The Batesville City Council approved funding for police department facility upgrades, adopted an electronic banking ordinance and authorized replacement of a swimming pool diving board platform during its regular meeting on Tuesday, July 28, 2026.
Council members also received extensive reports about Batesville’s water billing operation, aging water meters and improvements to the city’s water and sewer infrastructure.
POLICE DEPARTMENT FUNDING APPROVED
The council unanimously approved $14,662.95 for Batesville Police Department facility improvements and an application for state accreditation.
Police Chief John Scarbrough said the projects are necessary for the department to meet Arkansas Law Enforcement Accreditation Program standards and improve evidence security, accountability and operational efficiency.
The approved funding includes $4,950 to build a separate and secure storage area for training ammunition, duty ammunition and operational equipment.
Those materials are currently stored inside the department’s primary evidence room. Scarbrough said storing departmental equipment with evidence from criminal cases creates a compliance risk under professional accreditation standards.
The council also approved $8,962.95 for a specialized firearm storage system designed for law enforcement evidence rooms.
Scarbrough said the department handles evidentiary firearms ranging from short-barreled shotguns to long hunting rifles. The proposed high-density storage rack will improve organization, prevent damage and strengthen chain-of-custody procedures.
An additional $750 was approved to pay the department’s accreditation application fee.
The money will come from the city’s no-insurance fund, which officials said currently contains approximately $103,000 to $104,000.
The accreditation application will be reviewed by City Attorney before being signed by the mayor.
ELECTRONIC BANKING ORDINANCE ADOPTED
The council adopted an ordinance authorizing the city to use electronic fund transfers and online banking.
Council members suspended the rules and waived the ordinance’s second and third readings before approving the measure and its emergency clause.
The emergency clause states that the city has experienced difficulty getting checks delivered to general contractors working on the new Batesville water treatment plant.
City officials said delays in delivering payments could slow construction and increase the project’s cost.
The ordinance took effect immediately following its passage and approval.
WATER BILLING SYSTEM GAINS THOUSANDS OF USERS
Water Administration Office representative Clint Crane reported that the city’s new InvoiceCloud payment system went live June 1.
Crane said approximately 3,600 to 3,700 customers have already adopted the system.
The city selected InvoiceCloud after spending approximately 6 months reviewing available programs. The new system is expected to improve security, customer service and paperless billing participation.
Crane said the city hopes to have between 75% and 80% of its water customers using paperless billing within 2 years. Increasing paperless participation is expected to reduce the amount the city spends printing and mailing monthly bills.
The city previously absorbed credit card processing fees. Those fees are now passed to customers using credit cards.
The current fee for in-office transactions is 3.5%. Crane said the city is working to bring those transactions under the same system used for online payments, which charges 2.6%.
The city is also considering replacing its aging payment kiosk with a modern touchscreen system as part of the proposed 2027 budget.
BILINGUAL CUSTOMER SERVICE ADDED
Crane said the Water Administration Office has emphasized customer service while rebuilding its staff.
The department has added a bilingual employee who can communicate directly with Spanish-speaking customers.
City officials discussed ensuring that information concerning water service, garbage collection and the placement of garbage containers is available in both English and Spanish.
Crane said the department would review its materials to ensure customers receive the necessary instructions when establishing water service.
CITY CONSIDERING NEW WATER METERS
Crane also reported that Batesville’s water meters were last replaced approximately 18 years ago and that the system is failing faster than employees can repair it.
The city began with proposals from 9 companies before reducing the field to 3 finalists and then 2.
Officials plan to visit other communities using the proposed meter systems before making a recommendation. Crane said information about the finalists and estimated costs could be presented to the council in November or December as officials prepare the 2027 budget.
The proposed automated system would allow employees to obtain meter readings and activate or deactivate services without sending trucks across the city.
Automated readings are expected to make billing faster and more efficient while reducing vehicle, labor and fuel expenses.
Under the proposed plan, water employees would still physically inspect every meter annually. Crews would clean around the meters, ensure they remain accessible and identify possible problems.
The city is also studying acoustic leak-detection equipment. The technology would monitor sections of the water system for 48 to 72 hours and could identify underground leaks that have not reached the surface.
Officials hope the technology will reduce the amount of treated water lost before reaching paying customers.
WATER AND SEWER INFRASTRUCTURE UPDATE
Water Construction representative David Justice reported that his department is responsible for constructing, maintaining and repairing the city’s water distribution and wastewater collection systems.
The department also provides emergency response services and now maintains the Bethesda water system while continuing maintenance work for Pfeiffer.
The department has 16 full-time employees representing a combined 188 years of service to Batesville. One employee remains on call each week, with additional workers called when emergencies occur during nights and weekends.
Justice said crews have repaired 39 water main leaks requiring excavation so far this year. Employees have also repaired numerous smaller leaks in meter boxes and service lines.
The city has installed 61 new water services supporting residential and commercial growth.
Crews have also concentrated on repairing fire hydrants and working with the Batesville Fire Department to improve hydrant placement and support the city’s fire protection rating.
MAJOR SEWER REHABILITATION UNDERWAY
One of the department’s largest projects is the rehabilitation of Batesville’s sanitary sewer system.
The city is working with Insituform on a project involving approximately 10,000 feet of cured-in-place sewer lining.
The project also includes replacing 75 manholes and rehabilitating and coating another 125 manholes.
Several hundred feet of sewer main that could not be rehabilitated through cured-in-place lining will be replaced through traditional excavation.
Justice said the work is intended to extend the life of the existing sewer system.
The department continues working with developers, engineers and contractors on new residential and commercial projects. Employees also inspect private fire lines to ensure buildings have adequate fire protection.
Water construction employees are assisting with the new water treatment plant and utility work connected to the city’s new park project.
BETHESDA WATER SYSTEM UPDATE
Justice said the Bethesda water system was well maintained when Batesville assumed responsibility for it.
The city’s first priority was locating every water meter and recording its GPS coordinates in Batesville’s geographic information system.
Justice said employees now know the precise location of each Bethesda meter, allowing crews to respond more efficiently during nighttime emergencies or customer service calls.
POOL DIVING BOARD PLATFORM TO BE REPLACED
The council authorized the Batesville Parks and Recreation Department to replace the diving board platform at the city swimming pool.
The diving board has already been replaced, but city employees determined that the supporting platform also needs to be replaced.
The council approved the lower of 2 estimates from Memphis Pool. The project will cost $7,999, plus taxes and freight, and includes installation.
Officials said the existing platform remains usable but should be replaced to avoid future safety concerns. Installation could occur before the pool closes for the season if the new platform arrives in time.
SCHOOL TRAFFIC AND TREE LIMBS DISCUSSED
The mayor reminded drivers that the Batesville School District is scheduled to begin classes August 11.
Motorists were asked to slow down around school traffic signals and remain alert as additional cars and school buses return to city streets.
Council member Freda Bennett also reported tree limbs along Charles Street, near the Bayou Street intersection, and on Hill Street that could interfere with school buses.
The mayor said photographs of the locations would be forwarded to the appropriate city department so the limbs could be trimmed before buses begin traveling those routes.
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