Concerned Citizens of Sherwood

06/19/2026

Posted in 2018... still no grocery store in North Sherwood.

DESPERATELY SEEKING KROGER (or any other grocery store):
No question, one of the greatest hopes of Ward 2 residents is a grocery store on our side of town. Here is a great potential location. This is a simple need, but a complex problem. In my role as a city council member I have been working with local developers on a plan to make this possible. There is still work to do. This will take a community effort but the reward could be great.

Building a Brighter Future for Sherwood
Re-elect City Council Member Mary Jo Heye

04/24/2026

Pulaski County Sues City of Sherwood Over Landers Road Firing
Range, Citing Jurisdiction and Permitting Compliance

Pulaski County has filed suit against the City of Sherwood seeking to stop operation of the outdoor firing range at the Landers Road facility. The County asserts the property is located in unincorporated Pulaski County and is subject to a 2025 ordinance requiring a conditional use permit prior to operating a new firing range. According to the filing, that permit was not obtained. The complaint also references a prior cease-and-desist notice and alleges recent use of the range.

This development marks a shift. What had been a public debate is now a legal matter. Questions of jurisdiction, authority, and compliance will be decided in court.

What the Filing Says

The County’s position is direct.

The property is outside Sherwood city limits.

A county ordinance requires a conditional use permit for a firing range.

The County alleges that process was not followed.

As a result, the County is asking the court to stop operation of the range until the issue is resolved through the proper legal and regulatory channels.

These are not political arguments. They are legal claims that will be tested through the judicial process.

What This Is Really About

This situation is not fundamentally about whether public safety facilities are needed. Most residents agree that police, fire, and public works should have the infrastructure required to do their jobs well.

The issue is process.

When a city undertakes a project outside its boundaries, particularly one that affects nearby residents and businesses, coordination with the governing jurisdiction is not optional. It is expected.

When that coordination breaks down, the outcome is predictable. The issue moves out of public meetings and into the courts.

A Breakdown in Leadership Communication

Over the past several weeks, one theme has been consistent. Residents have been asking questions. Many of those questions have focused on jurisdiction, process, and the impact on nearby communities.

At the same time, direct communication from elected leadership has been limited.

In situations involving public funds, intergovernmental conflict, and now active litigation, residents reasonably expect clear and direct communication from elected leadership. These are not operational questions. They are policy and governance matters.
Notably, the filing was not addressed in the City’s regular public update following its release. When a matter escalates to litigation between governmental entities, timely communication from elected leadership is not optional. It is expected.

When communication on those matters is unclear or deferred, the public conversation shifts elsewhere. That has been evident in this case.

The result is predictable. Questions remain unanswered, assumptions increase, and the issue ultimately moves out of public discussion and into the courts.

Being a Good Neighbor

The Landers Road facility is not located in isolation. It sits in proximity to homes, businesses, and the Brushy Island community, including an outdoor range located within close distance of residences and a daycare.

When a project of this nature is developed in one jurisdiction but impacts residents in another, being a good neighbor matters.

That includes:
Clear communication with nearby residents
Coordination with county leadership
Transparency around permitting and process
A willingness to address concerns directly

Being a good neighbor does not require agreement. It requires engagement.

Shared Responsibility

This situation does not fall on one office alone.
The mayor leads the administration.

The city council provides oversight and approves major decisions.

The city attorney advises on legal and jurisdictional matters.
Department leadership executes the project.

Pulaski County governs the area in which the property sits.
When all of those roles intersect, coordination is critical.

When coordination fails, litigation follows.

What Happens Next

The court will now determine whether the City of Sherwood was required to obtain a conditional use permit and whether the range can operate under current conditions.

That process will take time. It will also provide clarity.

Final Thought

This did not have to become a legal matter.

Clear communication, early coordination, and direct engagement with both county leadership and nearby residents often prevent situations like this from escalating.

Leadership is not tested when things are easy. It is tested when decisions are complex, visibility is high, and stakeholders disagree.

At this stage, clear communication from elected leadership is no longer helpful. It is necessary.

Court Documents
The full filing from Pulaski County is included below for those who want to review the source material directly.

https://caseinfo.arcourts.gov/opad/case/60CV-26-4839

03/05/2026

SPF Policy Summary: Sherwood A&P Commission Meeting
March 4, 2026

The Sherwood Advertising & Promotion Commission met March 4. Two policy issues discussed during the meeting stood out.
• Short-term rental taxation
• Commission governance and bylaws
Below is a summary of those discussions.

Short-Term Rentals and the A&P Tax
The commission discussed whether Sherwood should amend its ordinance to apply the existing 2% A&P lodging tax to short-term rentals such as Airbnb.
Current Ordinance
Sherwood’s ordinance currently references:
• Hotels
• Motels
Short-term rentals are not specifically included in the ordinance.
During the discussion, the mayor stated:
“It is essentially money being left on the table.”
Arkansas Law
Under Arkansas law, cities may levy:
• up to 3% A&P tax on lodging (hotels, motels, and short-term rentals)
• up to 2% A&P tax on restaurants
Sherwood currently collects:
• 2% lodging tax
• 2% restaurant tax

The proposal discussed would not increase the tax rate. It would amend the ordinance so short-term rentals fall under the existing lodging tax.

During the discussion it was also noted that Arkansas law allows cities to increase lodging taxes up to 3%, although that was not the proposal presented at this meeting.

Enforcement Questions
Commission members also discussed practical issues that cities face when addressing short-term rentals.

• identifying rental properties
• verifying rental activity
• determining how taxes would be collected

One commissioner summarized the challenge during the meeting:
“How do we actually know what homes are open and available to be rented?”
Commission Governance and Bylaws
The commission also discussed adopting formal bylaws.

The chairman noted that the city attorney indicated bylaws may not be strictly necessary because the commission operates under Arkansas state statute.

Commission members indicated they believed bylaws would still be helpful to provide structure for the commission.

Purpose of Bylaws
State statutes establish legal authority.
Bylaws establish operational procedures.
Boards commonly adopt bylaws to define:

• meeting procedures
• officer roles
• voting procedures
• quorum requirements
• conflict-of-interest policies
• recusal procedures

These guidelines help maintain consistency as membership changes over time.
Residency and Commission Representation
Arkansas law structures Advertising & Promotion Commissions differently than most municipal boards.
Under state law, commissions generally include:
• four tourism industry members
• two members of the city governing body
• one at-large city resident
Tourism industry members must own or manage hospitality businesses located within the city.
However, they are not required to live in the city.
This structure is intended to ensure representation from the businesses that generate tourism tax revenue.

Meeting Procedure
During the meeting, there was some confusion about whether a newly sworn commissioner could vote on subsequent agenda items.

Comments included:
• “John… you know, he can't vote.”
• “Sorry. Don’t count.”
• Later: “Does John vote? Yes… yes on this one.”

Situations like this are common in volunteer boards, but they illustrate why many commissions adopt written procedures to guide meeting operations.

Closing
The Advertising & Promotion Commission manages tourism tax revenue generated by Sherwood’s hospitality sector.

These funds support:
• city events
• tourism promotion
• community programming
• related economic development efforts

Issues involving tourism tax collection and commission governance will likely continue to appear in future meetings as Sherwood’s hospitality sector grows.