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MINUTES FOR THE STORMWATER MANAGEMENT BOARD MEETING ON JANUARY 21, 2026
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Date: January 21, 2026
Location: Municipal Center
First Floor Conference Room
300 South Church
Jonesboro, AR 72401
Time: 8:30 a.m.
Opening:
In Attendance marked in bold
Members:
Susan Merideth
Jeremy Bevill
Janice Porter
Charles Coleman
David Handwork
Jeannie Gillis, Co-Chair
Kim Schrantz
Jeff Steiling
Pam Alexander
Rick Wyatt, Chairman
Officials & Staff:
Harold Copenhaver - Mayor
Derrel Smith - Director of Planning & Zoning
Craig Light - Chief City Engineer
Roger Gibson - Stormwater Manager
Marvin Day, Craighead County Judge
Melissa Dooley - ASU
Beverly Parker, Keep Jonesboro Beautiful
Ken Kelso - Construction Outreach Coordinator
Tracey Cooper - Secretary
Others in Attendance:
Darryl Dromgoole - CWL
I. CALL TO ORDER
Wyatt called the meeting to order at 8:30 a.m.
II. ROLL CALL
III. APPROVAL OF MINUTES
• Minutes for November 19, 2025, Stormwater Management Board Meeting
Motion to approve the minutes was made by Coleman and seconded by Merideth. The minutes were unanimously approved.
IV. NEW BUSINESS
Light began his discussion of the 2025 and 2026 drainage projects. Light began by stating the Olsson drainage study project is ongoing. The property located at 125 N Main was purchased so it isn’t developed and can be used for future detention. The Meadow Lark drainage project caught water that was going across private property and directed to public property. There have been drainage issues in the area for years. The house located at 3005 Maplewood Terrace has flooded in the past. The water was rerouted around the house. Olsson is studying Butler Ditch in Industrial Park. The floodway in that area is very wide. Olsson agrees with the City that the area is oversized and is working to get the area re-mapped. The area at MLK and Krueger is also very wide and the City feels it is also not mapped appropriately and will be looking at studying that area and having it remapped. The City is working on getting the floodways correct.
Light discussed upcoming project. Stressing if funds are available. There is $500,000 budget for 2026. The projects listed with be close to this amount.
1. There are plans to replace the failed plastic pipe in the drainage easement at 5201 Deerfield.
2. Poppy Lane is in progress. A railcar was replaced with a concrete culvert.
3. The water leaves the street and goes onto the property located at 5518 Caribbean Place. The water will be piped to get the water off the property.
4. Light explained on Flowerland Drive there was a brick fence built and a house was flooded. The City is working with the property owner to pipe the water; this may be the most expensive project because it will divert the water around the Health and Wellness school. It will make it easier for development. The water being diverted is the City’s water.
5. A short section of rusted out metal pipe will be replaced at 4011 Brandywine.
Alexander questioned if there is a waiting list of projects. Lights stated there are $15 million worth of projects on the list. He stated he would make the list available to the Board. Alexander asked if they were prioritized. Light stated that historically $500,000
is budgeted and projects are done according to that amount. Some of the projects are large and must be split. When that happens, it takes the entire budgeted amount.
Coleman asked what happens with personal property is involved and water is coming onto the property from other personal property. Light stated the City will look at it to determine if the City has any involvement. Light stated the City can give advice because of the CRS program. City can only make suggestions but can’t go onto private property.
Light stated the City looks at new subdivisions being built backed up to older subdivisions regarding water issues. The problems are identified before acceptance. Wyatt stated that the requirement for detention/retentions ponds have helped with drainage issues in recent years. Light stated is a maintenance problem with some of the ponds being overgrown. Those have been turned over to code enforcement.
V. OLD BUSINESS
VI. OTHER COMMUNICATIONS
Light stated there is an open position for a non-technical position on the Board. He asked that suggestions be emailed to him prior to April, when the reappointment would take place.
Wyatt invited Shane Wood to the next meeting to give an update on ArDOT projects.
VII. PUBLIC COMMENTS
VIII. ADJOURNMENT
Coleman made a motion for adjournment. Porter seconded. The meeting was adjourned at 8:54 a.m.