Jonesboro council sets drainage-easement hearing, adopts sidewalk exemption and approves sports-complex MOU

The Jonesboro City Council on March 18 voted to set a public hearing on a petition to abandon a drainage easement, approved an amendment to the city sidewalk ordinance to allow a contribution-in-lieu exemption for property in planned industrial parks, and passed a resolution authorizing a memorandum of understanding with the city Advertising and Promotion Commission related to financing a proposed sports complex.

The council directed the city clerk to publish notice of a public hearing on a petition from Craft and Tull requesting abandonment of a drainage easement in Lot 5 R, Block C, Southern Hills; the hearing was scheduled for April 1, 2025, at 4:45 p.m. at City Hall, 300 South Church. The council moved to adopt the resolution setting that hearing and approved it by voice vote with no recorded opposition.

The council adopted Ordinance 25-005 on third reading, amending Jonesboro Code section 117.33 OC (the sidewalk ordinance) to provide a contribution-in-lieu of construction exemption for property located in planned industrial parks. The ordinance was moved and seconded and carried by voice vote; no council discussion was recorded on the floor before the vote.

Council members also approved a resolution authorizing the mayor and city clerk to enter a memorandum of understanding with the Jonesboro Advertising and Promotion Commission. The resolution affirms the city’s support for design, financing and leasing steps for a proposed sports complex project, describes a financing plan involving lease revenue bonds and a proposed term sheet from Capital 1 Public Funding LLC, and authorizes continued accounting and funds-management services by the city for the commission. The council moved to adopt the resolution, which passed by voice vote with no recorded opposition.

All formal votes on March 18 were taken by voice; the meeting record shows “aye” and no “nay” responses for the motions above. The council also moved Ordinance 25-008 (a revision of council rules and procedures) from second reading to a subsequent reading, and no final action on that ordinance occurred at this meeting.

Votes at a glance - Resolution to set public hearing on abandonment of a drainage easement (Res. 25-026): Motion to adopt recorded by voice vote; hearing set for April 1, 2025, at 4:45 p.m.; mover/second not specified in the transcript. - Ordinance 25-005 (sidewalk ordinance amendment, third reading): Moved and seconded; adopted by voice vote; mover/second not specified in the transcript. - Resolution authorizing MOU with Jonesboro Advertising and Promotion Commission (resolution number not specified in the transcript, referred to on the record as a walk-on resolution): Moved and seconded; adopted by voice vote; mover/second not specified in the transcript. - Ordinance 25-008 (city council rules and procedures): Moved from second reading to third reading; no final vote at this meeting.

Discussion versus decision - The drainage-easement item: decision recorded was to set a public hearing; the council did not debate substance of the easement during this meeting. - Ordinance 25-005: final adoption recorded; no floor discussion captured in the transcript. - Sports-complex MOU: council adopted the resolution consenting to the financing approach and authorizing the mayor and city clerk to execute an MOU; the resolution contains detailed findings about financing steps, bond issuance, lease structure and intended use of advertising-and-promotion funds, but no council floor debate was recorded.

Next steps and public notice - The city clerk was directed to publish the notice for the April 1 hearing on the drainage-easement petition. The MOU and ordinance actions authorize follow-up administrative steps (execution of the MOU and continued city accounting services) that staff will carry out under the authority granted by the council.