Agenda Highlights 7/23/24

At the Fort Smith Board of Directors meeting scheduled for 7-23-24, the Board will vote on whether to accept the report from the third party review of the audit of Fort Smith Animal Haven that was conducted by Baker Tilly. This issue was discussed at last week’s study session meeting.

The Board will vote on whether to approve budgeting for the remaining list of 2024 new needs budget requests. This final list (winnowed based on discussion at last week’s meeting) would cost a total of $1,374,894. New personnel hiring requests include hiring a Planning Department Deputy Director, 3 Streets Department equipment operators, a Solid Waste Deputy Director, a landfill scalehouse attendant, a Solid Waste commercial collections worker, and 4 landfill equipment operators. Total personnel requests would cost $919,494. The capital requests include replacement vehicles for IT, Engineering, Neighborhood Services, Streets, and the landfill and also purchasing water meters. Total capital requests would cost $455,400.

The Board will vote on whether to appropriate $250,000 in funding for additional incentives for the Make My Move remote worker recruitment program. At the March 26, 2024 meeting, the City contracted with Make My Move at a cost of $224,175 to participate in their recruitment program. The incentives currently offered through the program to encourage remote workers to move to Fort Smith are 4 season passes to Parrot Island, one year memberships to the Fort Smith Museum of History and the US Marshals Museum and Deer Trails Golf Course, 50% off co-working space at The Mill, and season tickets to UAFS Athletics. The proposed additional incentives would be to offer up to 25 participants in the program cash incentives of $10,000 each for workers who will be buying a home in Fort Smith or $5000 each for workers who will be renting a home in Fort Smith.

The Board will vote on whether to contract with Dale Crampton Company for $7,902,106.75 for roof repairs to City buildings for damage caused by hail. The cost of these repairs will be paid from insurance settlement money.

The Board will vote on whether to declare Fort Smith a Partner City with Ridgeway, Colorado. The partner cities would share in joint efforts to promote our shared heritage in relation to “True Grit”. Fort Smith is the setting for Charles Portis’s “True Grit” novel and Ridgeway is where the 1969 “True Grit” movie starring John Wayne was filmed.

The Board will vote on whether to contract with GSM Engineered Fabrics for $256,741 for repairs to the filter at the Massard water treatment facility.

The Board will vote on issuing SRK Waste LLC and MSG Waste & Refuse 2 year permits for non-residential solid waste collections at a 5% franchise fee