On the agenda: Brookland September 8, 2026 — flock camera (Sep 8)

City of Brookland, Arkansas
City Council Meeting Minutes
Date of Meeting: September 8, 2026
Type of Meeting: Regular
Called to order at: 7:00 PM by Mayor Kenneth Jones
Council Member Attendance:
Present: David Gambill, Candice Bishop, Jason Cooper, Lachelle Sipes, Wilson Shipman, Attorney Kevin
Orr, Mayor Kenneth Jones, Clerk/Treasurer Julie Thomas
Absent: Pamela McGee

Previous meeting minutes:
Motion by: Jason Cooper
Second by: David Gambill
To: Approve the Brookland City Council meeting minutes dated August 11, 2026, as written
Discussion: None
For: 5
Against: 0
Motion: Passed 5-0

New Business:
1. 209 S Holman/101-B Stevens St. Condemnation:
Wade Shapp, City of Brookland Code Enforcement Officer, came before the council to discuss a
recommendation for condemnation of the property located @ 209 S Holman/101-B Stevens Street.
Shapp informed the council that the property is under a Rent-To-Own agreement between the
owner-Chester Agee and tenant-Tony Davis. Shapp pointed out a default clause in their agreement
that states the property must be maintained and kept up to date with city codes by the tenant.
Shapp added that the City of Brookland has a history of code violations from this same property and
the tenant-Tony Davis. Shapp presented a chart with all previous infractions, including June 2023,
February 2024, March 2025, May 2025, and most recently, August 2026. Shapp added that the
violations mostly included ‘Unsightly and Unsanitary’ conditions. Shapp explained that, under
Ordinance 2011-21, condemnation can be recommended for a property that continues to be found
as a habitual nuisance, unsafe, and/or unclean site. Shapp explained the steps that are required to be
taken for a condemnation recommendation, and he detailed how each of these steps has recently
been carried out by the City of Brookland, exactly as prescribed in the Ordinance.
Shapp stated that since the August 2026 condemnation notice, the property has been adequately
cleaned up, the hazards removed, and it has been brought back up to code. Shapp went on to explain
that, in the future, if the property again fails to be maintained per the city code, a Condemnation
Hearing will not take place, instead, a citation will be issued that includes daily fines and penalties,
until the property is caught up or razed, and it will be handled by the District Court, not by the
Brookland City Council.
9/8/2026 City Council Meeting Minutes Page #1

Rick Story, Brookland resident, said that the property at 209 S Holman Street is not the only nuisance
within the City of Brookland. He asked the council what was being done about another property in
town that he considers having poor conditions. Shapp answered his questions and explained what
the city is currently doing to address those issues.
Council member Lachelle Sipes asked Shapp to explain the steps the city takes for complaints of code
violations at properties, if there is a record kept of such complaints, and if there is a limit to the
number of complaints that a property can receive before condemnation is recommended. Shapp
gave a general explanation of the process of receiving complaints, record-keeping, notifications,
allowing residents to rectify problems, and how he communicates with property owners as they
attempt to get things back into compliance.
Code Enforcement officer Shapp went on to say to the council that since the property at 209 South
Holman was brought back up to code, he will not be proceeding with the condemnation at this time.
However, Shapp added that if the property gets out of compliance again in the future, a citation
would be issued.
2. Rick Story – wants to discuss placement of a speed table on Missouri Street:
Rick Story, Brookland resident, came before the council to request a speed table for Missouri Street
due to an ongoing problem of vehicles traveling at a high rate of speed down the street. Story
recounted several instances of unsafe vehicular activity that he says has happened along Missouri
Street and went on to add that pedestrians are frequently traveling this street, especially at the end
of the school day. Story added that the Brookland JROTC students frequently do group runs along this
street several days a week and are very vulnerable to high-speed traffic.
Mayor Jones stated that Tony Davis, resident of 209 S Holman/101-B Stevens Street, had raised his
hand and asked to speak to the council. The council agreed to hear Mr. Davis. Davis attempted to
explain the recent state of the property and why it was not up to code. Davis discussed the steps he
recently took to rectify the conditions. Davis also asked the council about the legality of having a
raised garden bed on his property. Davis added that what he was building on the property was raised
garden bed for radishes, cabbage, and onions. Attorney Kevin Orr explained to Davis the steps to
follow to ensure his property remains up to code, including communicating with Officer Wade Shapp
with any questions he may have. Orr also explained to Davis that the current condemnation
recommendation has been rescinded at this time, however, if future violations occur, a citation
violation will be issued, which includes daily fines and penalties, and will be handled by the District
Court, rather than the City of Brookland.
3. Ordinance 2026-12 to implement internal accounting controls for the Capital Improvement
Revenue Bond Fund, Series 2025:
*Attorney Kevin Orr read aloud Ordinance 2026-12 in its entirety for the 1st reading.
Motion by: Jason Cooper
Second by: David Gambill
To: Suspend the rules and read aloud Ordinance 2026-12 by titles only for the 2nd reading.
Discussion: None
For: 5
Against: 0
Motion: Passed 5-0

9/8/2026 City Council Meeting Minutes Page #2

*Attorney Kevin Orr read aloud Ordinance 2026-12 by titles only for the 2nd reading.
Motion by: Jason Cooper
Second by: David Gambill
To: Suspend the rules and read aloud Ordinance 2026-12 by titles only for the 3rd and final reading.
Discussion: None
For: 5
Against: 0
Motion: Passed 5-0
*Attorney Kevin Orr read aloud Ordinance 2026-12 by titles only for the 3rd and final reading.
Motion by: Jason Cooper
Second by: David Gambill
To: Adopt Ordinance 2026-12 as written.
Discussion: None
For: 5
Against: 0
Motion: Passed 5-0
Roll Call Vote:
David Gambill: YES
Jason Cooper: YES

Pamela McGee: ABSENT
Lachelle Sipes: YES

Candice Bishop: YES
Wilson Shipman: YES

Motion by: Jason Cooper
Second by: David Gambill
To: Adopt the Emergency Clause in Section 3 of Ordinance 2026-12 as read.
Discussion: None
For: 5
Against: 0
Motion: Passed 5-0
Roll Call Vote:
David Gambill: YES
Jason Cooper: YES

Pamela McGee: ABSENT
Lachelle Sipes: YES

Candice Bishop: YES
Wilson Shipman: YES

Old Business:
1. Ordinance 2026-08 – 3rd reading for Private Club Permit for TKKJ Pizza, Inc.:
*Attorney Kevin Orr read aloud Ordinance 2026-08 for the 3rd and final reading.
Motion by: Jason Cooper
Second by: David Gambill
To: Adopt Ordinance 2026-08 as read.
Discussion: Mayor Jones gave the council information regarding legal distances required for retail
liquor stores and schools, churches, and places with children present. Jones added that there is no
distance requirement in the law for private clubs.
Roll Call Vote:
David Gambill: YES
Pamela McGee: ABSENT
Candice Bishop: YES
Jason Cooper: YES
Lachelle Sipes: YES
Wilson Shipman: NO
For: 4
Against:1
Motion: Passed 4-1
2. Monthly Financials for General, Street, and Utility Funds:
August 2026:
General Fund:
Street Fund:

Utility Fund:

Beginning Balance:

$202,868.97

$80,858.56

$585,735.85

Ending Balance:

$153,052.42

$153,228.30

$609,251.94

9/8/2026 City Council Meeting Minutes Page #3

Mayor Jones explained some of the expenses in the following fund accounts:
Street Fund: Money was received for drainage work that has been completed.

Mayor’s Notes:
•

2027 Bond Report: Mayor Jones said that the city is waiting for permission from the Arkansas
Municipal League to hold a town hall meeting to discuss the bond with the community.

•

Vector Disease Control monthly report: Mayor Jones presented the monthly Mosquito Report. No
questions were asked.

•

ARDOT update: Jones reminded the council that last month, the city passed a resolution declaring
the intersection of School Street and HWY 49N as a dangerous intersection. Jones added that the
Brookland School District has recently made some changes to help ease traffic congestion and
dangerous intersection conditions due to vehicle lines stretching back out onto Highway 49blocking the south bound lanes. George Kennedy, Brookland School District Superintendent,
spoke to the council. Kennedy informed the council that the school board meeting would be the
following Monday evening where he said he would recommend to the board to accept the
resolution to support the City of Brookland. Kennedy explained the steps he has taken to help
alleviate the traffic issues.

Mayor Jones asked the council if they had anything to add. Council member Jason Cooper asked the
mayor what was discovered about the collection of an extra alcohol tax for private clubs. Jones stated
that the businesses have not been collecting the tax revenue but added that they will begin collecting it
now and the city will receive the first remittance in October.
Mayor Jones informed the council that the flock cameras were destroyed over the weekend. Jones added
the cameras have been up for 2 years and were all located on the east side of the city. He detailed some
of the damage that has been done. Jones said the cameras are rented by the city and that the owners
are expected to come and investigate the damage. He stated that the damage occurred sometime early
Saturday morning, September 6, around 4am. Jones said he would notify the council with information as
it becomes available.
Mayor Jones asked if there was anything from the floor.
Mayor Jones asked for a motion to adjourn the meeting.
Motion by: Wilson Shipman
Second by: Candice Bishop
To: Adjourn the meeting
For: 5
Against: 0
Motion: Passed 5-0
Meeting adjourned at: 8:04 PM
_______________________________________
Kenneth Jones, Mayor

_________________________________
Julie Thomas, City Clerk/Treasurer

9/8/2026 City Council Meeting Minutes Page #4