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Keiser City Council approves minutes and financial reports; hears updates on grants and public-safety staffing
Summary
At the Feb. 18 meeting the Keiser City Council unanimously approved corrected January minutes and January financial reports, reviewed FY2024 USDA paperwork for two loans, and received updates on police hires, a fire protection grant and multiple easement and infrastructure projects.
The Keiser City Council met Tuesday, Feb. 18, 2025, at Keiser City Hall and unanimously approved corrected January minutes and the city's January financial reports.
Mayor Rick Creecy opened the meeting and noted Recorder Penny Wilbanks and Councilmembers Donna Bell, Joey Jackson and Laura Smith were present; Councilman Lynn Skaggs was absent. Councilmember Donna Bell moved to approve the corrected January minutes (the date was changed from Feb. 17 to Feb. 18); Joey Jackson seconded and all voted aye. Councilmember Laura Smith moved to approve the January financial reports; Bell seconded and the motion passed unanimously.
The council also reviewed FY2024 profit-and-loss reports required for annual reviews of the city's two U.S. Department of Agriculture loans. Councilmember Donna Bell moved to approve those reports, Laura Smith seconded, and the council voted unanimous aye.
Beyond routine approvals, Mayor Rick Creecy and Chief Jerry Hamilton updated the council on public-safety staffing: the police department has added a full-time officer, Josh Allen, and two part-time officers, Andrew Wyles and Austin French. The mayor and chief also described planned community-safety initiatives, from code enforcement and a Neighborhood Watch to a child helmet-reward program and a fingerprinting/DNA event; the transcript does not specify operational or consent details for the fingerprinting plan.
In other business, the city received a Fire Protection Grant of $29,425.88 to buy three self-contained breathing apparatuses and two AWIN radios for the fire department. The council heard that the city has applied for a Lowe's Hometown Grant to fund a pickleball court and for additional Harbor Freight support for tools; the city also received a $200 Harbor Freight gift card to purchase tools, which was given to Reggie Horton.
Mayor Creecy reported ongoing property and infrastructure work: he is negotiating a Main Street easement with the University of Arkansas and will seek help from Senator Dave Wallace if needed; property owners Bobby and Linda Kirk have agreed to sign an easement on Cypress Street (the city noted eminent domain would be required if they later withdraw consent); the Main Street lift station is scheduled for delivery in late April and installation by the end of May; and Creecy has engaged with developers about a West Main subdivision.
The council did not take final action on LOPFI-related police numbers, and Mayor Creecy said he expects more information at the next meeting. The council adjourned with several items—LOPFI details, easement paperwork, and grant follow-ups—expected to return on a future agenda.
