West Fork council renews parks tax allocation, approves $115,000 fire grant and asks mayor to renegotiate Verizon lease

The West Fork City Council approved three items of immediate consequence: renewal of a parks sales-tax allocation, authorization for the fire department to pursue a $115,000 Arkansas Rural Community grant, and a motion directing the mayor to seek updated lease terms with Verizon for a proposed cellular tower.

Council passed Resolution 2025-03 to continue the city’s parks allocation; the record says the existing allocation was enacted with a 10-year sunset that expires in February and that the allocation was described in the discussion as one cent of a three-cent sales tax. A voice vote carried the motion to renew the allocation.

Council also approved Resolution 2025-04, authorizing TJ to apply for an Arkansas Rural Community grant of $115,000 on behalf of the fire department. "I like it, it's not bad," the mayor said before the motion was approved by voice vote.

On an older item, the council discussed a Verizon tower lease the body had previously approved but which had not been executed. The mayor argued the city had lost revenue while the company delayed and urged staff to determine whether the $7,200-per-year figure in the original offer still reflects market value. "At $7,200 a year, we've lost about 40 grand waiting on them," the mayor said, expressing frustration at multi-year delay. The city attorney advised the council that because the lease had not been executed it is not binding; the council voted to authorize the mayor to renegotiate and seek current comparable lease rates and bring an updated lease back to the council.

All votes reported in the meeting were taken by voice and the transcript does not record roll-call tallies or names-by-vote. The council took the actions in open session and did not attach conditions beyond staff returning with updated lease comparisons and proceeding with the grant application process.