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Council adopts 2026 budget, approves trail, property acquisitions and museum contract
Summary
Springdale council approved the 2026 budget (7–1), adjusted personal‑property millage, authorized settlement of a condemnation case and awarded several contracts including a $781,246 guaranteed maximum price for Shiloh Museum renovations and a contract to build a 1,200‑foot trail at JB Hunt Park.
SPRINGDALE, Ark. — The Springdale City Council approved the city’s 2026 budget and a series of finance and capital decisions at its Dec. 9 meeting, including tax‑related resolutions, a condemnation settlement, a park trail contract and a museum renovation contract.
Chair Jeff Watson summarized finance committee recommendations and introduced agenda items forwarded with committee approval. City Attorney Ernest explained a resolution authorizing settlement of a condemnation lawsuit (defendant: Janet Dancer) tied to the 56th Street south road improvement project (project CP1408). Ernest said processing the condemnation case would allow the property owner faster access to replacement‑housing funds tied to federal participation in the road project; council voted to approve the settlement resolution.
Ben Peters and staff presented a contract to construct 1,200 feet of trail in JB Hunt Park from Cimarron Avenue to Fleming Drive, to be paid from the Public Works Trail Fund. Council debated whether the trail should include lighting. Ben Peters said lighting drives cost and is often funded only if paired with federal grants; he estimated a solar light at roughly $5,000 and the electric downtown lights at about $8,000 each, with spacing every 150–200 feet. Council asked staff to return with lighting cost options and approved the trail contract.
Council also approved the expenditure to acquire property for the Sunset Avenue extension and authorized detention‑pond retrofits in the Great Meadows subdivision in partnership with the Illinois River Watershed Partnership (IRWP) to reduce maintenance and increase native plantings.
On the budget, Watson noted two year‑end tax resolutions on the agenda that would raise the personal‑property millage from 0.0046 to 0.0047 in the city’s Washington and Benton County levies; council adopted both and then approved the 2026 city budget by recorded vote, 7–1. A council member noted the ad valorem changes increase the projected budget surplus by roughly $200,000 if collections meet estimates.
Council approved an amendment to an earlier procurement to authorize up to $20,000 in change orders for needed drainage repairs at the Allen Building while contractor Milestone remains on site; staff said Milestone will donate labor if the city purchases materials. Council also approved a guaranteed maximum price contract not to exceed $781,246 for renovations to the Shiloh Museum of Ozark History.
Votes on these items were recorded in the meeting minutes; several items included emergency clauses to allow year‑end execution. Implementation steps include closing on property acquisitions, executing the trail construction contract, procuring materials for the Allen Building repair, and finalizing museum contract details.
