Agenda Highlights 3/31/26

At the Fort Smith Board of Directors meeting to be held 3-31-26, the Board will vote on whether to request Congressionally Directed Spending funds from Senator Boozman to complete section 2A1-2 of the Lake Fort Smith water transmission line project. If awarded, the request of up to $12,000,000 may require a 25% local contribution from the City. Fort Smith received Congressionally Directed Spending funds from Boozman in 2024 for section 2A1-1 of the water transmission line project.

The Board will vote on whether to request Congressionally Directed Spending funds from Senator Boozman for the required relocation of water and sewer utilities related to ARDOT’s project widening Rogers Avenue. The widening project was discussed at the 9-10-24 meeting. If awarded, the request of up to $20,000,000 may require up to a 25% local contribution from the City.

The Board will hear an update on the consolidated 911 call center. The full consolidation of the County and City 911 systems is set to be complete 7-6-26 with the operations housed temporarily at the Fort Smith Police Department. Director of Public Safety Communications Milam will discuss the need for new radio equipment to replace the existing old equipment that will not longer be operational in 2031 and the need for a bigger stand-alone permanent facility especially to accommodate incorporation of emergency medical dispatching into the facility.

The Board will discuss the former Crain Kia property at 8200 Hwy 71 South that was purchased to be used for a Police Department training facility and second precinct in 2024. The funding for the renovations has been cut from the budget each budget year since the purchase. Police Chief Baker will make a presentation regarding the public safety needs, location, funds already expended, financial impact of selling the property, alternative funding sources, a proposal to complete the project in 3-5 years, and 3 architectural options. One architectural option would start with the training center and that first phase would cost $5,406,581.25 and then would have a second phase for the police precinct that would cost $7,630,035. A second option would start with a training center for $5,406,581.25 and then a second phase for the police precinct for $4,649,407.50. A third single phase option would cost $7,727,452.50