Agenda Highlights 3/4/25
At the Fort Smith Board of Directors meeting scheduled for 3-4-25, the Board will vote on annexation and zoning changes for 16.42 acres at 11100 Old Highway 71 to allow it to be developed into the Knox Landing mixed use development including single family residences, duplexes, rowhouses, townhouses, zero lot line dwellings, and commercial uses.
The Board will vote on zoning changes for 801 South Zero to allow an existing building to be used for an electrical equipment, appliance, and components manufacturing business.
The Board will vote on City employee pay rates including a 3.5% pay increase for all non-uniformed employees and a 5% pay increase for uniformed police and fire employees.
The Board will vote on whether to reappropriate a total of $3,466,052 in carryovers and encumbrances from the 2024 budget to the 2025 budget. These carryovers and carryforwards result from projects and purchases that were budgeted for on the 2024 budget but were not finished or delivered in 2024.
The Board will vote on whether to add an additional $211,000 to the engineering contract with Halff for the Massard Road widening project to cover the additional cost for the engineering associated with a pedestrian bridge that will be an overpass over Massard connecting to the existing multi-use trail.
The Board will vote on whether to purchase replacement equipment for the Streets Department, a 2 ton dump truck with snowplow from Carco for $249,249.42, a road grader from Riggs Cat for $203,377.26, a skid steer from Riggs Cat for $92,644.18, a 4x4 tractor with a rear swing flail mower from P&K equipment for $78,769.58, and a concrete truck from Carco for $197,584.46.
The Board will vote on contracting with Beshears Construction for $653,369.66 for parking lot improvements at Creekmore Park that include repaving, restriping, and 18 new spaces as well as better accomodation for vans and buses at the pool.
The Board will vote on contracting with Steve Beam Construction for $74,849.50 for repair of the stone retaining wall at Oak Cemetery including the removal (and re-setting) of 15 headstones.
The Board will vote on whether to serve as the required government sponsor for the application to be made by Methodist Village Senior Living for an Arkansas Transportation Alternatives Program grant to build a paved path from the Methodist Village facility to Carol Ann Cross park. The 20% local funding required for the grant would be paid by Methodist Village (not at a cost to the City). Methodist Village applied for this grant last year, but was not awarded it, so they are reapplying.
The Board will vote on contracting with CSM Waterworks for installation of 5 new water slides at Parrot Island Water Park. The slides were already purchased. The installation will be in two phases, the first 4 slides at a cost of $419,500, and then the fifth slide at a cost of $90,000. The total cost for installation of all of the slides will be $509,500. The first four slides are anticipated to be open for use during the 2025 Parrot Island operating season. The final slide will not be installed until after the 2025 season ends.
The Board will vote on renewing CARDS’s non-residential solid waste collection contract. The contract would be for 2 years and include a 5% franchise fee.
The Board will vote on whether to purchase a new mid-mount ladder fire truck to replace ladder truck #4 that serves the southwestern part of the city. The truck would cost $2,320,647 from Siddons-Martin Emergency Group.
