Agenda Highlights 2/8/22
The Fort Smith Board of Directors study session meeting scheduled for 2-8-22 will begin with discussion of the city’s auto and property insurance coverage through Arkansas Municipal League. The current policy is up for renewal 3-1-22 at a price of $1,414,000 (an increase of $368,180 over last year’s price). A representative from First Western who has been contracted by the city to consult on insurance will present their thoughts on the matter.
The Board will discuss the redrawing of the lines following the most recent census in an effort to balance the average number of voters in each ward to around an average of 22,286 per ward. Ward One is the ward with the most census blocks being moved to different wards.
The Board will discuss proposed changes to the water leak bill adjustment policy. Top proposed changes include allowing adjustments for leaks that result in water going down the drain (including leaks in faucets and toilets that are not currently eligible for adjustment), water volume used over the monthly average as a result of a leak being billed at the lowest tier rate (instead of the full regular rate) and sewer usage over the monthly average as a result of the leak being billed at only 50% of the regular rate, allowing for only one leak adjustment per year (instead of the current allowance of 2 per 6 month period), setting a threshold for water usage to qualify for a leak adjustment at twice the average monthly volume (currently there is no minimum usage increase threshold), requiring a formal leak adjustment request form to be submitted, and allowing for one Unexplained High Usage adjustment per 2 year period that allows for an adjustment on a bill more than double the monthly average but that does not require proof of repair (like a plumber or plumbing supply purchase receipt) like the leak adjustment does.
The Board will discuss the agreement between the City of Fort Smith and Service Line Warranty Program (formerly named Service Line Warranties of America)that allows Service Line Warranty Program , a private for-profit company, to use the official City of Fort Smith logo in their promotion materials for advertising their insurance program for private property water and sewer line and plumbing repairs. The City incurs no costs nor receives any money in return for allowing Service Line Warranty Program to use the logo.
