The Glenwood City Council advanced a proposed ordinance at its meeting on Monday, June 29 that would establish rules to allow utility task vehicles (UTVs) to be driven on city streets. At times, the discussion became heated and some members questioned the ability of the city’s police department to enforce laws. 

Council Member Chase Pope expressed concerns about the department’s leadership, policies and accountability. The council went into executive session, meeting behind closed doors for more than an hour. Council member Alan Moore said afterward the discussion pertained to personnel and no action was taken.

The UTV proposal was necessitated by a law passed during last year’s session of the Arkansas Legislature that authorized municipalities to designate certain public streets and highways within their jurisdictions as being open for the operation of off-road vehicles, which are primarily designed to carry cargo and traverse rough terrain. Such vehicles are often called side-by-sides because of their seating. 

This was the third monthly council meeting that included discussion of the proposal. Some council members agreed with the intent of the state law, saying farmers need to be able to transport things like hay and be able to take the vehicles to gas stations to be refueled. But there were concerns the city law would be abused by drunken joyriders, which would lead to accidents and deaths. 

“I don’t believe the Glenwood Police Department is in a place to enforce this,” Pope said. “I don’t think there is a path forward where it’s scalable. I think if we approve this now without seriously looking at the police department, when there’s [likely to be voter-approved] alcohol on Broadway next year — and that’s a reality — I’m not in a place to approve UTVs on the streets of Glenwood.” 

Moore responded by saying, “The state approved this, so it’s gonna happen, whether we approve it or whether we don’t. All this does is set the tone for how we are gonna have it. And when they approve alcohol — which I’m against because I know what comes with it — we’re gonna get it. So at that point, we can set the tone for enforcement.”

Moore noted that voters narrowly rejected a proposal in 2022 to make Pike County wet. The meeting was opened for public comments with Rhonda Eleazar telling the council that her stepbrother was killed in an accident on a UTV, and in a separate incident, she was seriously injured after being struck by a UTV. It happened at an event with Louisiana State Police and she was dragged 50 feet, then had to be airlifted to the nearest hospital.

“All safety measures were in place, there was just an uninsured careless driver that happened to run over me,” Eleazar said. “Would we have proper enforcement of the UTV law? If not, why have an ordinance at all?”

Council members noted the city only has three full-time police officers and one part time position. Eleazan also stated emergency responders often experience delays in responding to calls.

“If on an ordinary day we cannot rely on timeliness from first responders, how can we possibly rely upon them on a busy summer weekend with potentially heavier usage of UTVs on the streets,” Eleazan asked.

Council member Johnny Cox said, “Communication issues are what this comes down to. Without enforcement from our law enforcement officers, this doesn’t work. So if we vote on this tonight, I have to have the chief’s commitment.”

After a formal reading of Ordinance No. 26-04, Moore made a motion to accept it, which was seconded by Council Member Jimmy Clark. Pope was the only member who voted against it. 

Arkansas cities are required by state law to publish proposed ordinances in newspapers to promote government transparency and ensure citizens are informed about laws that will affect them. The full text of the ordinance has been included on Page 3 in this week’s issue of The Glenwood Herald and will also be included in the next three issues, allowing a month for the community to respond.

Concerns about police decisions

Pope then brought up the issue of police enforcement of speed limits, which had been discussed during the May 26 council meeting. He said after that meeting, he was approached by residents sharing their concerns. Pope said he heard allegations that even routine traffic enforcement decisions require approval from the top of the chain of command. 

“We are being asked to make decisions about the future of Glenwood while our police department is operating in a state of uncertainty,” Pope said. “We don’t have a clear enforcement posture that the public, this council or even our own officers can understand. We appear to have a disconnect between the authority our police department has on paper and the authority it is perceived to have in practice.”

He said the city council needed to have “a tough conversation” which was not intended to be a personal criticism, but about structure, accountability, and public safety. 

“Glenwood is changing. Year over year we continue to seek roads in tourism, particularly surrounding the Caddo River. Whether we embrace that growth or not, it’s happening. We look toward the next tourism season and we also face the possibility that the countywide vote on alcohol could pass.”

Allowing the sale of alcohol in stores and restaurants will lead to more public safety challenges, he said. 

“Before next summer arrives, we need to be confident that our police department has the leadership, authority and clear enforcement posture necessary to meet them, and right now, I do not believe we have that clarity,” Pope said. “As members of this council, it is our responsibility to ask difficult questions, but also to help find solutions. If changes are needed, this council should be a part of that process.”

At the previous council meeting, speeding on Smokey Bear Lane was a concern that was voiced with the suggestion police weren’t providing adequate enforcement. 

Police Chief Greg Harmon said that since last month’s meeting, “I personally sat there over several different days, watching the scene, using radar, and never once did I get anybody over 30 miles an hour.”

Having a visible police presence serves as a deterrent, most council members agreed, but Mayor Billy Plyler said funding is limited. 

“The thing I think the people of Glenwood need to understand is in our budget. We have three full-time officers working eight-hour shifts,” Plyler said.

“But you’re saying that those are the only officers in the city, and that’s just fundamentally untrue,” Pope responded. 

Arkansas State Police troopers also provide traffic enforcement, but Plyler said, “We can’t control them.”  He added that he’s seeking funding for an additional city police officer. 

A motion to go in executive session was made at 7:05 p.m., with council members returning at 8:22 p.m. It’s unknown what was discussed, but Moore said it regarded personnel and that no action was taken.