JenaNot a ballot

Jena · On the record

How the council voted

Every recorded council vote in this guide where two or more of the people we profile voted, side by side. Each line was checked against the meeting minutes it links to. Only candidates and members with a page in this guide are listed; open the minutes for the full roll call.

Jena voter guide

Blighted property

Aug 4, 2025

Awarding the demolition of 2730 and 2724 E Oak St to the low bidder

Result as recorded: passed unanimously, August 2025

  • YesDonny RichardsonVoted yes on awarding the demolition of 2730 and 2724 E Oak St to the low bidder (passed unanimously, August 2025).
  • YesLester FrancisVoted yes on awarding the demolition of 2730 and 2724 E Oak St to the low bidder (passed unanimously, August 2025).
  • YesTommy SandiferVoted yes on awarding the demolition of 2730 and 2724 E Oak St to the low bidder (passed unanimously, August 2025).
  • YesWayne ChapmanVoted yes on awarding the demolition of 2730 and 2724 E Oak St to the low bidder (passed unanimously, August 2025).

Jena Town Council minutes, Aug. 4, 2025 · Aug 4, 2025Link

May 4, 2026

Ordinance 214, adopting the International Property Maintenance Code

Result as recorded: passed unanimously, May 2026

  • YesDonny RichardsonVoted yes on Ordinance 214, adopting the International Property Maintenance Code (passed unanimously, May 2026).
  • YesLester FrancisVoted yes on Ordinance 214, adopting the International Property Maintenance Code (passed unanimously, May 2026).
  • YesTommy SandiferVoted yes on Ordinance 214, adopting the International Property Maintenance Code (passed unanimously, May 2026).
  • YesWayne ChapmanVoted yes on Ordinance 214, adopting the International Property Maintenance Code (passed unanimously, May 2026).

Jena Town Council minutes, May 4, 2026 · May 4, 2026Link

Budget and taxes

Dec 1, 2025

Adopting the 2026 budgets for the General, Utility and Sales Tax funds

Result as recorded: passed unanimously, December 2025

  • YesDonny RichardsonVoted yes on adopting the 2026 budgets for the General, Utility and Sales Tax funds (passed unanimously, December 2025).
  • YesLester FrancisVoted yes on adopting the 2026 budgets for the General, Utility and Sales Tax funds (passed unanimously, December 2025).
  • YesTommy SandiferVoted yes on adopting the 2026 budgets for the General, Utility and Sales Tax funds (passed unanimously, December 2025).
  • YesWayne ChapmanVoted yes on adopting the 2026 budgets for the General, Utility and Sales Tax funds (passed unanimously, December 2025).

Jena Town Council minutes, Dec. 1, 2025 · Dec 1, 2025Link

Jun 1, 2026

Adopting the millage rate for tax year 2026

Result as recorded: passed unanimously, June 2026

  • YesDonny RichardsonVoted yes on adopting the millage rate for tax year 2026 (passed unanimously, June 2026).
  • YesLester FrancisVoted yes on adopting the millage rate for tax year 2026 (passed unanimously, June 2026).
  • YesTommy SandiferVoted yes on adopting the millage rate for tax year 2026 (passed unanimously, June 2026).
  • YesWayne ChapmanVoted yes on adopting the millage rate for tax year 2026 (passed unanimously, June 2026).

Jena Town Council minutes, June 1, 2026 · Jun 1, 2026Link

Police and fire

Jan 12, 2026

Adding $22,000 to the police salary budget for officer salary increases

Result as recorded: passed unanimously, January 2026

  • YesDonny RichardsonVoted yes on adding $22,000 to the police salary budget for officer salary increases (passed unanimously, January 2026).
  • YesLester FrancisVoted yes on adding $22,000 to the police salary budget for officer salary increases (passed unanimously, January 2026).
  • YesTommy SandiferVoted yes on adding $22,000 to the police salary budget for officer salary increases (passed unanimously, January 2026).
  • YesWayne ChapmanVoted yes on adding $22,000 to the police salary budget for officer salary increases (passed unanimously, January 2026).

Jena Town Council minutes, Jan. 12, 2026 · Jan 12, 2026Link

Jun 1, 2026

Authorizing a five-year agreement with Axon Enterprises, Inc. for Tasers and body cameras

Result as recorded: passed unanimously, June 2026

  • YesDonny RichardsonVoted yes on authorizing a five-year agreement with Axon Enterprises, Inc. for Tasers and body cameras (passed unanimously, June 2026).
  • YesLester FrancisVoted yes on authorizing a five-year agreement with Axon Enterprises, Inc. for Tasers and body cameras (passed unanimously, June 2026).
  • YesTommy SandiferVoted yes on authorizing a five-year agreement with Axon Enterprises, Inc. for Tasers and body cameras (passed unanimously, June 2026).
  • YesWayne ChapmanVoted yes on authorizing a five-year agreement with Axon Enterprises, Inc. for Tasers and body cameras (passed unanimously, June 2026).

Jena Town Council minutes, June 1, 2026 · Jun 1, 2026Link

Aug 3, 2026

Amending Ordinance 131, the personnel policies, to allow limited police overtime pay

Result as recorded: passed unanimously, August 2026

  • YesDonny RichardsonVoted yes on amending Ordinance 131, the personnel policies, to allow limited police overtime pay (passed unanimously, August 2026).
  • YesLester FrancisVoted yes on amending Ordinance 131, the personnel policies, to allow limited police overtime pay (passed unanimously, August 2026).
  • YesTommy SandiferVoted yes on amending Ordinance 131, the personnel policies, to allow limited police overtime pay (passed unanimously, August 2026).
  • YesWayne ChapmanVoted yes on amending Ordinance 131, the personnel policies, to allow limited police overtime pay (passed unanimously, August 2026).

Jena Town Council minutes, Aug. 3, 2026 · Aug 3, 2026Link

Sewer system

Jul 6, 2026

Awarding the Grit Chamber System Improvements contract to Womack & Sons Construction Group, LLC for $729,842

Result as recorded: passed unanimously, July 2026

  • YesDonny RichardsonVoted yes on awarding the Grit Chamber System Improvements contract to Womack & Sons Construction Group, LLC for $729,842 (passed unanimously, July 2026).
  • YesLester FrancisVoted yes on awarding the Grit Chamber System Improvements contract to Womack & Sons Construction Group, LLC for $729,842 (passed unanimously, July 2026).
  • YesTommy SandiferVoted yes on awarding the Grit Chamber System Improvements contract to Womack & Sons Construction Group, LLC for $729,842 (passed unanimously, July 2026).
  • YesWayne ChapmanVoted yes on awarding the Grit Chamber System Improvements contract to Womack & Sons Construction Group, LLC for $729,842 (passed unanimously, July 2026).

Jena Town Council minutes, July 6, 2026 · Jul 6, 2026Link

Utilities

Nov 3, 2025

Authorizing drive-by-read water and gas meters funded by a $5.00 monthly technology fee on each customer bill

Result as recorded: passed unanimously, November 2025

  • YesDonny RichardsonVoted yes on authorizing drive-by-read water and gas meters funded by a $5.00 monthly technology fee on each customer bill (passed unanimously, November 2025).
  • YesLester FrancisVoted yes on authorizing drive-by-read water and gas meters funded by a $5.00 monthly technology fee on each customer bill (passed unanimously, November 2025).
  • YesTommy SandiferVoted yes on authorizing drive-by-read water and gas meters funded by a $5.00 monthly technology fee on each customer bill (passed unanimously, November 2025).
  • YesWayne ChapmanVoted yes on authorizing drive-by-read water and gas meters funded by a $5.00 monthly technology fee on each customer bill (passed unanimously, November 2025).

Jena Town Council minutes, Nov. 3, 2025 · Nov 3, 2025Link

Dec 1, 2025

A resolution for a lease-purchase agreement to finance a water and gas metering system

Result as recorded: passed unanimously, December 2025

  • YesDonny RichardsonVoted yes on a resolution for a lease-purchase agreement to finance a water and gas metering system (passed unanimously, December 2025).
  • YesLester FrancisVoted yes on a resolution for a lease-purchase agreement to finance a water and gas metering system (passed unanimously, December 2025).
  • YesTommy SandiferVoted yes on a resolution for a lease-purchase agreement to finance a water and gas metering system (passed unanimously, December 2025).
  • YesWayne ChapmanVoted yes on a resolution for a lease-purchase agreement to finance a water and gas metering system (passed unanimously, December 2025).

Jena Town Council minutes, Dec. 1, 2025 · Dec 1, 2025Link

Sep 14, 2026

Introducing amended Ordinance 157 on utility rates

Result as recorded: passed unanimously, September 2026

  • YesDonny RichardsonVoted yes on introducing amended Ordinance 157 on utility rates (passed unanimously, September 2026).
  • YesLester FrancisVoted yes on introducing amended Ordinance 157 on utility rates (passed unanimously, September 2026).
  • YesTommy SandiferVoted yes on introducing amended Ordinance 157 on utility rates (passed unanimously, September 2026).
  • YesWayne ChapmanVoted yes on introducing amended Ordinance 157 on utility rates (passed unanimously, September 2026).

Jena Town Council minutes, Sept. 14, 2026 · Sep 14, 2026Link

A “—” means the line records something other than a plain yes or no (a motion, an abstention, or two votes in one line); read the line itself. How this guide works