Jonesboro council approves consent items, utilities resolution and several ordinances including firefighter 'bill of rights'

The Jonesboro City Council on Dec. 2 approved routine business and several substantive measures during its meeting.

The council adopted the consent agenda by voice vote after an unopposed motion. Council then considered Resolution 25,166, which requests City Water and Light provide utility services without charge for traffic signals at identified locations, including 1506 N Church Street; a motion to adopt carried after one council member recused themself because of a board-membership conflict.

In new and unfinished business the council moved a series of ordinances to second reading after motions to suspend the rules and offer each by title. On third reading the council adopted ordinance 25,033, amending chapter 6 (alcoholic beverages) to comply with changes to Arkansas law regarding private-club permits; ordinance 25,038, placing various traffic signs at locations determined by the traffic-control committee; and ordinance 25,039, which adds section 2-289 to the Jonesboro Code of Ordinances titled 'Firefighter Bill of Rights.' Each ordinance was moved, seconded and carried by voice vote with no recorded roll-call tallies in the transcript.

The meeting included a presentation of a Fire Department long-range master plan and routine mayor and council reports but the formal actions above were the primary recorded votes.

Notable procedural detail: one council member announced a recusal from the Resolution 25,166 vote due to membership on the referenced board; the transcript records the recusal but does not give a roll-call tally for that item.