Highlights of the Fort Smith Board of Directors Meeting 10/18/11

The Fort Smith Board of Directors meeting held 10-18-22 was led by Director Settle in the absence of Mayor McGill, Director Rego, and Director Morton.

The meeting started with the Board voting on issuing orders for the demolition of dilapidated abandoned houses at 1922 Pryor and 723 South 18th. There was no discussion from the Board on the issue and the vote to order the demolitions was unanimous.

The Board voted unanimously to allow Owens Corning to participate in the tax back program designed to encourage economic development that allows for companies to receive rebates on the state and local sales taxes collected on expenses for construction and expansion including building materials and new equipment. The expansion of the plant on Planters Road that will add 50 new jobs at an average wage of $32/hour will cause Owens Corning to spend $8 million in building improvements and $16.5 million on equipment.

Director Dawson said she was “highly in favor of” the measure. Director Martin praised the expansion as another sign of the growth in our city and said he was “excited for this”. Director Settle also voiced his support and thanked Owens Corning for their investment in Fort Smith.

The Board voted unanimously to enter a contract with Cityview to provide software for use by the Planning, Building Safety, Neighborhood Services, and Parks departments and the City Clerk. In addition to making information more digital and accessible and user friendly for the City staff, it will provide full online functionality for customers. It will easily migrate data from the old system and work seamlessly with the new Payit online payment system. The system will cost $769,310 initially and require an annual contract renewal costing $134,236 per year.

Director Martin inquired if any new hardware would need to be purchased. IT Director Gentry assured that no new hardware would be needed. Director Martin expressed concern with size and cost of the project saying the “large implementation gives me pause”. He asked about the time table with it not being fully implemented until 2024. Gentry responded that the implementation time table was carefully planned with all of the heads of the involved departments and if it becomes possible to implement it sooner, it will be. Planning Director Rice added that Planning and other departments asked for the phased approach as they don’t currently have the manpower needed to implement it at once. She expressed support for the system. Director of Building Services Deer also voiced his support for the system adding that it will enable his department to do paperwork in the field, a capability they do not have currently. City Clerk Gard said the system “will be an asset to the city” and added praise for the cemetery administration module. Currently all the management for Oak Cemetery has to be done by hand. Cityview will make that easier, accommodate a website, and allow for online purchases.

Director Martin said “I look forward to this”.

The Board voted unanimously to accept a bid from Forsgren to construct the new Excelsior Drive. The main purpose of the road is to support the new Owens Corning manufacturing facility and warehouse. The full contract price is for $2,754,862.50, but with much of the funding coming through state funding and through grants including a federal grant from the Economic Development Administration for $1.6 million and one from the Fort Smith Regional Chamber of Commerce for $50,000, the City’s share of the expense for the project will be $533,000.

There was discussion of the agenda item regarding a vote on entering a contract for the engineering for Phase 5 of the water transmission line project that will run a 48 inch water line from Lake Fort Smith.

Jeff Holmes, a representative for Chaffee Cottages LLC, a housing subdivision that is being built in Chaffee Crossing, spoke on the part of the plan that includes rerouting the pipe around the Arkansas Colleges of Health Education. He suggested that instead of cutting through the Chaffee Cottages property the line could be moved to the other side of Roberts Boulevard or could run under the unpaved green strip that is to run down the middle of Roberts Boulevard. He added that as a citizen himself (not specifically speaking for Chaffee Cottages) that he would remove that rerouting part of the plan entirely saying that he sees no reason for the rerouting. He also opposed the proposed cost of spending $3.84 million for that part of the project.

Director Dawson said of Holmes’s concerns and suggestions “I don’t think it’s unreasonable”. She proposed taking more time to review other options for Plan B and to have more time to be clear on the issue. Director Settle mentioned that the issue on the agenda was only for the engineering service and that the route could still be determined later. Utilities Director McAvoy added that they had been asked to look for a different route and that a study will be conducted before a route is finally determined. He said that if the line were moved to the other side that it would not be compatible with the plans for Roberts to be a boulevard and that they cannot locate it in the Magellan easement.

Holmes added that while this vote specifically only pertains to the engineering phase, Chaffee Cottages is about to start construction and will already have houses built on the lots where the route is proposed by the time that the project is ready for the construction phase. Director Dawson asked Assistant Administrator Dingman what will happen if there are houses on that property. Dingman answered “We’ll be buying some houses”. Director Good said that running the line through the green strip “makes sense to me” but suggested that the issue be tabled. Director Dawson agreed with Good saying she “needs to think on it”. The Board voted to table the issue and it will return for a vote at the second meeting in November.

In the Officials Forum portion of the meeting, Director Dawson mentioned that the holiday light display at Creekmore Park this year will feature the largest pixelated Christmas tree in the state of Arkansas.

Director Martin asked about the steel plate in the street at Towson and Phoenix. Utilities Director McAvoy responded that he would follow up on that. Asked about the plate on Rogers, he answered that they are still looking for the leak there. He said that currently he is “down over 1/3 of his staff” and that the crew he has are mainly working on leaks. Director Martin also brought up that he feels the City needs to communicate with homeowners when they are doing work in someone’s yard or putting something in their yard like a street sign. Assistant Administrator Dingman pointed out that the work and the signs are done on public property in public rights of way. Director Martin agreed that while it is technically public property it is property that is maintained by the homeowners and that the notification should still be made as a courtesy.

Director Settle asked McAvoy for an update after the meeting on the water leak at South 92nd Circle.

Assistant Administrator Dingman reminded of the Monday October 24, 2022 tour at noon of the landfill including the new A-6 cell.

Gene Nelson was reappointed to the Fire Code Board of Appeals and Adjustments.