Benton committees to review police surplus, rezoning ordinances, and property cleanups Nov. 12

Four Benton City Council committees will convene on Thursday, Nov. 12, 2026, to discuss critical city business, including the distribution of the proposed 2027 municipal budget and wage scale, rezoning requests, police department items, and code compliance remediations.

The meetings are scheduled to take place at Benton City Hall beginning at 5:00 p.m. Read more below.

All sessions will be held in the Council Chambers at Benton City Hall, located at 410 River Street in downtown Benton. Committee meetings are open to the public.

Personnel, Health & Safety Committee

Chaired by Frank Baptist with Vice-Chair Chad Slaughter and Staff Liaison Mandy Spicer, the Personnel, Health & Safety Committee will call its meeting to order at 5:00 p.m. The agenda includes:

Distribution of the proposed 2027 Wage Scale, which is scheduled for a council vote in December.

Full agendas below.

Finance Committee

The Finance Committee, led by Chair Steve Brown, Vice-Chair Jeff Morrow, and Staff Liaison Mandy Spicer, will take up key budgetary and administrative matters, including:

Review of Benton Utilities financial statements for September and October 2026.
Declaration of surplus for two Benton Police Department vehicles.
Police department request to add a bank account.
Approval of a municipal fuel agreement.
Distribution of the proposed 2027 City Budget ahead of an anticipated December vote.

Full agendas below.

Commissions Committee

Led by Chair Ann Spencer-Cole, Vice-Chair Evelyn Reed, committee member Judd Hart, and Staff Liaison Jason Lyon (Director of Community Development), the Commissions Committee will examine several planning and regulatory proposals:

Rezoning at 1611 Gum St.: Proposed ordinance to rezone property (Parcel Nos. 805-12678-000 and 805-12679-000) from R2 to R5 following the Nov. 2 Planning and Zoning Commission meeting.
Rezoning at 503 Palm St.: Proposed ordinance to rezone property (Parcel No. 800-8874-000) from C1 to R2.
Electrical Code Updates: Discussion and comments regarding major changes in the proposed adoption of the 2026 Arkansas Electrical Code.

Full agendas below.

Community Services Committee

Chaired by Evelyn Reed with Vice-Chair Ann Spencer-Cole and staff liaisons Jason Lyon and Tyler Ritchie (Lead Code Compliance Officer), the Community Services Committee will meet immediately following the Parks and Streets committees. Agenda items include:

Property Remediations (Code Compliance): Review of remedial action for residential properties located at:
- 917 Heights Rd.
- 2317 Wright Ave.
- 1222 Cherry St.
- 1707 Dixie St.
- 1111 S. East St.
Review of the Development Review Committee (DRC) monthly report for October 2026.

Full agendas below.

FULL AGENDAS:

Personnel, Health & Safety Meeting
Thursday, November 12, 2026
410 River Street
Council Chambers
5:00 p.m.
Chair – Frank Baptist
Vice-Chair – Chad Slaughter
Staff Liaison – Mandy Spicer
I. Establish a Quorum / Call to Order
II. Recognition of Attendees
III. Statement of FOIA compliance
a. I affirm that I have not engaged in any prohibited discussion, deliberation, or
polling regarding any item on this meeting’s agenda outside of a properly
noticed and open meeting, in compliance with the Arkansas Freedom of
Information Act, as amended by Act 505 of 2025.
IV. Approval of Minutes from October 13, 2026 meeting
V. 2027 Wage Scale distribution to be voted on in December
VI. Other Business
VII. Adjournment

Finance Committee
Thursday, November 12, 2026
410 River Street
Council Chambers
Chair – Steve Brown
Vice-Chair – Jeff Morrow
Staff Liaison – Mandy Spicer
I. Establish a Quorum / Call to Order
II. Statement of FOIA compliance
a. I affirm that I have not engaged in any prohibited discussion, deliberation, or
polling regarding any item on this meeting’s agenda outside of a properly
noticed and open meeting, in compliance with the Arkansas Freedom of
Information Act, as amended by Act 505 of 2025.
III. Approval of Minutes from October 13, 2026 meeting
IV. Benton Utilities
a. September 2026 financials
V. Police Surplus of 2 PD Cars
VI. Police request to add a Bank Account
VII. Fuel agreement approval
VIII. 2027 Budget distribution to be voted on in December
IX. Other Business
a. October 2026 financials

Commissions Committee
Meeting Agenda
November 12, 2026
5:00 P.M.
Council Chambers
Committee Members:
Ann Spencer-Cole, Chair Judd Hart, Chair Public Utilities Commission
Evelyn Reed, Vice Chair
Staff Liaison: Jason Lyon, Director of Community Development
1. Establish a Quorum/Call to Order
2. Recognition of Attendees
3. Statement of FOIA Compliance
I affirm that I have not engaged in any prohibited discussion, deliberation, or polling
regarding any item on this meeting’s agenda outside of a properly noticed and open
meeting, in compliance with the Arkansas Freedom of Information Act, as amended by Act
505 of 2025.
4. Approval of Minutes of October 13th, 2026
5. Information from P&Z (11/2/26 Meeting) – Council Member(s) Spencer–Cole and Reed
A. ORDINANCE NO. OF 2026
ORDINANCE TO REZONE PROPERTY AT 1611 GUM ST (PARCEL
NOS. 805-12678-000 AND 805-12679-000) FROM R2 TO R5
B. ORDINANCE NO. OF 2026
ORDINANCE TO REZONE PROPERTY AT 503 PALM ST (PARCEL
NOS. 800-8874-000) FROM C1 TO R2
C. P&Z MEETING 11/2/26– Planning Commission Actions – Staff Comment
6. Information from Public Utilities Commission – Council Member Hart
A. No Items
7. Advertising and Promotion Commission
A. No Items
8. Historic District Commission Review
A. No Items
City of Benton
Commissions Committee
Meeting Agenda
November 12, 2026
5:00 P.M.
Council Chambers
9. Discussion
A. Adoption of 2026 Arkansas Electrical Code – Major Changes for Comment
10. Adjournment

Community Services
Meeting Agenda
Council Chambers
November 12
th, 2026
Immediately Following Parks Committee and Streets Committee, which begin at 5pm
Committee Members:
Chair – Evelyn Reed
Vice Chair – Ann Spencer-Cole
Staff Liaison – Jason Lyon, Director of Community Development
Staff Liaison – Tyler Ritchie, Lead Code Compliance Officer
I. Establish a Quorum / Call to Order
II. Recognition of Attendees
III. STATEMENT OF FOIA COMPLIANCE & ROLL CALL
I affirm that I have not engaged in any prohibited discussion, deliberation, or
polling regarding any item on this meeting’s agenda outside of a properly
noticed and open meeting, in compliance with the Arkansas Freedom of
Information Act, as amended by Act 505 of 2025.
IV. Approval of October 13th, 2026, minutes
V. New Business
A. Property Remediations -Code Compliance (*repeat)
1. 917 Heights Rd
2. 2317 Wright Ave
3. 1222 Cherry St *
4. 1707 Dixie St *
5. 1111 S East St
Old Business
VI. Discussion
VII. Other
A. DRC Monthly Report – October (for review)
VIII. Adjourn