Agenda Highlights 12/17/24
At the Fort Smith Board of Directors meeting scheduled for 12-17-24, the Board will vote on whether to adopt an ordinance similar to the ordinance from Grants Pass, Oregon that recently was upheld by the US Supreme Court that would prohibit camping and sleeping on City owned property, sidewalks, streets, and alleyways. The individuals found sleeping or camping could be immediately removed and camp sites could be removed with 72 hour notice.
The Board will vote on whether to rename a portion of North 32nd Street from Grand to North O to “C.F. Tidwell Avenue” in honor of Charolette Tidwell. Tidwell was the founder of Antioch for Youth and Family. That portion of the street includes where the Antioch for Youth and Family building is located.
The Board will vote on whether to purchase the 623 Garrison building that the City currently rents a portion of to serve as City offices. The building would cost $4 million and would be financed by obligating franchise fees the City collects to obtain bonds to be paid off over 20 years. The debt service on the bonds would cost $303,672 annually. The rent for the portion of the building that is currently being rented by the City is $412,000 per year.
The Board will vote on whether to contract with Baker Tilly to outsource supervision of internal audit functions and existing audit staff. Outsourcing is being considered because the City has been trying to hire a qualified Internal Audit Department Director but has not yet been successful. Contracting with Baker Tilly for one year would cost $10,000 per month.
The Board will vote on whether to accept $14.5 million in federal Climate Pollution Reduction funds that have been awarded to Fort Smith to be used for projects including alleyway rehabilitation, e-bike vouchers, solar power for Nelson Hall Homes, electric vehicle charging infrastructure, and workforce development programs.
The Board will vote on contracting with the Advertising and Promotions Commission to manage the City owned Miss Laura’s Brothel Museum. The building had previously also served as home to the A&P Commission and Convention and Visitors Bureau offices, but those offices recently relocated to 524 Garrison leaving the building to be repurposed fully into a museum. The contract would be for 5 years with the option for up to 3 additional 5 year renewals. The operating budget for the museum would be $170,879 annually. $351,700 would be needed for building repairs.
The Board will vote on whether to renew the 10 year lease for $2000 per year with Pajaro Gun Club for the 97 acres that was formerly a landfill site that the gun club currently operates on.
The Board will vote on whether to renew the contract with First Western for another year for insurance and risk management consultation services at the same rate as the current cost of $130,000.
The Board will vote on whether to contract with Ideal Pumps and Services for $115,802.02 for repairs to Lee Creek raw water pump #4.
The Board will vote on whether to contract with Entegrity Energy Partners to upgrade the lighting system at Kelley Ballfields with 156 500 watt LED lights with remote controls. The project will receive a rebate from OG&E for $11,272 to bring the total cost of the project down to $345,050. The lights will save $4915 annually in energy savings.
The Board will vote on whether to accept $74,472.55 in grant funds from the Arkansas Department of Public Safety to be used to purchase 2 drones and 12 ballistic shields.
The Board will vote on whether to appropriate $2.1 million from the general fund for the second half of the $4.2 million purchase of a set of 5 waterslides for Parrot Island Water Park. The purchase of the slides was approved at the 9-3-24 meeting.
