City of Murfreesboro public meetings in 2023
15 substantive meetings from 2023, with official agendas or minutes and plain-English summaries.
City Council
The Murfreesboro City Council approved Resolution 2023-7 adopting the Pike County Multijurisdictional Hazard Mitigation Plan and accepted the low bid of $257,202.90 from Branch Construction, LLC for the Sidewalk project. Council member Bachmann abstained due to a family connection. The council also approved the November minutes and treasurer's report, and heard updates on the weather siren, a $21,000 park grant, and the drainage ditch project.
- Approved Resolution 2023-7 adopting the Pike County Multijurisdictional Hazard Mitigation Plan (unanimous)
- Accepted $257,202.90 bid from Branch Construction, LLC for Sidewalk project (Bachmann abstained)
- Approved minutes from November 13, 2023 meeting (unanimous)
- Approved Treasurer's report (unanimous)
City Council
The Murfreesboro City Council approved a 5% salary increase for the 2024 budget. The motion was made by Member Gills, seconded by Member Barnes, and passed unanimously. All other unfinished business was tabled until the next meeting.
- Approved minutes from October 16, 2023, unanimously
- Approved Treasurer's report unanimously
- Approved 5% salary increase for 2024 budget unanimously
- Tabled all unfinished business until next meeting
City Council
The council unanimously adopted Ordinance 2023-6 regulating firearm discharge within city limits and Ordinance 2023-7 amending the vendor permit fee ordinance. It also approved a $327,915.80 bid from Francis Excavating for the Drainage Ditch Project, contingent on ACEDP approval, and kept the millage rate at 3 mills.
- Adopted Ordinance 2023-6 regulating firearm discharge (unanimous)
- Adopted Ordinance 2023-7 amending vendor permit fee ordinance (unanimous)
- Approved Resolution 2023-5 keeping millage at 3 mills (unanimous)
- Approved $327,915.80 bid for Drainage Ditch Project, contingent on ACEDP (unanimous)
- Approved Mary Jean Barbre to fill Planning and Zoning vacancy (unanimous)
- Approved minutes and treasurer's report (unanimous)
City Council
The Murfreesboro City Council approved selling the 1977 Ford Fire Truck to another fire department, as it is no longer useful. The council also agreed to revise several ordinances, including those on firearms, vendor permits, animals, and premises cleanup, with revisions to be presented at the next meeting. No action was taken on a resident's RV parking issue or on permit purchase procedures.
- Approved sale of 1977 Ford Fire Truck to another fire department (unanimous)
- Agreed to revise ordinances #145, #237, #2017-6, and #2019-2 (consensus)
City Council
The Murfreesboro City Council approved a $1,000 increase in the 9th West JD Drug Task Force invoice for 2023-2024, despite the expense not being in the 2023 budget. The council also approved an updated Personnel Handbook, introduced and adopted Ordinance 2023-5 to clarify penalties for property maintenance violations, and approved the use of the City Service Building as a tourist information center while tabling bathroom discussions.
- Approved Drug Task Force invoice with $1,000 increase (passed, Barnes abstained)
- Approved updated Personnel Handbook via Resolution 2023-5 (unanimous)
- Introduced, waived readings, and adopted Ordinance 2023-5 (unanimous)
- Approved Tourism department use of City Service Building as info center (unanimous)
- Tabled discussion on bathrooms at City Service Building
- Appointed Lance Bridgeman to Tourism Commission (5-1, Fugitt dissenting)
- Approved $8,000+ backhoe repair and raised mayor's spending limit to $10,000
City Council
The City Council passed Ordinance 2023-4, which establishes rules and regulations for external noise attenuation of data centers to prevent noise disturbance. The council waived the second and third readings to adopt the emergency ordinance.
- Adopted Ordinance 2023-4 regarding data center noise attenuation (unanimous)
City Council
The Murfreesboro City Council approved the purchase of a new shingle roof for City Hall and adopted an updated policy manual including new CDL training requirements. The council also voted to pursue a loan for the purchase of new police body cameras and tabled a decision regarding a drug task force invoice.
- Approved June 12 meeting minutes (unanimous)
- Approved Treasurer's report (unanimous)
- Tabled 9th West JD Drug Task Force invoice (unanimous)
- Approved updated Policy Manual via Resolution 2023-4 (unanimous)
- Authorized pursuit of a loan for $18,640.93 in body cameras (unanimous)
- Approved $19,820.00 bid from Fagan Roofing for City Hall roof (unanimous)
City Council
The council approved funding for water department projects on Kelley St and Village Circle and granted $2,500 to the Pike County Archives. They also authorized obtaining bids for a new City Hall roof and reappointed members to the Water and Planning and Zoning Commissions.
- Appropriated $65,000 in ARPA funds for water department projects (Unanimous)
- Approved $2,500 from General fund for Pike County Archives history book (Unanimous)
- Approved obtaining bids for metal and architectural shingle roofs for City Hall (Unanimous)
- Reappointed Steve Turner to a 3-year term on the Water Commission (Unanimous)
- Reappointed Joan Hooper to a 5-year term on the Planning and Zoning Commission (Unanimous)
- Accepted 2020 and 2021 Financial and Compliance Audit Report (Unanimous)
- Approved May 8 and May 19, 2023 meeting minutes (Unanimous)
- Accepted Treasurer’s report (Unanimous)
City Council
The council voted unanimously to remain in open session after a motion to enter executive session was objected to. They discussed alleged unpaid bills, including a credit issue with Bumper to Bumper, and addressed a mail sorting error. No formal decisions were made beyond the open session vote.
- Motion to remain in open session passed unanimously
- Discussed alleged unpaid bills and credit issue with Bumper to Bumper
- Addressed mail sorting error involving Bumper to Bumper mail
City Council
The council unanimously pre-approved the fire department's purchase of a used pumper tanker truck for up to $150,000, allowing the chief to buy it without another council vote. Minutes and the treasurer's report were approved unanimously. No other substantive decisions were made; a resident's request to speak was denied for not being on the agenda.
- Pre-approved purchase of used pumper tanker up to $150,000 (unanimous)
- Approved April 10, 2023 meeting minutes (unanimous)
- Approved treasurer's report (unanimous)
- Denied Gordon Hinds' request to address council (not on agenda)
City Council
The City Council adopted two ordinances permitting the city to purchase services from an official and do business with a company owned by a city employee. The council tabled a discussion regarding a bid for public bathrooms.
- Approved Ordinance 2023-2 to allow Council Member Jane Fugitt to be employed by the Advertising and Tourism Commission (Unanimous)
- Approved Ordinance 2023-3 to allow the city to do business with Branch Construction LLC (4-0, 1 abstention)
- Tabled discussion on public bathroom bid from Branch Construction LLC (Unanimous)
- Approved March 13, 2022 meeting minutes (Approved)
- Approved Treasurer's report (Unanimous)
City Council
The City Council approved a $6,044.94 contract for security cameras and authorized seeking a loan to cover a $16,900 funding gap for baseball field lighting. The council also approved new Park Commission appointments and an ordinance updating a private club application name.
- Approved $6,044.94 security camera quote from Hot Springs Network DR Inc. (Unanimous)
- Approved taking bids and exploring mobile options for public restrooms on the square (Unanimous)
- Approved taking bids from local banks for a loan to cover $16,900 for baseball field lighting (Unanimous)
- Appointed Brandon Wofford (1-year term) and Tesla Gills (3-year term) to Park Commission (Unanimous)
- Adopted Ordinance 2023-1 to change private club application name to Childers Corner Social Club Inc. d/b/a Telinga’s Mex Restaurant (4-1)
- Approved February 13, 2022 meeting minutes (Roll call)
- Approved Treasurer’s report (Unanimous)
City Council
The Murfreesboro City Council approved the purchase of a washer-extractor for the fire department at an estimated cost of $22,500, with the quote to be reissued to include a dryer. The council also unanimously approved removing Water Department information from an outdoor sign. No vote was taken on a plan to explore adding public restrooms to the pavilion at the City Service Building, though the council gave general consent. The mayor reported that six light poles for the baseball field will be provided by South Central Arkansas Electric and that Ricky Branch will resume as Planning and Zoning Inspector for $500 per month.
- Approved washer-extractor purchase for fire department, $22,500 (unanimous)
- Approved expense to remove Water Department info from outdoor sign (unanimous)
- Approved minutes from Jan 9, 2022 and Jan 23, 2023 meetings (roll call)
- Approved Treasurer's report (unanimous)
- Gave general consent to explore public restrooms on the square (no vote)
City Council
The Murfreesboro City Council unanimously approved two budget resolutions at a special meeting. Resolution 2023-2 adopted an amended budget for 2022, and Resolution 2023-3 adopted the 2023 budget. No other substantive decisions were made.
- Approved amended 2022 budget (Resolution 2023-2) unanimously
- Approved 2023 budget (Resolution 2023-3) unanimously
City Council
The Murfreesboro City Council approved several appointments and resolutions, including hiring Aaron Brasel as the new city attorney after an executive session. The council also approved Resolution 2023-1 to allow the Water Department to apply for state funding for improvements. All votes were unanimous.
- Approved minutes from December 13, 2022 meeting (unanimous)
- Approved Treasurer's report (unanimous)
- Appointed Jane Fugitt to Strategic Planning Council (unanimous)
- Appointed Mark Barnes and Kirk Stone to Advertising and Tourism Commission (unanimous)
- Approved 2023 meeting dates (unanimous)
- Appointed Rodney Fagan, Gills, Bachmann, and Mayor O'Neal to drainage ditch committee (unanimous)
- Approved department committee nominees (unanimous)
- Hired Aaron Brasel as city attorney (unanimous)