Committee forwards streetlight purchase, South Caraway ROW, BUILD grant support and municipal lien to Council
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Summary
The Finance Administration Committee moved several items to full Council: Resolution 26,011 (waiver to buy specified RAB LED streetlights from Tech Electric), Resolution 26,012 (purchase of right of way on South Caraway Road for $154,700), Resolution 26,013 (support for a U.S. DOT FY2026 BUILD grant application tied to the Ridge Athletic Center), and Resolution 26,015 (municipal lien on 2404 Brazos).
The City of Jonesboro Finance Administration Committee on Jan. 21 voted to forward multiple resolutions to full City Council, including a waiver to buy specified streetlight fixtures, a right‑of‑way purchase for South Caraway Road, support for a U.S. Department of Transportation FY2026 BUILD grant application, and a municipal lien placement.
Streetlights (Resolution 26,011)
Chair (Speaker 1) read Resolution 26,011 to waive competitive bidding and authorize purchasing the city’s pedestrian‑priority post‑top fixtures (RAB LED model as read in the record) from a local distributor, Tech Electric of Jonesboro, citing the need to maintain quick access to fixtures and replacement parts for public safety. Committee Member (Speaker 3) moved the item forward and it was seconded; Chair (Speaker 1) called for the vote. The transcript records the motion to forward but does not include roll‑call results.
South Caraway right of way (Resolution 26,012)
Chair (Speaker 1) read Resolution 26,012 authorizing the city to purchase additional right of way on South Caraway Road to complete roadway improvements. The resolution states an accepted offer price of $154,700 and that funding will come from the capital improvement budget.
Engineering/right‑of‑way staff (Speaker 9) identified the parcel as frontage at the intersection of Latarette and South Caraway, noting two lots owned by BC Express and that these were the last two expensive parcels for the South Caraway bond project. Committee Member (Speaker 6) asked whether the bond proceeds could be used; staff and Committee Member (Speaker 10) said bond proceeds are legally allowed for the project and that staff would double‑check financing. Chair (Speaker 1) noted the item can be removed from the consent agenda and amended if needed. Speaker 8 moved to forward the resolution and it was seconded; the transcript does not record the vote tally.
U.S. DOT FY2026 BUILD grant support (Resolution 26,013)
Grants/Planning staff (Speaker 11) explained that the federal BUILD program (formerly RAISE) has shifted emphasis toward projects that increase vehicular capacity and tie into existing investments. "The first thing that stood out was that nowhere in that notice was the word trails," Grants staff said, describing a strategy to tie a Caraway Road intersection improvement to an existing $5.5 million city investment on South Caraway and state investments on Highway 555 to strengthen the application. Staff said the project would support the new Ridge Athletic Center, which staff described as a roughly 203,000‑square‑foot complex with an estimated $43,000,000 annual economic impact (figures read into the record). The resolution authorizes the mayor and city clerk to execute documents and directs the grants and community development department to submit required federal aid paperwork.
Committee members praised staff for the quick turnaround on the application; Committee Member (Speaker 10) said the effort to prepare the application on short notice was "a pretty herculean task." Chair (Speaker 1) called for votes to forward Resolution 26,013; the transcript shows the motion to vote but not the vote tally.
Municipal lien (Resolution 26,015)
Chair (Speaker 1) read Resolution 26,015 by title to place a municipal lien on property at 2404 Brazos (parcel as read in the record), owned by Kingdom Assets LLC, "in the amount of $275" as stated aloud in the transcript. Speaker 3 moved and seconded the item to forward to full Council; the recorded vote tally is not in the transcript.
What happens next
All four items were forwarded to full City Council for final action; the transcript does not include final roll‑call tallies or Council outcomes. Staff said they will verify financing details for the South Caraway purchase if the Council wants the item kept off consent or amended.
Provenance
Topic intro: SEG 166 (streetlights) | SEG 196 (South Caraway ROW) | SEG 288 (BUILD grant) | SEG 574 (municipal lien). Topic finish: SEG 287 | SEG 573 | SEG 588.
Speakers referenced: Committee Chair (Speaker 1); Committee Member (Speaker 3); Committee Member (Speaker 6); Engineering/ROW staff (Speaker 9); Grants/Planning staff (Speaker 11); Committee Member (Speaker 10).
