Proposal to change city council member terms

TRUMANN, Ark. (KAIT) - Last year’s election resulted in a failed proposal to change how city council members are elected, but now the issue is causing controversy in town.

Trumann city council members typically hold two-year terms, but a proposal on this year’s general election ballot cards could change that.

Due to a low voter turnout in Trumann last November, the question of staggered four-year terms for alderman of the city council returns to the ballot for the general election.

Voters who participated in last November’s special election voted against the same proposal.

Former City Clerk Hunter Vic said he is again voting against the measure.

“We voted on it last year, and it failed,” Vic said. “We wasted city funds I do believe that, because that cost seven thousand dollars.”

Vic claimed the previous vote cost the city thousands of dollars. However, since it took place on Election Day, Mayor Jay Paul Woods said that’s not true.

“If it’s a general election then it shouldn’t cost the city anything,” Woods said. “As of right now, we have not had a bill even mentioned to us.”

Vic said the way the city council is elected now is best considering the size of the Trumann, but Woods said four-year staggered terms are how several cities across the state are run.

Woods said passing the proposal would cause less chaos for the city.

“It avoids having ten new council members at once,” Woods said.

Although new council members may have less experience, Vic said a two-year term would push them to improve the city rather than waiting to get things done.

“We have dilapidated parks, our water infrastructure, that’s all city council,” Vic said. “So they have not proved to me why they deserve a four-year term on position 1.”

If the proposal passes, council members can still be voted in or out of office.

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