8 am to 4 pm Monday - Friday
Welcome to the Town of Damascus, Arkansas
Incorporated 1966 - Population 383
Welcome to the Town of Damascus, Arkansas
Incorporated 1966 - Population 383
|
Mayor Terry Jones
Recorder/Treasurer- Wendi Payne Town Clerk- Pam Mahan Council Members: Brian Edwards Justin Moore Gene Byrd Jackie Williams Gilbert Lewis *Council Meetings are the 2nd Tuesday of every month at 6 p.m. |
City Hall: 17319 Highway 65 S. Damascus, AR 72039
P.O. Box 309 Damascus, AR 72039 Phone: (501)335-7321 |
AGENDA
Damascus Council Meeting
Damascus Town Hall
6:00 p.m. Thursday, November 13, 2025
MEETING CALLED TO ORDER
Damascus Council Meeting
Damascus Town Hall
6:00 p.m. Thursday, November 13, 2025
MEETING CALLED TO ORDER
- Members Present
- Pledge of Allegiance
- Reading of the minutes of the October council meeting
- Fire Department
- October Activity Report
- Rescue Truck request
- Court Department
- Court Calendar 2026
- Deletion of Court Fund – keep Court Automation Fund
- Police Department
- October Activity Report
- Street Report
- Culverts replaced
- Repaving this month
- Water Report and Water Board Report
- Usage reports
- Water loss figures and data
- Activity Report for October
- Water Ordinance
- Trash Ordinance
- Water Board Calendar 2026 and pay
- Mayor Report
- Christmas Parade – Saturday, December 6 at 10 am – Line up at 9 am. The theme for the Christmas Parade is a Pioneer Christmas
- Holiday Calendar 2026
- Municipal Health Benefit Insurance No increase this year – New High Deductible Plan being offered which most employees are taking advantage of. Savings on insurance premium will be deposited into a Health Savings Account for their medical expenses.
- Executive Session
- Employee Pay 2026
- Bonuses and Council Pay
- Fire Dept Pay
- Present Budgets 2026 – adopt at meeting in December
- Reminder Next month’s meeting is Dec 9 at 6 pm with Fellowship time at Community Building afterwards
- Council Meeting Calendar 2026 – 2nd Tuesday every month
- Council Members – Concerns
- Bank Statements Reviewed - Motion to Accept
- Motion to Adjourn
MINUTES
Damascus Council Meeting
Damascus Town Hall
6:00 PM Tuesday, October 14, 2025
The Damascus Council meeting was called to order at 6:00 PM on October 14, 2025 by Mayor Jones.
1) All members were present.
2) The Pledge of Allegiance was recited. Justin opened the meeting with prayer.
3) Gilbert made a motion to approve the minutes from the September Council Meeting as presented.
Second Gene. All Yes.
4) The introduction of the Water Advisory Board Members and approval was tabled until the representative
for the Batesville Mountain Area is selected.
5) FIRE DEPARTMENT REPORT
Jackie Williams gave the report.
a) The Fire Department had 35 calls split between Faulkner County - 16 and Van Buren County - 19.
The Fire Department hosted 2 meetings. 12 Burn Permits were issued.
There was a lot of tree damage from straight line winds that had to be cleaned up.
b) The Paid for Calls Policy – Gilbert made a motion to pay $15 per call to each member that
responds to a call. Second Justin. 4 Yes 1 Abstained.
6) COURT DEPARTMENT REPORT
Beau Wilcox gave the report.
7) POLICE DEPARTMENT REPORT
Chief, Will Basore, gave the report.
a) Officer activity: Agency Assist – 2, Motorists Assist – 3, Extra Patrol – 31, Medical/Fire – 3,
Animal – 1, Traffic Offenses – 25 for September.
8) STREET REPORT
Randy Nicholson gave the report.
a) Changed 2 culverts out on Camphill Road. Need to change culvert on Frost Street and fix drainage
issue on Oak Tree Road. Trimmed lower limbs in the street rights-of-way.
b) Lewis Street Closure - We are waiting for the Engineer from ARDOT, we must submit a bond, and we
must get a permit for the lane closure. All expenses will be on the Town. Gilbert made a motion to
install speed bump(s) on Lewis Street. Second Justin. 4 Yes 1 No
9) WATER DEPARTMENT REPORT
Randy Nicholson gave the report.
a) Usage is up.
b) Water loss is up.
c) The Water Department had 153 work orders for the month of September.
d) Brian made a motion to table selling the Backhoe, until we have pricing on putting a new front end
loader on the Mahindra tractor. Second Jackie. All Yes.
10) MAYOR’S REPORT
a) Millage Certification to Counties – Brian made a motion to approve sending the Millage
Certification to the Counties. Second Gilbert. All Yes.
b) Christmas Parade Date: December 6, 2025.
Christmas Parade Theme: A Pioneer Christmas Honoring the Spirit of 1874.
Christmas Parade Grand Marshall: The Hutto Family.
c) Chili Cook-Off – December 6, 2025 after the Parade from 11:00 AM – 2:00 PM at the Community
Building, hosted by The Methodist Church.
d) ORDINANCE NO. 25-4: AN ORDINANCE REPEALING OUTDATED OR OBSOLETE
ORDINANCES OF THE TOWN OF DAMASCUS.
Brian made a motion to suspend the readings. Second Gilbert. All Yes.
Brian made a motion to adopt the Ordinance. Second Jackie. All Yes.
Brian made a motion to adopt the Emergency Clause. Second Jackie. All Yes.
e) ORDINANCE NO. 25-5: AN ORDINANCE AMENDING CERTAIN ORDINANCES OF THE TOWN
OF DAMASCUS.
Brian made a motion to suspend the readings. Second Justin. All Yes.
Brian made a motion to adopt the Ordinance, with the amendment that any fixed assets or
accountable equipment can only be removed from inventory at the approval of the Council. Second
Justin. All Yes.
Gilbert made a motion to adopt the Emergency Clause. Second Justin. All Yes.
f) The Council Meeting in November will be on Thursday, November 13th, 2025 at 6:00 PM. The Water
Advisory Board will meet at 5:00 PM.
COUNCIL MEMBERS – CONCERNS
None
Bank statements were reviewed. Gilbert made a motion to approve the bank statements. Second Gene.
All Yes.
Gilbert made a motion to adjourn. Second Justin. All Yes.
Respectfully Submitted: Wendi L. Payne, Recorder / Treasurer Terry Jones, Mayor
Damascus Council Meeting
Damascus Town Hall
6:00 PM Tuesday, October 14, 2025
The Damascus Council meeting was called to order at 6:00 PM on October 14, 2025 by Mayor Jones.
1) All members were present.
2) The Pledge of Allegiance was recited. Justin opened the meeting with prayer.
3) Gilbert made a motion to approve the minutes from the September Council Meeting as presented.
Second Gene. All Yes.
4) The introduction of the Water Advisory Board Members and approval was tabled until the representative
for the Batesville Mountain Area is selected.
5) FIRE DEPARTMENT REPORT
Jackie Williams gave the report.
a) The Fire Department had 35 calls split between Faulkner County - 16 and Van Buren County - 19.
The Fire Department hosted 2 meetings. 12 Burn Permits were issued.
There was a lot of tree damage from straight line winds that had to be cleaned up.
b) The Paid for Calls Policy – Gilbert made a motion to pay $15 per call to each member that
responds to a call. Second Justin. 4 Yes 1 Abstained.
6) COURT DEPARTMENT REPORT
Beau Wilcox gave the report.
7) POLICE DEPARTMENT REPORT
Chief, Will Basore, gave the report.
a) Officer activity: Agency Assist – 2, Motorists Assist – 3, Extra Patrol – 31, Medical/Fire – 3,
Animal – 1, Traffic Offenses – 25 for September.
8) STREET REPORT
Randy Nicholson gave the report.
a) Changed 2 culverts out on Camphill Road. Need to change culvert on Frost Street and fix drainage
issue on Oak Tree Road. Trimmed lower limbs in the street rights-of-way.
b) Lewis Street Closure - We are waiting for the Engineer from ARDOT, we must submit a bond, and we
must get a permit for the lane closure. All expenses will be on the Town. Gilbert made a motion to
install speed bump(s) on Lewis Street. Second Justin. 4 Yes 1 No
9) WATER DEPARTMENT REPORT
Randy Nicholson gave the report.
a) Usage is up.
b) Water loss is up.
c) The Water Department had 153 work orders for the month of September.
d) Brian made a motion to table selling the Backhoe, until we have pricing on putting a new front end
loader on the Mahindra tractor. Second Jackie. All Yes.
10) MAYOR’S REPORT
a) Millage Certification to Counties – Brian made a motion to approve sending the Millage
Certification to the Counties. Second Gilbert. All Yes.
b) Christmas Parade Date: December 6, 2025.
Christmas Parade Theme: A Pioneer Christmas Honoring the Spirit of 1874.
Christmas Parade Grand Marshall: The Hutto Family.
c) Chili Cook-Off – December 6, 2025 after the Parade from 11:00 AM – 2:00 PM at the Community
Building, hosted by The Methodist Church.
d) ORDINANCE NO. 25-4: AN ORDINANCE REPEALING OUTDATED OR OBSOLETE
ORDINANCES OF THE TOWN OF DAMASCUS.
Brian made a motion to suspend the readings. Second Gilbert. All Yes.
Brian made a motion to adopt the Ordinance. Second Jackie. All Yes.
Brian made a motion to adopt the Emergency Clause. Second Jackie. All Yes.
e) ORDINANCE NO. 25-5: AN ORDINANCE AMENDING CERTAIN ORDINANCES OF THE TOWN
OF DAMASCUS.
Brian made a motion to suspend the readings. Second Justin. All Yes.
Brian made a motion to adopt the Ordinance, with the amendment that any fixed assets or
accountable equipment can only be removed from inventory at the approval of the Council. Second
Justin. All Yes.
Gilbert made a motion to adopt the Emergency Clause. Second Justin. All Yes.
f) The Council Meeting in November will be on Thursday, November 13th, 2025 at 6:00 PM. The Water
Advisory Board will meet at 5:00 PM.
COUNCIL MEMBERS – CONCERNS
None
Bank statements were reviewed. Gilbert made a motion to approve the bank statements. Second Gene.
All Yes.
Gilbert made a motion to adjourn. Second Justin. All Yes.
Respectfully Submitted: Wendi L. Payne, Recorder / Treasurer Terry Jones, Mayor