Cherokee Village council adopts tax levy, tables ordinance on council-member contracting and approves pest-control contract

Cherokee Village, Ark. — The Cherokee Village City Council on Sept. 19 adopted Resolution 2024-16 to levy ad valorem taxes for Sharp and Fulton counties, tabled an ordinance that would have allowed a council member to contract with the city, and approved a one-year pest-control contract.

The council voted 5–0 to pass Resolution 2024-16 after Council Member Martin moved for adoption and Council Member Thompson seconded. The resolution levies ad valorem taxes for Sharp and Fulton counties on behalf of the city; the council recorded a roll-call vote with Council Members R Tatum, Thompson, Martin, Rowland (phone) and Harrison voting yes.

The council also considered Ordinance 2024-02, titled to permit Council Member Heather Harrison to conduct business with the city. Council Member Martin moved to table the ordinance after Council Member Thompson raised concerns that the measure appeared to create an exclusive contract and that elected officials generally should not enter exclusive contracts with the municipality. The motion, amended to table the ordinance until the mayor deems it appropriate to bring it forward again, passed 5–0. City Attorney Jody Shackelford later read the relevant state statute and said the drafted ordinance complied with that statute; the council nonetheless opted to delay further action.

On procurement, the council accepted a one-year pest-control bid from Musick Pest Control by unanimous vote (motion by Council Member Martin, seconded by Council Member Thompson). The same meeting deferred awarding the lawn-service contract until Jan. 1, 2025 to allow the budget committee to revisit the allocation given a new Building and Grounds employee.

Separately, the council approved several short-term special-use permits for community events — including an Oktoberfest fundraiser, a CVFD 5K run, an Elks turkey shoot and a Lions White Cane Walk — by a 5–0 vote.

The meeting record shows a brief public-comment remark from Triston Causey expressing concern about asking for bids and hiring someone to perform the same job; no formal protest or appeal was recorded. The session adjourned at 6:57 p.m.

What’s next: The ordinance authorizing a council member to contract with the city remains on the table; Mayor Steven R. Rose indicated it could be brought back at his discretion. The council’s budget and procurement decisions (including the deferred lawn-service award) will be revisited during budget committee deliberations.