Pictured: Acting Emmet Mayor T.P. Otwell
EMMET – On Thursday, May 21st, the Emmet City Council convenes for their monthly meeting. With the meeting being called into order by the mayor and the opening prayer being said by Alderman Maurice Grant, the roll was called with all council members present. Before beginning Thursday’s business, they first approved the minutes of their April 16th meeting..
There was a special called meeting of the town council on May 11th, 2026, to address a missing receipt that had showed up in the 2024 audit of the city. The receipt could not be found; however, the matter was resolved in a letter sent to the State of Arkansas in which there was proof shown that this was a proper expenditure of the City of Emmet. The Council unanimously approved this resolution.
The Council approved that Sherry Dowling would be added to the Snell Cemetery Board.
From a previous meeting, JoAnn Muldrow had requested $600 from the Council to write a Great Strides Grant to improve the city of Emmet. The Council decided to table this matter. The Council will hopefully hear from an official from the Southwest Arkansas Development Council at its June meeting to explain the Grant process.
The Council is paying to have a memorial plaque made to be placed underneath a portrait of longtime Emmet Mayor Dale Booker which is displayed in City Hall.
The Council voted unanimously to raise the fee for city trash pickup to $5.00 per month from now until the end of the year, with the option of raising it to $10.00 per month in January of 2027.
In an unanimous vote, they decided to keep Emmet’s two ward system intact. The town council will continue to be made up of two at-large officials from Hempstead County and two at-large officials from Nevada County.
Deanna Allen gave a report from the Emmet Vision Association. This association has recently repainted a community announcement sign on the City Hall grounds.
She also mentioned the July 3rd Emmet fireworks show, that includes food vendors and bouncy houses. There will be no cost to take part, except for the purchase of food. She also mentioned a drawing that will take place on July 3rd for $1,500.
Dee Clark gave the Emmet Farmer’s Market report. Thursday May 21st was the first day for this year’s market. The market is held at the pavilion in Fireman’s Park. She reported seven vendors on Thursday, with them averaging four to six vendors per week, several being new to the market. They also average 20-25 customers per show. As of Thursday, she said that the balance of the Farmer’s Market account had gone from $673.00 to $1,103.70. The market is open every Thursday, from 7am – 11am through July.
The City of Emmet Council will hold their next meeting on June 18th at 7:00.
