New city directors in Texarkana take oath

Jeff Hart, joined by his wife Kristi, is sworn in as the new Ward 6 director for Texarkana, Ark., by Judge Wren Autrey at Monday night's city board meeting.
Jeff Hart, joined by his wife Kristi, is sworn in as the new Ward 6 director for Texarkana, Ark., by Judge Wren Autrey at Monday night's city board meeting.

TEXARKANA, Ark. - Two new members of the city Board of Directors and one who was re-elected took their oaths of office during the Board's first meeting of the year on Monday.

Ward 1 Director Terry Roberts and Ward 6 Director Jeff Hart, who both unseated incumbents in November's election, as well as re-elected Ward 2 Director Laney Harris, began four-year terms.

The new Board began its work approving a pair of equipment purchases for the Police Department, five Ford Explorer hybrid patrol vehicles at a total cost of more than $176,000, planned for in the current city budget, as well as five new in-vehicle and on-body cameras for officers. Total cost of the WatchGuard brand cameras is more than $43,700, also budgeted.

In response to questions from Harris and Ward 4 Director Ulysses Brewer, TAPD Capt. James Atchley explained that the cameras are turned on whenever officers deal with an "enforcement issue" such as responding to a dispatch call or making a traffic stop, and they automatically come on when officers activate the emergency lights on their vehicles. Video taken by the cameras is stored indefinitely in criminal investigations and for 90 days otherwise.

Another vote renewed an annual contract with the Texarkana Housing Authority for police patrol services. The contract provides two Texarkana Arkansas Police Department officers to conduct special patrols and enforcement operations on THA-administered properties. 

In exchange, THA pays the city $130,000 to cover the officers' salaries and benefits.

After an executive session to discuss new appointments, the Board voted unanimously to elect Ward 3 Director Steven Hollibush as assistant mayor. The Board also voted unanimously to make numerous appointments to city boards, committees and commissions.

Brewer and Ward 5 Director Barbara Miner will serve on the Advertising and Promotion Commission. Hart will serve on the Council of Governments Board. Mayor Allen Brown, Hollibush, Miner, Brewer and Roberts will serve on the Economic Development Committee.

Miner, Brewer and Roberts were appointed to the Emergency Medical Systems Committee. Brown and Harris were appointed to the Employee Retirement System Committee. Brewer was appointed to the Intergovernmental Advisory Committee.

Hollibush and Miner will serve on the Metropolitan Planning Organization Policy Committee; Harris, Miner and Brewer on the Public Utilities Committee; Brown, Roberts and Hart on the Solid Waste Management Committee; and Harris, Hollibush and Hart on the Texarkana Urban Transit District Board.

The meeting was the first in person after months of conducting meetings online because of the COVID-19 pandemic. Chairs in the Board chamber were spaced six feet apart, and all in attendance were required to wear protective face masks.

The Board's next meeting is scheduled for Tuesday, Jan. 19.

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