Agenda Highlights 10/17/23
The Fort Smith Board of Directors study session meeting scheduled for 10-17-23 will include discussion of the appeal of the Planning Commission’s approval of a zoning change for 6101 Kinkead to allow for the building of an activity center for the River of Live Pentecostal Church of God. The Planning Commission voted unanimously in favor of approving the change. An appeal to the decision has been filed by Larry McRedy on behalf of MLC, LLC. The reasons given for the appeal center around the appelant’’s concerns regarding lack of information about planned drainage, signage, and lighting and the possibility of expanded hours for church activities to be held there. The church says that all of those things will be handled in compliance with all City requirements.
The Board will discuss the appeal of the Planning Commission decision regarding zoning changes for 9916 and 10018 Highway 271 South to be developed for a truck repair shop. The Planning Commission voted 5 in opposition and 1 in favor of the request. Though the approval was denied, it would be approved by the Planning Commission if the property owner were to run an 8 inch water line and install fire hydrants as required by the Fire Code and erect an 8 ft fence. The property’s owner, Denny Altes, filed an appeal. The reasons given for the appeal include opposition to the requirements for the 8 inch water line and the fencing.
The Board will discuss the renewal of the cybersecurity insurance policy with Brown Hiller Clark. This year the policy would be $10,000 cheaper than it was last year and the waiting period would be reduced from 8 hours to 1 hour. Insurance consultant Phillip Merry will also present quotes from other competitors.
The Board will discuss the five year Capital Improvement Plans for Streets, Drainage, and Bridges. Projects for 2024 include 12.7 miles of streets improvements, a detention pond near Hardscrabble, traffic signal work, levee stabilization, work on the Maybranch Outfall culverts, retention ponds at Acme Brick Park, extension of Spradling Avenue from John Bell Jr. Park to North 23rd, a project to assist the Fort Smith Housing Authority building project at the former Bailey Hill Reservoir site, and improvements near the Bakery District at 6th and Wheeler.
The Board will discuss the 5 year Capital Improvement Plan for the Parks Department. Some planned projects for 2024 include improvements at John Bell Jr. Park including 8 basketball courts, 14 pickleball courts, sports lighting, a water amenity, a pavilion, and upgrades to 2 of the soccer fields to accommodate the needs of minor league soccer team planning to make those fields their home field. Other 2024 projects include a new playground at Carol Ann Cross Park, fencing near the splash pad and covered seating near the newly poured basketball courts at MLK Park, walking trail and basketball court and playground improvements at Tilles Park, a restroom at Woodlawn Park, a dog park on Old Greenwood, and artificial turf on 2 fields at the Kelley Ballparks. At Creekmore Park, a train themed toddler playground and swings are set to be installed. The Creekmore pool will be getting a new bath house, but the estimate for the cost of the bathhouse currently far exceeds the previous estimate. The cost is currently estimated to be $6.6 million. To make room in the budget to prioritize the new bath house, the Chaffee Dog Park that has already been put on hold due to flooding (and will likely need to be relocated to a different site) and Segment 2 of the Chaffee Trail are both being pushed back to 2026. The youth basketball court at Creekmore that was previously discussed during the recent update on the Parks 2023 Capital Improvement Plan is no longer being planned. In the part of the park where it was slated to go, there is now a plan for a patio and picnic area including 2 cornhole boards.
The Board will discuss the Fire Department’s 5 year Capital Improvement Plan. The main expenditures for 2024 include a replacement pumper truck and the new maintenance facility.
The Board will discuss the Streets and Traffic Department 5 year Capital Improvement Plan. The main expenses for 2024 are replacement equipment including trucks and a street sweeper.
The Board will discuss the plans for Sidewalks. The plans for 2024 include construction of 2.54 miles of new sidewalks and repair of 1.15 miles of sidewalks.
The Board will discuss the 2023 Transit Asset Management plan. Over the next 5 years, the Transit Department plans to spend a total of $5.7 million on assets with $4.6 million of that being reimbursed by the federal government.
