Agenda Highlights 12/5/22 and 12/6/22
The Fort Smith Board of Directors meeting will hold a study session meeting 12/5/22 to discuss the new needs requests portion of the 2023 Fort Smith Operating Budget. This meeting was originally scheduled for 11/29/22, but was cancelled and rescheduled. New hiring needs requests to be discussed include hiring of a planner ($69,387), a business license specialist ($65,857) a permit officer ($58,626), a plans examiner ($66,887), two property maintenance inspectors ($112,546), two traffic control equipment operators ($102, 379), and two water treatment plant operators ($35,912). New capital spending requests include an elevator upgrade for the public parking deck ($80,000), 5 vehicle replacements for Development Services ($116,000), 4-6 Police vehicle replacements ($150,000), 4 replacement pickup trucks for the Fire Department ($184,000), reconstruction of the dormitory at Fire Station 3 ($550,000), and replacement of damaged panels at Fire Station 1 ($150,000), replacement of an asphalt hot box trailer for the Streets Department ($65,000), a new thermoplastic striping truck ($710,000), a new ride-on pavement marking remover ($25,000), new Water Department software ($94, 280), new and replacement water meters and meter end points ($325,000), new route optimization software for Solid Waste ($196,800), pickup truck replacement for Solid Waste ($23,386), grass growth inhibitor spray for Oak Cemetery ($20,000) and repair of a retaining wall at Oak Cemetery ($50,000). There is a new expense to be incurred for covering the cost of credit card processing fees for utility bills ($550,000). There is also a request for a 5% merit raise for city employees.
The study session scheduled for 12/6/22 will begin with a discussion about issues with AT&T installation of fiberoptic internet in a the city rights of way. The issue was brought up at recent meeting in response to complaints from citizens who experienced property damage from the installation that has not been taken care of satisfactorily by the installation contractor. Ricky Cross Jr. with AT&T will be present to participate in the discussion.
The Board will discuss renewal of the contract for $130,000 for 2023 with First Western for insurance and risk management advisory services including insurance claim reporting responsibilities. The city began entering a contract to receive this service in 2022 with that initial contract being with First Western and the duties being performed by Phillip Merry.
The Board will discuss how to utilize the funds left over from the sales tax that was enacted to pay for the 2012 and 2014 water bonds. The tax produced enough revenue to pay the bonds off early in July-September of 2022, but by State law the tax has to continue being collected until December 31, 2022. The sales tax was renewed recently with 16.67% to go to the Police Department and 83.33% to go to consent decree required sewer repairs. That renewal does not go into effect until January 1, 2023. So there is an excess that is estimated to total $14 million from the collection of the old tax from October through December.
