Arkansas City Land Bank elects officers, approves 2024 annual report and publishes 20-property inventory

The Arkansas City Land Bank on the February 2025 meeting elected Mayor Beeson as chair and approved its 2024 annual report and the required annual inventory listing 20 properties, board members said.

The vote to select mayor Beeson as chair carried after a motion and second. Trustee Tiffany Parsons was selected as secretary and Trustee Jennifer Wagner was selected as treasurer. The board also approved its annual report for 2024 and a published inventory of 20 land-bank properties that must be posted in the newspaper, staff said.

Josh, a land‑bank staff member who presented the annual report, told the board that the land bank sold two properties in 2024 and received payments during the year. "In 2024, we sold those 2 properties, and we did both of those at the previous meeting," Josh said. He said the land bank did not buy any properties at tax sales in 2024 because competitive bidding pushed prices for vacant lots toward $1,000–$2,000, which he said the board judged not an appropriate use of funds: "they're becoming unaffordable for us to purchase property at these sales."

Josh reported receipts of $1,500 for one property sold in November and a separate $1 payment related to a prior-year sale. He said the land bank's fund balance increased by roughly $1,300–$1,400 over the year. "We ended up with about $1,300, maybe $1,400 more in the land bank fund at the end of last year as opposed to the beginning," he said. He also said the map of properties is posted on the city's website, while the newspaper publication will contain the required table because publishing the full map would be costly.

Commissioners and trustees discussed potential additional city‑owned parcels that could be transferred into the land bank. Board members said some sizable tracts near Patterson Park, the hospital and other city holdings could be candidates for transfer if the City Commission chooses to enact a formal transfer. Commissioner Jay urged a work session to review available parcels and asked staff to compile a list for review: "I think we need to have more at work session. Just bring them, and we'll go over and see," he said. Josh said transfers would require formal action by the city commission.

The board reviewed its bylaws and policy directives; staff said the packet included the documents and that no changes were being recommended at this time. Board members traced the land bank's start to early 2017 and said most legacy properties were formally transferred into the land bank in 2019.

The meeting concluded with routine approvals: adoption of the agenda and approval of prior minutes. All motions described during the meeting were voted and carried by voice vote, with no roll‑call tallies recorded in the audio transcript.

Looking ahead, trustees asked staff to prepare property lists and maps for a commission work session to evaluate which city parcels — including land near Patterson Park and parcels adjacent to the hospital — might be appropriate for transfer into the land bank for potential housing or redevelopment.