Highlights of the Fort Smith Board of Directors meeting 1/21/25

At the Fort Smith Board of Directors meeting held 1-21-25 during a power outage with Director Martin absent, the Board voted unanimously to order the demolition of dilapidated houses at 3301 Neis, 407 North 17th, and 920 North 10th.

Director Good mentioned his concern for the occupants with the properties on Neis and North 17th being occupied by squatters saying that though the structures are unsafe for habitation “We don’t want anyone to be put out.” He said that he has spoken with Next Step and that they assured that they would be in contact with other agencies that serve the homeless to try to make contact with the individuals residing on the properties to help them find a warm place to stay.

The Board voted unanimously to approve the building inspection report conducted as part of the due diligence process for the purchase of the City Office Building at 623 Garrison. The report from the inspection conducted by Beshears Construction said that the building is in “typical condition for a building of its age” and City Administration said that there was “nothing unexpected or alarming discovered.”

The Board also voted unanimously in favor of an appropriation of $4 million from the general fund to purchase the building. This issue was discussed at the 1-7-25 meeting.

Director Kemp asked about whether future renovations to the building would require the installation of a fire suppression system. The building currently doesn’t have one, but due to its age is grandfathered in and does not to be up to current fire code standards that would require one. Interim City Administrator Dingman clarified that if future renovations were to amount to a certain percentage of the overall value of the building then they would trigger the requirement to comply with the code including adding a fire suppression system.

The Board voted unanimously without discussion to add an additional $138,507.25 to the existing contract with Forsgren for road work on South 28th to cover waterline relocation that is needed in association with the road work.

The Board voted unanimously to contract with Halff Engineering for a total not to exceed $466,330 for the design and engineering for 2 stormwater detention ponds at the former Acme Brick property on Old Greenwood. The ponds will cost a total of $5.2 million dollars to build. They will allow the Maybranch storm pipe system to accommodate a 25 year storm. The system is currently overwhelmed by a 10 year storm.

Charles Hartsfield spoke and asked about the planned ponds being dry ponds that fill with water during storms rather than ponds that are lakes that are always wet. Director Settle clarified that the plan would be for dry ponds that would fill up during heavy rains to mitigate flooding and then would go dry. They would not be wet continuously. Hartsfield mentioned that the presentation by RDG at the 1/14/25 meeting showed comparative examples that included wet ponds and “looked like a country club” and said that the dry ponds “won’t be real attractive” to build homes nearby. Director Good agreed that he got the impression from the presentation that the ponds would be pretty and would stay wet. Director Christina Catsavis voiced that she understood the same as Director Settle regarding them being dry. Director Kemp called the RDG presentation “confusing” especially with the comparison between the planned Acme ponds and the pond at Carol Ann Cross Park. Director Kemp asked if the plan being voted on could be amended later to make the ponds wet. He said that the dry ponds would be a “20 acre hole in the ground, not a pond.” and said that he is “passionate that they should be wet not dry.” Director Rego said “I would echo that to an extent.” Engineering Director Snodgrass said that the dry ponds are purely to reduce flooding. He agreed that the RDG presentation showed wet ponds as a part of the discussion to “mesh together” the stormwater management and parks features on the property. He said that with the contract being voted on, they could move forward with the dry ponds and then later if desired could excavate them deeper and reshape them to make them wet ponds. Director Settle expressed his view that the purchase of the Acme property is about helping flood mitigation “not worrying about building houses or a park.” Director Rego expressed his desire to be sure “as we spend, we’re not overly restricting ourselves in the options available.”

The Board voted unanimously without discussion to renew the annual agreements to make payments of up to $60,000 to Area Agency on Aging, up to $9,500 to Project Compassion, and up $175,000 to Sebastian Retired Citizens Association for services provided to citizens of Fort Smith including the programs offered at the local Senior Activity Centers. The funding for those payments will come from the City’s portion of the county wide sales tax that is designated for services for Fort Smith senior citizens.

The Board voted unanimously without discussion to renew the long-standing annual agreement with the Fort Smith Museum of History to pay up to $20,000 out of the general fund to cover their utilities.

The Board voted unanimously without discussion to accept the bid from Frost Oil Company for bulk fuel sales.