Agenda Highlights 12/9/25

At the Fort Smith Board of Directors study session meeting to be held 12-9-25, the Board will discuss potentially taking over ownership of the Holy Cross, Rose Lawn, and Forest Park cemeteries currently owned by Fort Smith Cemeteries Inc. This issue was discussed initially at the 7-15-25 meeting, again including a proposed cost compiled by the City to maintain the cemeteries at same level as Oak Cemetery that is currently owned by the City at the 8-19-25 meeting, and at the 9-23-25 meeting with a proposal from Fort Smith Cemeteries Inc. for a reduced cost at a reduced level of maintenance for the three cemeteries instead of matching the standard for Oak. Discussion at the 12-9-25 meeting will also include discussion of potentially taking ownership of the cemeteries and providing the bare minimum maintenance (monthly and bi-monthly grass mowing only)and no administrative functions, at a cost of $100,000/year performed by an outside contracted company.

The federal government requires that cities that receive and distribute HUD Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) and HOME grant funds submit a 5 year consolidated plan every 5 years. Fort Smith has begun work on theirs and part of the process included a public survey. The survey was posted on the City’s Facebook page, by Govdelivery notice, ads in two local newspapers, and paper copies were available at all of the library branches. 154 responses were received. The Board will discuss the results of the survey.

For the Community Services Category for the CDBG grants the survey showed a preference for continuing to fully fund the public service category at the maximum allowable 15% and keeping the $5000 minimum and $20,000 maximum for requests. The survey showed a preference for prioritizing agencies serving senior citizens and children and addressing homelessness, healthcare, food, and basic needs.

For the Community Development category for the CDBG grants, the survey showed a preference for allowing all qualified non-profits to apply for agency rehabilitation and for continuing funding as is with lot purchases being the priority but leftover funds being available for agency rehabilitation The survey showed a preference for continuing to prioritize the Housing Rehabilitation Assistance Program to provide homeowners with funds to make repairs to their houses at the current rate of 38% of Community Development category funds and continuing to proving grants of up to $15,000 and an additional loan of up to $10,000 to each participating homeowner.

For the HOME grants, the survey showed a preference for prioritizing down payment assistance for the purchase of existing homes followed closely by preferences for new single family home construction and acquisition of existing homes to be rehabilitated and sold.

The Board will discuss non-consent towing of vehicles requested by the Police Department. Towing is currently handled using a rotation list of 24 towing companies. The issue was discussed at the 8-13-24 meeting where there was discussion of switching from the rotation list to using one single provider. In response to feedback from local towing companies in opposition to the proposed change, the use of the rotation list was continued. Directors have expressed a desire to revisit the issue.