The Hope Board of Directors voted Tuesday night to allow expanded Juneteenth activities at Dr. Roscoe Smith Park on June 20, but only if organizers provide proof of liability insurance, security arrangements and required payments by a deadline set by city staff, and conclude activities by 8 p.m.

The meeting can be seen in its entirety on the City of Hope's Facebook page.

The issue generated the longest discussion of the evening as city officials explained that a planned performance and DJ entertainment had been advertised on social media without following the city's normal event procedures.

City Manager J.R. Wilson said city staff learned of the plans after seeing promotional materials online. "I just get concerned about the concert," Wilson said. "We don't know the amount of attendance or the size it will be." He said the city had not been provided information needed to determine security requirements and other logistics.

Mayor Don Still said the board's primary concern was public safety.

"The number one thing is security," Still said. "We need to have some security about how the security team will be there and what will happen if X happens or Z happens."

Representatives of the Juneteenth committee and organizers told the board the situation resulted largely from miscommunication and a lack of familiarity with city procedures.

Marcia White, who has helped organize Juneteenth celebrations for several years, said organizers had intended the activities to bring residents together and that the performance portion had been misunderstood. "I think it was a miscommunication," White said.

Lorrie Morrison said organizers hoped to increase participation by attracting younger residents.

"The whole point was just to bring the community out," Morrison said. "We would eat, be together, spend time, and just build unity."

Victoria Morrison, who performs as Lady Phat, told directors she wanted to use her music to help strengthen communication and community involvement. "I want to represent connection and understanding versus misunderstanding," she said.

Parks Director Summer Chambers told the board city staff had worked with organizers to determine security needs and event costs. She said four off-duty police officers had been recommended for the evening portion of the event and that event liability insurance was strongly recommended.

Following discussion, Director Reginald Easter made a motion to allow the event to proceed provided organizers submit insurance documentation, help make security arrangements and pay required fees by the deadline established by city staff. The board also required the event to conclude at 8 p.m., approximately an hour before sunset, to assist with clearing the park before its normal closing time.

The motion was approved by the board.

Later in the meeting, a Hope resident and retired Marine Corps combat veteran asked directors for assistance regarding recurring trespassing problems involving golfers retrieving balls from his property adjacent to the Hope Country Club.

The resident said golfers regularly enter his property without permission, sometimes at night, despite posted no-trespassing signs. He said golf balls striking near his home and repeated trespassing incidents have aggravated post-traumatic stress disorder stemming from his military service.

"I've been a resident of our city now for over five and a half years," the resident said. "In that period, my time here as a resident of Hope has been pleasurable and relaxing. Allow me to be specific. It has been mostly pleasurable and relaxing."

He said a small percentage of golfers were responsible for the problems and described incidents involving verbal confrontations between the golfers and neighbors, trespassing and nighttime activity around his property. He said the noise had even interfered with his sleep.

City Attorney Randal Wright advised McCullough that the matter could be addressed through law enforcement and the courts.

"The police department needs to be called when Mr. McCullough has issues and have them do reports so that we can get them in court and have a prosecution of them," Wright said. "Certainly, you're entitled to that."

Still agreed, telling McCullough his most effective avenue would be to lodge complaints through the police department and court system.

Following a brief executive session near the end of the meeting, the board approved a personnel arrangement allowing Wilson to move from a five-day schedule to a four-day work week with a corresponding reduction in compensation. The action also included a salary adjustment for Assistant City Manager Daniel Shelman to reflect increased responsibilities.

After the vote, Wilson thanked the board for its support. "I appreciate the board working with me," Wilson said. "I'm going to a four-day work week, of course. City managers, we work every day of the week, really. If they need me to be here, I'll be here, whether it's a day off or not, or weekend or not. If the city needs me, I'm here."

Wilson said the change will also provide an opportunity for his assistant to assume a larger role in city administration. "I appreciate also having the opportunity for Daniel, our assistant city manager, to take on a bigger role," Wilson said. "We'll do some salary adjustment to make sure he's compensated for that, and I'm reduced for that day off."

in the first item discussed, Wilson and Parks Director Chambers presented several revised design concepts following comments from the board at its previous meeting. Director Gary Johnson favored retaining the dark hunter-green color scheme and prominent City of Hope logo featured on the existing sign, while other directors discussed lettering colors and the goal of creating a consistent appearance among city parks. After discussion, the board asked staff to prepare another rendering based on the third design option, modified with a hunter-green background and white lettering, and return it for further consideration at a future meeting.

discussion:

Hope-Hempstead County Chamber of Commerce Executive Director Christy Burns introduced members of the Leadership Hope-Hempstead County Class of 2026 and updated directors on chamber activities. Burns said the leadership program, now in its fourth year, is designed to develop and connect current and emerging leaders through hands-on experiences and discussions with community leaders. She noted that the 2026 class, the largest in the program's history with 13 participants, includes representatives from Hope Public Schools, the City of Hope, Southwest Arkansas Regional Medical Center, Farmers Bank & Trust, UAHT, Cablelynx Broadband, SWARK.Today and other local organizations.

Burns also told the board that preparations are underway for the 50th annual Hope Watermelon Festival, which will be held Aug. 6th-8th at Fair Park. She said official festival T-shirts are already available through the chamber and noted that ticket sales continue for the festival's Saturday night concert featuring Gretchen Wilson with Hope native Mae Estes serving as the opening act.