The Plan

To me, part of transparency means making it easier for citizens to participate in the process and understand it.  This means we're getting City Council meeting agendas out early and with a more regular cadence.  If it's not on the agenda, we won't bring it up unless there are timing circumstances around it, but we will explain that plainly.  

The complete packets the City Council gets, the public will also have access to, not only in the meeting itself, but these will be posted online.  This includes charts, addenda, pictures, and anything else that accompanies the agenda.  My hope is it will be easier to follow along and understand what the Council is addressing.  

This especially includes our budget.  Our current budget workshops are open to the public and streamed, and that is great.  But I want to build on that.  I will produce summaries of those workshops so they can be digestible and easy to understand.  They will include changes and non-changes; there will be MORE line items than we currently have, and we will explain those line items.  We all don't have accounting degrees, but we should still be able to understand where OUR money is going.

What does this actually mean?  To me, it means:

1. Tell people what's happening BEFORE it happens.  I'm not going to make residents dig through agendas, Facebook posts, meeting videos, and documents to figure out what's going on.

2. Tell people before a vote, not after. Major decisions shouldn't come as a surprise after the vote.

3. Make information understandable.  Government documents can be legally correct and still have your head spinning.  I want that barrier to be broken down when and where we can. 

4. City Hall will be easier to reach.  Residents should easily know which department, person, or process to get an answer.  

5. Close the loop.  If someone brings an issue to City Hall, they should know what happened with it, even if the answer is "No, we can't do that."

6. Customer-service mentality.  The City shouldn't just enforce rules; we should help residents to navigate the rules and processes we have in place.  We will be helpful and empathetic.

City Hall should bring the information to you, not make you go on a treasure hunt to find it.

I will bring back public comment in our Council meetings.  We will encourage respect and nobody will attack anyone from the mic.  We will have strict time limits.  I want our residents to be a part of the process because there are times when we, as a city, don't know what we don't know.  

I want to have quarterly listening sessions with our different wards alongside the council members who represent them.  I feel this will allow us to have a more meaningful discussion about specifics in neighborhoods and will allow me, as Mayor, to be on the same page with our council regarding those issues.  This allows us to close the loop.

Pretty simple.  Now, not every street is going to be brand new. That's not realistic.  But you also shouldn't have to drive home and it be like Mad Max where you have to dodge potholes and cracks.  I'm not here to say "we're going to pave X miles of road," because we don't know how budgets will shake out.  But we will have a clear system to identify, prioritize, and repair instead of waiting for it to become a bigger (more expensive!) issue.

Ever try to find out how to do this on the city website?  It's like trying to find Waldo.  The wording should be more than a 'concern,' but for future reference: Citizen Request Tracker® | City Of Sherwood.  Spell it out for us:  "Report Potholes here"!  That's what I'll do.  But then we'll make sure you get confirmation that someone actually sees it, when someone is assigned to address the issue, see the status of the problem (reported, working on it, fixed, etc), then finally get closure WITH PICTURE proof that we have addressed the problem you have seen.  See it. Report it. Track it.

When it rains, the water has to get somewhere as quickly as possible.  As mayor, we are going to take a full look at what the city is doing and what it may need to be doing.  We will identify those recurring flooding areas, keep a full list of our drainage infrastructure, and address those areas prone to being clogged up. Drainage will be a major part of any development in Sherwood. I will build on any current long-term stormwater plan.  We will take input from our residents about those problematic areas and keep them updated on any projects we are currently or will address in the future.  

I don't expect us to prevent rain from hitting the ground, but I do expect us to know where our problem areas are and address them accordingly.

Roads, drainage, water, and wastewater are too important to guess at.  Look, I'm not an engineer, and I'm not going to pretend to be one.  My job as mayor will be to ensure the city has the professional expertise it needs to make those decisions soundly.  I'll review how Sherwood currently handles engineering, which includes staffing, outside contracts, and workload.  Then I'll determine what makes the most sense for us.  If we need a dedicated city engineer, I'll work to get us one.  If another approach gives Sherwood better expertise and better value, I'll consider that too.

Sherwood's wastewater situation is bigger than one disagreement or one meeting (or more than one missed one at that).  It's a long-term infrastructure issue that affects our ability to grow and to serve our current residents.  

The relationship between Sherwood and NLR Wastewater matters.  I believe we should approach it with both eyes wide open.  We need to protect Sherwood's interests, understand better what our role in the ecosystem is, maintain a productive relationship, and understand what our options are.  We don't have to pick a fight to protect Sherwood's future. 

As mayor, I want the city to have a clear picture of what our current capacity is, what our future needs will be, what those costs are, and what the different options are.  I want our residents to understand those choices and to provide their input before major decisions are made. 

Sherwood isn't standing still. We're a city of 33,000+ people, and infrastructure that worked for a smaller city may not be enough forever.

But growth isn't the infrastructure problem. Unplanned growth is.

Before we approve or encourage major development, we need to understand whether our roads, drainage, water, wastewater and other infrastructure can support it. When new development happens, we need to consider its impact on surrounding roads, drainage, and utilities. Growth shouldn't simply push infrastructure problems onto existing neighborhoods. It needs to grow WITH it.

Major infrastructure projects can take years and cost serious money. We shouldn't wait until we're at capacity, or already experiencing failures, to start planning. 

I want Sherwood to grow. I just want us to be ready for it.

I want to simplify our business licensing structure and fees.  Have you seen the Privilege Tax code in Sherwood?!  (https://library.municode.com/ar/sherwood/codes/municipal_code?nodeId=TIT4BULIRE_CH4.36LIPRTA_4.36.15TARA)  

In addition to fluctuating base fees we're really taxing businesses:

• Per employee

• Per lane of a bowling alley (wonder why it never came back?)

• .075% of clothing stock

• Per bank branch

• Per barber/per manicurist/AND .075% stock

• Per hose

I'm going to propose a much simpler, tier-based system that is easier to calculate, easier to follow, easier to plan for, and easier to enforce.  If there are specialties within an industry which need to be accounted for, we will work with our business community on how to fairly implement our licensing fees.  We want people to call Sherwood home for their business also. 

I want to eliminate our sign permits.  We can build in and approve specifications to what is fine in Sherwood.  There is no need to tack on meaningless fees and red tape if a food truck wants to have a flag sign by its truck or if a business wants a sign to light up in front of its business.  In 2025, this only generated $6,000 in revenue. This is hardly a change that the city will feel, but our business community will.

I will also streamline and tighten up our timelines so businesses don't have to wait in the wind or play phone tag with someone to know what the next steps are or what they can go ahead and do next. 

I want A PERSON as the point.  Answering questions, being helpful, and moving those who are trying to earn a living in our city forward.  The more we can assist and make it predictable, the easier it will be to do business in Sherwood.

Sherwood doesn't need just a random collection of buildings.  And I've heard you!  You want more places to eat at!  But beyond that we need to identify:

1. What do people leave the city for?

2. Where does that restaurant demand exist?

3. What types of businesses complement existing ones?

4. What commercial areas have room for growth?

5. Where can we repurpose some area?

The mayor's job isn't to pick the next restaurant, but to create the right conditions for the right businesses to want to come here.

I want to create an inventory of what we have currently in the city, what we want to have in the city, and what would complement current businesses.  Restaurants are at the top of most people I've talked to's list.  What kind though? What business can keep those restaurants afloat? What industry are we lacking that fits the mold and land usage of Sherwood?  We will have lists of all those things, and we will work in conjunction with the Chamber of Commerce to best utilize our zoned areas.

Gravel Ridge is just as much as part of this city as Oakbrooke, Indianhead, or Country Club Rd, and it will eventually feel more interconnected.  North Sherwood needs to be ready as expansion is heading in that direction.  This includes infrastructure readiness, business opportunities, traffic access and flow, first responder response capabilities, and having it flow and connect with the city.  More rooftops don't automatically create a thriving commercial area.  We need places for people to work, eat, shop, and spend time.

Sherwood isn't operating in a vacuum.  Conway, Cabot, Jacksonville, Benton, Bryant, NLR, Little Rock, Hot Springs, and Maumelle are all competing for business investment.  In my first 100 days, I want to call at least 50 businesses and ask them, "What can Sherwood do for you to come here?"  Simple, yet aggressive.  Plenty of things are all around us, but what is holding them back from coming here when we have a huge base of people who call Sherwood home?  I want to know!  I will also follow up with those who might be going through the deciding phase currently and make sure to sell Sherwood as a place worth investing in.  

I want to use our A&P dollars to assist with being able to bring business to Sherwood.  That's not a handout, but an assist to ensure they have what they need to thrive here.  

It's nice to attract new things, but we must continue to support those businesses who already chose Sherwood.  I want to work with the Chamber of Commerce to host regular meetings with our business community to understand what they are dealing with, not just in their specific industries, but also what we can do to continue to be a good partner for them.  I pledge that my administration will have a customer-service mentality and not just tell people what the rules are and then hang up.  We will walk them through, explain, and answer any concerns they may have. 

I want our current business to be a part of the recruiting efforts too.  Jay, that sounds a little backwards.  Hear me out!  I want to know what is working, what is getting in the way, what would help someone expand, and what made them choose Sherwood.  Those things we can use to attract business too.  I don't want to put our local businesses out for 'name brands' either.  I want all of our businesses to thrive and complement each other.

I want to recognize our local business community for being true members of the Sherwood community.  I will recognize school spirit, helping our community, and going above and beyond to be good neighbors to all of us.  

Business development isn't just about expansion and luring things here.  It's also about making sure we take care of the ones we got!

I will announce that Sherwood is open for business, but that doesn't mean every project is a good project for Sherwood.  Growth should make sense for the surrounding area, the fit economically, the fit with our infrastructure, and how they will contribute to the long-term health of the city.  Being pro-growth is not pro-everything.  I want businesses that will thrive and be successful for a long time, so we don't end up with abandoned properties. 

Public safety is one of the most important responsibilities of the city. My job won't be to tell police officers how to do police work. My job will be to make sure they have the people, resources, training, and support they need to do it and to do it well. We WILL also ensure the public can trust how those resources are being used. I will make sure we have these things:

1. Staffing & Retention - Do we have enough officers? Are we competitive in recruiting and retention? Are we putting experienced people in positions where they're most useful? 

2. Training & Professional Development - Not just in firearms and tactics, but also in de-escalation, crisis response, communication, emotional intelligence, technology, and leadership.  A modern department needs modern training.

3. Technology & Equipment - Technology should help officers do their jobs, but there need to be clear rules around access, retention of data, oversight, and appropriate use. I will also work with our police department to make sure we are using our money wisely when it comes to our acquisition of technology.

4. Community Policing & Communication - Our officers shouldn't only be visible when something is going wrong. I will encourage our officers to interact with our residents in our neighborhoods, schools, businesses, and community groups so we can build trust and familiarity. These are regular people like all of us behind the badge.

5. Accountability - We will have clear policies, expectations, and processes for complaints and concerns.  If something does go wrong, we will address it professionally instead of pretending like it didn't happen.  

Use the technology.  Control the technology.  Justify the use of the technology.  That is the approach.

I'm for responsible use of Flock, not unlimited use. If we're going to spend thousands of dollars on a technology system, we should know exactly what it's doing for Sherwood, who can use it, how that use is monitored, and whether the results justify the cost. It needs to make us safer, protect people's rights, and be worth what we're paying for.  We will have clear rules on how it is used.

I will require a quarterly report to be presented in our City Council meetings showing all the metrics.  

How many searches were made? 

What kinds of searches were made? 

Who made any number of searches? 

Was it used to solve a crime in any fashion?  

All important things to track when using this system.  If Flock changes their terms of service, I will analyze how those changes affect the agreement, and if we are not comfortable with those changes, we will reconsider the service agreement in an open meeting.  I will also make sure that those changes and our justification(s) are made public.  

If there is any abuse of this system by our officers, I will make sure they are held accountable by our policies and the law.  If we have to take disciplinary action for abuse of this system, that will be made public.

Public safety matters. Privacy matters. And so does the taxpayers' money.

Fire protection in Sherwood is set up a little differently.  Our city is served by fire districts rather than the city having its own fire department.  This means the mayor doesn't hire and manage our firefighters.  

But this doesn't mean City Hall gets to wash its hands of public safety.

Our firefighters don't get to choose when the call comes, so we need to make sure we can do what we can to assist them when it does. The city has a role in planning, coordination, infrastructure, and making sure we work with the fire districts to understand what they need as Sherwood continues to grow.

1. I will meet regularly with our fire district leadership to understand their needs.

2. I want them at the table when it comes to new development.  Not to approve or veto, but to offer their expertise so we can ensure they can do their jobs perfectly if the need arises.

3. Where the city has a role, we will make sure we're not creating unnecessary barriers to effective response.

4. Public safety doesn't stop at a city boundary.  We will work with the county and neighboring cities to make sure we are working together when we need to so our firefighters can do their jobs.

The city can't just pick up the phone and order a brand new firetruck or a burn building to train.  That's not how it's set up.  But we will do everything in our power to help contribute when and where we can so they have what they need to help our citizens.

Sherwood needs a safe, humane, and functional place to care for animals in our community.  I support building a new facility, but I also believe we need to be responsible with the price tag.  We don't have to spend $11.5 million to build a Taj Mahal to prove we care about animals.  

I want to reignite this issue because it is important, but we need to understand what our need is, what care looks like, what it will cost to operate, and what the right facility looks like for Sherwood. Caring for animals and being responsible with taxpayer money are not competing ideas. We can do both!

But things to consider:

• How many animals are we serving?

• What will our need potentially look like in 10-20 years?

• What are the needs for the shelter and what are those costs?

• What is the potential annual operating cost of a new facility?

• Staffing?

• Veterinary services?

• What kind of fundraising can be done in conjunction with any city dedicated funds?

This doesn't mean "smaller" is the goal.  I want it right! Because an overcrowded shelter in 3-5 years isn't responsible either.

Sanitation & Cleanliness

People notice when trash isn't picked up, when the bulk items are still on the curb, when dumpsters overflow, when the streets and common areas aren't clean, and when there is confusion about who cleans what.  

Basic city services should work.  

Communication is key and will continue to be paramount in notifying people of changes to trash/leaf/bulk pickup.  I will make clearer what qualifies for bulk pickup, and I want to investigate if there is a way for the city to have a pay service for certain items.

Code Enforcement

This isn't just about "cracking down" on our neighbors.  It's about consistent rules and livable neighborhoods.  Rules should be clear, consistent, and fairly enforced.  

Also:

• We will follow up on any complaints

• Make sure those complaints are tracked

• Have a way to notify repeat offenders of potential penalties 

• Ensure residents understand what the city can and cannot do

Courts

City government has a responsibility to the justice system as a whole.  Municipal court will be professional, accessible, and understandable.  We will be clearer with our processes and payments, and I will look into any fees that can be eliminated or reduced.  We will treat people respectfully and fairly, and I will expect the same for our court!

The Sherwood Sports Complex used to be the diamond of Central Arkansas...used to be.  But it has now been lapped by other communities.  We don't need to tear this thing down, but it does need a glow-up!  

• Better and modern lighting

• Rework our concession stand

• Updated fan areas 

• Redo the fencing around the playing surface

• Smooth out more of the rocky, uneven surfaces so people can get around with less likelihood of tripping

• Figure out ways for more natural shade

• General "nicing up" of the place

• Leave the dirt and natural grass

We don't need to reinvent the wheel here.  We just need to make the wheel turn better.

I will also reintroduce cash back to the ballpark.  It's legal tender, and we will introduce the training and oversight in place to ensure safe money practices.  It doesn't need to be that difficult.

NORTH SHERWOOD BALLPARK

A city of our size is capable of having two complexes.  A long-term goal of mine is to construct another complex, but this one with turf fields to balance out the current complex's natural surface.  I want a more state-of-the-art complex capable of handling both baseball and softball configurations so we don't pigeonhole ourselves into a "baseball side" and a "softball side."  I want to take some of the best nuances from some of our neighbors' ballparks.  As a coach, I've seen a lot of different complexes with their own strengths and believe Sherwood can again house a crown jewel in Central Arkansas.  

We will plan this out and get stakeholder input from parents, coaches, umpires, ballpark staff, and tournament directors to put together not just the best complex, but also the most practical and versatile. We will then price out a complex and all the features we want.  We will prioritize certain aspects and if there are things that just push the price tag too high, we will be willing to cut those because they are luxury items (ice machines in each dugout might be a bit much).  Then we will present a plan to the public.  If we have to phase it, we will show the plan of what we are putting and what the timeline is to have those things.  We will be flexible where we can be because we want functionality over luxury.  

INDOOR VENUE

I'm not sure we have quite the space to construct something similar to The Grounds in Cabot, but we are lacking space for our basketball and volleyball capabilities. Much like the proposed North Sherwood Ballpark we will seek input, we will plan, and we will execute a vision.  

We will have nice parks, so let's use them!  We have a solid foundation already for sports tourism. I've spent enough time around sports to know that a tournament isn't just a game.  It's families travelling, maybe staying there, eating at restaurants, filling up gas tanks, and spending money in our community.  With facilities that can handle big events or parts of bigger events, it all contributes to the coffers of Sherwood.  

I will do everything in my power to also bring back the Busch Classic to Sherwood.  I remember working this event when I worked for the ballpark, and it's a world-class event that brought TONS of people to Sherwood.  The city has recently added other events around the Busch Classic's normal timeline, and I believe those events can coincide and play off of each other.

With a new indoor facility capable of hosting volleyball, basketball, futsal, and even pickleball tournaments, we can further capitalize on sports tourism.

I've been in dugouts, I've been in stands, I've been behind microphones, and around fields.  I've seen what we have, what we're doing, and where we've fallen behind.  I don't want Sherwood to simply maintain what's here.  I want us to compete!  For tournaments, for families, for visitors, and with the surrounding communities who are investing in recreation.  I want to use some of our A&P funds to assist with attracting events for us.  I want Sherwood to be a sports destination again!

Sherwood's parks offer much more than the ballpark. There are families, walkers, runners, seniors, and kids who aren't ballplayers who want to run around too.  I want to ensure Sherwood's trails are clear and even for folks who want to get out in nature.  I want to expand our walking trails where feasible and not through private property or where it does not make sense to add them. 

I want to maintain what we have in our tennis and pickleball courts.  

Our playgrounds need to be regularly inspected, and we need to make sure they are safe for our kids to play on.  The playground by the ballpark complex fell through the cracks and is being addressed currently, but it was years overdue!  

Our soccer complex also needs a glow-up!  Parts of it are newer, but we need to ensure we can properly use the facilities we have.  

I want to update and repair our outdoor spaces over water.  The Cherrywood Lake dock is prime for fixing.  It's still functional, but loose boards are always a concern.

I also want to introduce some outdoor fitness areas that will accommodate our youth and our seniors.  The outdoor gym concept isn't new, but we can introduce it to Sherwood so our people can get outdoors and get moving.  For our youth, it would encourage them to be outside and help with growing muscle during development.  For our seniors, just being active and being able to safely work on balance is key to life in our elder years.  Everyone can benefit from what an outdoor gym can offer!  If Sherwood had, say, a Ninja Warrior-type of setup, it would likely bring people from all over Central Arkansas!  We can make it happen!

I want to work with our Parks & Rec department to revitalize our youth sports, especially baseball and softball.  

But our baseball and softball programs have dropped off significantly, and it's not all due to travel ball.  My experience umpiring and talking with parents has been that nobody likes the constant chaos with the program.  Scheduling is the chief culprit.  Where do we go? What time do we need to be there? Which complex?  I want to work with our neighboring communities to make sure all of our kids are getting chances to play the game.  I want there to be uniformity in rules and what to expect.  

I also want to help the Sherwood Bears youth football program where the city can.

If we can build an indoor venue, we will see exponential growth with our basketball and volleyball leagues.  We can introduce futsal and indoor pickleball too!  With the capabilities of having so much more, I'd like to see our Sherwood ADULTS get involved in a potential league of their own.  

• Business processes reviewed

• Point of contact established

• Commercial site inventory published

• Recruitment pipeline established

• Projects tracked

• Priority road list

• Drainage problem areas identified

• Capital plan established

• Wastewater strategy

• Facility assessment

• Ballpark improvement plan

• Tournament strategy

• North Sherwood recreation plan

• First-responder staffing

• Compensation review

• Flock policy clarification

• Technology cost/effectiveness review

• Feasibility study

• Options/cost published

• Decision made based on actual numbers