At the Cabot City Council meeting on October 21, 2024, Mayor Ken Kincade called the session to order at 6:30 p.m. The meeting featured a range of topics, from honoring local Eagle Scouts to approving ordinances and resolutions.
Opening Remarks and Eagle Scout Honors
The meeting began with an opening prayer led by Corey Spangler, followed by the Pledge of Allegiance, which was conducted by Boy Scouts Troop 23 and Troop 6623.
Mayor Kincade then moved into a special presentation, recognizing eight local Boy Scouts who earned their Eagle Scout rank. “The designation of Eagle Scout is the highest achievement in the Boy Scouting program, which was founded in 1910, and only eight percent of Boy Scouts are granted this distinguished rank,” said Mayor Kincade. He continued, “Each candidate serves as an example to the youth of our community through this highest level of personal achievement, leadership, and community service.”
The eight Eagle Scouts honored were:
- Matthew W., who earned his Eagle Scout rank by building a hygiene food pantry for the Cabot Library.
- Joshua W., whose project involved building a donation closet for Cabot Animal Support Services.
- Jonathan H., who constructed guinea pig habitats for Grandma’s Animals, a small animal rescue in Cabot.
- Isaac F., who built an extra-large outdoor chess set for Bobby G. Lester Elementary School’s cognitive program.
- Christopher S., who constructed a playground for children and families in Lone Rock, Arkansas.
- Aiden S., who built six perennial garden beds for the Cabot Community Garden.
- Lauren B., who created dog beds out of retired fire hoses for Cabot Animal Support Services.
- Mark T., who developed a searchable digital archive of costumes, props, and staging materials for the Cabot Community Theater.
Mayor Kincade praised the Scouts, saying, “We’re all so proud of you, all your projects helped our community and we’re very, very fortunate to have you.”
The presentation concluded with a round of applause for the Eagle Scouts and their contributions to the community.
Approval of Minutes and Ordinances
Following the Eagle Scout recognition, the council swiftly moved to approve the minutes from the previous meeting held on October 7, 2024. The motion to adopt the minutes was made by Councilman James and seconded by Councilman Cory. The vote passed unanimously.
Next on the agenda were two key ordinances. Ordinance No. 26 of 2024, which focused on adopting an updated health and safety plan for city employees, passed unanimously. Then, Ordinance No. 27 of 2024, concerning an application for a private club at 200 Home Depot Drive, was approved after its second reading. A motion was made to waive the third reading, which passed 8-0.
During the public input portion of the meeting, a Cabot resident voiced his opposition to the private club ordinance. He stated, “Lonoke County is a dry county voted that way by citizens a long time ago and remains that way today. And I think it’d be wrong for that reason alone to pass it on to a state, to have them look at licensing it, or permitting it.” Despite his objections, the ordinance was adopted.
Two new resolutions were also discussed. Resolution No. 49 of 2024, which formally authorized the live-streaming of city council meetings, was approved without much debate. Mayor Kincade explained, “We’re not really doing anything different than what we’re already doing,” noting that the resolution merely formalized the live streaming that was already taking place and changed the posts commenting access to be available indefinitely after the live streaming ends.
Resolution No. 50 of 2024, authorizing the purchase of a vehicle from Red River Dodge Heber Springs, also passed. During the discussion, a local resident questioned the decision, asking, “Why are we not buying this from someone in Cabot? Why are we buying it in Heber Springs?” City officials clarified that although the purchase was being made in Heber Springs, the taxes would benefit Cabot because the vehicle would be delivered to the city.
As the meeting drew to a close, Mayor Kincade once again congratulated the Eagle Scouts, stating, “Congratulations. We’re all so proud of you, all your projects helped our community and we’re very, very fortunate to have you.” He offered some final words of encouragement, reminding the Scouts that their hard work is just beginning and that they must continue striving for success in their futures.
The meeting adjourned at 6:52 p.m., with the next city council meeting scheduled for November.
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