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OH YEAH. JUST SO I HAVE A BIGGER POT TO HAVE A BIGGER. ALL RIGHT. IT IS TIME FOR OUR SPECIAL CALLED CITY COUNCIL MEETING. IT IS JUNE 9TH, 2025, AND IT IS 6:01 P.M. ROLL CALL PLEASE.
BROOKS HERE. WILLIAMS HERE. BRODERICK. THOMAS. PRESENT. WADE. HERE. MCCULLOUGH.
TOWNSEND. HERE. TREAT. HERE. WE HAVE ONE OF OUR WONDERFUL POLICE. CHAPLAINS WHO'S HERE TO LEAD US IN PRAYER. ALLOW ME THE PRIVILEGE TO PRAY WITH YOU. ALMIGHTY GOD, WE THANK YOU FOR THE OPPORTUNITY TO COME TOGETHER THIS EVENING. LORD, WE PRAY FOR WISDOM. WE PRAY FOR INSIGHT.
LORD, WE PRAY FOR THE ABILITY TO LISTEN TO OTHERS. WE PRAY FOR THE ABILITY TO RESPECT AND VALUE OTHERS AND OTHERS. OPINION. LORD, WE PRAY FOR WISDOM, GUIDANCE AND DIRECTION. AND GOD'S NAME WE PRAY. AMEN. AMEN. PLEASE RISE FOR THE PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE. I PLEDGE ALLEGIANCE TO THE FLAG OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA AND TO THE REPUBLIC FOR WHICH IT STANDS. ONE NATION UNDER GOD, INDIVISIBLE, WITH LIBERTY AND JUSTICE FOR ALL. AT THIS TIME WE WILL HAVE OUR CITY ATTORNEY REVIEW THE RULES OF DECORUM. CITIZENS AND VISITORS ATTENDING CITY COUNCIL MEETINGS ARE NOT ALLOWED TO COMMENT, DISCUSS, OR AUDIBLY OR VISIBLY DEMONSTRATE DURING THE MEETING EXCEPT IN THE MANNER DESCRIBED, OPEN COMMENT OR AUDIBLE OR VISIBLE DEMONSTRATION OF ANY KIND IN THE AUDIENCE IS PROHIBITED. COMMENTS FROM THE PODIUM OR OTHERWISE MUST NOT BE PERSONAL, IMPERTINENT, PROFANE OR SLANDEROUS, AND MUST NOT BE BOISTEROUS IN NATURE. VIOLATIONS OF MEETING DECORUM WILL BE CALLED DOWN BY THE MAYOR AND EXCESSIVE OR CONTINUED DISREGARD OF MEETING DECORUM COULD RESULT IN REMOVAL FROM THE ROOM FOR THE REMAINDER OF THE MEETING. CITY COUNCIL MEMBERS MAY APPEAL TO THE CHAIR TO INTERVENE AS NEEDED OR, BY A MAJORITY VOTE, REMOVE
[2. A resolution by the City Council of Sherwood, Arkansas authorizing the mayor to file a petition for annexation of certain territory to the City of Sherwood (Mayor Heye-Townsell)]
THE OFFENDERS. TRANSPARENCY IS ONE OF THE MOST COMMON AREAS WHERE PEOPLE LIKE TO CRITICIZE GOVERNMENT, AND INTERESTING. WHY IT'S EASY TO DO SO, BUT I UNDERSTAND IT'S IMPORTANT.THAT'S WHY TRANSPARENCY HAS BEEN A TOP PRIORITY FOR ME THROUGHOUT THIS PROJECT. THERE IS ABSOLUTELY NOTHING ABOUT THIS PROJECT FOR OUR CITY TO BE ASHAMED OF OR TO HIDE. THE CITY OF SHERWOOD HAS FOLLOWED EVERY LEGAL REQUIREMENT. WE HAVE LIVE STREAMED OUR MEETINGS. WE'VE RECORDED THEM. WE HAVE MADE THEM AVAILABLE. OUR MEETINGS HAVE BEEN OPEN TO THE PUBLIC. WE HAVE SHARED UPDATES BOTH THROUGH NEWS OUTLETS, OUR SOCIAL MEDIA PLATFORMS, OUR NEWSLETTER. I AM PROUD TO SAY HOW THIS GOVERNING BODY HAS HANDLED THIS SO PROFESSIONALLY, AND NOW I'M HAPPY TO PROVIDE EVIDENCE OF THIS COUNCIL AND THIS ADMINISTRATION'S TRANSPARENCY.
WE HAVE THE PROJECT TIMELINE OF THE CITY OF SHERWOOD PUBLIC WORKS AND POLICE AND FIRE TRAINING FACILITY. FEBRUARY 23RD, 2023. I CAME TO THE COUNCIL, REQUESTED PERMISSION TO NEGOTIATE FOR THE PROPERTY. THIS RESOLUTION WAS ACTUALLY PRAISED FOR ITS TRANSPARENCY. AND HERE IS THE VIDEO CLIP. AND WE'VE HAD PEOPLE TALKING TONIGHT ABOUT TRANSPARENCY. THIS IS TRANSPARENCY. THIS IS THE DEFINITION OF TRANSPARENCY. SO LET'S BE TRANSPARENT. AND WE'VE HAD AND WE'VE HAD PEOPLE. APRIL 24TH 2023. AN ORDINANCE WAS PASSED 7 TO 1 TO AUTHORIZE THE PURCHASE OF THE LAND. CHIEF HAGER SPOKE EXTENSIVELY ABOUT THE SHOOTING RANGE AND TRAINING FACILITIES FOR THE POLICE AND FIRE. THIS CAN BE SEEN AT THE ONE HOUR 19 MINUTE MARK. AND I MUST SAY, AT THE BOTTOM OF EVERY SLIDE IS ALL THE DOCUMENTATION, SO IT CAN ALL BE VERIFIED. AT THE VERY BACK. WE'VE GOT A PROPOSED SHOOTING RANGE. HOLD ON JUST A SECOND. THERE WE GO. AT THE VERY BACK, WE'VE GOT A PROPOSED SHOOTING RANGE FOR POLICE. AND. AT THE VERY. AND
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HERE'S CHIEF HAGER AND I'LL SAY THIS. AND I MEAN, YOU CAN SEE A LOT OF THE OFFICERS THAT ARE IN THE ROOM. AND THIS IS SOMETHING THAT IS OF, OF EXTREME INTEREST FOR US. I'VE BEEN HERE FOR 27 YEARS AND 27 YEARS. WE HAVE USED RANGES FROM SEARCY TO CABOT TO COLLEGE STATION, GRANITE MOUNTAIN, WRIGHTSVILLE, CAMP ROBINSON. WE HAVE TO TRAVEL TO USE RANGES. WE USE RANGE SPACE WHERE WE CAN GET IT. AUGUST 11TH, 2023, THE CITY OF SHERWOOD SENT OUT REQUESTS FOR QUALIFICATIONS, ALSO REFERRED TO AS RFQ, FOR CONSTRUCTION OF THE NEW PUBLIC WORKS FACILITY AS IT IS REQUIRED BY LAW. THE RFQ WAS POSTED ON THE CITY OF SHERWOOD WEBSITE. ADVERTISEMENT WAS SENT OUT TO THE DEMOCRATIC GAZETTE AND WAS PUBLISHED. THE RFQ RESPONSES WERE DUE SEPTEMBER 1ST IN THE RFQ DOCUMENT UNDER SECTION ONE B. THE DESCRIPTION OF THIS PROJECT INCLUDES THE POLICE FIRING RANGE. THIS IS THE ACTUAL PUBLISHED PIECE AND AS YOU CAN SEE IN THE HIGHLIGHTED, IT SPECIFIES POLICE FIRING RANGE. SEPTEMBER 22ND, 2023 CITY OF SHERWOOD SENT OUT A REQUEST FOR QUALIFICATIONS RFQ FOR THE ARCHITECT AND DESIGN OF THE PUBLIC WORKS FACILITY. AS REQUIRED BY LAW. THE RFQ WAS POSTED ON THE CITY OF SHERWOOD WEBSITE, AND ADVERTISEMENT WAS SENT AND PUBLISHED THROUGH THE DEMOCRATIC GAZETTE. RFQS WERE DUE OCTOBER 12TH AND ONCE AGAIN UNDER SECTION ONE B. THE DESCRIPTION OF THE PROJECT AGAIN INCLUDES THE POLICE FIRING RANGE, AND HERE IT IS ONCE AGAIN HIGHLIGHTED. I MUST SAY WE HAD MANY PEOPLE, MANY, MANY PEOPLE FROM ALL OVER THE STATE RESPOND TO THESE RFQS. SO CLEARLY IT WAS READ FAR AND WIDE. SEPTEMBER 23RD, 2024. THIS IS THE FRONT COVER OF THE CIVIL DRAWINGS THAT WERE SENT TO PULASKI COUNTY PLANNING AND DEVELOPMENT. AS YOU CAN SEE, IT SAYS CITY OF SHERWOOD PUBLIC WORKS SITE WASH BAY AND SHOOTING RANGE HIGHLIGHTED. THIS WAS ACTUALLY ON THE TITLE ON THE TOP OF EVERY SINGLE PAGE OF THIS DOCUMENT. OCTOBER 28TH, 2024. RENDERINGS OF AN OVERALL SITE PLAN WERE PRESENTED AT CITY COUNCIL. THE DISCUSSION PROVIDED SOME DETAILS ON THE SITE PLANS AT THE ONE ONE MINUTE, NO. ONE HOUR, TEN MINUTE AND 49 SECONDS, YOU CAN SEE CHRISSY'S FROM CROMWELL. ARE ARCHITECTS MENTIONED THE SHOOTING RANGE IN THE OVERALL SITE PLAN? JUST AN OVERALL SITE PLAN. THE PROJECT ITSELF HAS TWO MAIN COMPONENTS. THERE'S A COMPONENT TO THE NORTH WHICH IS UP TO THE TOP EDGE OF THE PAGE, WHICH I'LL REALLY GET INTO DETAIL, AND THAT'S WHERE THE PUBLIC WORKS FACILITY IS. AND THEN ON THE SOUTH SIDE, ON THE BOTTOM OF THE SHEET IS WHERE WE HAVE THE SHOOTING RANGE AND FUTURE FIRE TRAINING TOWER. JUST AN OVERALL SITE PLAN. AT THIS SPECIAL CALLED CITY COUNCIL MEETING ON NOVEMBER 21ST, 2024, WE ALLOCATED THE 2.7 MILLION ADDITIONAL MONIES BY THE CITY COUNCIL. HE SPECIFICALLY CHRIS EAST FROM CROMWELL, ONCE AGAIN SPECIFICALLY MENTIONS THE POLICE FIRING RANGE BEGINNING AT THE THREE MINUTE 11 SECOND MARK WHERE HE SHOWS WHERE THIS IS AND TALKS ABOUT IT. IT WAS ALSO TALKED ABOUT IT AT THE SIX MINUTE ONE SECOND MARK AND THEN AGAIN AT THE SIX MINUTE 59 SECOND MARK. WELL, THIS PROJECT IS OBVIOUSLY A PUBLIC WORKS AND THE THREE MAIN PARTS OF IT ARE NEW ADMINISTRATION BUILDING, NEW VEHICLE MAINTENANCE SHOP, A COMBINED STREET, DRAINAGE AND SANITATION, BOTH SHOP AND STORAGE AREA, A WASH BAY AND A FUEL STATION, A POLICE FIRING RANGE WITH PARKING AND. THE PROJECT. IN THE NEXT VIDEO, YOU CAN ACTUALLY SEE ME POINTING OUT THE LOCATION OF THE SHOOTING[00:10:06]
RANGE. IF THIS WERE SOMETHING THAT WE WERE TRYING TO HIDE, WHY WOULD I BE STANDING ON MY TIPTOES, EVEN TRYING TO JUMP TO POINT TWO WHERE IT IS LOCATED? ALL FOR THE PUBLIC VIEW. OF THAT. I'M A LITTLE HEIGHT CHALLENGED. RIGHT HERE. NO PROBLEM. AND THIS WAS POINTING OUT THE LOCATION OF THE BERM. ON NOVEMBER 21ST, 2024. AT THE 29 MINUTE 24 SECOND MARK, CHIEF HAGER TALKED EXTENSIVELY ABOUT HOW IMPORTANT THIS FACILITY WAS. THIS IS JUST A SNIPPET OF IT.SPEAKING TO THEM. AND, YOU KNOW, TO BE ABLE TO HAVE THAT SHOOTING RANGE, I CAN TELL YOU I'VE BEEN HERE FOR OVER 28 YEARS AND IN THAT TIME WE'VE SHOT AT CABOT, WRIGHTSVILLE. GRAVEL, THE GRAVEL PITS OUT OF GRANITE MOUNTAIN. WE'VE SHOT ALL OVER THE PLACE. JACKSONVILLE'S GOT A RANGE AND THAT IS A THAT'S GOING THAT'S A HUGE RECRUITING TOOL TO BE ABLE TO HAVE THAT AS WELL. AND THE OFFICERS ARE REALLY EXCITED ABOUT IT. SO WE'RE REALLY PLEASED. AND WE WERE IT SURPASSED MY EXPECTATIONS OF WHAT WE WOULD GET OUT OF THE DEAL. I KNOW THE FIRE DEPARTMENT FEELS. I'LL FINISH IT FOR THEM THE SAME WAY. JODY. AND JUST TO MAKE MENTION THE REASON WHY OUR POLICE CHIEF, WHO IS NORMALLY IMPECCABLY DRESSED, RUSHED FROM THE DEER WOODS TO MAKE SURE THAT HE GOT THERE IN TIME FOR THAT MEETING SO HE DIDN'T HAVE TIME TO SHAVE, CHANGE AND SO FORTH.
IN THE DECEMBER 2024 CITY NEWSLETTER KNOWN AS TALK OF THE TOWN, THIS NEWSLETTER IS POSTED ON OUR WEBSITE, POSTED ON OUR FACEBOOK PAGE, DELIVERED, HAND-DELIVERED TO BUSINESSES IN THE COMMUNITY FOR PUBLIC VIEWING. IT IS PUT IN OUR LIBRARY. IT IS PUT AT THE HARMAN CENTER, THE SENIOR CENTER CITY HALL. IT IS MADE AVAILABLE FOR ANYBODY AND FOR THE PUBLIC TO BE ABLE TO GET IT FOR FREE IN IT. THE LEAD ARTICLE WAS AN ARTICLE FROM THE MAYOR'S DESK, AND IT SPECIFICALLY, AS YOU CAN SEE, IT'S HIGHLIGHTED. IT WILL HAVE A DESIGNATED AREA FOR A FIRING RANGE. DECEMBER 12TH, 2024 PULASKI COUNTY PLANNING AND DEVELOPMENT SIT BACK. THE SHERWOOD MUNICIPAL COMPLEX SITE PLANS WITH COMMENTS. THERE WERE COMMENTS REGARDING OUR DOT PERMITS FOR DRIVEWAY, SEWAGE, WATER, SIDEWALKS, ROAD EASEMENTS SO IT WAS HIGHLY REVIEWED. LOTS OF COMMENTS AND YET NO COMMENTS WERE MADE ABOUT REGARDING NOTIFYING THE PUBLIC OF THIS PROJECT. AND I MIGHT ADD, NO COMMENTS WERE MADE ABOUT ANYTHING INVOLVING THE GUN RANGE AT ALL. JANUARY 15TH, 2025. WE RECEIVED OUR PERMIT TO START BUILDING AND THE PERMIT. IT ACTUALLY EVEN LISTS SHOOTING RANGE. MARCH 12TH, 2025. THIS PRESS RELEASE WAS SENT OUT TO THE NEWS OUTLETS INCLUDING THE ARKANSAS DEMOCRAT-GAZETTE, THE ARKANSAS LEADER, FOX 16, K, K, CHANNEL FOUR, K TV. 11 AND PULASKI COUNTY GOVERNMENT. AND IN THIS PRESS RELEASE, I'M NOT GOING TO READ IT ALL TO YOU, BUT YOU CAN SEE IN THE HIGHLIGHTED AREA IT ONCE AGAIN CLEARLY STATES SHOOTING RANGE. ON MARCH 27TH, 2025, PULASKI COUNTY CELEBRATED THIS SHOOTING RANGE.
THEY CAME OUT TO THE RIBBON CUTTING AND THIS IS THEIR FACEBOOK POST. ACTUALLY, YOU CAN READ IN THERE AND IT SAYS SHOOTING RANGE FOR THE POLICE DEPARTMENT, A STATE OF THE ART FACILITY AIMED AT ENHANCING TRAINING AND PREPAREDNESS FOR LAW ENFORCEMENT OFFICERS. AND THEN THEY EVEN WENT A STEP FURTHER AND CREATED A WONDERFUL VIDEO CELEBRATING THIS PROJECT.
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I'M NOT GOING TO PLAY THE VIDEO IN ITS ENTIRETY, BUT YOU WILL BE ABLE TO SEE WHERE IT IS SPECIFICALLY MENTIONED. BECAUSE OF THE WAY OUR PUBLIC WORKS FACILITY WAS, THEY COULDN'T MANEUVER IN AND OUT VERY QUICKLY OR EFFICIENTLY, SO IT WAS REALLY NEEDED. AND THEN ON THE POLICE SIDE, THEY HAVE JUST BEEN ON TOP OF EACH OTHER FOR A LONG TIME, AND WE'VE NEVER HAD THE CLASSROOM. WE'VE ALWAYS HAD TO RELY ON OTHER ENTITIES FOR THEIR TRAINING, AND NOW WE NO LONGER HAVE TO DO THAT, AND WE'LL EVEN HAVE A FIRING RANGE, AND EVENTUALLY THERE WILL BE A DRONE TOWER FOR THE FIRE DEPARTMENT. MARCH 27TH, 2025 K TV NEWS COVERED THE GROUNDBREAKING AND THEY SPECIFICALLY MENTIONED THE SHOOTING RANGE. I BELIEVE MOST OF THE NEWS OUTLETS COVERED IT.THIS IS JUST ONE OF THE ONES WHERE WE TOOK A SNIPPET FROM, IN 2001. THINK ABOUT HOW WE HAVE GROWN AND EVOLVED SINCE 2001. OUR CAMERAS WERE ROLLING AND THE CITY OF SHERWOOD THIS AFTERNOON AS THEY BROKE GROUND ON A NEW PUBLIC WORKS FACILITY. THE FACILITY WILL BE THE FIRST DEVELOPMENT ON THE CITY OWNED SITE, AND WILL BE THE CENTRAL HUB FOR ESSENTIAL SERVICES. THE PROJECT WILL INCLUDE AN ADMIN BUILDING, MAINTENANCE AND OPERATIONS FACILITY AND A SHOOTING RANGE FOR SHERWOOD POLICE, A SHOOTING RANGE FOR SHERWOOD POLICE. APRIL 25TH NEWSLETTER. ONCE AGAIN, IT WAS MENTIONED IN OUR CITY NEWSPAPER NEWSLETTER ARTICLE ABOUT THE GROUNDBREAKING OF THE PUBLIC WORKS FACILITY. APRIL 2ND, 2025. HERE'S A COPY OF THE LEADER ARTICLE THAT WAS PUBLISHED ABOUT THE GROUNDBREAKING CEREMONY, IN WHICH, ONCE AGAIN, THE SHOOTING RANGE IS INDEED MENTIONED. THIS IS JUST 16 OF THE MANY TIMES IN WHICH THIS WAS PUBLICLY DISCLOSED, TALKED ABOUT, REPORTED ON. THIS CITY COUNCIL MEETING IS ABOUT ANNEXATION. THAT IS THE TOPIC OF DISCUSSION FOR TODAY. COUNCIL MEMBERS, WE NEED TO SET UP THE PARAMETERS IN WHICH THIS MEETING WILL TAKE PLACE. WE DO HAVE QUITE A BIT OF PEOPLE WHO HAVE SIGNED UP FOR PUBLIC COMMENT. TRADITIONALLY, WE HAVE SET PARAMETERS FOR IT. I KNOW IN THE PAST WE HAVE ONLY ALLOWED PEOPLE FROM THE CITY TO SPEAK. HOWEVER, GIVEN THE PEOPLE IN THE AUDIENCE, I THINK THAT WE EXTEND THAT. MY SUGGESTION, IF IT'S THE PLEASURE OF THE COUNCIL, WOULD BE BASICALLY WE ALLOW A MAXIMUM OF THREE MINUTES FOR A SPEAKER, WHICH IS WHAT WE HAVE TRADITIONALLY DONE, WHICH IS IN OUR PROCEDURES ORDINANCE. SO IF WE ALLOW FIVE SPEAKERS, THAT'S 15 MINUTES. DO YOU FEEL THAT THIS WOULD BE ACCEPTABLE? I THINK I'M OKAY WITH US. YES YES YES YES YES. NO OBJECTIONS OKAY, GREAT. DO WE HAVE ANYONE, ANY RESIDENTS FROM SHERWOOD LISTED ON THE LIST? WE DO. AND I'VE GOT THEM DOWN AS ONE OF THE. ONE OF THE SPEAKERS. AND WHAT WE'LL DO TO MAKE THIS FAIR IS WE'VE GOT SOME THAT ARE SIGNED UP FOR AND SOME THAT ARE SIGNED UP AS AGAINST. AND WE'LL JUST GO WITH SOME FROM BOTH SIDES AND GO DOWN ORDER SO THAT IT IS IT IS FAIR.
MAY I ASK A QUESTION? YES, MA'AM. IS THE FOR AND AGAINST BASED ON THE ANNEXATION OF WHAT WE'RE HERE FOR TONIGHT? JUST TRYING TO GET CLARIFICATION. THAT'S WHAT IT SHOULD BE OVER OKAY. HOWEVER, I WOULD SUSPECT THAT IT WILL GO PERHAPS OFF TOPIC TO SHOOTING RANGE, BUT WHAT IS IMPORTANT FOR YOU ALL TO CONSIDER IS THE FOR OR AGAINST ANNEXATION. OKAY, SO LET ME SAY SOMETHING. SO I THINK IT'S IMPORTANT FOR EVERYBODY TO RECOGNIZE THAT WE ARE WE ARE ALLOWING SOME SOME LATITUDE BECAUSE NORMALLY IN OUR MEETINGS YOU WOULD NOT BE ABLE TO SPEAK UNLESS YOU'RE SPEAKING ABOUT WHAT'S ON TOPIC. SO I JUST WANT EVERYBODY TO RECOGNIZE WE ARE ALLOWING SOME LATITUDE. AND ALSO I WOULD LIKE FOR YOU TO MAKE SURE THAT OUR RESIDENT, IF THERE'S FIVE, MAKE SURE OUR RESIDENT IS ONE IS ONE OF THEM. IT IS. YES SIR. IT IS OKAY.
ACTUALLY WE HAVE TWO RESIDENTS AND THEY ARE THERE. WE MADE THEM BOTH ONE OF THE FIVE OKAY.
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APPRECIATE THAT. ALL RIGHT. CITY CLERK, IF YOU WILL, PLEASE READ THE RESOLUTION FOR CONSIDERATION BEFORE THE COUNCIL. A RESOLUTION BY THE CITY COUNCIL OF SHERWOOD, ARKANSAS, AUTHORIZING THE MAYOR TO FILE A PETITION FOR ANNEXATION OF CERTAIN TERRITORY TO THE CITY OF SHERWOOD. ALL RIGHT. THE FIRST PERSON WHO SIGNED UP WAS CHRISTINA GOALIE. YOU DID NOT SIGN UP FOR OF AGAINST. IF YOU WOULD PLEASE TAKE THE PODIUM. OKAY. AND I THINK WE ALSO NEED TO REMIND EVERYBODY THAT WHEN THEY GET UP HERE, THEY HAVE TO STATE THEIR NAME AND ADDRESS. OKAY. BEFORE SHE SPEAKS, LET'S AGREE ON WHEN THE 15 MINUTES IS GOING TO RUN. I'VE GOT 621. WHAT WE'RE DOING, EACH PERSON, WE'RE DOING FIVE PEOPLE, EACH PERSON HAS THREE MINUTES. SO WHEN HAS THREE MINUTES. SO WHEN WHENEVER IT GETS CLOSE TO THE END OF YOUR THREE MINUTES. IF YOU IF YOU GO THAT LONG THEN HE'LL GIVE YOU A COUNTDOWN. YOU KNOW, YOU'VE GOT 30S LEFT, THAT TYPE OF THING. SO YOU KNOW WHEN TO WRAP IT UP. OKAY. THREE MINUTES. CORRECT? OKAY, SO I'M A PROPERTY OWNER IN BRUSHY ISLAND AND A COMMUNITY LEADER. AND WHAT IS YOUR ADDRESS, PLEASE? MY ADDRESS IS NORTH LITTLE ROCK, BUT IT'S NOT THE UNINCORPORATED. IT'S IN CITY LIMITS. SO I'M GOING TO YIELD TO ONE OF MY FRIENDS IN THE BRUSHY ISLAND COMMUNITY, IF THAT'S OKAY. I MEAN, I DON'T MIND SPEAKING, BUT THAT'S FINE. NEXT, I WANT TO TAKE UP THE TIME FOR SOMEONE ELSE. OKAY. NEXT UP WE HAVE PATRICIA YOUNG BAKER. HELLO. AND THANK YOU FOR ALLOWING ME THIS OPPORTUNITY TO SPEAK TO YOU GUYS. YOU'LL NEED TO SPEAK INTO THE MICROPHONE. THERE YOU GO. OKAY. SO I AM ALSO A BUSINESS OWNER IN SHERWOOD. SO CAN WE HAVE YOUR ADDRESS IF YOU'RE 8500 INDIAN HEAD DRIVE, WHAT IS YOUR RESIDENCE ADDRESS? IT'S IN THE BRUSHY ISLAND COMMUNITY. WHAT IS THE ADDRESS? I DON'T FEEL COMFORTABLE GIVING OUT MY ADDRESS. IT'S OKAY. OKAY. SO. MY ISSUE WITH ANNEXATION IS THIS. TWO WEEKS AGO, THE COUNTY PASSED A CONDITIONAL USE PERMIT THAT ALLOWED THE LEADERSHIP OF SHERWOOD TO SIT DOWN WITH THE COUNTY AND THE RESIDENTS TO COME UP WITH SOME RESTRICTIONS TO OPERATE YOU GUYS'S FIRING RANGE. BUT TO SIDESTEP THAT PROCESS AND TO GO FORWARD WITH ANNEXATION, IT'S ALMOST LIKE SILENCING THE PEOPLE IN THE COMMUNITY THAT THIS GUN RANGE IS BEING CONSTRUCTED. YOU'RE CONTINUOUSLY SAYING THAT OUR VOICES DON'T MATTER. YOU'RE SAYING THAT WE WANT ANNEXATION BY 100% OF THE PEOPLE ON WARD THAT'S INCORPORATED, AND ON LANDERS, AND PEOPLE ON THOSE ROADS HAVE SPOKEN. THEY'VE SIGNED PETITIONS TO SAY THEY DON'T WANT ANNEX, THEY DON'T WANT THE GUN RANGE. BUT TO DO THIS ROUTE, YOU'RE ALMOST TRYING TO FORCE THEM, MA'AM. MA'AM, COULD WE RIGHT NOW WE HAVE MISS YOUNG. I'M STAYING. I WAS JUST HAD SOMETHING TO SAY TONIGHT. SHE WAS GETTING HER TOWARDS THE LIGHT. OKAY. I'M OKAY. OKAY. THEY SAID THEY COULDN'T HEAR ME. I'M SORRY. YES, MA'AM. SO THAT'S THE THING. THE PEOPLE IN THE COMMUNITY WHICH INCORPORATES WARDEN AND LANDERS ARE SAYING THEY DON'T WANT THE GUN RANGE, THE LEASE YOU GUYS CAN THINK ABOUT IS THE CONDITIONAL USE PERMIT. WE KNOW RIGHT NOW, AS IT STANDS, WE CAN'T STOP CONSTRUCTION, BUT WE CAN COME TOGETHER AS. MA'AM, YOU HAVE 30S THE CITY AND THE COUNTY TO COME TO THE TABLE. AND LET'S TALK ABOUT MOVING FORWARD WITH SOME CONDITIONAL USE RESTRICTIONS. SO I, I, I URGE YOU TO NOT VOTE FOR THIS ANNEXATION. THIS ANNEXATION HURTS US. AND IT TELLS THE LEADERSHIP FROM THIS CITY THAT OUR VOICES DON'T MATTER. WHAT WE WANT DOES NOT MATTER TO YOU. PLEASE REFRAME. NO. WHEN THE CITY OF SHERWOOD WENT TO THE[00:25:07]
COUNTY, WE ACTED RESPECTFULLY. AND NOW WE ASK THAT PEOPLE ACT RESPECTFULLY AT OUR MEETING AS WELL. AS IT WAS MENTIONED BEFORE, THERE'S NO CHEERING. THERE'S NO CLAPPING THAT GOES AGAINST THE RULES OF DECORUM, WHICH WERE CLEARLY STATED AT THE BEGINNING OF THIS MEETING. SO WHETHER YOU ARE FOR OR AGAINST ANY TYPE OF ISSUE, PLEASE HOLD YOUR RESPONSE, YOUR VOICES, YOUR APPLAUSE. THANK YOU. NEXT UP AGAINST WE HAVE KENNEDY YOUNG. HELLO, MY NAME IS KENNEDY YOUNG.I LIVE IN BRUSHY ISLAND, SO MY NAME IS KENNEDY. I GREW UP IN SHERWOOD, WENT TO ABUNDANT LIFE AND THEN MOVED TO BRUSHY ISLAND IN 2008. GROWING UP IN A QUIET RURAL NEIGHBORHOOD ROOTED IN FAITH AND SHARED VALUES SHAPED WHO I AM, THAT PEACE I EXPERIENCED. FREEDOM FROM NOISE AND GUNFIRE, HELPED ME SUCCEED AT WASHINGTON UNIVERSITY IN SAINT LOUIS AND LATER AT THE UNIVERSITY OF OXFORD. HOME IS WHERE OUR IDENTITY TAKES ROOT. IT IS WHERE CHILDREN IMAGINE AND WHERE ADULTS BUILD A LIFE. AND THAT IS WHAT IS AT STAKE HERE. I'M SPEAKING ON BEHALF OF OVER 280 RESIDENTS AND BUSINESSES IN BRUSHY ISLAND, AND ON LANDOWNERS WHO HAVE SIGNED A PETITION OPPOSING THE GUN RANGE. THIS RANGE IS JUST 600FT FROM HOMES THAT IS TOO CLOSE, ESPECIALLY FOR SOMETHING SO LOUD AND DISRUPTIVE. ASK YOURSELF, HOW WOULD YOU FEEL IF THIS WERE IF THIS WAS PUT NEXT TO YOUR HOME WITH NO NOTICE, NO SOUND OR ENVIRONMENTAL STUDIES, AND NO CHANCE TO WEIGH IN? IF YOUR HOME SCHOOLED CHILDREN HAD TO HEAR GUNFIRE EVERY WEEK, IF YOUR AGING PARENTS LOST THE PEACE THAT THEY'D KNOWN FOR 50 YEARS, IF YOU WERE A VETERAN VETERAN, SOMEONE WITH PTSD, HOW WOULD YOU HANDLE HEARING CONSTANT WEEKLY GUNFIRE? THESE AREN'T ABSTRACT CONCERNS, THEY'RE THE REALITY WE FACE. IF THIS RANGE IS APPROVED WITHOUT RESTRICTIONS. RESEARCH SHOWS THAT LONG TERM EXPOSURE TO GUNFIRE INCREASES STRESS HORMONES, DISRUPTS SLEEP, AND WORSENS PTSD. AND THIS ISN'T A NEW DEBATE. YOUR SHERWOOD VOTERS REJECTED THIS PROJECT IN 2015, SO WHY IS IT BEING PUSHED THROUGH NOW WITHOUT ANY INPUT FROM YOUR NEIGHBORS? I'VE LISTENED TO YOU ALL DESCRIBE THAT. THIS PROCESS WAS TRANSPARENT BECAUSE IT WAS DISCUSSED AT CITY COUNCIL MEETINGS. BUT LET'S BE HONEST, THE PEOPLE IN THE NEIGHBORHOOD WHO THIS PROJECT AFFECTS WERE NOT AT YOUR CITY COUNCIL MEETINGS BECAUSE WE'RE NOT IN THE CITY LIMITS OF SHERWOOD, AND NOW WE ARE SHOWING UP AND VOICING OUR CONCERNS AND OUR WORRIES TO YOU ALL. AS CITIZENS, WE HAVE THE RIGHT TO PETITION OUR GOVERNMENT. AND THAT'S WHAT WE DID WITH PULASKI COUNTY, AND THEY HAVE LISTENED TO US. HENCE THE PASSING OF THE CONDITIONAL USE PERMIT. SORRY, WE ARE SAYING CLEARLY NO TO THIS RANGE AND NO TO ANNEXATION. WE DO NOT WANT TO BE FOLDED INTO CITY LIMITS JUST TO ABSORB THE CONSEQUENCES FOR PROJECT WE WERE NEVER ASKED ABOUT. I AM NOT ANTI-POLICE. I RESPECT ALL OF YOU LAW ENFORCEMENT OFFICERS AND I THANK YOU AND YOUR COMMUNITY SAFE. YOU KEEP OUR CITY SAFE. I BELIEVE WE CAN FIND A SOLUTION THAT MEETS YOUR DEPARTMENT'S NEEDS AND PROTECTS THE HEALTH AND WELL-BEING OF OUR, OR SORRY, OF OUR NEIGHBORHOOD. THANK YOU. LEE. JEFF. JEFFREY. JEFF, I HOPE I'M SAYING THAT CORRECTLY. THE FIRST I HEARD A. AND THE REST IS THE THIRD ONE. GOOD EVENING. MY NAME IS LEE JEFFREY. I LIVE, SLEEP AND EAT AT 8305 EDMORE PLACE FOR SINCE 1971, AND I WOULD LIKE TO REMAIN THERE UNTIL DEATH DO OUR PART. BUT, MAYOR, AS YOU UNDERSTAND AT THE QUORUM COURT, I DID ASK FOR YOU AND GEORGE BERRY HEIGHT. IF YOU ALL WOULD RESEARCH THE NATIONAL EFFECT THAT THIS FIRING RANGE WOULD CAUSE ON A CITIZEN OF BRUSH ISLAND. I DIDN'T GET NO RESPONSE, BUT I DID GET THE RESEARCH. AND THE RESEARCH SAYS THAT THE LEAD POISONING FROM THOSE BULLETS AND THE RESIDUE OF GUNPOWDER WILL FOREVER BE WITH US IN OUR ENVIRONMENTAL SYSTEM OF THE GROUND AND OUR WATER. SO THIS IS A THIS GUN RANGE WILL EQUAL TO THE DEATH OF ALL OF US THAT LIVE, SLEEP AND EAT AND
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BRUSH ISLAND THE LEAD POISONING IN THE WATER SYSTEM. WE WILL BE FORCED TO HAVE TO DRINK IT AND DIE. YOU KNOW, I DO NOT FEEL THAT THE 88 OFFICERS IN THE CITY COUNCIL MEMBERS WOULD SIGN UP, THAT THEY WOULD WANT TO KILL A WHOLE COMMUNITY, BECAUSE THAT'S JUST WHAT IT'S GOING TO DO WITH LEAD POISONING. AND IT'S NOTHING BUT MURDER TO US. YOU'RE KILLING US. KILLING US WITH THE LEAD POISONING, THAT WE'RE GOING TO COME FROM THAT GUN RANGE. AND I THANK YOU. IT'S MURDER AND FIRST DEGREE. DENNIS GOODWIN. DENNIS GOODWIN HAS SIGNED UP AS A SHERWOOD RESIDENT TO SPEAK FOR DENNIS GOODWIN. I LIVE AT 13 WILLOW RIDGE COVE IN GRAVEL RIDGE. I AM FOR THE ANNEXATION, JUST FOR THE SIMPLE FACT IT IS A SHERWOOD FACILITY SHOOTING RANGE SIDE. EVERYTHING THAT'S GOING TO BE BUILT THERE IS GOING TO BE USED FOR THE CITY OF SHERWOOD. JUST MAKES SENSE THAT WE SHOULD OWN IT. NOW TO THE SHOOTING RANGE. I AM RETIRED MILITARY 31 YEARS. I WAS COMBAT ENGINEER.OKAY, I UNDERSTAND PTSD CAN BE AN ISSUE, BUT YOU CANNOT STOP THE GREATER GOOD FOR THE SMALLER CONCERNS LIKE THAT. IT'S. PLEASE BE RESPECTFUL. THE TORNADO SIRENS HERE. I'M FROM VIRGINIA, ORIGINALLY A RETIRED LANGLEY. I DIDN'T KNOW Y'ALL HAD TORNADO SIRENS. SIRENS GOING OFF WEDNESDAYS. OKAY, FIRST TIME I HEARD THAT ABOUT JUMPED OUT OF MY SHORTS BECAUSE I THOUGHT I WAS BACK IN AFGHANISTAN. I DIDN'T TELL EVERYBODY. OH, YOU GOT TO SHUT DOWN THOSE TORNADO SIRENS BECAUSE IT MADE ME A LITTLE LOOPY. ALL RIGHT, IT'S THE GREATER GOOD HAS TO PREVAIL, AND I YIELD MY TIME. THANK YOU. NEXT UP, WE'VE GOT WILLIAM FARNUM. AND I'M SORRY IF I MISPRONOUNCED THAT. ONCE AGAIN. A SHERWOOD RESIDENT WHO SIGNED UP TO SPEAK FOR THE RANGE. MY NAME IS WILLIAM FARNUM, AND I LIVE IN THE STONEHILL NEIGHBORHOOD. I STAND HERE AND I'M FOR IT ONLY BECAUSE I'VE BEEN A LITTLE ROCK POLICE OFFICER FOR 19 YEARS. AND AS A LITTLE ROCK POLICE OFFICER, WE HAVE OUR OWN RANGE. AND I CAN'T TELL YOU HOW IMPORTANT IT IS TO HAVE THAT AS A TOOL FOR YOUR OFFICERS. THE TRAINING IS SO MUCH DIFFERENT WHEN YOU HAVE YOUR OWN RANGE. AND THESE OFFICERS, I'M SURE, COULD TELL YOU IF THEY COULD TELL YOU THEIR OWN INDIVIDUAL STORIES. TO BE ABLE TO TRAIN. YOU WANT TO HAVE GREAT OFFICERS, GIVE THEM THAT OPPORTUNITY BECAUSE THE TRAINING THAT THEY GET ON THEIR OWN RANGE, THEY'RE NOT GOING TO BE ABLE TO GET THAT AT RANGES THAT ARE NOT LAW ENFORCEMENT. SO THAT'S WHY I'M FOR THAT. SO AND LITTLE, LITTLE ROCK, YOU'RE A LITTLE ROCK POLICE OFFICER AND YOU ALL HAVE YOUR OWN RANGE. AND WHERE IS IT LOCATED? IT'S ACTUALLY IN THE COUNTY. HOW LONG HAS IT BEEN IN OPERATION? OVER 30 YEARS. THANK YOU. SERGEANT MCNEIL, COULD YOU PLEASE. THAT ENDS THE PUBLIC COMMENT OF PEOPLE WHO HAVE STOOD UP TO SPEAK. SERGEANT MCNEIL IS KNOWS A WHOLE LOT ABOUT TRAINING, AND HE IS HERE TO SPEAK ABOUT THAT. GOOD EVENING. THANKS FOR HAVING ME, EVERYBODY. I DON'T WANT TO REHASH WHAT'S ALREADY BEEN SAID. CHIEF HAGER DID A GREAT JOB A COUPLE OF TIMES. HE'S BEEN HERE, RETIRED OFFICER SAID WHAT I WAS GOING TO SAY. WE HAVE LOST OUT ON OPPORTUNITIES FOR TRAINING AT THE MERCY OF CAMP ROBINSON, THEIR SCHEDULE. OTHER SHOOTING RANGES. WE'RE AT THE MERCY OF THE SCHOOLS DURING OFF SEASON WHEN SCHOOL'S OUT. WE WOULD LOVE TO GET IN THERE AND PRACTICE OUR SCENARIOS. THE TRAINING FACILITY, THE SHOOTING RANGE WILL GIVE US THAT OPPORTUNITY, AND I KNOW THE COMMENT WAS MADE EARLIER ABOUT HOW MANY OFFICERS ARE OUT HERE. WE ARE 100% BEHIND
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THIS. AND TO DISPEL ANY RUMORS OR MYTHS, WE'RE NOT GOING TO SHOOT AROUND THE CLOCK. THIS IS NOT A PUBLIC RANGE. WE HAVE A SCHEDULE THAT WE STICK TO. WE COORDINATE WITH THE PATROL SUPERVISORS AND OFFICERS CERTAIN DAYS AND TIMES, MAKE SURE EVERYBODY GETS AN OPPORTUNITY TO GO OUT THERE AND SHOOT. WE NEED COMPLETE OFFICERS WHO WILL PROVIDE THE SERVICE THAT YOU GUYS EXPECT FROM US. AGAIN, WE HAVE MISSED OUT ON TRAINING OPPORTUNITIES BECAUSE WE COULD NOT GET A SCHEDULE. SCHEDULE COORDINATION. WE NEED THIS. WE NEED THE SHOOTING RANGE. THANK YOU. YEAH, WE NEED IT. ALL RIGHT, COUNCIL MEMBERS, I'M NOW TURNING THIS OVER TO YOU ALL. IS THERE ANY DISCUSSION? I WOULD ACCEPT A MOTION. WE NEED TO READ IT, DON'T WE? DID WE READ IT? IT HAS. IT WAS READ. OKAY. CAN I SPEAK? NO, MA'AM. WHAT IS IT, BOY? SIR, YOU'RE. YOU'RE OUT OF.YOU'RE OUT OF ORDER. WE FOLLOWED EXACTLY WHAT WE SAID THAT WE DID. WE ALLOWED FIVE PEOPLE TO SPEAK. IS THERE A MOTION SO MOVED. IS THERE A SECOND? I'LL SECOND. WE HAVE A MOTION BY COUNCIL MEMBER BROOKS. WE HAVE A SECOND BY COUNCIL MEMBER WILLIAMS. ROLL CALL, PLEASE.
WILLIAMS I WADE I THOMAS I MCCULLOUGH. TREAT I TOWNSEND I BROOKS I BRODERICK. THE MOTION PASSES SIX YES AND TWO ABSENT. AT THIS TIME I'LL ACCEPT A MOTION FOR ADJOURNMENT. SO MOVED. SECOND WE HAVE A MOTION BY COUNCIL MEMBER BROOKS FOR ADJOURNMENT AND A SECOND BY COUNCIL MEMBER WADE. ALL IN FAVOR, PLEASE. VOICED BY I. I
* This transcript was compiled from uncorrected Closed Captioning.