Ward Council approves annexation, multiple ordinances and new yard-waste pickup; camping ban takes immediate effect

Ward’s City Council on Aug. 20 approved a package of ordinances and resolutions that included annexing a subdivision, updating nuisance rules, and adopting a new temporary ban on camping in public places.

The council unanimously adopted ordinance 20246 to annex Moonlight Cove into the city after a public hearing and brief discussion about school and service impacts. The clerk read the ordinance and the council approved the first reading, waived the remaining readings and adopted it; the ordinance takes effect in 30 days. Resident Lacy AER asked how annexation would affect schools and services; council members said the school district had been notified and the city will provide water, sewer, fire and police protection.

The council also completed action on ordinance 20244 (amending nuisance rules to require property owners to remove weeds, standing water and other unsanitary conditions and adding a penalty clause that had been omitted earlier). The ordinance passed by roll-call vote and will go into effect in 30 days.

Council members adopted ordinance 20249, prohibiting camping in public places, and voted to include an emergency clause so the ordinance takes effect immediately. During debate, at least one council member raised whether sleeping in a parked vehicle at a city park would be ticketable; staff said officers would retain discretion.

On nonregulatory items, the council approved resolution 2024-25 to establish a quarterly yard-waste pickup schedule (February, May, July and October). Council amended the plan to set pickup on Tuesdays with residents permitted to place items out up to three days beforehand; members discussed concerns about biodegradable bags degrading if left too long and said they will advertise procedures before the first collection.

Other business approved in a single meeting included:

• Resolution 2024-38 accepting Moyer Excavating and Trucking as the low bidder for demolition of a city-owned property and authorizing contract signatures.

• Resolution 2024-40 authorizing the mayor to expend appropriated funds to cover construction shortfalls for the Lonoke County consolidated 911 communications center build-out.

• Resolution 2024-41 approving purchase of four wastewater pumps to replace units that no longer meet required head or flow specifications.

Council also reviewed but did not finalize several ordinances on first reading: an amendment (ordinance 20247) establishing permitting procedures for nonprofit operations (the council approved it on its first reading), and ordinance 20248 to clarify access to water meter boxes and ownership/responsibility for wastewater lines (staff and council debated homeowner vs. city responsibility and agreed to carry the matter forward).

The council heard a Planning Commission report from Jar Mixon about a site-plan hearing that approved a 10,000-square-foot Dollar General (DG Market) in a C2-zoned area and noted ongoing Unified Development Code (UDC) work sessions.

The council accepted a parks-related grant application plan and authorized staff to apply to the Arkansas Department of Parks and Tourism for matching assistance to improve recreational facilities; members agreed to prioritize paving the sports complex parking lot as their preferred grant project.

The meeting closed with a variety of staff and mayoral project reports — including progress on automated meter reading funded with ARPA — and public comment on Willow Lake shoreline and paving issues. The council adjourned following the regular agenda.