Agenda Highlights 4/12/22 AND 4/14/22

The Fort Smith Board of Directors study session meeting scheduled for 4-12-22 will kick off with discussion of the new Standard Operating Procedure for water billing adjustments including the recently approved new policy for adjustments for water leaks and adjustments for unexplained high usage and changing to new meters, plus a form to fill out for adjustments for filling swimming pools.

Next will be a discussion about possible changes to the Project Concern utility assistance program to make it more generous. The program is available to customers who are at or below 165% of the federal poverty guideline. The Board will discuss proposed changes to the program that would keep the existing discounts of 50% off the water base rate and sewer volume rates plus add a 50% discount for water volume and a 50% discount off the sewer base rate and increase the discount for solid waste from the current 19% to 25%.

Based on the statistics from February of 2021, based on 631 participants in the program at that time and their averages, the average additional savings per customer if the proposed changes were made would be a total of $8.95 per month (an average bill of $27.45 per month under the new system versus $36.40 per month with the current system).

The Board will also discuss the history of and progress being made on dealing with the unsightly and unsafe vacant property at 3600 Kinkead that was once an apartment complex. They will also have a broader discussion of the Nuisance Violations section of the Neighborhood Code and its enforcement procedures and potential for improved and speedier response to blighted properties.

The sole item up for discussion on the Fort Smith Board of Directors Special Study Session meeting to be held on 4-14-22 is the zoning change for 815 South 6th Street to allow for Next Step Homeless Services to build a homeless facility focused around a set of up to 30 tiny-house style housing units.