Jonesboro council advances several ordinances, adopts drainage-easement vacation and schedules bond hearing

The Jonesboro City Council on May 6 advanced multiple ordinances, adopted a measure vacating a drainage easement and approved a public hearing on a proposed capital improvement revenue bond.

The council adopted the consent agenda and advanced several ordinances to further readings. Councilors moved Ordinance 25-010, to place various traffic signs at locations determined by the traffic control committee, past first reading and to a second reading. An amendment to Chapter 117 (zoning) to rezone property at 3305 Dan Avenue from R-1 to C-3 (requested by Horizon Land Surveying LLC) was presented and advanced to second reading after a member of the public asked about past commercial use of the site and whether code enforcement had acted; the mayor said staff would follow up. A private-club permit for Abe’s Place, to be located at Village Commons, was advanced to a second reading after a resident urged caution because Craighead County is a dry county.

On unfinished business the council moved an ordinance rezoning property at 5905 East Johnson Avenue from R-1 to C-3 to a third reading. On third reading the council voted to adopt Ordinance 25-009, vacating and abandoning a drainage easement in Lot 5R of the second addition of Block C, Southern Hills; a motion to adopt received a second and “carried.”

Separately, Councilman Haffner moved and the council approved setting the required public hearing on a proposed capital improvement revenue bond for 5:30 p.m. Tuesday, May 20; the motion was seconded and approved.

Council members did not record roll-call tallies in the meeting transcript for most votes reported; where the record shows only “aye” or “that does carry,” the council certified the motions without a roll-call vote recorded in the public minutes.

The council accepted public comments during the zoning item for 3305 Dan Avenue. Resident Patty Lack asked whether the property owner had been contacted by code enforcement about prior commercial uses; the mayor responded, “we'll get back with you on that.” Another resident, James Owen Hines, objected to the private-club permit for Abe’s Place and said, “This is a dry county.”

The council did not adopt any ordinances on first reading beyond advancing them to further readings at this meeting.

The council’s next scheduled action linked to the bond is a public hearing at 5:30 p.m. May 20 followed by the city council meeting that evening.