EMMET – The Emmet City Council came to order on March 19th at 7:05 pm. There was a passed motion to approve the agenda. The council also reviewed and approved the previous meeting’s minutes. Grant Cox said that there needed to be an acting mayor, until Dale Booker’s term runs out on December 31st 2026. (Mr. Booker had recently announced his resignation.) Mr. Cox said that he recommended TP Otwell to fill in. There was a vote and Mr. Otwell was instated as the acting mayor. Mayor Otwell gave a speech about how he would do his best to help the council serve the city.
Acting Mayor Otwell asked the board if he could give the election committee a key to city hall for voting season. There was a passed motion to give them a key. There is a new law in Arkansas that would increase security for websites. Rosalind McBride found an IT company in Texarkana who will help them achieve this. DeAnna Allen requested that the council approve of a community announcement sign to be on the city hall grounds. The Emmet Vision Association will be paying for it. Grant Cox asked if there should be a limitation of what the content would be allowed. Mrs. Allen said it was open to the public.
JoAnn Muldrow asked the council for approval to carry forward with the Great Strides Grant. She will charge the city $600 to write the grant. The grant would be used to improve the city of Emmet. It was decided to table it until next meeting. Mrs. Muldrow also asked about a sound system that was requested last meeting. Mr. Cox said that it was not really looked into. There was a passed motion to look into it further. Mrs. Muldrow also requested a stipend for the farmers market manager. She said that it requires a lot of work to keep the market going. Maurice Grant said that they needed to get everything smoothed out, since they were in a transitional period, before they considered that. The council decided to table the topic.
It was asked if there needed to be a new mayor discussed/voted on next meeting. There was a passed motion to come up with candidates and present them next meeting.
Deanne Clark gave the farmers market report. She said that Dee Clark went to Hempstead County’s farmers market meeting to get ideas for Emmet’s farmers’ market. Mayor Otwell asked about the vendor fee. Mrs. Allen said that it was $50/year, $10/market day. Mayor Otwell asked how many vendors typically show up. Mrs. Allen said typically 6 vendors regularly showed up. Mrs. Allen stated that EVA will help with a yard sale on Highway 67. People can donate things to sell. The money will be used for EVA. They are also planning on having a July 4th celebration on July 3rd. She said that with Prescott’s July 4th celebration being on July 2nd and Hope’s being July 4th, there will be 3 chances for families to go to a July 4th celebration.
The meeting was then adjourned.
Photos by Joseph Barry