Agenda Highlights 11/14/23
At the Fort Smith Board of Directors meeting scheduled for 11-14-23, the Board will vote on whether to approve the Parks Department 5 year Capital Improvement Plan (CIP). The CIP was discussed at the October 17, 2023 study session. However, based on the discussion at the study session and at the most recent Parks Commission meeting, there were some changes made to the CIP presented at that meeting. The Chaffee Dog Park project that had already been pushed back mainly because the flooding problem at the planned site was going to make that location unusable has now been removed from the 5 year CIP entirely. The money allocated for 2024 for the Chaffee Dog Park will be used instead to install shade structures at the Riverfront Drive Skate and Bike Park. The Old Greenwood Road Dog Park that was slated for 2024 will be seeking a new location due to negative feedback from neighbors and from high costs for fencing and security measures needed due to water utility infrastructure already located on the site. A public/private partnership will be established to build an expansion of the Creekmore tennis courts that will add 4 new covered courts and include relocation and replacement of the light poles. A significant amount of money that was originally allocated for John Bell Junior Park to pay for 2024-2026 projects, especially those related to the soccer fields, will be used instead for an expansion at Parrot Island Waterpark, restroom improvements at Tilles Park, the City’s share of the Creekmore Tennis Court expansion, and adding a basketball court at Creekmore. Additional funding will be allocated for Maybranch Trail.
The Board will vote on whether or not to issue non-residential solid waste collection permits to Riverside Roll Off and Norris Services and Construction.
The Board will vote on whether to purchase 52 Bigbelly trash and recycling bins for Downtown at a total cost of $211,723.50. There is a significant issue with the current trash bins with scavenging and destruction of the bins by the homeless in that neighborhood. The Bigbelly bins are tamper proof. They also feature a compactor and will electronically notify the Solid Waste Department when they need emptied. The recycling bins would offer downtown street recycling that has not previously been available. The new bins would offer a savings of 80% over the current method of downtown waste collection because of the compaction and the notifications reducing the need for pick-up to only one day per week.
