State of the City

2 025 was a very good year for Berryville. We saw continued momentum across nearly every area of City operations, from economic development and infrastructure to public safety, parks, and neighborhood quality of life.

Messer continues construction at their company’s new complex in our Regional Business Park, which is scheduled to go into production this fall. We also welcomed several new locally owned businesses, along with two national retailers, TJ Maxx and Tractor Supply Company, both of which chose Berryville as their newest location.

One of the most important milestones of the year was the overwhelming approval by voters to renew the City’s half-cent sales tax. This renewal will allow us to make much-needed improvements to our streets and continue investing in our parks and public safety departments, all while maintaining a low overall tax burden for our citizens. The City also took steps to improve neighborhood safety and protect property values by removing four structures that were either severely damaged by fire or had deteriorated to the point of being uninhabitable and a public nuisance. Addressing these situations is critical to public health and safety, and we intend to continue this effort where necessary.

To strengthen these efforts, the City has hired a new fulltime Code Enforcement Officer, Bobby Engles. Bobby will help ensure that nuisance properties are addressed and followed up on until resolved, assist our Building Inspector, Ed Phillips, when needed, and perform additional duties such as parking enforcement.

Our Parks maintenance crew continue to do an outstanding job caring for Berryville Memorial Park Cemetery, which is no small task, with more than 8000 markers requiring regular maintenance. This year, we completed a new pavilion at the cemetery, providing a sheltered space for services, particularly during inclement weather.

We are also nearing completion of a major project to transfer more than 100 years of handwritten cemetery records into a modern electronic system. This has been a significant undertaking, but once completed, it will greatly improve record management and lot sales moving forward. We will continue working with Nelson’s Funeral Home in managing the cemetery, and I want to extend a sincere thank you to four generations of the Nelson family for preserving these records. The history they have compiled is truly invaluable to our community.

Overall, the State of the City is very good.

Economic Development Berryville’s Regional Business Park continues to be a driving force behind our local economy and a clear signal that Berryville is open for business.

In April, Messer, a German-based international industrial gas company, held a groundbreaking for its air separation plant. This project represents a total investment of more than $70 million and will bring 27 new jobs to our community, with completion and a grand opening anticipated in the summer of 2026. Messer’s decision to locate in Berryville followed years of collaboration and due diligence and reinforces the confidence global companies have in our community.

We also celebrated the opening of several nationally recognized retailers. Tractor Supply Company held its ribbon cutting and grand opening on October 18, opening a new 22,000-squarefoot facility on the west side of Berryville and bringing approximately 25 jobs. TJ Maxx followed with a ribbon cutting on November 16, opening a 20,000-square-foot store that will employ an estimated 35 to 40 people. These retailers do not choose locations casually, and their presence confirms Berryville’s strong market and future growth potential.

Mid-States Specialty Eggs completed an 80,000-square-foot expansion totaling more than $21 million. This expansion added 40 to 50 jobs and allows the facility to ship approximately 3.5 million eggs per day from Berryville, further strengthening our industrial base.

Beyond individual projects, Berryville was selected as one of six communities statewide to participate in the Arkansas Economic Development Commission’s Retail Academy. This yearlong program provides expert consulting to help attract additional retail opportunities and strengthen our local economy.

The City also completed the purchase of three parcels of land bordering our Business Park, including a 56-acre tract connecting to the west side and an 18-acre tract connecting to the north side. These acquisitions improve transportation options and provide flexibility for future industrial and commercial growth.

To support longterm infrastructure planning, the City entered into an agreement with Jacobs Company to develop a comprehensive master plan for our water treatment plant. This roadmap will guide necessary upgrades and allow Berryville to engage confidently and professionally with future industries from the very beginning of discussions.

Berryville has also been selected as a semi-finalist for a $1 million grant to improve water and sewer capabilities within the Business Park. We hosted site selection representatives and AEDC officials in January and anticipate further announcements this spring. The project has already received state approval and will be ready for construction once funding is secured.

Finally, City leadership participated in an exploratory site visit to Ireland and England to meet with potential industrial partners. Discussions continue with one company that could represent a $200 million investment and bring 25 to 30 jobs to Berryville.

Public Safety

Public safety remains one of the City’s most important responsibilities. Police, Fire, and Animal Control services together represent more than $2 million in annual investment and are funded primarily through local sales tax revenues.

Police Department

The Berryville Police Department faced staffing challenges through much of 2025, operating short-handed for extended periods of time. Despite these challenges, our officers pulled together, maintained coverage, and continued to serve the community professionally and effectively. While overall staffing numbers were lower, the department never lost sight of its mission to protect and serve the citizens of Berryville.

During the year, the City was able to purchase two new patrol vehicles as part of a long-term vehicle rotation strategy. This approach allows us to retire older vehicles before maintenance costs become excessive, ensuring reliability for officers while being fiscally responsible.

We were also proud to swear in two new reserve officers, adding valuable support to the department. Looking ahead to 2026, we are optimistic about returning to full staffing levels and continuing to strengthen the department. The Police Department is also expected to transition to a new radio communication system in 2026, which will improve reliability, interoperability, and officer safety.

Fire Department

Our Fire Department remains a tremendous asset to Berryville, supported by dedicated leadership and an outstanding group of volunteers. This past year, the City held a ribbon cutting for the new LaFrance Fire Truck display building at the fire station, preserving an important piece of our local history.

Parks & Recreation Berryville’s parks and recreational programs experienced a banner year in 2025, setting participation and revenue records while earning statewide recognition.

The Berryville Community Center averaged approximately 3,100 active memberships throughout the year, with 3,269 members currently enrolled. Rental revenue reached record levels across multiple facilities, including the gym, pools, annex, banquet hall, and meeting rooms.

The Parks Department received several Arkansas Recreation and Parks Association awards, including Parks Maintenance Team of the Year, Champion Volunteer of the Year, and Festival of the Year for communities one to four years in operation, recognizing the success of the Second Saturday events.

New youth programming continues to grow, with three-day summer camps serving 150 children in activities such as basketball, archery, fishing, golf, theater, history, and cornhole. The City also hosted its first youth golf tournament in partnership with Carroll County Country Club, drawing 40 participants.

Adult recreation remains strong, with record participation in volleyball leagues, continued winter adult soccer, and strong basketball and volleyball seasons. Pickleball continues to grow, highlighted by the spring ribbon cutting for new courts and active league play.

Additional investments included new fitness equipment, enhanced security camera systems at multiple park facilities, and a $3,500 AEDC Blue and You grant to improve the upstairs fitness room. The City’s RV Park achieved record revenue of $115,000, and Mill Creek saw environmental improvements, including cleanup and wildflower planting.

The Berryville Community Center Veterans Wall of Honor was dedicated in November, recognizing local veterans and welcoming ongoing participation.

Public Works: Water, Sewer & Streets The Public Works Department continues to focus on maintaining and improving essential infrastructure while planning responsibly for future growth.

Customer service improvements at the Water Department have been well received, including the drive-thru payment option and the addition of bilingual staff, which has already proven beneficial. A state-mandated water and sewer rate study was completed in 2025 and will result in rate increases this year in both the water and sewer. The city will phase these rate increases over the next 5 years to hopefully keep from having a huge impact. This will get us into compliance with where the state wants us and avoids other rate increases over the next few years.

The City continues to invest in planning and maintenance of water and sewer systems to meet regulatory requirements and support both residential growth and industrial development.

Streets remain one of the City’s greatest challenges, as they do not generate their own revenue. Continued planning and responsible funding strategies are essential to addressing maintenance and future improvements.

Other City Activities

Several additional projects and events contributed to a strong year for Berryville, including: • Hosting the Arkansas Municipal League in February

• The Berryville Library groundbreaking in April

• Continued facility upgrades and maintenance across City properties

Closing Statement

Berryville remains a growing, resilient, and forward-looking community. None of our progress would be possible without the hard work of City employees, volunteers, department leaders, the City Council, and the continued trust and support of our citizens.

It is an honor to serve as your Mayor, and I look forward to continuing the work of building a strong future for Berryville together.