Hope City Board meets
HOPE – Ward 6 Alderman Steve Montgomery told Tuesday night’s Hope City Board meeting of his intent to step down at the end of the year, citing commitments in 2026 that will hinder his ability to attend the meetings. Montgomery has served since 2007, including a stint as mayor from 2017 to 2020.
City Manager JR Wilson led the discussion of “Consideration of Employee Health Plan Options for 2026.” He said city staff has received the 2026 premium rates from Municipal Health for the City’s Traditional and High-Deductible Health Plans. The Traditional Plan rates are set to increase significantly, while the High-Deductible Plan rates will remain unchanged from 2025 levels. Specific increases for the Traditional Plan include Employee Only coverage: $1,014 annual increase. Family coverage: $3,200.40 annual increase.
These rate adjustments for the Traditional Plan would result in an additional cost to the city of $137,739 in 2026. Furthermore, employees enrolled in the Family Plan under the Traditional option will experience a weekly rate increase of $12.18. As part of the annual health plan review, staff have analyzed several options for the upcoming benefit year. These options were presented for the Board’s review and strategic consideration regarding fiscal responsibility and our long-term benefits strategy. Charles Angel, Vice President of Employee Benefit Programs at JTS, was available to address any questions from the Board regarding Municipal Health benefits and the proposed plan options.
The board approved the Qualified High-Deductible plan.
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The City Board considered an emergency request from the Southwest Arkansas Regional Medical Center.
As background, the Hope Water and Light Commission met on October 22, 2025, and received a funding request from the Southwest Arkansas Regional Medical Center (SWARMC) in the amount of $1,000,000 to assist in stabilizing hospital operations. Jacob Eller, Chief Financial Officer, and Shelby Brown, Administrator, presented the hospital’s current financial condition and outlined the immediate need for support.
The Commission approved the allocation of $1,000,000 from surplus funds. As Hope Water and Light is a municipal utility owned by the City of Hope and not legally authorized to provide funds to an organization outside the ordinary course of business for a utility, surplus funds were transferred to the City of Hope. Staff requests Board approval to further amend the hospital stabilization agreement to provide transferred funds to SWARMC for the purpose of further stabilizing hospital operations.
Eller and Brown told the Tuesday meeting that a number of things are in motion to stabilize the hospital, but both cited the current federal government shutdown as slowing down some of the processes the hospital is involved with.
The City Board heard a proclamation recognizing National American Indian Heritage Month and the history and culture of our great nation that have been significantly influenced by American Indians and indigenous peoples; and the contributions of American Indians have enhanced the freedom, prosperity, and greatness of America.
Native Americans Awareness Week began in 1976, and recognition was expanded by Congress and approved by George Bush in August 1990, designating the month of November as National American Indian Heritage Month.
In Citizen Comments, Hempstead County Economic Development Corporation President Anna Powell spoke on the importance of the city, contractors, and those involved in city projects to use local suppliers of goods and services whenever possible.
Former Administrative Secretary, Michelle Weaver, who recently resigned from the Hope Police Department, requiring the city to remove her as signatory authority on the City of Hope Police Dept. Bonds & Fines Account and the City of Hope Appearance Bond Account with Farmers Bank & Trust. The board approved an added newly hired Administrative Secretary, Carrie Nivens, as signatory authority in her place.