Russellville City Council appoints two to Electric Board

The Russellville City Council approved two six-year appointments to the Russellville Electric Board at the council’s August 3, 2026 meeting.

District 5 City Councilman Jamie Harris nominated Chad Wells for reappointment to the Electric Board. Councilman David Palmer seconded the motion, and it was approved 5-1, with District Two Councilman Darren Woodruff casting the one no vote.

Woodruff nominated B.J. Bonner to the Electric Board to replace District Two resident Nick Willis, whose six-year term expired earlier this year. Councilman Lonnie Freeman seconded the motion, which carried unanimously.

The appointments to the Russellville Electric Board came after the council went into a 40–minute Executive Session. Once the council meeting reconvened, City Attorney Danny McDowell reported that the council discussed certain matters involving the good name and character of some individuals as well as some attorney-client confidential matters. No votes or action was taken during the Executive Session, McDowell said in his statement.

The Russellville Electric Board is one of a select few municipal boards that compensate its members. Other paid boards include the Russellville Gas Board, Russellville Water and Sewer Board, the Russellville Civil Service Board and the Russellville City Schools Board of Education.

Other agenda items at the August 3rd meeting saw the council:

—approve contracts with the Russellville City Schools Board of Education and School Resource Officers Scott King and Rick Itter.

—declare a vacancy for Heavy Equipment Driver/Operator in the Russellville Street Department Solid Waste Division and authorized advertising for the position.

—authorized abatement of a nuisance at 12625 Highway 43, with violations including overgrown vegetation, weeds and grass in the front, side and back yards of the property, which includes an abandoned house.

—hear from Chelsea Lawson with the Cramer Children’s Center and Andrea’s Arbor in Russellville asking the council to continue its annual $12,500 investment in the center for FY26-27.

The next regular meeting of the Russellville City Council will be August 17, 2026, with work session at 6 p.m., and meeting to follow.