and pedestrian paths,” he explains. Although the town did not secure the grant this year, the project was deemed a “project of merit,” offering valuable feedback for future applications.The mayor remains optimistic, eyeing a $25 million RAISE grant that could transform Mena. ALCOHOL POLICY CHANGES Mena’s journey from a dry county to one that allows alcohol sales has significantly impacted its residents and appeal to visitors. In 2019, when Mayor Smith first took office, alcohol availability was tightly controlled.“We were considered a dry county, which means you couldn’t serve alcohol,” he explains.At the time, there were only five private club licenses in the city, with a few more scattered across Polk County. Recent legislative changes have opened new doors, particularly for businesses like microbreweries. The mayor recalls working with a local business owner to navigate the state regulations and help establish what may have been the first—or certainly one of the first—microbreweries in a dry county in Arkansas.“We started working with a local business owner on that, and he was the driving force behind it,” Smith says. The microbrewery, known as The Ouachitas, helped shift local attitudes toward alcohol sales and set the stage for future changes. Mena has also introduced temporary entertainment districts allowing alcohol consumption at specific events, with safety measures in place. The city passed a countywide vote on alcohol sales with 60% approval, allowing stores to opt-in. “Now we have alcohol being sold in whatever stores choose to take advantage of that,” the mayor explains, aiming to boost tourism and local appeal. Increased tax revenue from alcohol sales funds community projects, while other developments, like a new asphalt plant, are accelerating infrastructure improvements. “You just start seeing things pop up, and it helps the tax revenue,” he notes. INVESTING IN INFRASTRUCTURE Mena’s infrastructure isn’t just about roads and utilities—it’s the backbone that supports public safety, parks, and long-term economic growth. Mayor Smith offers a broad perspective, reminding people that infrastructure includes essential services like police and fire departments. “From a city standpoint, I want to keep a small footprint on what we offer and what we do, but that’s also part of infrastructure,” he says. For example, the police force recently expanded, but not due to an uptick in crime. “We just hired another officer,” the mayor explains, emphasizing that the addition is about maintaining flexibility in scheduling. Now, with three officers on every shift, the city 4 CIVIL AND MUNICIPAL VOLUME 05, ISSUE 10
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