Highlights from Arkadelphia’s city board retreat

Here are some highlights from the 2026 Arkadelphia Board of Directors retreat, held Aug. 15 at a Dawson Education Cooperative conference room in downtown. The following information was gathered from minutes taken at the meeting:

There was discussion to cease distribution of trash bags to Arkadelphia residents as a cost-saving measure; however, following discussion, the board opted to continue the program, reducing distribution from two semi-annual event to one annual event, held each July.

Discussion was held related to fireworks in the city, though no action was taken. The board is expected to take up further discussion, particularly as it relates to timeframe, clean-up and curfew, at a future meeting.

Directors turned down a proposed $3 million bond that would have funded the completion of the Martin Luther King Jr. Park at 15th and Pine streets. Funds from the bond would have also repaired windows and air-conditioning at Town Hall, as well as a 12th Street rehabilitation. The board instructed the city manager to instead seek quotes to reduce the expenditures to $2 million, and to seek other funding for the 12th Street project.

The board met in executive session for half an hour to review the city manager’s performance, taking no action in public.

The minutes in their entirety can be found in the upcoming agenda packet below.