The Mansfield City Council convened for its regular monthly meeting on Tuesday evening, August 19, with all council members present: Julie Thomas, James Steele, Glen Hurt, Beverly Lyons, Sheri Hopkins, and Boyd Farmer. Also in attendance were Mayor Buddy Black, Recorder/Treasurer Joy Maly, and City Attorney Travis Plummer.
Following approval of July’s minutes and financials, the council heard departmental reports:
Fire Chief Michael Smith reported 39 total calls in July—three fire-related and 36 EMS. He also reported meeting with Wes Milam, the new dispatch center director. Smith also attended a meet-and-greet with First Choice EMS and announced the expected arrival of a new skid unit.
Police Chief Wyatt McIntyre detailed 17 traffic stops, five citations, 11 warnings, and two warrants issued. The department responded to 11 incidents, one accident, and 14 animal-related calls. Officers conducted 112 security checks and logged eight training hours.
Public Works Director Derrick Pollard reported 67 completed service orders, 23 One Calls, and repairs to three service line leaks. A new tap was installed on Hwy. 378, and road damage near the city lake bridge has been addressed. R&R continues to finish roadwork throughout town.
Lastly, City Attorney Travis Plummer noted that they would be reviewing some ordinance changes later in the agenda.
The final item of unfinished agenda items, the consideration of sanitations fees. “We have been able to offer trash pickup for free since 2001.” stated Mayor Black, “I hate to do it…and people don’t want to pay more, but I am going to have to propose a $10 trash fee…it is either that or bring in CARDS at $18 or $20 a month.” Currently the deficit for sanitation services is to the negative, $66,000. Residents do pay a $4 fuel surcharge, however that is not enough to make up for continued rising costs. Ultimately, the council would vote unanimously to approve the $10 charge for the city’s trash pickup. That fee will be assessed on resident’s water bill.
Next, the council considered Ordinance 2025-2, a clarification of the city’s dog ordinance. Mayor Black noted that “We’ve had some real problems with dogs…We have a dog ordinance, but it is unclear as to what we can charge in penalties and fines.” The council would go on to unanimously approved Ordinance 2025-2, which sets a $30 daily fee for the release of impounded animals, applied per dog and inclusive of the day the animal is seized.
Two police policy manual changes were approved:
- Removal of a provision allowing arrestees to contact an attorney or friend at the officer’s discretion.
- Elimination of radar usage restrictions during peak traffic hours.
In the next item of new business, Mayor Black addressed inaccuracies that were reported in the August 5 issue of The Waldron News. “There was more than some…there was quite a bit of discussion about it…I am going to go through and correct a few sections in there…” Mayor Black would go on to list the inaccuracies:
1. Four local bars: “we do not have bars here.”
2. Aging Infrastructure: “that was not mentioned”
3. Rural parking fees: “we do not have any rural parking fees… I think that was mistaken for our rural fire dues, but we do not have any rural parking fees.”
4. What constitutes a motorized vehicle: “Again, related to the parking fees, but we did not discuss that.”
5. Satellite imagery – “I don’t believe there was anything regarding that either.”
6. It was stated that the council entered into executive session with no mention of business discussed upon reconvening. “But I did, and that is what I am required to do.”
“I think that about covers it, I am not going to keep going on,” concluded Black. Alderman James Steele would respond to Mayor Black stating, “this article was written by Brittney Maine, and it says she is the editor. Was she here at the meeting?” Black responded, “no she was not here, but she is here today.” Steele would then inquire as to how Maine received her information regarding the meeting. Black responded that she had made a FOIA request to the city and that he had provided her with the audio recording of the meeting as well as the agenda, as required by law. “I just feel like it is a misrepresentation to the public by a news media,” stated Steele. “…It is beyond bad. This article makes us looks like a bunch of bums who don’t know what in the world we are doing…and where she got the word bars from out of what was provided to her is unbelievable. She has a duty to report truthfully about what we do here representing the city. What she reported isn’t even close. I am just beyond aggravated with this.” Mayor Black continued, noting, that he believes that things will “get better.”
Before adjourning the meeting, the council approved a change in the upcoming meeting date. The meeting in September will be held on September 11, 2025. With no further announcements or comments, the meeting of the Mansfield city council was adjourned.
