Jonesboro finance committee forwards four resolutions to full council, including amended grant for $500,000 inclusive playground

The City of Jonesboro Financial Administration Council Committee on July 29 voted to forward four resolutions to the full City Council, including an amended application for an Arkansas Department of Parks, Heritage and Tourism matching grant to build a $500,000 all‑inclusive playground at Craighead Forest Park that would require a $250,000 city match.

The committee also recommended entering contracts for alleyway improvements with Michelle's Excavating Inc., and for Jonesboro Economical Transit (JET) bus‑shelter upgrades with Crabtree and Sons Inc., and it recommended formal adoption of a Title VI civil‑rights program for the Jonesboro Economical Transit System (JETS). Committee members instructed staff to take the resolutions to the full council for final action; the transcript does not record full vote tallies at the committee level.

The resolution to contract with Michelle's Excavating Inc. would use Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) FY24 public‑facilities funds for alleyway improvements. Committee Chair read the resolution into the record and asked staff whether only one bid had qualified; a committee member confirmed the city engineer had verified that only a single qualifying bid was received.

The Crabtree and Sons Inc. contract would be funded by a FY21 Buses and Bus Facilities grant from the Federal Transit Administration (FTA) and covers bus‑shelter upgrades. A committee member asked whether the bid included 45 new shelters; staff said the contract covers new shelter locations though the exact breakdown was not available in committee. A staff member said, “I heard today that we may not receive delivery on the new shelters until December,” indicating a potential manufacturing delay.

The committee also recommended formal adoption of JETS’ Title VI program, a federal civil‑rights certification that transit recipients must maintain to receive federal funds. The resolution cites Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 and the Federal Transit Administration’s guidance (FTA Circular 4702.1) and directs the mayor or the mayor’s designee to execute required certifications.

The most discussed item was the amended parks grant application. The resolution as published on the committee agenda originally sought a FY25 matching grant for an entrance drive and parking lot at Beatrice Park, estimated at $162,000 with an $81,000 local match. Committee members amended the resolution to request an FY26 matching grant for an all‑inclusive playground at Craighead Forest Park (referred to in the record as Craighead/“Rotary”), with a revised project total of $500,000 and a required local match of $250,000. Parks staff described the project as a replacement for the Rotary playground, which they said has been in place for more than 20 years and now shows rust and wear: “...that playground ... it’s time for that playground to be replaced,” the staff member said.

The committee discussed the reason for moving the playground request forward and delaying the Beatrice Park work, saying Beatrice remains part of the parks master plan and the city already has contractors lined up to begin work on that project within the current budget year if council directs. One committee member named Mr. Emmonson seconded the amendment to the parks resolution during committee discussion.

All four items were recommended to the full City Council for final approval. The committee record shows motions and seconds to forward each resolution but does not include a full roll‑call tally in the committee transcript provided. Where vote counts, individual yes/no votes, or final contract start dates or delivery schedules were not specified in the committee discussion, this article notes that those details were not specified in the committee record.

Votes at a glance (committee recommendation to forward to full City Council): - Resolution 25‑101: Accept low bid and enter contract with Michelle's Excavating Inc. for Jonesboro alleyway improvements (funding: CDBG FY24 public facilities and improvements program). Outcome: forwarded to full council; vote tally not specified in committee record. - Resolution 25‑102: Accept low bid and enter contract with Crabtree and Sons Inc. for JET bus‑shelter upgrades (funding: FTA FY21 Buses and Bus Facilities grant). Outcome: forwarded to full council; vote tally not specified. - Resolution 25‑103: Adopt Title VI program for Jonesboro Economical Transit System (JETS) in compliance with Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 and FTA guidance (Circular 4702.1). Outcome: forwarded to full council; vote tally not specified. - Resolution 25‑104 (amended): Authorize Grants & Community Development to apply for an Arkansas Department of Parks, Heritage and Tourism matching grant for an all‑inclusive playground at Craighead Forest Park (amended project total $500,000; city match $250,000; FY26). Outcome: amended and forwarded to full council; vote tally not specified.

What’s next: Each item will appear on a future full City Council agenda for final approval, contract execution, or grant acceptance. The committee discussion flagged potential schedule and delivery uncertainties for bus‑shelter manufacture and confirmed that the parks office considers the Rotary playground a high‑priority replacement candidate within the master plan timeline.

Sources: July 29, 2025 City of Jonesboro Financial Administration Council Committee meeting transcript (committee reading of resolutions and committee discussion).