Mountain Home City Council Appoints Former Member to Fill Vacancy

The Mountain Home City Council has appointed a familiar face to fill a vacancy created by last month's resignation of council member Philip Frame. During a meeting Thursday evening, the council selected Marshella Norrel following a brief six-minute executive session. Norrel will assume the Ward 3, Position 1 seat and serve the remainder of Frame’s term, which expires at the end of the year.

Norrel, a former council member, initially joined the Mountain Home City Council in 2004 and served for 12 years. She also worked as the city’s part-time treasurer. Mary O’Shields, the other applicant for the vacant position, is currently running against incumbent council member Carry Manuel for the Ward 3, Position 2 seat in November’s election. Frame resigned from his role on the council after accepting a job in northwest Arkansas.

In other business, the council approved two rezoning requests. The first pertains to a property located on U.S. Highway 62 East, near Steve’s Satellite, which was rezoned from Commercial C-2 to Commercial C-2A to allow for the construction of a new Express Oil Change. The second rezoning involved properties at 217 and 221 East 13th Street, which were changed from Industrial I-1 zoning to Commercial C-3. Plans are underway to establish a day service center for children at the site.

Additionally, the council adopted the 2014 International Energy Conservation Code, including Arkansas-specific supplements and amendments. Beginning Nov. 15, all new construction, renovations, and improvements within the city will be required to meet the updated standards.

The council also reviewed the first reading of an ordinance to adopt the 2026 National Fire Protection Association 70 standards, commonly referred to as the “National Electric Code.” This ordinance will be up for further consideration at the council’s next meeting.

Finally, the council approved a request from the Mountain Home Police Department to dispose of 18 sets of expired body armor and a 2018 Ford Explorer with mechanical issues deemed too costly to repair.