The Warren City Council convened on October 10, 2023, at the Warren Municipal Building, with Mayor Gregg Reep presiding. The meeting touched upon various community matters.
The meeting was attended by Aldermen Memory Burks-Frazer, Dorothy C. Henderson, Joel Tolefree, Emily Moseley, and Latenza Atkins, while Alderman Angela Marshall was absent. The council commenced by approving the minutes of the previous September meeting and receiving the City Clerk’s Report.
During the Mayor’s Report, the council adopted a resolution emphasizing the priority of the completion of Interstate 530, a significant project near the community. The resolution will be presented to the Arkansas Highway Commissioner along with those of other South Arkansas communities. In another decision, the council authorized the Police Department to auction a 2009 Chevy Impala.
One of the key items discussed was the mandatory consolidation of the fireman pension fund through the State, LOPFI. The City had no alternative but to comply with this consolidation. It was approved.
The public comments section of the meeting was dominated by discussions related to livestock held within the City limits. This issue stemmed from a complaint made during the August 2023 meeting by Billy Joe Harding regarding a property adjacent to his home. The neighbor’s donkey on the property had caused disturbances such as noise and unpleasant odors according to Harding. While the neighbor addressed the issue of the property cleanup to meet the City’s code requirements, Harding continued to express concerns about the donkey’s noise and odor.
Several residents voiced their opposition to any changes to the City’s livestock policy due to this one issue between Harding and his neighbor. Jana Mann, Seth Jolly, Billy Smith, Jerry West, and Clinton Webb(Webb is also the City’s Animal Control Officer) all advocated for keeping livestock within the City. Webb, in particular, emphasized his horses as pets and expressed his enjoyment of keeping them. Several of the residents own cattle with the City limits and urged the Council not to punish law-abiding residents who have never had a complaint leveled against them because of this one problem between two residents in the City.
Harding reiterated his concerns later in the discussion, stating that the donkey issues had disrupted his sleep and comfort at his residence. Harding is a veteran and has some trouble sleeping he says. Approximately ten residents attended the meeting in opposition to any proposed changes to the City’s livestock policy. The Council did not take any action on this matter.
The meeting then transitioned to reports from City department heads. Police Chief Shaun Hildreth updated the Council on a K-9 search conducted at the high school at the request of the Warren School District. Sanitation Manager Rob Johnson addressed issues of red trash dumpster misuse in the community and provided updates on several condemned properties. Street Foreman Monty Hearnsberger reported on recent asphalt work in various parts of the city.
In subsequent discussions, the Council approved a contract with El Dorado Printing for IT services provided to the City at a monthly cost of $1,658.93, as recommended by the staff. An offer from AHF to install a new bridge at Warren City Park was also discussed, offering a cost-effective solution for the city.
Furthermore, a request was made to bore holes in the men’s restroom and the southwest corner of the Cultural Center to inspect any potential issues while moving forward with future renovations.
The meeting concluded with two announcements: the Fall Festival scheduled for October 28 at the Tomato Shed on the Fairgrounds and the Christmas Parade on December 9 at 5:30 p.m. The next City Council meeting was set for Monday, November 13, 2023.