MINUTES OF THE REGULAR MEETING 

OF THE OZARK CITY COUNCIL 

January 11, 2021 

Ozark City Council Meeting Room 

Prior to the Regular Meeting, a Swearing- In Ceremony for Elected Officials was held for Alderpersons Rex Anderson, Brandy Flanary, Susan Holman, Charles Meeker, Randy Melton and City Clerk Susan Stevens. Reverend Troy Vaughn led the Invocation and the Pledge of Allegiance was led by SSG Elder and SGT Williams of Battery C, 2d Battalion, 142″ d Field Artillery. The Swearing- In was led by County Clerk Tammy Sisson. 

The Regular Meeting was called to order by Mayor Roxie Hall and upon a roll call, a quorum was declared to exist for the meeting. Susan Holman made a motion to approve the Minutes ofthe December meeting, seconded by Charles Meeker. Upon a roll call, all alderpersons voted aye and the Minutes were approved. Rex Anderson then made a motion to approve the Financial Reports, seconded by Randy Melton. Upon a roll call, all alderpersons voted aye and the Financial reports were approved. 

Under Old Business, Police Chief Devin Bramlett gave an update on the property at 2307 W. Commercial. He and Fire Chief Nick Trotter led a group in an inspection of the structure. The back door is open. There is a hole in the floor just inside the door, and several more throughout the house. The electrical wiring is out of service along with the water and sewer. There are cracks in the walls and the header is rotting and pulling away from the roofline. All steps in Ordinance 2020- 8 have been followed, including a second opinion from the City Inspector for Alma. The heir to the property was sent a letter in December of 2020, he has refused offers made to purchase property, the will has not been through probate and no taxes have been paid since 2018. Fire Chief Nick Trotter is working on a report to deem the structure uninhabitable and would like to see the entire lot cleaned up and cleared off. City Attorney Kevin Barham will send this report to the heir with a two week time frame for a response and then the City Council can move to condemn the property. Susan Holman would like the City to buy and resell the property. Randy Melton doesn’ t think the City should be in the Real Estate business. Rex Anderson suggested proceeding with the steps toward condemnation and then placing a lien on the property to recover the City’ s expenses. A motion to move forward to condemn the property was made by Randy Melton and seconded by Rex Anderson. Upon a roll call, all Alderpersons voted aye and the motion was approved. 

Fire Chief Nick Trotter gave an update on the Coley Building on 2nd Street. They have retained a lawyer as there was no will and are waiting on a Death Certificate to move forward. They have a buyer who wishes to remain anonymous for both Coley properties. Nick stated that the building is a health and safety hazard. There has been a man living there with a rental agreement. The building is zoned residential so the City cannot evict. However he only has a sink for water usage, no restroom facility. Tanya Talkington is to check out the water& sewer situation. Mayor Hall will have City Attorney Kevin Barham obtain a Death Certificate, so the situation can move forward with the sale of the property. There was discussion about several structures in the downtown area that are zoned residential. Susan Holman and Rex Anderson suggested that we find a way to limit this to existing residents only, no new ones, as there are a few businesses with living quarters either upstairs or in the back of the business. It was agreed that the main designation of downtown businesses should be Commercial. This matter was turned over to the Ordinance Committee. 

In the absence of City Attorney Kevin Barham, Susan Holman made a motion to present Ordinance 2021- 1 to the Council. This Ordinance designates the date, time and place for City Council meetings. The motion was seconded by Rex Anderson and upon a roll call vote all Alderpersons voted aye. The Ordinance was then read by Susan Holman. A motion to dispense with the second and third reading and vote by title only was made by Brandy Flanary and seconded by Charlie Meeker. Upon a roll call vote, all Alderpersons voted aye. A motion to approve Ordinance 2021- 1 was made by Rex Anderson and seconded by Brandy Flanary. Upon a roll call vote, all Alderpersons voted aye and Ordinance 2021- 1 was approved. 

Charlie Meeker then made a motion to present Ordinance 2021- 2 to the City Council. This was seconded by Susan Holman. Upon a roll call vote, all Alderpersons voted aye. This Ordinance designates the procedures for City Council meetings. The Ordinance was then read by Susan Holman. A motion to dispense with the second and third reading and vote by title only was made by Randy Melton and seconded by Rex Anderson. Upon a roll call vote, all Alderpersons voted aye. A motion to approve Ordinance 2021- 2 was made by Randy Melton and seconded by Charlie Meeker. Upon a roll call vote, all Alderpersons voted aye and Ordinance 2021- 2 was approved. 

Charlie Meeker then presented the 2021 Budget. Alderperson Rex Anderson made a motion to approve the budget, seconded by Susan Holman. Upon a roll call vote, all Alderpersons voted aye and the 2021 Budget was approved. A note was made that this budget is dependent on the passage ofthe Hospital Tax which will be on the ballot February 9. A second note is that District Court Judge Sarah Capp is to be paid as a District Court line item, coming from the General Fund. A motion was then made to approve the Budget for the Water Department by Charlie Meeker and seconded by Randy Melton. Upon a roll call vote, all Alderpersons voted aye and the Water Department budget was approved. 

Announcements: Committee and Commission Meetings dates and times will stay the same. Daniel Elder is to be added to the Budget Committee and Sophie Hall will be added to the Parks & Recreation Committee. A reminder was given to Committee chairpersons that it is their responsibility to notify the public 5 days in advance of a meeting. There will be a meeting at the Courthouse with the County Judge and other City Officials on Thursday, January 14 at 1: 30 to discuss the Hospital Tax. Mayor Hall would like to thank OG&E and Arkansas Valley for their prompt repair ofstreet lights in the City. Curve signs have been installed on Puddin’ Ridge and the Street Department is also looking at striping the road and adding extra lights. The City is waiting on a criminal summons to be issued for a resident at 100 South 2nd Street.

Mayor Hall then presented awards for Employee of the Quarter( October, November, & December of 2020). 

Water Department Sonya Pallarino 

Street Department Daniel Alexander 

Fire Department Christian Gortemiller 

Police Department Joey Griffith 

Community Center Ty Archer 

A motion to adjourn was made by Susan Holman and seconded by Randy Melton. Upon a roll call vote, all Alderpersons voted aye and the meeting was adjourned. 

Minutes for the Ozark City Council Meeting held Monday, January 11. 2021 were approved and passed this 81h day of February, 2021. 

May Roxie Hall 

City of Ozark 

City Clerk Susan Stevens 

City of Ozark