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Bull Shoals enacts police residency rule; sets Public Works Director as salaried role
Summary
Council passed Ordinance 2026-05 requiring full-time police officers to live within Bull Shoals (compliance amended to six months). The council also made the Public Works Director a salaried $20,000 position and authorized AML coverage for a legal countersuit affecting the city.
The Bull Shoals City Council on April 30 adopted Ordinance 2026-05, changing residency requirements for full‑time, salaried police officers so they must live within the city; part‑time and auxiliary officers may reside elsewhere in Marion or Baxter counties. Council amended the compliance period to six months before passage.
In related personnel action, the council passed Resolution 2026 R-05 to make the Public Works Director a salaried position at $20,000 per year for at least 25 hours per week. The minutes state Merle Fawcett is currently filling that role and reportedly works closer to 80 hours in a two‑week period. The council also approved Resolution 2026 R-04 authorizing the city to do business with Merle Fawcett (Hotshots) and voted to have AML provide additional coverage for a countersuit brought by Nick Knopick, authorizing $3,000 for that coverage.
Council members discussed the administrative mechanics and timeline for residency compliance and clarified that part‑time and auxiliary officers have broader residence options. The new salaried designation for the public works director formalizes pay and hours for that position; the minutes record the salary figure but do not specify benefits or budget offsets.
Votes and next steps: Ordinance 2026-05 passed after three readings with a council amendment to the timeframe. Resolution R-05 and R-04 passed unanimously where recorded; staff will implement the payroll change for the Public Works Director and proceed with the approved legal coverage.
