Centerton council adopts spousal survivor benefit ordinance, approves Magnolia Landing plat amendment and sets easement hearing

Centerton99City Council voted Monday, March 19, 2025, to adopt an ordinance creating spousal survivor benefits for mayors, approve an amended final plat for Magnolia Landing Subdivision Phase 1, and set a public hearing to consider vacating a drainage and utility easement at 103 Haas Street.

The measures passed unanimously by roll call: Council members Cliff Thompson, Wendy Henson, Josie Reed, Joshua Hagen and Cody Miles voted yes; Justin Cowger was not present. The meeting was called specifically to set the public hearing for the easement vacation and to finalize the items listed on the special agenda.

The first ordinance addressed survivor benefits for a mayor9s spouse. Bill, the presiding official at the meeting, described eligibility criteria, saying the benefit would apply when "a mayor dies while ... in office or, you know, after that person's retired and the spouse is still alive as long as they've been married more than 10 years or more, then they are eligible for half of the half of the retirement that the retired mayor would have received, so 25%." City attorney Todd Olney read the ordinance text as it appears in the record: "an ordinance to authorize payment of survival spousal benefits of 50% of statutory retirement benefits and to grant an annual cost of living benefit of 3% per year." The council first voted to suspend the rule requiring three readings and then adopted the ordinance; both motions passed on unanimous roll calls.

The council approved an amended final plat for Magnolia Landing Subdivision Phase 1 to correct rear-setback language and lot references. The ordinance as read by Olney states it "accept[s] the amended final plat of Magnolia Landing Subdivision Phase 1, correcting the rear setbacks for Lots 1 Through 3 and Lots 21 Through 29, City of Centerton, Section 18, Township 19 North, Range 31 West, Benton County, Arkansas." Council discussion noted corrections to the plat title to include Lots 1 through 3, an increase of certain rear setbacks (for example, a change referenced from 20 to 22 feet for specific lots), and a uniform rear setback provision for lots along the east side of the subdivision with a dedicated utility easement. The ordinance was moved, seconded and approved by unanimous roll call.

The council also approved Resolution 2025-13 to set a public hearing on the vacation of a drainage and utility easement affecting Lot 25, Block 1 of Lane Bridal Subdivision, listed in the ordinance text as 103 Haas Street. Staff said a previously published notice listed an incorrect meeting date; the notice was corrected to show the council meeting on the eighth day of the month so that the required newspaper publication would reflect the correct hearing date. The resolution to set the public hearing passed on a unanimous roll call.

All three items were routine on the special meeting agenda and generated brief procedural discussion; no amendments to the measures were proposed during the session. The meeting adjourned after the council completed the listed actions.