City Council Approves Drag Racing Dates

The Stuttgart City Council met Tuesday, February 17 with a short agenda. Following the prayer and pledge, the council approved departmental reports, paying bills and the last meeting’s minutes.

Cole and Justin Wilson were present to receive approval for a drag racing event on May 8 and 9, with rain dates being May 29 and 30. Their request was approved.

Curtis Ahrens, Chairman of the Parks and Recreation Advisory Board, spoke on their recent meeting and submitted their recent minutes from the December meeting. He was requesting permission to find grants for funding park improvements, and to speak with John Cain Trust about updating John Cain Park.  They also plan to update J.B. Bryant and Reinsch fields. Councilman Henry Newby told Ahrens that they appreciated him keeping consistent communication with the Mayor’s office. Ahrens said their next meeting was Monday, February 23.

Next on the agenda the Council hear from Kody Yandell with CARDS Solid Waste Services to talk about their bid for trash pickup. CARDS has been servicing Pine Bluff since November 1, 2025. They cover nine states. They have new trucks and a full time master mechanic on-site. They also have spare (back up trucks). They run 15 trucks in Pine Bluff and would more than likely run six in Stuttgart. They would also be offering some of the current sanitation employees in Stuttgart, positions with their company. It would be a five year contract and at year three they would begin negotiating the next contract. Councilman Darrin Haller commended them on a good presentation.

Last on the agenda was updates on the Drainage and Sewer Bond totals. Mayor Strabala said there is $45,379,191.65 in the Street account and 2,150,975.24 in the Drainage account. They still have one invoice to pay . They will begin working on Main and then Buerkle.