Bull Shoals council approves 2025 budget, appoints treasurer and passes property-seizure ordinance

Bull Shoals city council met Jan. 30, 2025, in council chambers and approved a slate of budget, personnel and code-enforcement actions.

The council approved the 2025 city budget by passage of Resolution R-1 after a roll-call vote. Councilman Kevin Hutchinson moved to approve the budget and Councilman Russell Meinking seconded; votes were recorded as Hutchinson yes, Nancy Jo Pucci absent, Meinking yes, Daryl Lindman yes, Randall Bolen yes and Mike Howell yes. The resolution passed.

The council then voted on Resolution R-2 to appoint Paula Reynolds as city treasurer for the term Jan. 1, 2025 through Dec. 31, 2028. Councilman Kevin Hutchinson moved and Councilman Russell Meinking seconded; the roll-call vote was Hutchinson yes, Pucci absent, Meinking yes, Lindman no, Bolen yes and Howell yes. The appointment passed 4–1 with Councilman Daryl Lindman opposed.

On code enforcement, the council moved through three readings and approved Ordinance 2025-02 ordering the seizure and cleanup of the property at 211 Alford Dr. The council recorded motions and seconds for each reading and unanimously approved the ordinance (ayes 5, nayes 0). Council members cited an estimated cleanup cost of about $15,000–$20,000 and said the city will place a lien on the property following cleanup.

Other actions approved in the meeting included:

• Awarding a contract for repair of the damsite bath house to MC Harcourt Construction (motion by Councilman Randall Bolen, second by Councilman Mike Howell; ayes 5, nayes 0).

• Purchasing a used bucket truck for $12,000 (motion by Councilman Randall Bolen, second by Councilman Russell Meinking; ayes 5, nayes 0).

• Amending Ordinance 2003-18 on animal control; the council voted to adopt the amendment and moved to suspend rules to consider immediate adoption (motions and seconds recorded; ayes 5, nayes 0).

• Dropping the ARDOT sidewalk Phase 2 project because the city had not received a response from ARDOT and the phase had not been paid for (motion by Councilman Russell Meinking, second by Councilman Randall Bolen; ayes 5, nayes 0).

• Directing attorney-handled next steps and voting to drop litigation relating to the Old Harps Complex (motion by Councilman Kevin Hutchinson, second by Councilman Mike Howell; ayes 5, nayes 0); Councilman Russell Meinking requested the item be placed on the next workshop agenda for further consideration.

Council also recorded a motion to adjourn into executive session (moved by Councilman Russell Meinking, seconded by Councilman Daryl Lindman).

During public comment, Tim Curtis urged a forensic audit and said he opposed the proposed Bel Arco apartments; Dan Caldwell, identified as the Bel Arco owner, said investors are considering that property. Other residents thanked council members, volunteered for committees and requested the council chamber camera be reoriented to face the council desks.

Mayor Bill Stahlman named Councilman Mike Howell mayor pro tempore under ACA 14-43-501(b)(3)(a) and announced that city credit cards have been returned to administration and that all future purchases require purchase orders.

The council recorded the formal votes and motions for each item above in the meeting minutes.