WARREN, Ark. – In a recent meeting held on April 8, 2024, at the Warren Council Chambers in Warren, Arkansas, the Warren City Council convened for their regular monthly session. All aldermen were present, making it a comprehensive gathering of the city’s leadership.
Top photo: Warren Police Officer Alexander Carlos(center) honored as the first Warren City Employee of the Quarter at Monday’s Warren City Council meeting.
The meeting commenced with the presentation and subsequent approval of the City Clerkâs Report, marking the administrative start of the session.
Following this, a notable moment unfolded as a ceremony took place to recognize the very first Warren City Employee of the Quarter. This new initiative, designed to acknowledge outstanding contributions within the city’s workforce, saw Warren Police Officer Alexander Carlos receiving the inaugural award. Accompanied by his family, Officer Carlos expressed his gratitude for the recognition, highlighting the honor he finds in serving the community through his law enforcement role. The idea for the award came courtesy of Council member Angela Marshall sometime back. Officer Carlos was presented a $100 gift card.
Several appointments and reappointments were then confirmed by the council, reflecting the ongoing administrative tasks essential for the city’s governance. Noteworthy appointments included Terry Golden and Patsy Plair to the Civil Service Commission, Terri Calloway and Jennifer Rodriguez to the Board of Adjustment and Appeals, and Bill Taylor also appointed to the Board of Adjustment and Appeals.
A significant aspect of the meeting involved insights shared by Seth Wyatt, a graduate student from the Clinton School, who has been collaborating with the city for his thesis study. Wyatt’s study focuses on enhancing Warren’s ability to attract food and retail businesses. He highlighted the value of utilizing ESRI, a sophisticated business analytics software, to gather detailed analytics on the local population and commuting patterns, offering strategic guidance for future economic development efforts.
Another key agenda item was the discussion led by Jason Holcaw of Stephens, Inc., regarding the bond issue intended to finance a new solar array farm powering Warren’s government facilities. This sustainable initiative is projected to be self-sufficient through the savings generated from the solar array’s electrical output.
Mayor Gregg Reep proposed the adoption of an official City flag, a proposal that received unanimous support from the Council, with plans to involve EAST at Warren High in the project’s development.
Various department heads provided routine reports, with notable decisions including an increase in stipend pay for volunteer firefighters. Basic volunteer pay is being increased from $15 to $20 per event attended. The Assistant Chief, who is also a volunteer, will see a raise from $40 to $60 per event attended.
The Council also gave approval to proceed with the purchase of approximately 110 acres of land for industrial purposes along the highway 189 bypass. This strategic acquisition, financed through the Arkansas Development Finance Authority, will cost the City around $9,750 per acre and be paid at a low interest rate over a number of years.
Additionally, two upcoming events were announced during the meeting:
- Free Tree Friday on April 12 at Warren City Park from 11am-1pm.
- The deadline for High-Speed Internet Test for the Citizens of Warren is also April 12.
The next meeting of the Warren City Council is scheduled for Monday, May 13th, at 5:30 p.m., continuing the dialogue and actions aimed at enhancing the city’s prosperity and quality of life for its residents.