Agenda Highlights 2/20/24
The Fort Smith Board of Directors meeting scheduled for 2-20-24 will begin with a vote on updates to the guidelines for City social media. The main notable changes include adding wording and standards for Linkedin and Instagram and doing away with the requirement for a consent waiver to post photos of the public unless the individual’s name is included in the text of the post.
The Board will vote on having the Mayor and one member of the Board of Directors observe (but not otherwise actively participate in) any meetings between the City and the ADEQ regarding the Consent Administrative Order for the Massard water treatment plant.
The Board will vote on an emergency contract with Vortex Services for $990,102.56 to replace 350 feet or sewer pipe between North I Street and North J Street. The pipe collapsed and has caused a sink hole and sewer overflow.
The Board will vote on a five year lease for the City offices building and parking at 623 Garrison. The monthly rent would be $32,500 through August 2024, then $47,766.81 through February 28,2029.
The Board will vote on applying for an Arkansas Historic Preservation Program grant of up to $150,000 for exterior repairs to the Miss Laura’s Visitors Center building.
The Board will vote on issuing a license for 10 parking spots for Rival Commercial Real Estate in the right-of-way on Ward Avenue between 7301 Buckhorn and 7300 Ellis.
The Board will vote on purchasing 10 properties in the Maybranch floodplain (two on North 31st, one on North 32nd, one on North J, and six on Stanard) through the Flooded Residence Buyout program in which houses are purchased if it is cheaper for the City to buy the houses than to perform the public drainage improvements necessary to remedy the flooding problem. The total costs for the purchases is $1,961,700 but the extreme majority of the cost would be covered by a FEMA grant, leaving the City’s portion of the cost at only $196,170.
The Board will vote on a contract with Hawkins-Weir for $239,600 for the next phase of the Mill Creek bank stabilization project.
The Board will vote on the purchase of a replacement 2 ton International dump truck from Carco International for $119,058.21, a replacement 4x4 John Deere tractor from P&K Equipment for $89,737.76, a replacement Elgin street sweeper from Environmental Products Group for $303,338.30, and a new John Deere compact wheel loader with cold planer from Stribling Equipment for $168,080.48.
The Board will vote on purchasing a replacement splash pad for Martin Luther King Park. The splash pad at Martin Luther King Park is the most heavily used splash pad in the parks system. The new splash pad is designed to fit in the same footprint as the existing one so it will be able to utilize existing sun shade canopies and it will include adding a perimeter fence around the splash pad. The total cost for the project would be $698,221.45.
The Board will vote on contracting with Royal Ridge Construction for $145,701 for building a second basketball court at Tilles Park. The second court is being proposed in response to the heavy usage of the existing single court. To accommodate the second court cost effectively and preserve green space, the new court would be replacing the two sparsely used northern tennis courts. Spectator bleachers would also be added near the basketball courts.
The Board will vote on purchasing for the Solid Waste Department a replacement John Deere motor grader from Stribling Equipment for $92,371.02, a replacement John Deer tractor with rotary cutter from P&K Equipment for $103,124.72, a replacement Cat dozer from Riggs Cat for $847,000, and a new Caterpillar skid steer with brush hog from Riggs Cat for $92,371.02.
