Highlights of the Fort Smith Board of Directors Meeting 5/23/23
The Fort Smith Board of Directors study session meeting held 5-23-23 began with the annual report from the Police Department. Highlights of the 2022 report included
There was a 10.31% decrease in Group A crimes (homicide, sexual assault, robbery, arson, burglary, larceny, and motor vehicle theft). Homicides were down to 5 versus 8 in 2021. There were 12 traffic accident fatalities and 50 serious traffic accident injuries. Traffic accidents were down to 2928 versus 3061 in 2021.
The department came in $530,000 under budget for the year. The savings was attributed to using $330,000 in grant funds combined with civil asset forfeiture money as well as “good old fashioned frugality”.
Of the 59 internal complaints investigated, 34 were sustained. Of the 30 citizen complaints investigated, 4 were sustained.
The Patrol Unit received 63,371 calls for service, made 9305 traffic stops, made 4,701 arrests, and made 20,800 non-enforcement contacts with community members.
9 new patrol cars were added to the fleet. The take-home vehicle program was started for officers that live in Fort Smith. New uniforms were issued.
38 new officers were hired. Chief Baker credits the 24% raise in salaries as a major help towards attracting new hires saying it helped fix staffing shortages “nearly overnight”. Retention of existing officers was a strong focus with increased focus on wellness, chaplaincy, and counseling. Baker said “employee morale is at an all-time high.”
The bicycle unit was restarted after an over ten year long absence.
The Crisis Intervention unit conducted 700 follow ups, diverted 28 people from prosecution, and made 114 voluntary and 8 involuntary referrals for mental health help.
The Airport Unit was involved with 132,061 passengers and received zero complaints.
The Communications unit received 144,789 calls with 64,098 of those being 911 emergency calls. These calls included 75,813 patrol requests, 6773 animal warden requests, and 15,227 fire fighter requests.
The Communications unit received a phone system upgrade that includes the ability to exchange text messages. Complaints about 911 were “nearly non-existent”.
One of the biggest challenges the department faced in 2022 and is currently still working to improve is issues in animal control. At one point, the department had lost 80% of the animal control staff. However, they have restaffed now. They also added 2 new vehicles to the fleet. Animal Wardens responded to 6,463 calls. They reunited 375 lost animals with their owners, sent 1,072 animals to the shelter, relocated 318 wild animals, and rescued 95 animals from situations involving animal cruelty. The Animal Wardens established a no-adoption list for people charged with animal cruelty.
The Information Desk filed 1,969 offense reports, 1,441 incident reports, performed 2 arrests, and completed 347 fingerprint requests.
The Central Records Section handled 13,601 offense reports, 4,732 arrest reports, 38,160 incident reports, and 3,690 accident reports.
The Quartermasters redesigned the forms for issuing and tracking uniforms and equipment. The new forms are more efficient and accurate.
The Crimes Against Persons Unit that deals with violent crimes were assigned 1,713 cases and cleared 1,648 of those for a 96.2% clearance rate.
The Narcotics Unit was commended by the FBI for their assistance in the Organized Drug Crime Enforcement Task Force. The top 3 drugs seized by the unit were meth, fentanyl, and marijuana.
The Special Investigations Unit that deals with crimes against children, the sex offender registry, cyber crimes, computer forensics, and crime scene investigation worked 882 cases and cleared 824 of those for a 93.42% clearance rate.
The Property Crimes unit worked 1014 cases and cleared 881 of those for an 86.88% clearance rate.
De-escalation training and tactics were a major focus for the department. Incarceration was reduced dramatically. The number of children placed in foster care was reduced by over 30%. There was a strong focus on “preserving peace and safety through collaborative efforts.”
The Food Patrol distributed 5,400 meals to residents of high crime areas.
Some things the Police Department is looking forward to in 2023 include the merging of the 911 call centers and implementing the new Computer Aided Dispatch and Records Management System there, the new Flock safety camera system including automated license plate recognition, the start of the Public Safety Cadets program, offering drivers education classes for students, and establishing a new sobering center.
Director Rego asked about the potential for funding more animal control positions in the budget this fall. Baker said that he would like to add 3 more animal wardens. He said that he is a proponent of separating the animal control from the Police Department, but that as long as it is still a part of the Police Department duties it is a duty they are “taking on with full vigor.”
Director Good called the report “outstanding”. He asked about the challenges the Crisis Intervention Unit is facing in dealing with mental health. Baker said that the biggest problem is having “no place to take these folks” because of the limited number of people that the existing facilities can take at any time. He said there needs to be “strong conversations” at the State and Federal levels of government about funding for mental health. He added that while all of the officers have received some training in mental health crises and de-escalation, it is a goal of the Police Department to be able to increase the Crisis Intervention unit and add more officers to it to be able to provide specialized 24 hour metal health crisis intervention. Director Good asked if the conversations regarding funding have already been going on at the State level. Baker said that people are “gonna have to nudge a little more”.
Director Morton called the report “very impressive” and said “You should be very proud of the Department”.
Director George Catsavis reminded of the “disaster” situation that the Police Department was in 10-15 years ago when it had problems like being short 50 officers and having cars that were constantly breaking down. He asked how we have come such a long way since then. Baker credited a “supportive community”, “internal changes” and funding being made available. He said that “out of discomfort, there’s always growth.”
Director George Catsavis advocated for a police substation on the east end of town. Baker said “We’re working on it.”. Director Catsavis mentioned the potential for another raise for the police next year. Baker said that he will “not be coming asking for one” but would take it if it were offered.
Director Christina Catsavis called the Police Department a “shining star in our city”. She asked Baker if he thought the newly instated spay and neuter ordinance would help soon. Baker said he expects to see “results sooner than later” and he can already feel some difference.
Director Settle inquired about the difference between the number of calls regarding animals and the number of outcomes (animals seized, reunited, captured, etc.). Baker answered that most of the difference is from calls where they arrive and cannot locate the loose dog.
Director Settle expressed an interest in working to find more ways to turn youth away from crime.
Director Martin praised the department for their good work (including mentioning recent successes like arrests for the business break-ins and the murder of convenience store clerk Chanell Moore) and said that “If you do a crime, we’re gonna get you.” He said “I feel safe in Fort Smith.”
Director Good praised the de-escalation training and diversity initiatives and called them “absolutely vital in recruiting” new officers.
Mayor McGill praised the department for “braiding the police department in and around communities”.
The Board heard the annual report from the Fire Department. Highlights of the 2022 report included
The Fire Department received 15,225 calls (up from 14,885 in 2021).
They responded to 10,802 EMS calls (up from 10,583 in 2021) making up 70.88% of their calls.
They responded to 448 fire calls (up from 356 in 2021) making up 3.03% of their calls.
The total property value involved in the fire calls was $104,205,685 and the total property value lost to fire was $5,901,405. So they saved 94.34% of the property and only lost 5.66% of it.
The busiest fire station was #7 at 5411 Euper Lane with 2027 calls (13.38% of the total calls), the second busiest was Philip P. Christensen Station #1 at 500 North 5th with 1927 calls (12.66 % of the total calls), and the third busiest was station #2 at 1127 North Greenwood with 1725 calls (11.33% of the total calls). The least busy station was #11 at 8900 Massard Road with 474 calls (3.11% of the total calls). Station #7 was busier than would be expected for a station its size because it is the one with the ladder truck, so it responds to structure fires and other situations that need a tall ladder. Similarly, Station #1 sees an increase in busyness over what might be expected because it is the station with the heavy rescue extraction equipment.
The average response time to calls was 3 minutes and 23 seconds.
They added two new pumper trucks.
Fire fighters participated in 50,732 combined hours of training.
Assistant Fire Chief Darrell Clark said that looking forward he anticipates the “future is providing advanced level care” in emergency medical calls. A much needed new vehicle and equipment maintenance facility to be built near the Transit headquarters is currently in the design phase. The Fire Department is hoping for funding for a joint training classroom to be combined with the police. They also hope to repair and upgrade old fire station buildings, incorporating new floor plans that better accommodate firefighters of all genders.
The biggest challenge the Fire Department has been facing is the struggle in staffing. Clark said they have been “hitting the recruiting hard”. The other major challenge has been the skyrocketing cost of fire apparatus in the last few years.
Director Rego called the work of the Fire Department “monumental and very much appreciated.” He asked about trends overall in fires and medical calls. Clark said that fire calls are being reduced mostly via better education and prevention. He said that all call volumes over all have increased. The volume of medical calls has doubled in his 24 plus years with the department. Director Rego asked if the medical calls are playing a factor in difficulty recruiting, that some potential hires might be interested in the fire portion of the job but not the medical role. Clark didn’t voice that being a major factor as the main people that are a good fit for the job are the ones really into truly helping people. He said it was more of a problem that it is no longer a time when “young kids wanted to be police and firemen”.
Morton called the report a “very good report” and said that the Fire Department does an excellent job. He asked if the overall employee retention and turn over is acceptable or getting better or worse. Clark said that the retention is generally “pretty good” but currently there is a lot of turnover being caused by aging and retiring staff.
Director George Catsavis asked if the Fire Department has to respond to every call, like even if there are no injuries, even if it’s a homeless person calling in, etc. Clark responded that yes, they cannot not respond once dispatched. They must show up and be sure they do not need to render aid. They consider it a “cost of doing business”. Director George Catsavis called that a “big expense”. Clarke agreed it is costly and said that they are already looking into some money saving ideas like purchasing an SUV to take to medical calls because of the high cost of replacing fire trucks.
Director Settle said the Fire Department is doing a “heck of a job” and praised the way the Fire and Police Department work together.
Mayor McGill asked about how the Safe Haven baby surrender box at Station #11 is doing. Clark said that it has not had a baby put in it yet. He added that in the future, since the city has grown differently and the way the fire stations are placed throughout the city currently is “not adequate anymore”, there is a strong potential that a bigger replacement station may be built that consolidates 2 stations currently operating on the north side of town. And that bigger station would be a good location for a second baby box.
Mayor McGill asked about where the next new fire station might be placed. Clark said that the City has purchased land for a station on Highway 71 by Tennessee Ridge intended to be for Station 12.
The Board discussed the future of the hydroelectric generator at the Lee Creek Dam. This item was originally on the agenda for the 1-24-23 meeting that was cancelled for bad weather.
At the most recent inspection of the dam by the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC), it was noted that the hydroelectric generator was no longer functional and that no energy is being produced. It has been nonfunctional since 2013 or 2014. Minor repairs and a study must be done regardless before any next steps are taken, but there are two main options for moving forward.
The generator can be repaired at a cost of $3-5 million that is likely to produce a negative return on investment from the revenue generated by producing electricity. The City is paid 2 cents per kilowatt hour through a contract with Arkansas Valley Electric for the electricity produced. At that rate after the repair, Utilities Director McAvoy said “We will never make the money back.”.
The second option is that the City could surrender the FERC license and remove the generator. One top concern with removing the generator is that since the generator was originally included to reduce red tape with Oklahoma (including allowing eminent domain to be used for Oklahoma land needed for the reservoir) questions are raised about how removal would impact Phase 2 of the Lee Creek Dam expansion that would cause there to be more reservoir in Oklahoma. McAvoy said the ability to use eminent domain was a higher priority back when the dam was built as there was a “lot of bad blood in the 80s and early 90s” between Arkansas and Oklahoma, but now the land is likely to be purchased without worrying about using eminent domain.
The other top concern with removal is that some FERC projects require the stream to be returned to its natural flow state if the project is ended so questions are raised about how that would impact the drinking water supply reservoir.
Director Morton questioned the low price paid for the electricity generated by the dam. McAvoy said that they are currently looking for a hard copy of the 1991 perpetual contract and would be interested in negotiating for a better rate.
Director Morton asked for clarification about how the dam works when it is in proper operation. McAvoy clarified that the top of the dam is a spillway. Below the water line is a sluice gate. When there is an excess of water the sluice gate is opened and water passes through the turbines generating power. If the water levels are below the top, the gate is closed and the generator is turned off to preserve water for drinking water.
Director Settle asked McAvoy to have a calculation made showing what price per kilowatt hour it would be necessary to be paid to justify the repair over the next 10 years. McAvoy agreed to do that. Director Settle asked about moving the generator so that it could always be generating like by moving it to inside the pipe and/or moving it to Lake Fort Smith. McAvoy said that a generator inside the pipe at Lake Fort Smith where the raw water is going into the plant via gravity feed is “something we are investigating”.
Director Settle asked how hard the FERC license is to get back later if it is relinquished. McAvoy said they would probably never get it back. Settle said that the City should “look at all avenues before we give it back.” Director Morton agreed with Settle saying the “FERC license is worth something.” He expressed a desire to get the generator running again and to investigate the price being paid for the power generated. He suggested that McAvoy reach out to North Little Rock that negotiated a price for the power produced by their dam 30 years ago for some possible ideas. Director Settle asked if the generator makes the dam more valuable. McAvoy said that it does.
