Development News for Sherwood, Arkansas

Sherwood Council Approves Grant Application for Greenway Expansion

The city council considered and approved a resolution to apply for a federal aid transportation program grant to fund the continuation of the Central Arkansas Regional Greenway. This grant aims to connect Pickthorne Park with Woodland Trail (or Henson Trail) near Clinton Elementary School. The project involves preliminary design, surveying, and environmental work, with an estimated total cost of $198,000, of which the city's contribution would be $39,600 (20%). The grant funds are anticipated to be from the 2027 fiscal year budget. The deadline for application is within 15 days. The council expressed concerns about the tight timeline and the lack of a firm total construction cost estimate, but ultimately supported pursuing the grant to leverage federal funding.

Sherwood Council Approves TAP Grant Application for Indian Head Sidewalks

The city council approved a resolution to apply for a TAP (Transportation Alternatives Program) grant to fund the completion of sidewalks in the Indian Head neighborhood. The project aims to connect existing sidewalks in the East Keel area with recently constructed sidewalks in the Indian Head neighborhood, extending along Indian Head north of East Keel and connecting to sidewalks on Mojave or Shoshone. The estimated total cost is just over $600,000, with the maximum grant award of $500,000, leaving the city obligated for approximately $125,000. The city has a higher success rate with TAP grants through Metro Plan, with applications due in January and awards in March, compared to direct applications to RDOT. This decision commits the city to providing the matching amount if the grant is awarded.

Sherwood Establishes New Process for Addressing Blighted Properties

The council discussed the process for addressing blighted properties within the city. A new mechanism is being implemented where council members can submit properties of concern via email to Calvin. These properties will be inspected by code enforcement, Paul Brown, and Josh Clay (Fire Marshal) to determine if they require condemnation or court action. A list of these properties will be included in the monthly council packets, and quarterly updates will be provided on the top five cases. This initiative aims to expedite the process of dealing with dilapidated structures, especially those that are structurally unsafe, by utilizing the condemnation process more effectively.

Sherwood Council Rejects Ordinance to End Elected Official Benefit

The council discussed and ultimately voted down an ordinance that would have sunsetted a benefit granted to certain elected officials. This benefit, initially established in 1988 for medical, dental, and life insurance, was monetized in 1991 and most recently increased in January 2026 to $350 per month. Several council members expressed concerns about the contradiction of approving a raise for the benefit in January and then considering its elimination for future council members just months later. Arguments were made that the benefit serves as an incentive for experienced leadership retention and encourages future service. The cost to the city's budget was noted as approximately $46,000 annually, or 0.135% of the total budget. The ordinance failed with six 'no' votes and two 'aye' votes.