We live in a good town, between a ridge and a river, and what happens in its public rooms belongs to all of us. These are the records of that business — built from the city's own video and documents, so any neighbor can check the work.
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Council Watch · The Records
One record per meeting: a 30-second summary, a plain-language recap, the documents to the dollar, and the complete transcript — every line plays the city's own video of that moment.
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№ 38
October 6, 2026 · regular meeting
IRS debt, a court raise, and two water-billing drafts
The treasurer said the city owes the IRS about $1.7 million and made no payments in 2024. The council voted 4-2 to raise the senior district court officer $2.23 an hour. The city attorney said the state requires a 3% yearly water increase; the record notes what state law says. Two draft water-billing ordinances got no vote and return next meeting.
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№ 37
September 29, 2026 · special call meeting
The water meeting: DEQ items two years overdue
The water superintendent said the wastewater items owed to DEQ have been due for over two years; the city will ask for new due dates, and the draft report leaves every completion date blank. The council voted 5-0 to buy CDs for the $541,800 reserve. Eight new positions were requested, with base pay on the October 6 agenda. The city attorney said bill adjustments need a council-adopted policy. 176 transcript turns and six documents.
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№ 36
September 15, 2026 · regular meeting
The $12,500 hotel study: no vote
General-fund money found no support, and the proposal was offered a path to the A&P Commission instead. Part-time certified police pay rose to $17 an hour, 6-0; $94,550 in leak-repair invoices were approved for work done under a verbal contract; and a special water-focused meeting was set for September 29. 196 transcript turns and the full packet, every line playing the city's own video.
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№ 35
September 8, 2026 · special call meeting
The overtime meeting: $199,212.93 against a $110,000 budget
On the first day of the new 8-hour police schedule, officers called in sick; Chief Sanders covered the city alone from 6 a.m. to noon. The chief says the fix is nine more officers. The council took no vote — overtime now goes through an approval form and the books get squared at year end. 91 transcript turns and the overtime reports, page by page.
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№ 34
September 1, 2026 · regular meeting
One truck, not two: $130,000
The council cut the truck purchase from two to one on the floor — four yes votes, two abstentions, three times — and discussed contracting garbage pickup out without naming a vendor or taking a vote. Plus the O'Neal invoices, the Tulip Circle culvert, and a September 11 waterline groundbreaking — 394 transcript turns, three documents.
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№ 33
August 26, 2026 · special meeting
A garbage truck rented, 6–0 — the bigger decision next Tuesday
An emergency bid waiver for a four-week side-loader rental ($10,400–$10,900), a $260,000 used-truck option on the table, and the council's sanitation math — 239 transcript turns, four documents.
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№ 32
August 20, 2026 · special meeting
Three police vehicles, approved 5–0
$210,000 over 60 months through Commercial Capital, with two more cars later "as funds permit" — 175 transcript turns, four documents.
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№ 31
August 19, 2026 · special meeting
Down to three cruisers — and no vote, after a notice problem
The chief's fleet report, the mayor's fund-balance case for buying five, and the FOIA press-notice issue that pushed the decision a day — 212 transcript turns, three documents.
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№ 30
August 18, 2026 · regular meeting
Two 5–0 votes, rules tabled, police cars deferred
The community-service ordinance passes, public-comment rules go back for rework, water and sanitation report deep trouble — 493 transcript turns, eight documents.
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№ 29
August 4, 2026 · regular meeting
A $30,000 garbage truck, approved 4–2
The used Memphis truck bought over two no votes, a roughly $700,757 Entergy debt disclosure read near adjournment, and the A&P boardwalk-grant ask — 337 transcript turns, five documents.
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№ 28
July 30, 2026 · special meeting
Two used trucks on the table — and no vote
Draft bid-waiver ordinances, a street-fund transfer plan, and the rental clock running out that Monday — 261 transcript turns, five documents.
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№ 27
July 23, 2026 · special meeting
The 2024 audit, finding by finding
$2.148 million in unpaid General Fund bills, three funds in deficit, repossessed equipment — and the corrective action plan, signed — 368 transcript turns, five documents.
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№ 26
July 21, 2026 · regular meeting
Three festivals, a special prosecutor, and the Entergy bill
The conflict disclosed on the record, a $701,220.60 repayment question tabled for legal review, and a towing dispute — 246 transcript turns, eight documents.
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№ 25
July 7, 2026 · regular meeting
116 tons in 11 days, on two dependable trucks
The sanitation crisis from the department's own staff, the vendor-vs-in-house numbers, and a $4.5 million EPA water grant — 506 transcript turns, five documents.
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№ 24
June 16, 2026 · regular meeting
Sanitation, in-house or vendor — the revenue math on the record
Commission budgets adopted 6–0, the 50-year M2X methane deal sent to committee, the animal-control lease deferred, and Entergy's $772,184 in unpaid city balances — 386 transcript turns, five documents.
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№ 23
June 4, 2026 · special meeting
A $112,000 used bulldozer, bought 6–0
The bid-waiver ordinance for the landfill dozer — to be paid off early from a $525,000 contaminated-soil project — and the UniFirst uniform contract tabled to July — 238 transcript turns, three documents.
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№ 22
June 2, 2026 · regular meeting
A 50-year methane proposal — and a quorum lost at 8:24 p.m.
Two bid waivers held for lack of votes, $80,327.63 in water invoices approved 4–0, and a $105,000-before-payroll disclosure that opened a transparency fight — 534 transcript turns, seven documents.
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№ 21
May 19, 2026 · regular meeting
Emergency street repairs, 5–1, off the washout estimates
$14,000 in repairs, the floodwall sewer-line ordinance 6–0, a sanitation-reporting resolution, the $200,000-contractor-vs-$70,000-director fight, and four condemnation properties read into the record — 408 transcript turns, three documents.
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№ 20
April 21, 2026 · regular meeting
The veto stands; the claims list hits $3.29 million
No override vote on the district-court raises, the official claims list at $3,291,279.94 — before the IRS, state taxes, and Entergy are counted — and a $150-per-hour nuisance-abatement rate passed 5–0 — 164 transcript turns, two documents.
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№ 19
December 2, 2025 · regular meeting
2026 budget presented, police STEP grant approved, MLK parade backed
December 2, 2025 regular meeting: 2026 budget preview (45 fewer positions, about $8,837,873 projected revenue), Resolution 12 for the police mini-STEP grant, and city support for the MLK Jr. parade — 164 transcript turns, 2 documents.
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№ 18
November 18, 2025 · regular meeting
$2.5 Million in Grants Approved, Airport Commission Needs Seven Members
November 18, 2025 city council meeting: $2.5 million in DRA/AEDC grants approved 4-0, claims down to $3.9 million, and a new city vehicle ordinance introduced — 135 transcript turns, 2 documents.
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№ 17
November 4, 2025 · regular meeting
$583,929 over budget, water commission fight, $168,000 jail-fee threat
City council report from November 4, 2025: the city's $583,929 budget overrun, a debate over reviving a water commission, and the county's move toward garnishing the city for $168,000 in unpaid jail fees — 234 transcript turns, 2 documents.
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№ 16
October 21, 2025 · regular meeting
Mayor's Signing Powers, $29,000 in Police Gear, $10,000 for Contractors Lawsuit
New mayor's first council meeting: signing authority on city accounts, about $29,000 approved for police body armor and duty weapons, and up to $10,000 authorized for outside counsel after the city attorney recused himself from a roughly $230,000 lawsuit — 312 transcript turns, 1 document.
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№ 15
October 7, 2025 · regular meeting
$4.4 Million Debt Tally, LOPFI Payment Plan Starts, Open-Burning Ordinance Adopted
The city's known debt is $4,446,874.66, down $561,018.71 since July 1. Council started an 18-month LOPFI payment plan, adopted an open-burning permit ordinance, and approved a $30,825.27 bypass-pump repair — 319 transcript turns.
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№ 14
September 24, 2025 · special meeting
$3,750 more approved for garbage contractor, city down to one truck
Helena-West Helena council approved $3,750 more for contractor garbage pickup, bringing total contractor spending to $7,500 since a sanitation truck was rear-ended and taken out of service. The city has only one working residential truck running — 35 transcript turns.
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№ 13
September 16, 2025 · regular meeting
40-Year Hospital Lease Motion, 911 Dispatch Moves to County, Emergency Garbage Contract After Truck Wreck
Council moves forward on a 40-year hospital lease, shifts 911 dispatch to the county, and approves emergency garbage contract after a truck wreck. September 16, 2025 — 583 transcript turns.
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№ 12
September 2, 2025 · regular meeting
Landfill Truck, Water Leaks, and a New Pursuit Policy
Council caught a proposed 78-month landfill-truck loan breaking the state's 5-year cap and sent it back. It also adopted a new pursuit policy without Mississippi coverage and heard about 40 open water leaks in West Helena — 418 transcript turns.
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№ 11
August 19, 2025 · regular meeting
$12 Million Watershed Project Enters Design, Trash Pickup Paused, Payroll Count Disputed
City council hears warnings about stuck water valves and missing maintenance records, pauses trash pickup for 60 days, and moves the $12 million watershed flood project into its design phase — 425 transcript turns.
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№ 10
July 29, 2025 · special meeting
County Takes Over Police Dispatch, $45 Health Plan Charge, $16,022 Pump Repair
The council voted 4-0 to move police dispatch to Phillips County for $85,000 a year, a projected $168,000 annual savings, and approved a $45 per-pay-period employee health contribution and a $16,022 sewer pump repair — 145 transcript turns.
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№ 9
March 4, 2025 · regular meeting
A bitcoin miner pitches the Dragon Lumber site; the airport nominee falls 3-2
A bitcoin miner pitched the old Dragon Lumber site on Washington Street — a presentation, no vote. The mayor's airport nominee fell 3-2. A $73,000 police grant was appropriated — 244 transcript turns, cited to the city's own video.
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№ 8
October 29, 2024 · special meeting
Water rates pegged to 1.25% of median income; sewer ordinance passes 4-2
The council passed Ordinance 16 (water) and Ordinance 17 (sewer), setting rates to reach 1.25% of the city's $26,779 median household income figure. The sewer ordinance passed 4-2, with St. Columbia and Dr. Miller voting no — 133 transcript turns.
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№ 7
October 2, 2024 · special meeting
The $11 million loan: approved but not closed, with a 58% rate hike looming
ANRC and Arkansas Rural Water walked the council through an $11 million loan that's approved but not closed, a rate study that doesn't yet cover it, and a $16 million request competing against 70 statewide applications — 115 transcript turns.
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№ 6
September 24, 2024 · regular meeting
73.5% water loss on the record; the $30,000-a-month paper-bill fee
Robert Cheek told the council 73.5% of the city's water never reached a paying customer. A resident said the city's $15 paper-bill fee runs $30,000 a month. The council adopted the millage ordinance 5-0 — 167 transcript turns.
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№ 5
September 10, 2024 · regular meeting
The $25.47-to-$48 water bill, and the median-income figure disputed
One resident's water bill went from $25.47 to $48 in a month. A councilwoman disputed the $31,118 median-income figure behind the new rates. The council put the new rates on hold and reverted bills to the old schedule — 119 transcript turns.
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№ 4
September 4, 2024 · special meeting
Rates rolled back 6-0 while the city investigates high bills
The council rolled water and sewer rates back to the pre-August 1 level through November 1 while it investigates high bills, and voted to keep pursuing an $11 million loan the city needs to fix its water system. The West Helena tank was down to 32 feet — 117 transcript turns.
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№ 3
July 24, 2024 · regular meeting
Water and sewer rates set at $7.58 and $9.88; both ordinances pass 3-2
The council set water and sewer rates at $7.58 and $9.88 per 1,000 gallons, pegged to a state loan-forgiveness formula, and passed both rate ordinances 3-2. It also approved a $10,000 Boys and Girls Club land deal for a well site and about $42,000 in water-department invoices — 150 transcript turns.
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№ 2
July 2, 2024 · regular meeting
73.5% water loss, $750,000 in state fines, rates set to nearly triple
A state rate study found the city selling 378 million gallons against 1.428 billion gallons pumped in 2023, a 73.5 percent loss. The council reviewed a consent order with up to $750,000 in fines and a recommended rate increase from $2.73 to $7.39 per thousand gallons — 207 transcript turns.
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№ 1
May 28, 2024 · regular meeting
A 6–0 resignation demand, "I'm not moving," and the $3 million hospital sale
The council voted 6–0 to censure Mayor Christopher Franklin and request his immediate resignation over a profane Facebook Live video; his answer from the chair: "I'm not moving. I'll still be here." Also on the night: the hospital buyer reported roof, mold, and diesel-tank findings on a $3 million offer with $900,000 in escrow — every quote plays the city's own video.
Perspectives · Signed opinion
Where the record ends and a point of view begins: signed pieces by Robert Cheek, built on the records above and cited the same way — timestamps play the video, document stamps open the exhibits. The record stands on its own; read it first if you'd rather draw your own conclusions.
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October 9, 2026 · by Robert Cheek
The city's best investments are already on the table
Treat every city decision as an investment and the best returns are not new taxes. They are money already won, like $9.75 million in water-loan forgiveness, cash that earned $226 in eight months, and deals worth reopening. With what the city's debts actually cost.
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October 7, 2026 · by Robert Cheek
A city should give back more than it takes
Helena-West Helena has lost almost one in three residents since 2010, and the people who stayed are paying more. Before the city asks for more, it should go after the money it is leaving on the table and stop paying for things that buy no lasting fix.
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October 2, 2026 · by Robert Cheek
The water-bill rule the city says it needs. Here is a draft.
The city attorney says Helena-West Helena needs one written rule for fixing water bills and setting up payment plans. The city has never had one. Here is a draft ordinance in plain language and in full, and one ask: post it and give it three readings.
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September 25, 2026 · by Robert Cheek
The new line on your Entergy bill
The "Generating Arkansas Jobs Act" line costs a 1,000 kWh home $5.74 a month now, and Entergy projects about $20 by 2030. What it pays for, who approved it, what the city can and cannot do, and what you can do this month.
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September 22, 2026 · by Robert Cheek
If you elect me, grade me. Here is the scoreboard.
Why I am running for Ward 1, and the scoreboard to hold me to: four questions with public numbers under each — population, water rates, audits, grants — six conduct commitments, and the first three motions I would bring.
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September 16, 2026 · by Robert Cheek
The Chick-fil-A test
No vote Monday on the $12,500 hotel study; it is headed for the A&P Commission, where I serve. Before it gets there, a parable about public money and private business — with the case law, linked, and the meeting on video.
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September 15, 2026 · by Robert Cheek
The city wants to pay $9,500 for hotel market research. Here it is, free.
An Atlanta firm proposed a $9,500 study of whether downtown can support a new hotel — research its consultants would build partly by interviewing local lodging. Seventeen years of my own nightly books answer it here, free, with the full six-page proposal scanned: occupancy has never reached 46% in a calendar year.
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September 11, 2026 · by Robert Cheek
Our Water Department Is Finally Making Money. Now It Should Act Like It.
Rates more than doubled, and the department that lost $1 million in 2023 now budgets a $1.4 million surplus. So why do "balloon bills" still land on customers with late fees and blame? The machine behind them is the city's own admitted practice — and the fix is already written down in other Arkansas cities.
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August 27, 2026 · by Robert Cheek
Pay for the rental. Then show us the books.
The council was right to rent a garbage truck. The harder questions: why the shopping started after the fleet failed — and why the rate-increase talk arrived without the city's own numbers.
How a record works
- Green dots and timestamps play the city's own video of that exact moment, right on the page.
- Page stamps open the actual meeting documents — budgets, invoices, ordinances — to the cited page.
- The complete transcript, every turn, nothing summarized away.
- Speaker names are verified against the video by people; a ° marks the ones not yet checked.
See a name that's wrong? Tap it on any transcript line and suggest a correction — suggestions are reviewed against the video before anything on the record changes.
More perspectives — and issue pages that follow the long stories (water, sanitation, streets, the city's money) across meetings and years — will grow from these records. The record comes first.