Jonesboro · issues
Civic issues
Topics getting the most attention in Jonesboro public meetings, ranked by how frequently they come up.
Deteriorating skate park concrete
Skate Jonesboro says the skatepark's newer concrete is failing after winter storms, leaving unsafe holes and rocks, and wants quick repairs this year — not next year's budget.
Private club permits on Southwest Drive and Gilmore Drive
Two residents urged the council to refuse to grant permits for Monarca's and Walk-On's, arguing Jonesboro is saturated with alcohol outlets and that Alexander Drive traffic is already dangerous. The council adopted both permits anyway.
Regional transportation safety plan update
The 2022 roadway safety action plan is outdated. Engineering wants $125,000 to update it, identify crash hot spots, and stand up an active transportation safety committee.
0.625% Public Safety Sales Tax
A proposed public safety tax is headed for the November ballot, with supporters gathering 3,600 signatures. Officials say the Shelter building is needed regardless of whether it passes; skeptics note voters may balk without a specific list of uses.
Shooting Sports Complex operating losses
The city gun range lost roughly $1.4 million in revenue over three years, though memberships held steady around 350 a year at $100 each. More discussion is expected at the next meeting.
Rezoning near Math & Science Elementary School
A proposal to make 1.4 acres next to the Math & Science Elementary School general commercial split the neighborhood and the commission. Residents worry about school-day traffic, alcohol sales near kids, and unknown future businesses; commissioners want a recorded easement guaranteeing school driveway access before they'll support anything.
Camping ban in city parks and parking lots
A first-reading ordinance would ban camping outside designated areas in parks and city-owned parking lots, giving rangers and police an enforcement tool after past issues at Craighead Forest.
E-911 radio equipment upgrade
The city is spending $2.17 million on Motorola radio equipment and dispatch consoles for the E-911 center, including a 180-foot tower. The good news: a $3.5 million federal appropriation just got approved, so this project is federally funded.
New Disciple Drive park playground contracts
The city is buying playground equipment and synthetic turf for a new park on Disciple Drive — about $1.4 million total across two contracts. One council member pushed back because the council never formally reviewed the park's design plans before the spending requests.
E-911 emergency communications center
The city is spending $2.17 million on Motorola radio equipment and dispatch consoles for the E-911 center, including a 180-foot tower. The good news: a $3.5 million federal appropriation just got approved, so this project is federally funded.
South Caraway Road widening project contract
A resident asked how wide the Caraway Road expansion will be near homes. Engineering said it will be five lanes from Parker Road to Latourette, three lanes to Glenn's Place, then two lanes to Fox Meadow — with a new side path running close to some front doors.
Highway 91 traffic signal and pedestrian safety upgrades
The crosswalk at Main and Campus near Jonesboro High School got upgraded from two to six flashing beacon lights, now running. Work also continues on the Johnson Avenue side path and turning lane.
Senior living facility proposed at 300 East Pine Street
A developer wants to build a 55-and-older senior living community on 12.3 acres now zoned single-family. Part of the site sits in a floodplain, which limits density, and the applicant noted a similar RM-12 rezoning nearby cleared the council unanimously last year despite nothing being built yet. Aging residents in Jonesboro could gain more senior housing options if it moves forward.
Comprehensive growth plan and master street plan update
The city is updating its land use and street plans with a consultant. Public hearing February 12 at Earl Bell; commissioners are being asked to fill out surveys.
Altercation at youth baseball tournament
A council member reported his daughter was jumped during a fight between adults at a youth baseball game at Joe Mack Campbell Park. The tournament organizer has banned both teams pending investigation, and a parks ranger helped initiate the 911 response.
Pedestrian safety on Johnson Avenue and Main Street
Four years of data show 94 pedestrians hit by vehicles, 11 fatally, concentrated on Johnson Avenue and Main Street. The city is weighing more signals, no-right-on-red rules, education campaigns, and a comprehensive safety plan.
Chick-fil-A site variances at Southern Creek Lane
A new Chick-fil-A wants to skip the required cross-access connection to the Tommy's car wash next door and run three driveways onto Southern Creek Lane. The board weighed head-on crash risk and grade problems against the purpose of the access management ordinance.
NEA Children's Museum land request
United Way keeps its long-time space at 407 Union Avenue on a 10-year, $1-a-year lease. The North Jonesboro CDC lease for 911 Magnolia Road — shared with two other nonprofits — was tabled two weeks to sort out who schedules the shared space.
160-acre annexation petition near Valley View
The Browning Family Trust asked the city to annex 160 acres of family farmland south of Valley View, partly prompted by City Water and Light's planned lift station. The committee rejected it 2-5, saying the city lacks the resources to extend police, fire and sanitation services and already has ample undeveloped land.
Appointments to boards and commissions
Mayor Copenhaver's slate of appointments and reappointments — covering the CDBG Citizens Advisory Committee, Stormwater Management Board, Land Bank Commission, Civil Service Commission, and Municipal Airport Commission — cleared this committee and heads to the city council for final approval. The A&P Commission appointment was pulled out because state law lets that commission nominate its own at-large member.
Craighead Forest Park incidents
The mayor praised park rangers and police for responding to a fire that burned about an acre and a serious vehicular attack at Craighead Forest Park on the same day.
City pool lane allocation between JETS and Shark Wave swim teams
Both swim teams are using the city pools under a tentative lane-division deal while the final contract — including wintertime rates and last year's billing questions — gets finished.
Return of E. Boone Watson Center and community centers to public use
Police have been temporarily occupying community centers, including the home of the African American Cultural Museum, since the Justice Complex closure. Buying the Shelter building would let the city return those spaces to full public use — something constituents have been pressing Councilmember Dr. Charles Coleman about weekly.
Condition of old City Hall / patrol building on Washington Avenue
The old City Hall on Washington, housing patrol and traffic, is described as a 1960s building with a roof that's leaked 12 years, asbestos, mold, and trees growing on the roof. The long-term plan is to demolish it and build a new $20M+ police station downtown once funding exists.
Nepotism policy for mayor and council relatives
David McClain publicly pressed the mayor on whether department heads have been accused of taking money and what legislative audit found, saying residents expect transparency and trust needs restoring.
Shelter facility purchase timeline
The mayor told the council the city has received an initial proposal to possibly use the First United Methodist Church facility as a police station; drafts will be circulated for council review.
$125 Million Infrastructure Program Underway
Councilmember Moore asked when downtown streets torn up by City Water and Light's sewer project will be fixed; a meeting Thursday will nail down the timeline for permanent repairs.
Tractor Supply store at risk of leaving Jonesboro
Tractor Supply wants to leave its cramped 60-year-old store for a bigger site at 2308 S. Caraway Rd, spending over $600,000 on ditch and sidewalk improvements. Two of its three variances passed, but the cross-access denial is described by the developer as a deal killer that could hold up the move.
Airbnb party problems and privilege license enforcement
Council Member David McClain described a massive overnight party at a short-term rental in his neighborhood. The city attorney is drafting stronger privilege-license rules but says tracking unlisted rentals is hard and a tracking firm could cost about $80,000 a year.
Problem Airbnb / short-term rental parties
Residents from two neighborhoods described chaos at short-term rental properties — a May 16 party with 100 cars, broken glass, and police calls until after 5 a.m. The city attorney pointed to existing privilege-license revocation rules (Sections 42-146 to 42-150) and said the city is researching stronger enforcement options.
Commercial rezoning next to Southern Oaks subdivision
About 17 lots at 1400 Southern Ridge Blvd could shift from residential to limited commercial zoning, with a list of allowed uses but no confirmed tenant. Neighbors worry about light bleed onto homes, cut-through traffic on Jackson Drive, screening, and property values. The city council makes the final call.
North Jonesboro flooding and North Main detention pond
The neighborhood west of North Main Street and north of Lost Creek deals with recurring flooding. The city is seeking FEMA money to build a regional detention pond — a first step Council Member John Street says will need more than one pond to really fix.
Public Safety Sales Tax Petition
A new petition in Jonesboro is trying to put a public safety sales tax on the ballot. If it gets enough signatures, voters will decide whether to add a little to sales tax to pay for police and fire services. The catch: it only matters if you vote—and if it passes, you'll feel it at the register.
Proposed Sports Tourism Committee
After the Parks Advisory Board and Public Services Committee met jointly, the ordinance creating a sports tourism committee was tabled indefinitely in favor of a new approach emphasizing shared membership and communication between boards.
GOJO fare increase and fare capping
Bus fares would jump from $1.25 to $2 — the first increase since 2006. Enrolled riders get fare capping, so they'd never pay more than $5 a day, $20 a week, or $60 a month. It goes to public comment before any final decision.
Bridge Investment Program Planning Grant
Jonesboro wants a $600,000 federal grant to study its 17 most critical bridges, including the Bridge Street bridge that's been a concern for a while. The city would chip in $150,000 of its own. The study sets up future grant applications to actually replace or repair bridges.
Main Street one-lane pilot program
Craig's update: 2025 overlay streets are done, 2026 bids are in, the one-lane Main Street pilot should start in three to four weeks, and the South Caraway Road project is targeted for an August bid opening.
Downtown revitalization and Entertainment District success
Downtown Jonesboro saw over $27.5 million in investment in 2025, and the Entertainment District is heading into its third year with zero police reports tied to it. Big projects are coming: a proposed hotel, brewery, pickleball courts, and an amphitheater park targeting spring 2027.
Cashless option for parks and rec
Parks will start offering credit/debit card payments at events around April 11 — but cash will still be accepted, so nobody is left out. Pool entry fees aren't changing this summer, and season passes are being added for field sports and the pool.
Police Recruitment Incentives and the Blue Envelope Program
The mayor and police chief are working on recruitment incentives for the police department, and the chief highlighted a first-in-the-state blue envelope program to make traffic stops safer for drivers with autism.
InnovAsian/Nichirei industrial revenue bonds and PILOT agreement
The city is being asked to issue up to $180 million in industrial revenue bonds that let a food processing company self-finance a new plant at Craighead Technology Park in exchange for a 30-year, 65% property tax abatement. Officials say it costs the city nothing directly, but the abatement means the schools and other taxing units get only 35% of what the improved property would otherwise pay.
Permitting Process Efficiency Study Findings
The city hired Matrix Consulting to figure out why getting a building permit in Jonesboro is slow and confusing. The findings: four people across three departments handle intake, there are no published review timelines, fees haven't been updated since 2017, and two software systems don't integrate. The fixes — a permit center, a Development Services Department, better software use — could speed things up for homeowners and builders alike.
City Official Investigation
City Attorney Carol Duncan explained the city deliberately held off questioning parks employees about cash payments to avoid interfering with the FBI's ongoing City Stars investigation. She'll check with the investigator before allowing internal interviews to proceed.
State of the City address
The mayor reported strong finances ($28.1M reserves, clean audits), booming growth, and major projects — but warned the city is past due for a new police station and two fire stations, and conservative budgeting won't keep up with rising costs. Growth is coming whether we plan for it or not; the question is whether we invest ahead of it.
Cate Street drainage pipe cross-connection
A drainage pipe running under a building is cross-connected with the sanitary sewer and causing flooding. The city is relocating it into a new easement so it can finally maintain it.
Mayor-council transparency and personnel allegations
David McClain publicly pressed the mayor on whether department heads have been accused of taking money and what legislative audit found, saying residents expect transparency and trust needs restoring.
City Program Controversy
Jonesboro’s mayor is pushing back against criticism over how the City Stars program has been handled. Details are thin, but it’s a city hall fight worth watching if you care about transparency and public programs.
InnvoAsian frozen food plant and 200 jobs
A major win for the local economy: InnvoAsian Cuisine will build a 175,000-square-foot frozen food plant in Craighead Technology Park, creating about 200 jobs.
City Program Oversight Controversy
Jonesboro's City Stars program is under scrutiny after newly surfaced documents show concerns were raised back in early 2023—and the mayor is now responding. If city money or oversight is involved, expect a real accountability fight over who knew what and when. For residents, it's a reminder to watch how public dollars and programs are managed.
Axon body camera, vehicle camera, and Taser agreement renewal
The police department wants to renew its Axon contract early to lock in pricing and save about $200,000. The chief says the city also gets new equipment by summer instead of waiting until 2027, and can exit with 30 days' notice if funding dries up.