Dover City Council
Minutes November 19, 2024
The City of Dover in Pope County, State of Arkansas, met in regular session November 19, 2024, 6 p.m. at the Dover City Hall. The following were present: Mayor Roger Lee presiding and the following Council members: Russell Warhurst, Chris Walker, Carl Wetzel, Brent Hottinger, Connie Ragsdale.
Absent: Attorney Luker, Fred Standridge.
Prayer: Brent Hottinger.
Pledge of Allegiance: Chris Walker.
Roll Call: Recorder Renee Nelson.
Minutes of October 15, 2024, meeting were reviewed and there being no corrections, Council member Hottinger made a motion to approve the minutes. Council member Walker 2nd. A Voice Vote. Yeas: 5. Nays: 0. Motion carried.
Monthly bills were received and signed. Council member Ragsdale made a motion to approve payment of bills. Council member Warhurst 2nd. A Voice Vote. Yeas: 5 Nays: 0. Motion carried.
Reviewed balance sheet and monthly financials.
No Library report.
The students were not in attendance.
Bethannie Newsome Steelman, a mural painter from Hot Springs, Arkansas gave a presentation on painting a mural on the side of the Dover fire station. She specializes in transforming ordinary walls into vivid landmarks using colorful imagery. With her murals she likes to engage both communities and travelers, hoping to spark conversations. The council will consider the mural and contact the school and local community to see if anyone from Dover would like to paint a mural on the side of the fire station.
Ron Hughes was not in attendance.
Treasurer Christina Walker presented the budget for 2025.
She went over the budget and asked the council for any feedback. If they have any suggestion or if it is acceptable the council can pass the budget December meeting.
Ron Walker presented the planning commission report.
Next meeting is January 2, 2025, 6 pm. Ron had a man from Texas wanting to buy property on 909 Hwy 164, but he needs a variance to have livestock on the 12 acres. The council did not want a multiple variety of animals in the city limits. They voted for a limit of 2 horses, 2 cows, 2 dozen chickens on the 12 acres. Council member Hottinger made a motion to follow the recommendation on the planning commission on 909 Hwy 164, 12 acres, to allow 2 horses, 2 cows, and two dozen chicken on the property in the city limits. Council member Walker 2nd. A voice vote. Yeas:5. Nays: 0. Motion carried.
Second, Ron had another man from Texas wanting to cleanup and build a RV type area or Airbnb rental on 66 East Walker Drive mobile home area. The zoning laws do not allow for new mobile homes in the city limits now. The council decided against this. Ron reported that Jerico Motors has had some complaints about their lot that need to be addressed. Colony Street has some issues that have been addressed.
J.J. White presented the utilities report.
Water Department:
- Repaired one service line
- Repaired one fire hydrant
- Replaced one switch at raw water
- Replaced one float
- Replace one valve on chlorine feed line
- Changed one solenoid
- Removed the submersible pump from creek
- Sent raw water pump to shop
- Cleaned raw water intake
- Passed a sanitary survey
Sewer Department:
- Installed one sewer service
- Repaired drain line at water pump
- Serviced the mini excavator
- Billy and Austin received their plumbing inspection license
Street Department:
- Painted fence posts at ballpark
- Edged sidewalks
- Removed limb in Cedar Creek
- Removed a tree from the city park
- Cut limbs
- Patched Colony Street
- Contracted Patch on Hwy 27
- Removed broken tire swing and spring rider from park
- Removed leaves from park
Humbard should finish this week with their part of sewer construction repairs. Next sewer construction meeting will be in January 2025.
Terry DuVall presented the fire report.
The fire department had 6 calls: unauthorized burns, grass fire and public service assistance for tree removal. The fire department has received a grant from the USDA department and has purchased some new equipment: windshield spreader, saw, nozzles for fire hoses, thermal imagers. The company they purchased the other equipment from gave them a new hose also. The fire station has asked for a ventilation system in the station. In the summer the station gets too hot, and this negatively affects some of the equipment. We have budgeted for ventilation fans for next year. The fire chief has been getting bids on vents and exhaust fans. They have asked for new door openers that can send out an alert on the cell phone to close doors, if need be, remotely. In the winter the doors do not always automatically close when the ambulance is called out. This causes the heating bills to go up. We do not want the ambulance to worry about closing doors when sent out on a call. An Accident & Fire Insurance for Volunteer Fire Fighters has been found that will cover all volunteers for $700 a year. It covers from 1st tone to return on things like, stroke, heart attack, heat stroke, accidents. The council discussed it and approved.
Council member Hottinger made a motion to pay for the accident and fire insurance for the Dover city volunteer fire department for $700 a year. Council member Ragsdale 2nd. A voice vote. Yeas: 5. Nays: 0. Motion carried.
Chief Josh Titsworth presented the police report.
October was an active month for the marshals. They had 154 calls: theft, burglary, violations of protective order, traffic stops, and welfare concerns. The marshals recovered approximately $60,000 in property and cash from October cases. They are looking to purchase laptops for the police cars to speed up processing information in the office. They have money for one laptop and hope to find some grants or other options to cover the cost of the others. In the meantime, they will share one laptop until more can be purchased. They have gotten several quotes on the laptops and the Wi-Fi service to run them. The council agreed the laptops would be a good idea.
Recorder Renee Nelson asks the council if they have any suggestion or revisions for the personnel policy. If they did not have any the policy would be voted on next month and begin in January 2025. She reminded the council members that were reelected that the CC & E Report is due by December 30, even if they have no contributions. She also reminded everyone that the SFI are due by January 31, 2025.
Mayor Roger Lee presented the mayor report.
The city was approved for federal aid for two of the city’s bridges, Peaceful Valley Rd and N. Elizabeth. The Arkansas Department of Transportation stated the city would have to pay for a study to be done. The council approved the $500 each for the study to be conducted on the bridges. The mayor asks the council to consider procurement cards for some of the city supervisors. This would help when multiple people have training or need to buy supplies for the repair of water lines and other necessities for the city. We currently only have one card for the whole city. It would cut down on reimbursements for employees. Each would have the employees’ name; a limited purchase amount and itemized bill will come for each for accountability and review. The Municipal League has sent out an accidental death and dismemberment plan that covers all elected officials and department heads of $100,000 at $80-100 a year if they would like to get it. The mayor informed the council that employee yearly evaluations are coming up. The mayor asked the council to consider allowing vacation time buy-back for days over the carry-over amount of 10 days. The ability to sell back vacation days would be contingent on special circumstances, such as high departmental workloads or staffing shortages. These conditions would be determined by the mayor. It may require individual review or approval from the mayor or relevant authorities based on the situation in each department. This kind of policy could help employees by allowing them to cash out unused vacation days, but it also helps the city by potentially managing staff shortages or high workloads more effectively during peak times. The council discussed the issue and approved to allow vacation time sold under special circumstances approved by the mayor.
Council member Ragsdale made a motion to adjourn. Council member Warhurst 2nd. A voice vote. Yeas: 5. Nays: 0.
