The Conway City Council approved funds for the Conway Animal Services at its Aug. 26 meeting.
Castleberry commended Clawson and Animal Services for their work, with Clawson responding “I work with some of the greatest people in the city and they show up every day and give it their all.”
Conway Animal Services received a $20,000 grant from Best Friends Animal Society at the beginning of 2025.
CAS is drawing $4,000 off the grant in order to extend its Trap-Neuter-Vaccinate-Release program for cats across Conway.
“They’ve done some really good work with that and this will help us usher in the next phase,” Clawson said.
The funds were approved in a vote of 7-0.
The council also approved reimbursements for Conway Corp’s electrical generator project.
According to federal tax requirements, Conway Corp must indicate their intention to pay for the project with tax-exempt bond proceeds in order to have any expenses reimbursed.
Conway Corp Chief Executive Officer Bret Carroll said the facility is set to begin generating electricity in January of 2031. It will use natural gas as a fuel source.
The resolution was passed unanimously.
The council also dealt with a clean-up lien being placed on a property at 2125 Poplar Street.
“It was a little bit of trash being hauled off and a grass cutting,” Public Works director Spencer Clawson said.
The overall cost of the clean-up sat at $116.66
There was no representative from 2125 Poplar Street present at the meeting to speak against the liens placement, so the resolution was passed 7-0.
The council also dealt with three rezonings, the first of which was 1979 Blackberry Street.
Planning and Development director Anne Tucker said the property is rezoned from zone R-1 to A-1.
Tucker said the property owner, Ken Mullins, requested the rezoning in order to place a barn on his property.
Mullins, who came up to the podium in a t-shirt reading ‘Got Freedom?’ said, “I’m from the country I’m not used to this getting permission part,” in a joking manner.
The rezoning was passed unanimously — as were the other two rezonings.
Police Chief Chris Harris ended the meeting with two ordinances.
The first was to approve the donation of 24 taser batteries and holsters to the Stuttgart Police Department.
When alderman Mark Ledbetter asked why Stuttgart had been chosen, Harris responded the Conway Police training department had sent out calls for the tasers and Stuttgart answered.
“We try to find some of the smaller agencies and if we’re not using them, help them out,” Harris said.
Harris also requested for 43 non-working tasers to be approved for disposal.
Both requests were passed unanimously.
Harris also requested for the council to approve an agreement between the Conway Police Department and Conway School District for school resource officers for the 2025-26 school year.
“It’s the same as years before, with the exception being they added an agreement for $25,000 for uniforms and other expenditures that we normally pay all of the time,” Harris said.
The agreement was approved unanimously.
At the end of the meeting, Ward 1 alderman David Grimes announced he did not intend to run for re-election once his term expired in a year and a half.
Grimes attributed his decision to a series of health issues, saying “These eye issues have made me realize that life can throw curveballs at you and life can be short. And I’ve got a lot of things I still want to do and I better get around to doing them.”
Castleberry responded to Grimes’ announcement, “I honestly hate to hear that but I do respect and understand it. You have been a tremendous asset to this city.”
All council members except for Ward 1 alderman Andy Hawkins were present at the meeting.
The next city council meeting is scheduled for Sep. 9.
