guidance on last year.

[12:31] >> And what were the state doing?

[12:33] >> Uh was it not in your packet? Uh 39,000

[12:38] is state bid.

[12:46] I'm sorry. 41545 is the total.

[12:51] We have to have the police wiring

[12:52] package and they can put it in or we

[12:54] can, but it's still going to cost the

[12:56] money. So,

[12:59] 2145 on it.

[13:03] That has to go in there.

[13:14] one of the 12 and one of the 15.

[13:17] >> Yes, sir. That that was the intentions,

[13:20] you know, towards the end of the year.

[13:22] Um I just thought it would take longer.

[13:34] The other 20 pick up that one. Doing

[13:38] pretty good. It's actually got higher

[13:40] mileage than the one

[13:41] >> uh

[13:42] >> when we're talking about getting

[13:43] >> That's the animal control truck.

[13:45] >> Okay.

[14:01] I don't see that we have any

[14:04] other option. So, I'm going to make a

[14:07] motion that we budget $25,000 towards

[14:12] the purchase of a new police vehicle,

[14:15] amend our budget. I do have a question

[14:18] as to what it's going to do to these

[14:21] other things negatively.

[14:23] Are these things like crucial that you

[14:25] need? Other things [snorts]

[14:28] >> you said you're taking from

[14:29] >> Oh, you know, it it's things like

[14:33] I did go ahead and pull a thousand out

[14:35] for a ballistic shield after watching

[14:37] the the SWAT team run through the

[14:40] Holiday Inn. They gave us a training

[14:41] opportunity up there. It's a necessary

[14:44] piece of equipment. It gives them some

[14:46] coverage in the hallways. It'll act the

[14:49] same way in the schools. Uh, so I did go

[14:52] ahead and spend a thousand already out

[14:54] of police equipment fund. That's the

[14:56] kind of things that that I generally use

[14:58] that fund for. I know we're headed in a

[15:01] different direction on that uh with the

[15:03] police equipment fund, which is fine.

[15:06] Uh, as long as we don't have any

[15:10] breakdowns of anything. Uh, I'm talking

[15:14] about equipment.

[15:18] jump back to. So I did ask you to send

[15:21] that list of vehicles. So there were 20

[15:23] total, but you're talking about taking

[15:26] two of those 20 out, right?

[15:28] >> Yes, sir.

[15:29] >> So then we'll be functioning with 19. Is

[15:32] that still sufficient?

[15:33] >> No, there No, we'll be we'll be running

[15:38] the 14 Explorer and I think I explained

[15:41] it in the letter. I would hang on to it

[15:44] and if we've got the money in vehicle O

[15:46] and M at the end of the year I've got

[15:49] two 14s

[15:51] uh the car that Jonathan Hrey's driving

[15:55] and then that Explorer. So if the end of

[15:59] year vehicle O and M looks good enough

[16:00] that I can fix the motor and the

[16:02] Explorer if I need to or if his looks

[16:05] like it's going to keep on running we'll keep it. Uh just some decisions

[16:09] that have to be made on towards the end

[16:11] of the year. So

[16:14] we we'll be at 20

[16:18] units

[16:20] >> $4,000

[16:21] >> counting counting animal control. I'm

[16:22] sorry. I I keep on I I look at it all as

[16:26] one. It's 19 units for the police

[16:28] department. one.

[16:29] >> I'm looking at it all in one two, but I

[16:31] it also in that in that listing that I

[16:34] received of the vehicles, it only lists

[16:36] one 2025. I know we got two in 2025.

[16:41] You may just want to double check.

[16:43] >> Now, sir, we got

[16:44] >> models.

[16:46] >> So, there were zero in 2020. There are

[16:49] zero 2024 models in the fleet,

[16:52] >> right? 2023s. There's one 2025,

[16:55] zero 22s.

[16:57] >> The second one in 25 was new.

[17:01] >> It came out of police.

[17:02] >> One 2025 in the police vehicle

[17:04] inventory.

[17:05] >> Yes.

[17:06] >> For the year.

[17:07] >> Yeah. For the year. That was the only

[17:08] new purchase.

[17:10] >> We didn't get two last year.

[17:13] >> She was saying it was a used

[17:15] 25

[17:16] >> that we got.

[17:17] >> Gotcha. Okay.

[17:19] We we show

[17:21] again it just for clarity I'm I'm

[17:24] looking at it just to look at the

[17:25] numbers. So I total them up there's 20

[17:27] total. There were 21 12elves 113 214s

[17:31] 115 116 317s 118s 019s

[17:38] 12 5 2021s

[17:41] 022s

[17:42] 23s 0 24s and 125 is what it shows.

[17:49] This list is accurate,

[17:55] but the 14's not functional. I mean,

[17:58] we're sitting on it, but we

[18:02] >> and those included in here, though.

[18:05] >> Yes, they are included.

[18:06] >> Would knock us down to 18. Then we're

[18:08] adding one back to 19,

[18:11] >> unless there's another vehicle that's

[18:12] not listed.

[18:14] Well, he's got the new one missed

[18:16] >> that's coming.

[18:17] >> The new one was going to replace that 15

[18:20] car

[18:21] >> already. That was the intent of it. So,

[18:25] once this 14 went down,

[18:27] >> right?

[18:28] >> You know, it's it's just a tradeoff. So,

[18:34] » I still don't have any other questions

[18:35] and I still have the motion to approve

[18:37] 25,000 for the purchase of the

[18:42] go

[18:46] second JP.

[18:50] >> Any more discussion?

[18:56] » I'm sure it's only January.

[19:00] It's not budgeted.

[19:01] >> It's not budgeted.

[19:01] >> It will be budgeted. We'll have to, you

[19:03] know, amend later,

[19:06] which is fine.

[19:09] » Any more questions for Chief?

[19:14] » Okay, Miss Vicki.

[19:17] >> Yes.

[19:31] >> Motion carried.

[19:35] » Thank you.

[19:37] >> Uh Mr. Haves

[19:42] [laughter]

[19:43] from bad to worse.

[19:45] >> Yeah,

[19:46] not much better on this end. [laughter]

[19:49] Had some misfortunes. Uh we had a uh 17

[19:53] trash truck go down. Um, it is some

[19:56] major repairs. Basically, the whole

[19:58] regen system went bad in it and it's

[20:01] having some engine issues with high

[20:03] crankase pressures and that is not able

[20:08] to figure out until they actually bust

[20:10] into it. But just the uh regen system,

[20:12] just parts alone is 17 $18,000.

[20:16] And then, you know, if we're looking at

[20:18] a motor, 35 to $45,000 for a motor and

[20:22] the truck ain't worth it. I mean, it's 9

[20:23] years old. Average trash trucks about

[20:26] seven years old. You know, about seven

[20:27] years you get out of them.

[20:30] So that that's kind of where I'm at with

[20:31] the trash truck. Now, we did get our new

[20:34] one in today, which is going to replace

[20:36] the commercial. So, but that leaves us

[20:38] with still running a 2012 and a 2018.

[20:42] And then obviously our two new ones, we

[20:44] got the 25s and we run four a day.

[20:49] So, I don't have much for a backup at

[20:51] this point.

[20:52] >> Yeah. And Scott, we I know you just had

[20:54] some work done on on the new ones. We've

[20:56] gotten those back.

[20:58] >> Yeah, but I have to let one go again.

[21:00] The other one has to go in. I lost the

[21:03] last new one for six weeks.

[21:06] Engine issues. I mean, it was under

[21:08] warranty, but it's just a point of

[21:09] losing it. You know, you don't they

[21:11] don't give you a loaner

[21:13] >> to get one. So, we actually lost it for

[21:16] >> Yeah. One of the new ones. Yes, sir.

[21:19] >> And I have to take one. Actually, our

[21:21] other new one in is having uh ABS issues

[21:25] with the braking. So, I who knows how

[21:28] long I'm Yeah, I didn't plan on losing

[21:30] the other one for six weeks. So, and

[21:33] that was just over parts.

[21:36] >> So, you're pivoting from the freight

[21:37] liners to the Peterbuilt possibly so

[21:40] that you're not

[21:40] >> Yeah, I haven't been happy with

[21:42] Peterbuilt probably for the last three

[21:44] to four years. They they've been gone

[21:46] downhill. They're probably, but from

[21:49] what I've talked to all the reps and all

[21:51] that, they're the cheapest made truck

[21:52] out there.

[21:53] >> The Peterville or the Freight Liners?

[21:54] >> No, the Freight Liners. Yeah, the older

[21:57] ones were good. Like my 12, knock on

[21:59] wood, it's still running, [laughter]

[22:02] which I can't say much for the newer

[22:04] stuff in the Freight Liner.

[22:07] So, that's the reason why I flipped over

[22:08] to the Peterbuilds.

[22:10] >> They got a good rep and plus I went to a

[22:12] different type of packer.

[22:14] uh the the uh new ones that are on the

[22:16] pet on the freight liners right now that

[22:18] we have, they have pile backends on

[22:20] them. I went with the new uh new way

[22:23] designed the new back end for them and

[22:25] uh it's they've actually listen to the

[22:27] people that actually run them and work

[22:28] on them and uh I want all of you to come

[22:32] and see the new one. Put your eyes on it

[22:34] and you can actually see the difference

[22:36] in how they're built.

[22:40] What what is the uh

[22:44] >> what's that?

[22:45] >> Dollar sign. How much?

[22:47] >> How How much is a new one? Uh $2399.

[22:52] » Yeah, my my stuff's expensive.

[22:54] [laughter]

[22:57] » It's probably got a six-month lead on it

[22:59] if you purchased it today, right?

[23:02] >> I don't I didn't even look at leases.

[23:06] >> How long delivery?

[23:08] >> Yeah. On if I was to order a new one.

[23:10] Yeah, we're probably Well, he thinks he

[23:12] has he's able to get a hold of like

[23:14] three of them. And I said, "Well, just

[23:16] put my name on one of them just to hold

[23:17] it and see." But I could possibly have

[23:20] that by middle of February.

[23:24] >> The other one you got today?

[23:26] >> Yeah, I just just received one today.

[23:28] >> Oh, okay.

[23:29] >> After budget.

[23:30] >> Yeah,

[23:32] but that's going to replace our

[23:34] commercial.

[23:36] Would it be worth it to lease another?

[23:39] >> Um, no. I think we could buy these. I

[23:42] mean, these won't be the Well, the

[23:44] commercial will be ran hard, but the

[23:46] other one's going to be kind of my flip

[23:49] around truck. You know, it's not going

[23:50] to be used every day. I want to keep a

[23:52] good backup truck for when the new ones

[23:54] go down.

[23:56] >> Which one is the backup then? The

[23:58] >> the as of right now.

[24:00] >> No. Yeah. Yeah.

[24:01] >> Yes.

[24:03] >> Yeah. Well, we're we're actually using

[24:04] it now, but yes.

[24:08] >> And and technically the 12 is too. I

[24:10] mean, that's my cardboard truck, the old

[24:12] one. I try not to run it too hard,

[24:14] >> so we just pick up commercial cardboard

[24:16] with it.

[24:17] >> Yes.

[24:17] >> Emergency. It's just smaller, right?

[24:20] >> Yes.

[24:22] >> Yeah. I usually run that on like when we

[24:24] do a two-day holiday, like for instance,

[24:26] like Thanksgiving when we got Thursday

[24:28] and Friday. So, we'll do two days worth

[24:30] of trash. So, I put two trucks out on

[24:32] Thursdays and one on Fridays. And then

[24:35] when they're done, they come and pick up

[24:37] the ice, you know.

[24:38] >> So, what do you do with the truck that's

[24:40] broke right now?

[24:41] >> What's that?

[24:41] >> The one that's broke that you're wanting

[24:43] to replace. What do you do with it?

[24:44] >> What do you want to do with it?

[24:46] >> Uh, that I don't know. I don't think

[24:48] it's going to be worth much.

[24:50] >> Well, here here's what I'd like because

[24:52] I I'm not going to vote for $230,9

[24:56] tonight. I'd like to look at leasing.

[24:58] I'd like to see what we can do with it

[25:00] just to have all our options on the

[25:02] table. I mean, I don't know if anybody

[25:04] else is comfortable with just saying,

[25:05] "Yeah, 240,000." Um, I would just really

[25:09] like to see all of our options on that

[25:11] before we make enough before we

[25:14] >> see what it cost to lease.

[25:16] >> I would like to look at that.

[25:19] That's a lot of money.

[25:23] » And if we could trade, what could we

[25:25] get?

[25:25] >> Yeah. And I I would just like to see

[25:27] that, too. like if we can trade or what

[25:28] can we get for it? Like let's get all

[25:30] the numbers before we make a decision on

[25:34] that.

[25:37] » Also, what's the worst case scenario at

[25:39] this time in our in our situation that

[25:42] we're in? What's the worst case

[25:43] scenario?

[25:44] >> Uh if another truck goes down, we're going to be pinched, be down to

[25:49] three trucks.

[25:51] >> And it might be we just have to be

[25:52] pinched for a month until we get those

[25:55] numbers. Well, the problem is with the

[25:57] new ones, I mean, I'm

[25:59] >> If we can get this one in. Otherwise,

[26:01] it's going to be next year that you need

[26:03] another truck.

[26:04] >> Yeah. Do you think you could get those

[26:06] numbers to us in the next week and

[26:08] >> Yeah, I think I can.

[26:10] >> I mean, send them out to us in an email

[26:12] and we could look at them. I just want

[26:14] to be able to look at everything.

[26:15] >> Okay.

[26:16] And I know when we were discussing that

[26:18] budget, our

[26:20] I think our

[26:23] ideal would be doing no more than one a

[26:27] year.

[26:27] >> Yeah.

[26:28] >> Going forward. That way you're rolling

[26:31] one off, rolling a new one on. You kind

[26:33] of know that expense is there.

[26:35] [laughter]

[26:35] >> Yes.

[26:37] >> And I realize in a perfect world that's

[26:38] how it would work. And I realize we're

[26:40] going to be in this same situation with

[26:41] 225s

[26:43] at some point, but I mean, it just looks

[26:47] better

[26:48] >> continually rotating them. Yeah. If the if we're expecting to get nine

[26:54] years, maybe it's only every other year

[26:56] we've got to replace one.

[26:57] >> Well, and if we could lease one, it

[26:59] might help us for the time being.

[27:00] >> Yeah. Right.

[27:01] >> I mean, yeah, half a million dollars in

[27:03] trash trucks in one year would just

[27:06] >> That's a hard hit.

[27:09] on the on the expense of the expenses of

[27:12] repairing.

[27:15] What what level can we get it to cost of

[27:19] repair that we're talking?

[27:23] What other pieces are on the truck that

[27:26] could not?

[27:27] >> Oh, I I have no clue. Could could be

[27:30] cylinders. I mean, it it could be

[27:32] anything.

[27:35] I mean, I wasn't expecting the regen

[27:37] system to go on it. So,

[27:39] >> we're talking this is what happened here

[27:41] is just motor stuff, right?

[27:43] >> Well, the Well, the regen's actually

[27:45] separate from the motor

[27:48] that actually burns the uh with diesels,

[27:50] the soot all gets put into a filter and

[27:53] then the truck has to actually burn it

[27:55] off to clean it out.

[27:56] >> And our problem is, and this is what any

[27:58] trash company, the stop and go kills us.

[28:01] Uh big trucks, they roll 60 70 miles an

[28:04] hour. They burn in it while they're

[28:05] going all their exhaust fumes and stuff.

[28:09] Well, our trucks, I'm going to have to

[28:11] get them. Technically, I should be

[28:12] getting them forced regen, I'm find out,

[28:14] like every two months because they won't

[28:17] do it naturally. You know, they they

[28:20] have a system and we'll do it

[28:21] automatically,

[28:23] but our trucks don't get hot enough to

[28:26] do that. Like on an over the road truck,

[28:28] they get hot enough they'll burn them

[28:30] off as they drive them.

[28:31] So I was wondering about reach system.

[28:34] Yeah. Because

[28:36] tractor

[28:37] >> like my tractor gives me a warning light

[28:40] in I have to hit a button and I hit a

[28:42] button and then

[28:43] >> it it revs up for a really high RPM for

[28:47] probably

[28:48] >> 15 minutes.

[28:51] >> Yeah. Ours is an hour.

[28:54] >> Yeah. And so you have to

[28:57] that nothing tells you to do it. just

[29:01] >> it it does, but at that point it's

[29:04] already gone into like a limp mode.

[29:06] >> Yeah,

[29:08] >> because it should be doing it as you

[29:10] drive them.

[29:11] >> You know, it's it's what they call a

[29:13] park park regen.

[29:15] >> That's where I got to get them forced.

[29:17] They'll come in and do it on a computer

[29:19] and actually make the truck do it

[29:21] >> because it won't allow you to do that.

[29:26] >> Correct. And do a force regually?

[29:29] Nope.

[29:31] What does it cost to have that service?

[29:33] >> Uh about 110 bucks besides service call.

[29:37] >> Oh,

[29:45] and what about the jump?

[29:48] >> Okay, that's another one. Uh this one's

[29:52] uh been an issue. Uh the top end's been

[29:54] done on it three times. uh I guess once

[29:57] before I took over and then I did it

[29:59] when Jimmy was in mayor seat and then I

[30:02] just got done redoing it and it lasted

[30:04] about four months and it's pretty much

[30:07] uh it's something underlining issue

[30:11] there because I think there's a deeper

[30:13] problem in it to have it do it three

[30:15] times

[30:17] and the truck's 18 years old so I think

[30:20] it's time to cut our loss on it. I don't

[30:22] think it's worth sticking any more money

[30:24] into it. I mean, I could do it again,

[30:26] spend 19 grand and could last four

[30:29] months.

[30:31] >> Does it Does it have any value?

[30:35] >> It may,

[30:37] like I said, I haven't got that part.

[30:38] This just happened last week, so I

[30:41] haven't got uh I haven't dug into that

[30:43] one yet. an 18y old dump truck

[30:46] >> probably.

[30:51] I've seen them at 20 and 25.

[30:56] » We're using that on the street side.

[30:58] That the street side hauling gravel.

[31:00] >> Yes, we actually uh leap back. That's

[31:04] the one I usually pull leaf back with.

[31:06] >> Okay. We have but we have another one

[31:08] that we call gravel.

[31:09] >> Oh yeah. Yeah. I have a a big full size.

[31:12] >> Yeah.

[31:12] This this this would be considered

[31:14] a uh medium duty where the big one's

[31:18] heavy duty and then I got what they call

[31:20] light duty.

[31:22] >> So this is the one they're using for the

[31:24] leaf back.

[31:25] >> Yes, this is the one that usually pulls

[31:26] the leaf back. Yes, sir. Now I'm using

[31:28] the little guy. [laughter]

[31:31] >> What are you looking at for the price of

[31:34] >> there? Haven't got back to me yet on

[31:36] that. I should have it probably uh

[31:38] sometime this week.

[31:41] I mean, are we talking?

[31:45] » I would guess probably

[31:48] 150 to 160 roughly. I I'm not sure on

[31:52] that.

[31:55] » We have two other dump trucks because we

[31:57] run a leaf back and the claw to fix up

[32:00] limbs and such, right?

[32:02] >> Yeah, that's a grappler. That's its own

[32:05] >> truck.

[32:06] >> The grapple is a separate

[32:07] >> Yes.

[32:08] >> Yeah. That has a bed with the actual

[32:10] grappler on it.

[32:11] >> Okay.

[32:12] >> Yeah, that that I don't haul gravel or

[32:13] nothing.

[32:14] >> But that one's okay.

[32:16] >> Oh, yes. Yes, [laughter] that one is

[32:18] okay.

[32:19] >> How old's that one?

[32:21] >> I was going to say it's pretty new.

[32:22] >> Just wondering.

[32:23] >> Yeah, it is. It's newer.

[32:25] >> Yeah.

[32:26] >> Okay.

[32:26] So, um Scott will get us some

[32:29] numbers together and we'll send you an

[32:31] email

[32:32] >> with that info. That work?

[32:34] >> That's good enough.

[32:35] >> Okay. Thanks.

[32:36] >> Is that a 7500?

[32:38] The what?

[32:43] » I believe it is 74 or 75

[32:46] actually.

[32:49] miles

[32:50] >> probably.

[33:07] » Yeah.

[33:09] >> How long?

[33:11] Last time we had it fixed, it was gone

[33:12] for

[33:13] >> It was what?

[33:14] >> Four months or so, wasn't it? No, that's

[33:17] when I got it fixed.

[33:18] >> Yeah.

[33:18] >> Oh, yes. Yes.

[33:20] >> Took about four months to get it fixed.

[33:23] >> Mhm.

[33:27] » Yeah. Another parts thing. You know,

[33:28] that was that time where parts were

[33:30] getting hard.

[33:33] >> They take their time.

[33:34] >> Yes, they do.

[33:38] » Any more questions for Scott?

[33:41] >> Thank you, sir.

[33:43] >> Thank you.

[33:46] Okay, you ready to move on to unfinished

[33:48] business?

[33:50] Uh, ballfield shades. I was at league

[33:52] last week and talked to a couple of

[33:54] exhibitors. They're coming to find out

[33:57] there's a state bid for metal.

[34:00] Don't know why they didn't tell me that

[34:02] before. So, I'm waiting on some numbers

[34:04] from that. I emailed another one of them

[34:06] today. So maybe he can call me tomorrow

[34:08] or the next day and I will get y'all

[34:10] those numbers so that hopefully we don't

[34:13] have to put it out for good bid and we

[34:14] can just purchase the state good price.

[34:18] And then one of the gentlemen did give

[34:19] me another option to if we replace the

[34:22] shades they could put um

[34:26] attachments on there so that we could

[34:27] take them down when it's not in season

[34:32] for y'all.

[34:34] >> Uhhuh. We

[34:37] Okay. When I get the state bid numbers,

[34:39] I will send it out to you immediately.

[34:43] Okay. Update on the weather, Pam. Uh we

[34:46] are still waiting on a survey from 1st.

[34:51] Okay. New business. State of the city.

[34:55] 2026. As we step into

[34:58] 2026, I'm proud to declare that our city

[35:00] stands firm in a strong financial

[35:02] position and is prepared to embrace the

[35:04] opportunities ahead. This past year was

[35:07] marked by significant progress with the

[35:08] expansion of the fire department,

[35:10] including new bays, rehabilitation of

[35:12] the community center and aquatics

[35:14] facilities, ensuring a great space for

[35:16] recreation and efficiencies, the

[35:18] completion of the splash pad, which is

[35:20] an awesome addition for our families and

[35:22] children. and we have continued

[35:24] development of the Sulfur Creek Trail,

[35:25] enhancing outdoor access and natural

[35:27] beauty. Our momentum will come will

[35:30] continue in 2026 with some essential

[35:32] projects. We'll be advancing storm water

[35:35] management to protect businesses and

[35:36] launch downtown beautifification efforts

[35:38] to strengthen our city's heart and

[35:40] attract visitors. The state of our city

[35:43] is robust and our future is undeniably

[35:46] bright. These accomplishments and

[35:48] upcoming initiatives reflect the

[35:49] resilience, vision, and dedication of

[35:51] our community. I extend my deepest

[35:53] gratitude to our local businesses, civic

[35:55] leaders, and residents. Your partnership

[35:57] and commitment make Hebrew Springs

[35:59] exceptional, and it is a privilege to

[36:00] serve you, and together we continue on

[36:02] building a better Hebrew Springs that

[36:04] thrives.

[36:07] Um there I did get a little update from

[36:09] FEMA.

[36:10] Hopefully, they are sending all of our

[36:13] paperwork to Adam and then we have to

[36:15] wait for Adam to release the funds. So,

[36:17] we're getting a little bit closer for

[36:19] the storm water project.

[36:23] Okay, new business. Miss Darby Gaines is

[36:25] here from the Child Safety Center.

[36:27] Darby, if you'll come up. Um, we are

[36:30] looking at creating a partnership with

[36:32] the Child Safety Center. Um, Miss Sugg

[36:35] has served on their board and um has

[36:38] kind of connected some dots to help make

[36:39] this happen. Miss Darby.

[36:41] >> Yeah, thank you for giving me a chance

[36:42] to speak tonight. Like she said, my name

[36:44] is Darby Gaines. I'm the executive

[36:45] director of the Child Safety Center. Our

[36:48] physical location is in Cersei, but

[36:49] we've been serving Clebring County for

[36:52] many, many years now. And so, if you

[36:54] haven't heard from us, um we are a

[36:56] nonprofit that partners and comes along

[36:59] our law our law enforcement. Um so, the

[37:02] police department, the sheriff's office,

[37:04] prosecutor's office, as well as DCFS,

[37:06] Arkansas State Police, Crimes Against

[37:08] Children's Division, um to partner with

[37:11] them, collaborate with them um with

[37:13] child abuse cases. So when kids um have

[37:15] experienced abuse um physical or sexual

[37:18] abuse, trafficking, anything like that

[37:20] um oftentimes they are brought to our

[37:22] center which like I said is in Cersei

[37:24] and then we can provide the forensic

[37:26] interview, advocacy and support um

[37:29] sexual assault exams on site as well as

[37:32] mental health assessments um and

[37:34] outpatient therapy. So, we're able to do

[37:36] all of that on site um there in Cersei,

[37:39] but um unfortunately that's not um super

[37:42] close and easy for some of our families

[37:44] um in Hebrew Springs. And so, it's been

[37:46] on our um hearts and minds um a lot,

[37:50] especially over the last several years.

[37:52] It's been a part of our strategic plan.

[37:54] How can we serve Clebrron County and the

[37:56] kids um here better? Um especially when

[37:59] transportation seems to be one of, you

[38:01] know, one of the big barriers. So right

[38:03] now um we serve about 50 kids from

[38:06] Cleburn County. Um but really we're only

[38:08] serving about 30 to 40% of what we

[38:10] should be serving. And so we have been

[38:13] talking u with Mayor Griffin about what

[38:15] it would look like to partner and bring

[38:17] a second location um to Heber Springs.

[38:20] And so to to be able to offer all of

[38:22] those services but on-site um here in

[38:25] Heber um to hopefully, you know, again

[38:28] get those services locally um have a

[38:31] quicker response for those kids and

[38:32] those kids that are missing out right

[38:34] now. Um and so

[38:37] um there's been some unused space I

[38:39] think in city hall. And so the idea um

[38:41] that we've talked about and would love

[38:43] your support on is to be able to bring

[38:45] um our services into a section of city

[38:48] hall. And so I I've got you a packet

[38:50] there kind of breaks down some of our

[38:52] numbers, the why, um the benefits. Um

[38:56] but the second page kind of shows you if

[38:58] you're familiar with the city hall

[38:59] building, the area that we're thinking,

[39:02] which case you may be able to explain

[39:04] better than I can kind of that it's that

[39:06] back section um where the drive-thru is

[39:09] police are in there now.

[39:11] >> Yes. Arkansas State Police over here in

[39:13] this other office. Um and so we would

[39:17] have a a private office for or a private

[39:19] entrance for our families so um can kind

[39:21] of remain confidential um but be able to

[39:24] provide all of those services um for the

[39:26] child and family but also for our

[39:28] partners. Um right now, uh Chief Hail's

[39:31] still here. Um you know, his officers

[39:33] oftentime have to drive all the way to

[39:35] us. Um that family has to drive to us,

[39:38] um to be able to get the services that

[39:39] they need for the investigation, but

[39:41] then also the services that they need to

[39:43] be able to go on to heal and thrive, um

[39:46] and all of that. And so, we're excited

[39:48] about the possibility of being able to

[39:49] bring that closer closer to home for our

[39:52] families.

[39:53] >> And they have a dog. [laughter]

[39:55] Most importantly, we do we also have

[39:57] facility dogs um that are a part of our

[39:59] process as well. So, we do everything we

[40:02] can to make that as child-friendly as

[40:04] possible um so that we're not inducing

[40:06] any more trauma than they've already

[40:07] experienced. So,

[40:11] any question? I tried to do a real quick

[40:13] synopsis of what we do. So, I know that

[40:14] was a fast run through, but any

[40:16] questions about the services we provide

[40:18] or what that would look like to bring a

[40:20] second location? Um, I do want to add

[40:22] that we um we do provide all of those

[40:25] services for free for the kids and

[40:27] families. Um, and we do that we we

[40:31] typically are Monday through Friday um 8

[40:33] to 5, but we are also on call 24/7. So,

[40:36] I mean we respond middle of the night,

[40:38] weekends, um, whenever a child or family

[40:40] or law enforcement needs us. So, um,

[40:43] that would be the same for our Clebrron

[40:46] County location. We wouldn't have to

[40:48] start we wouldn't have um staff on site

[40:50] tw you know all the time. Um we would

[40:53] just our staff from the Cersei office

[40:55] would respond um and drive up as needed.

[40:58] So

[41:00] and and talk a little bit about because

[41:02] if y'all are like me, I knew nothing

[41:04] about the child safety center before. Um

[41:07] but it's not just they work with these

[41:09] kids for years. not just when the call

[41:12] comes in um on the hotline and they're

[41:16] running the test and doing the initial

[41:18] interviews like it could be years and

[41:20] they stick with them even while there's

[41:22] might be a trial and even it was in the

[41:25] news last week that and I know you guys

[41:27] were a big part of that the sex

[41:28] trafficking um that that was in White

[41:32] County that that finally

[41:34] >> uh went through last week. I mean y'all

[41:35] were a part of that since the very

[41:36] beginning

[41:37] >> for years. Yes. So unlike a lot of

[41:40] agencies where they have kind of their

[41:41] time-specific role like through the

[41:43] investigation and once the

[41:44] investigation's done they kind of hand

[41:45] off their part or um DCFS just while

[41:48] that case is open. we are open, you

[41:50] know, and we'll work with that family

[41:52] for as long as they need. Um, and

[41:54] unfortunately, just the way our justice

[41:56] system works, that can be years

[41:57] sometimes. And so, we will continue to

[41:59] work with that family um and provide

[42:01] support, resources, things like that for

[42:03] as long as they need. And like Ally

[42:04] said, that sometimes is years um that we

[42:07] will be a part of that. And court

[42:09] support is a is a big part of that. Our

[42:10] dogs also can participate in court um in

[42:14] a in a variety of ways. So, um, yeah,

[42:18] thank you for bringing that part up.

[42:20] >> And how are you funded?

[42:21] >> So, we are about 70% uh grant funded,

[42:24] state and federal grants is a big part.

[42:27] Um, and then about 20% is community

[42:30] support um fundraisers, things like

[42:34] that. We have uh a pickle ball

[42:35] tournament I think we've done for three

[42:37] years now here in Heber Springs um here

[42:39] at the community center. Um and so so

[42:42] that's kind of a broad overview of our

[42:44] funding. About 50% of our grant funding

[42:46] is federal funds. Um and quite a bit

[42:49] from state funding.

[42:50] >> And some of the counties give

[42:52] >> Yes.

[42:53] >> Did you cover four counties?

[42:54] >> Yes, we cover White, Woodruff, Cleburn,

[42:56] and Jackson counties. Um and so several

[42:59] of our counties have um and cities have

[43:02] um provided some annual funding as well.

[43:04] So, but just to be clear, I'm not asking

[43:06] for money.

[43:07] >> Yeah. So, [laughter]

[43:09] >> so

[43:09] >> just space.

[43:10] >> So, that's why if we could provide a a

[43:12] space and you know when she was talking

[43:15] about it, I'm like, we just moved into

[43:17] this building that

[43:19] >> is more space than what we need and we

[43:21] had extra rooms. I was like, let me just

[43:23] let me see what we got. And and then the

[43:27] state police are willing to move over um

[43:30] and make room for them to come in. And

[43:33] so it sounds like and it's it's just in

[43:35] that kind of extra hallway space that we

[43:38] don't even use anyways.

[43:40] >> Yeah. The west side of the building.

[43:42] >> It would be minimal re renovations. I

[43:44] think it'd be adding kind of a wall and

[43:45] a couple doors but nothing like majorly

[43:48] al you know altering the the use of the

[43:51] facility that couldn't be taken down.

[43:53] >> And you guys are going to be paying for

[43:54] the renovations, right?

[43:55] >> Yes. We'll fund raise the renovations

[43:57] and the equipment. We've already um

[44:01] applied for a grant, so we have some

[44:02] funding already. Um and we'll continue

[44:05] to do that.

[44:07] >> As a former foster parent

[44:09] >> Oh, yeah.

[44:11] >> We appreciate having

[44:14] >> that that's a long drive.

[44:17] >> Yes.

[44:20] >> Absolutely.

[44:23] » No, you don't have to.

[44:24] >> We don't.

[44:25] >> No. But

[44:26] >> I just want to let y'all know that we

[44:27] want to create this partnership and we

[44:29] are both working on an an agreement

[44:31] >> so that they can move in.

[44:34] >> So

[44:35] >> there'll be a contract, you know, sign,

[44:38] but

[44:38] >> just wanted to kind of present to you

[44:40] guys what plan was.

[44:42] >> Yeah, Darby wanted to come and meet

[44:44] everybody and if you had any questions,

[44:46] I think it's would be a great asset to

[44:48] our community.

[44:49] >> Yeah.

[44:49] >> And if we got the space and it's a

[44:52] win-win for everybody.

[44:53] >> Yeah.

[44:54] Thank you, ma'am. Thank you for

[44:56] making that drive.

[44:57] >> Thank you. Of course. Of course. I

[44:58] appreciate your support. If you know of

[45:00] anybody that would love to like get in

[45:01] on the fundraising or the support to

[45:03] make this happen, we're always welcome

[45:05] to [clears throat] that, but I

[45:05] appreciate you guys being um supportive

[45:08] of this. Yes, ma'am.

[45:09] >> Do you like KASA? Do you all run the

[45:12] same path?

[45:13] >> Um sometimes there's overlap, not

[45:15] always. CASA only gets involved when the

[45:16] kids come into foster care. Um, and so

[45:19] that definitely happens sometimes, but

[45:20] we also see a lot of cases where the

[45:22] offender may not live in the home. Um,

[45:24] and so, um, so, so yes, sometimes, but

[45:28] not not on all of our cases.

[45:31] >> Yeah.

[45:41] I will say

[45:44] investigator.

[46:03] I think the first time I had heard about

[46:05] it, Casey, you were telling me about it,

[46:07] but it was because Stephen had to drive

[46:09] down at like midnight

[46:11] >> and take like an eight-year-old girl

[46:13] that had been sexually abused down to

[46:16] the child safety center and and was

[46:17] there all night and and it was just like

[46:21] I'm like that that happens, you know,

[46:23] and but then now I know it happens a lot

[46:26] and it's it's a sick world that we live

[46:29] Yeah.

[46:30] >> And so just to know that if we're only

[46:34] seeing, you know, 30% of the kids that

[46:37] they can be seen and if we put that here

[46:39] and we could be seeing 100 kids instead

[46:42] of 50, I just think that's that's such a huge thing that we can do.

[46:51] » Thank you, ma'am. All right. Thank you.

[46:53] I put my card on there, so if you have

[46:54] any follow-up questions, feel free to

[46:57] >> Thank you.

[47:02] safe travels back. You pro you might not

[47:03] want to stay for the whole meeting.

[47:05] [laughter]

[47:10] >> Thanks, Darby.

[47:12] Okay, next up, the budget amendment for

[47:14] 2025.

[47:20] And there's a resolution.

[47:27] And I think we decided that we don't

[47:28] have to read all the numbers.

[47:36] Any volunteer for the resolution

[47:38] reading?

[47:44] » Just the resolution.

[47:51] » Thank you.

[47:54] >> And this is um Resolution 2026.

[48:00] Resolution amending the municipal

[48:01] budget. Resolution number 20262.

[48:04] Amendment number one. A resolution

[48:06] amending the budget for the city bud 12

[48:09] months beginning January 1st, 2025 and

[48:12] ending December 31st, 2025,

[48:15] appropriating money for each item of the

[48:17] expenditure therein provided for and for

[48:19] other purposes. Whereas the city has

[48:21] determined that it is necessary to amend

[48:23] the city's budget for the 12 months

[48:24] beginning January 1st, 2025 and ending

[48:26] December 31st, 2025. And whereas it is

[48:30] the finding and conclusion of the city

[48:32] council that the attached exhibit A of

[48:34] the proposed amendment appears to be

[48:35] accurate and necessary for budgetary

[48:37] purposes.

[48:39] Now therefore, be it resolved by the

[48:40] city council of Heaver Springs,

[48:41] Arkansas, section 1, that the budget for

[48:44] the city of Haver Springs, Arkansas for

[48:45] the 12-month period beginning January

[48:48] 21st, 2025, and ending December 31st,

[48:51] 2025, is hereby amended in part as set

[48:53] out in the attached exhibit A, which

[48:55] exhibit is incorporated herein as if set

[48:58] out word for word and figure 4 figure.

[49:01] Section two, the respective funds for

[49:03] each item of expenditure proposed in

[49:04] this amendment to the city's budget for

[49:06] 2025 are hereby approved and adopted for

[49:08] the operation of the city of Her

[49:10] Springs, Arkansas by the city council on

[49:11] this date and constitute an

[49:13] appropriation of funds which are

[49:14] lawfully applicable to the items

[49:16] contained within the amendment. This

[49:18] amendment may be altered or revised by

[49:19] the action of the governing body and

[49:21] unpledged funds may be subsequently

[49:22] appropriated to another purpose except

[49:25] as prohibited by law.

[49:28] Section three, the [clears throat] mayor

[49:30] or her duly authorized representative

[49:32] may approve for payment out of funds

[49:34] appropriated by this amendment or

[49:35] otherwise approved by the city council

[49:37] for these purposes or may disapprove any

[49:39] bills, debts or liabilities asserted as

[49:41] claims against the city. Provided,

[49:43] however, that the execution of all

[49:45] contracts and conveyances and lease

[49:46] contracts shall be performed by the

[49:48] mayor and city clerk for recorder when

[49:49] authorized by a resolution in writing

[49:51] approved for approved by a majority vote

[49:54] of the city council present and

[49:55] participating. Section four. If any

[49:57] provision of this resolution or the

[49:59] application thereof to any person or

[50:01] circumstance is held invalid, such

[50:03] invalidity shall not affect other

[50:04] provisions or applications of the

[50:06] resolution which can be given effect

[50:08] without the invalid provision

[50:09] [clears throat] or application. And to

[50:11] this end, the provisions of this

[50:12] resolution are declared to be separable.

[50:16] >> Thank you, ma'am. You did a great job.

[50:19] >> And this also gets published. So if

[50:21] anyone, you know, wants to look it up on

[50:24] record to see all the numbers, they can.

[50:29] Okay. Now I need a motion.

[50:31] >> Make a motion to approve the budget

[50:33] amendment.

[50:33] >> Thank you, ma'am.

[50:34] >> Second.

[50:35] >> Thank you, sir. Any discussion?

[50:39] Okay, Miss Vicki, when you're ready.

[50:44] >> Yes.

[50:56] » Motion carried.

[51:00] Next. Um, city clerk and attorney

[51:03] salary.

[51:06] Ordinance.

[51:08] Is this one?

[51:10] I need to read it.

[51:11] >> Yes, please. Ordinance number 2026-1.

[51:15] An ordinance establishing the salary of

[51:17] certain municipal officials in the city

[51:19] of Hebrew Springs and for other

[51:20] purposes. Be it ordained by the city

[51:22] council of the city

[51:25] springs, Arkansas as follows. Section

[51:27] one, the salary of the city clerk is set

[51:29] to 10,294,56

[51:31] cents per year. Section two, the salary

[51:33] of the city attorney is set at 48,69,046

[51:37] cents per year. Section three, the

[51:39] effective date of this ordinance shall

[51:41] be January 1st, 2026. Section four,

[51:44] severability in the event that any

[51:46] portion provision subject section or part of this ordinance is

[51:50] later ruled to be inval in validity

[51:53] shall not affect the other provisions of

[51:55] this ordinance which could be given

[51:57] effect without the invalid portion or

[51:59] portions and to this end the provisions

[52:01] of the ordinance are declared to be

[52:03] separable.

[52:08] » Thank you.

[52:13] I just need a motion.

[52:18] » Okay. Now, we learned at conference.

[52:19] What's that? What's that term?

[52:21] [clears throat]

[52:23] » We read it once.

[52:25] >> Yeah.

[52:31] » No, we've always said

[52:33] >> it was a dword. Well, that way I think

[52:35] it was diminished that you can uh you

[52:38] only have to read it once.

[52:46] Yeah, I should have wrote that word

[52:48] down.

[52:48] >> We've done that.

[52:50] >> We have

[52:53] » just say suspend the rules.

[53:06] » Adopt the ordinance. Write

[53:09] [laughter]

[53:11] it down.

[53:11] >> Thanks, Louis.

[53:17] » Okay, Vicki, when you're ready,

[53:24] >> Yes.

[53:43] Motion carried. That's what it was.

[53:46] >> Okay. Next, we got the DAB contract.

[53:53] » No, just approve it.

[53:54] >> Just need a motion to approve it. Motion

[53:56] >> we approve it. It's not changed. No,

[53:58] sir.

[54:00] I'll

[54:00] >> second.

[54:01] >> Yes. Thank you.

[54:09] But it was laying in alley, I believe.

[54:19] » When you're ready.

[54:21] >> Yes.

[54:33] Motion carried. Next, we have the

[54:36] contract for the Humane Society.

[54:42] » Thank you.

[54:43] >> Second.

[54:47] » Now, Lewis, I will say that um on this

[54:50] contract,

[54:50] >> this

[54:51] >> Yes, this one changed, but we just

[54:54] swapped it in the line item so that they

[54:56] get

[54:58] >> still the same total.

[54:59] >> It's still the same total. Correct.

[55:01] >> Right. But the contract went up $1,000.

[55:04] Um, so we took it out of the other line

[55:06] item because we haven't spent as much in

[55:07] that one.

[55:10] Uh, I had Lewis as a and was there a

[55:13] second?

[55:14] >> Thank you.

[55:17] >> Yes, ma'am.

[55:18] >> Yes.

[55:26] [clears throat]

[55:28] » Yes.

[55:30] Motion carried. Thank you. Uh, Cherlo

[55:34] Heritage Council contract.

[55:39] » Same as

[55:39] >> same amount. Yes, ma'am.

[55:42] >> Make a motion to approve.

[55:43] >> Thank you.

[55:44] >> Second.

[55:45] >> Thank you. When you're ready.

[55:49] >> Yes.

[56:03] >> Motion carried. Next we've got the

[56:06] senior center.

[56:08] >> Are they doing better than they were? I

[56:10] mean,

[56:11] >> financially, are they better off than

[56:14] >> I don't think so.

[56:14] >> They came to us once before asking for

[56:16] additional help,

[56:17] >> right? Um they're trying to have more

[56:20] fundraisers. Um, I got a call from Jerry

[56:22] Holmes today and they want to do another

[56:24] fish fry um in February. So, I think

[56:27] they're still on the struggle bus.

[56:32] However, their number has not changed.

[56:36] >> What do y'all think about $2,500?

[56:39] >> I think we should have done that at

[56:42] budget time

[56:44] if we were.

[56:45] >> Okay. I mean, that's when we would up it

[56:49] if we're going there.

[56:50] >> I can put that in the notes for next

[56:52] year.

[56:54] I mean, I'm sure they'd be glad to have

[56:55] it.

[56:56] >> Hadn't used the services yet, but I'm

[56:57] getting close. [laughter]

[57:01] » Need them meals on wheels. [laughter]

[57:04] >> I would say it's very worthwhile to add

[57:08] in next year's budget discussions.

[57:09] >> I make a motion we approve it.

[57:12] >> Thank you. Thank you.

[57:18] Vicki, when you're ready.

[57:22] >> Yes.

[57:32] » Motion carried.

[57:34] Vicki, will you make me a note to put

[57:36] that in my

[57:39] budget packet? Thank you.

[57:43] Okay. Next. Spraville Falls.

[57:58] » Got a motion. Do I have a second?

[58:00] >> Second.

[58:01] >> Any questions? [music]

[58:04] >> Okay, Miss Vicki.

[58:09] >> Yes.

[58:23] >> Motion carried. Next, um we've got a

[58:26] quick little add-on. Um Miss McFersonson

[58:28] was going through our ordinances to get

[58:31] them um codified for the year and we

[58:33] need to make some uh date changes on

[58:35] ordinance 2025-1 and 2025-03.

[58:41] I just needed approve to let the minutes

[58:43] reflect that we made those changes.

[58:46] Um at the end where it's got 2024, we

[58:49] didn't change it to 2025 when we updated

[58:52] it.

[58:55] » I make a motion that we update those

[58:58] >> just for the date.

[58:59] >> For the date.

[59:00] >> Thank you.

[59:07] » It was a tie. It was a tie between Amy

[59:10] and JP. [laughter]

[59:11] >> I didn't hear you the other one.

[59:13] >> It was Amy. JP said it was Amy.

[59:20] » Yes, ma'am.

[59:22] >> Yes.

[59:33] » Motion carried. Next we have open mic.

[59:36] Anybody like to address the council?

[59:42] » Mr. Kendrick.

[59:49] » My name is Thomas Kendrick. I'm running

[59:51] for circuit judge, division 2. Uh that's

[59:54] our family court division. So it does

[59:56] our domestic relations docket, which is

[59:58] basically divorces, guardianships, and

[59:59] adoptions. It also runs our drug court

[1:00:02] program. I work as a public defender.

[1:00:04] So, I've I've been involved in our drug

[1:00:06] court program since 2013 when Judge Kip

[1:00:08] was running the program. And one of the

[1:00:11] issues that we have in our community and

[1:00:13] all over our district, and this is stuff

[1:00:14] people know, is we have a problem with

[1:00:16] drug addiction. I have clients all the

[1:00:17] time that I go see in the jail. They're

[1:00:19] in on meth charges. Their kids are being

[1:00:21] raised by their grand, you know, by

[1:00:22] their parents or other family members.

[1:00:24] And Arkansas is one of the top states

[1:00:26] for grandparents and other relatives

[1:00:28] raising grandkids. And that's because of

[1:00:29] drug addiction. And so the only thing

[1:00:31] that our courts really have to to

[1:00:34] address that is our drug court program.

[1:00:36] When Judge Kemp was running our program,

[1:00:38] it was a really successful program. Did really well. Uh pro heard

[1:00:42] prosecutors talk about it back then that

[1:00:44] it was really successful. Since then,

[1:00:46] you know, he ran for the Supreme Court

[1:00:47] in 2016. Judges have kept it going since

[1:00:49] then. It's really been on a decline

[1:00:51] really the last six to eight years. The

[1:00:53] last couple years it's really uh

[1:00:55] accelerated kind of in the decline in

[1:00:57] sort of the management of the program.

[1:00:58] And I can give an example. We used to

[1:01:00] have 30 to 40 participants in the

[1:01:02] Independence County Drug Court. Today

[1:01:04] it's three. We've only got three people

[1:01:06] in the program and there's a lot of

[1:01:07] reasons for that that I I'd be glad to

[1:01:09] talk to people about and get into, but

[1:01:11] uh I don't want to take up too much of

[1:01:13] the evening here. Um but I'm the only

[1:01:15] candidate running for division 2 that

[1:01:16] has experience working in our drug court

[1:01:18] program. It's why I decided to get into

[1:01:20] this race because I saw I saw kind of

[1:01:23] the writing on the wall. There's two

[1:01:24] other candidates that are running in

[1:01:25] division two. Their announcements, they

[1:01:27] didn't talk about it at all. Also, I

[1:01:28] said if someone doesn't get out there

[1:01:30] and champion this program, then we could

[1:01:32] lose it. And I think that's a real

[1:01:34] possibility. And I don't say that to be

[1:01:36] alarmist, but uh you know, I for

[1:01:39] example, I've had lots of pro

[1:01:41] conversation with our prosecutors. They

[1:01:43] just feel like the program right now is

[1:01:45] not as effective as it could be. And and

[1:01:47] I can give an example of that is we've

[1:01:50] actually got two judges running the

[1:01:52] program now. So, Judge McPaden is our

[1:01:54] judge over division 2. He was over the

[1:01:56] program a couple years ago. He wanted to

[1:01:58] give it up and he asked our district

[1:01:59] court judges if they were willing to do

[1:02:01] it. You know, Judge Wright does Cleaver

[1:02:03] in Stone County. He declined. Judge

[1:02:05] Taylor, who is our independence and

[1:02:07] Fulton County judge, agreed to. So, we

[1:02:08] actually have two judges running the

[1:02:10] program, which makes it impossible for

[1:02:12] there to be consistency across the

[1:02:14] district. Uh there's there's no there's

[1:02:16] no consistency. And so, our prosecutors,

[1:02:19] like when I talk to them, they say,

[1:02:20] "Hey, if we can't have predictability

[1:02:22] and consistency in the program, why are

[1:02:24] we going to put people in it?" And so

[1:02:26] the need in our community for this is

[1:02:28] still there because we still have a lot

[1:02:30] of of issues with drug addiction

[1:02:31] families that are struggling with that.

[1:02:33] And so if you don't have a plan for how

[1:02:36] to fix that and get that program back to

[1:02:38] the way it used to be, get the numbers

[1:02:40] in the program up and really make it

[1:02:42] effective and get our prosecutors and

[1:02:43] our law enforcement on board, then

[1:02:45] you're really not qualified to run for

[1:02:47] division 2 in my opinion. Uh we used to

[1:02:49] have a veterans treatment component in

[1:02:51] our drug court because we have a lot of

[1:02:52] veterans in our district that struggle

[1:02:54] with drug addiction. That uh program was

[1:02:56] started again by Judge Kimp because he was really big uh proponent of

[1:03:00] helping veterans who struggle with drug

[1:03:01] addiction. After he again ran for the

[1:03:03] Supreme Court, the judges after him left

[1:03:05] those agreements with the VA laps. So we

[1:03:07] lost several years ago our veterans

[1:03:09] treatment sort of track in our drug

[1:03:11] court program. So we don't have access

[1:03:12] to those VA resources like we used to if

[1:03:14] there are veterans in the program. Uh,

[1:03:17] another reason that we see a lot of uh,

[1:03:19] repeat criminal behavior and a lot of

[1:03:21] our families in our district are

[1:03:22] struggling with mental health issues.

[1:03:24] And right now, if you've got a family

[1:03:25] member that's got a mental health issue

[1:03:27] where they're a danger to themselves or

[1:03:28] to others, you have to go through

[1:03:30] there's a civil um, petition process to

[1:03:33] file for a civil commitment that's kind

[1:03:34] of ownorous on people. You get into

[1:03:36] court and then if you're lucky, maybe

[1:03:38] the judge will order a 7-day commitment

[1:03:40] to a hospital and sometimes that can

[1:03:41] help stabilize people and get them out.

[1:03:43] that there's a need really for more

[1:03:46] long-term uh care and treatment for

[1:03:48] families that are dealing with family

[1:03:49] members who have mental health issues.

[1:03:51] It would be difficult, I'm just going to

[1:03:53] be honest about it, it would be

[1:03:54] difficult in our district to start like

[1:03:55] a mental health treatment court. Uh

[1:03:57] there are some there's one in Little

[1:03:58] Rock and one in Jonesboro and sort of

[1:03:59] the bigger cities have those resources.

[1:04:02] We're we're much more spread thin, you

[1:04:04] know, with our population density. So,

[1:04:06] that would be hard, but I think our

[1:04:08] family court should be doing more. And

[1:04:09] that's something I'm willing to take on

[1:04:11] to try and address that need because it

[1:04:13] is a real need. And I and at the end of

[1:04:15] the day, really, I think our family

[1:04:16] court should be doing more to help

[1:04:18] families in our district than it's

[1:04:20] currently doing. And that's why I've

[1:04:21] gotten into this race. I work at the

[1:04:23] public defenders office. That's what

[1:04:25] I've always done. I've represented, you

[1:04:26] know, I've had thousands of cases over

[1:04:28] the years. I've tried jury trials. I've

[1:04:29] done appeals. I've done arguments before

[1:04:31] the Arkansas Supreme Court. I spent

[1:04:33] years in juvenile court advocating for

[1:04:35] uh children in our district. Primarily

[1:04:37] that was in Isert County. Uh and I do

[1:04:39] primarily court and independence in

[1:04:41] Isert County, but I'm in Cleverstone and

[1:04:42] Fulton a bunch as well. So I have the

[1:04:44] experience to do it and I have the

[1:04:46] vision uh of how I think that our family

[1:04:48] court could better serve our community

[1:04:50] and the families in our community. So

[1:04:52] that's why I got into this race and I'll

[1:04:53] be glad to to stick around afterwards if

[1:04:55] anyone wants to talk to me. But thank

[1:04:57] you for giving me a few minutes to to

[1:04:58] talk with you.

[1:05:01] 30s were finally

[1:05:04] down.

[1:05:10] » No. No. And it's and I will just say

[1:05:12] just since uh since since Mr. Short

[1:05:13] mentioned that is of the other two

[1:05:15] candidates that are running in division

[1:05:16] 2, they either don't talk about drug

[1:05:18] court or on the rare occasion they do,

[1:05:20] they downplay it. There was a a forum

[1:05:23] last week in Independence County that

[1:05:24] you can go watch online. It's on White

[1:05:26] River Now's Facebook page. And one of my

[1:05:28] opponents, Miss Byer, she talked about

[1:05:30] how there was 400 open cases in the

[1:05:33] domestic relations docket. And then she

[1:05:34] said there's only 25 cases in our drug

[1:05:37] court program districtwide. So, as you

[1:05:38] can see, the bulk of the case load is in

[1:05:41] the domestic relations docket. And to

[1:05:43] me, that's that's the problem. If you

[1:05:44] don't have a plan for how to get those

[1:05:46] numbers up and really utilize the

[1:05:48] program we have, we're going to lose it

[1:05:50] because people are already talking

[1:05:51] about, well, hey, we're spending all

[1:05:52] this money on this program and there's

[1:05:54] only three people in the Independence

[1:05:56] County Drug Court. Why are we doing

[1:05:57] that? That's a waste of money. And once

[1:05:59] people start talking that way, you're at

[1:06:01] risk of losing that program if you don't

[1:06:02] really write the ship and get it back.

[1:06:04] So that's why I got in the race. That's

[1:06:06] what I'm I'm talking about everywhere I

[1:06:08] go. And uh and I hope uh I hope that uh

[1:06:10] y'all will consider me um and consider

[1:06:13] me for March 3rd. Thank you so much.

[1:06:15] >> Thanks, Mr. Kendrick.

[1:06:18] >> Announcements. We have some winter

[1:06:20] weather coming.

[1:06:22] Oh, anybody else for open mic?

[1:06:26] Okay, back to the winter weather.

[1:06:28] [laughter]

[1:06:30] Uh, what was Billy saying about it this

[1:06:32] morning about the wet the snow coming

[1:06:34] in?

[1:06:35] >> Oh, Friday afternoon.

[1:06:37] >> Yeah.

[1:06:38] >> So, it's projected like

[1:06:40] >> like maybe up to seven to nine inches.

[1:06:42] >> Yeah.

[1:06:42] >> I mean, you were posting about it, too.

[1:06:44] >> So, everybody just

[1:06:46] >> Yeah,

[1:06:46] >> I know. It keeps going up. So, y'all

[1:06:48] just be prepared for that.

[1:06:50] >> So, when will

[1:06:56] Yeah, exactly. If you have to ask, just

[1:06:58] stay home.

[1:06:59] >> Go get your milk and bread.

[1:07:02] [laughter]

[1:07:04] » Yeah,

[1:07:05] >> I'm sure the street

[1:07:06] >> I might not be able to make it to work.

[1:07:08] [laughter]

[1:07:10] >> Does anybody have anything else?

[1:07:14] >> Okay, motion to adjurnn. Thank you.

[1:07:18] Thank you.

Heber Springs City Council for January 20th, 2026

Agenda

Transcript