Agenda Highlights 8/19/25

At the Fort Smith Board of Directors meeting scheduled for 8-19-25, the Board will vote on whether to allow an expansion of a manufacturer to participate in the Tax Back program to receive refunds on sales taxes collected on building materials and new equipment used for the project. The project is currently codenamed Project Synergy, but the actual company name will be revealed publicly at the meeting. Project Synergy will be a $5.56 million investment to add one new assembly line to an existing local facility. The new line will add 63 jobs at an average wage of $25.00/hr.

The Board will vote on whether to issue a resolution officially declaring support for the Fort Smith National Historic Site and calling for continued and increased federal funding for the site and for it to continue to be operated by the National Parks Service. The resolution is in response to proposed significant funding cuts for the National Parks System at the federal level and federal suggestions that some national parks be managed as State level parks.

There will be a public hearing regarding annexation of 45 acres of land near Hwy 271 and Texas Road. The land is 9 residential and 11 non-residential properties. Potentially positive results of annexation for owners of the properties would include access to all City services including police, fire, sewer, solid waste, streets, and free library cards, a decrease in water rates due to being regular instead of out-of-town rates, and decreased homeowners insurance rates due to Fort Smith’s higher ISO fire protection rating. Potentially negative results of annexation for owners of the properties would include an 8 mil increase in property taxes, sales taxes increasing to 9.5% to include the 2% in City taxes, being required to follow all City codes and ordinances including animal ordinances, property codes, and prohibition of discharging firearms.

The Board will vote on how to deal with Forest Park, Roselawn, Holy Cross, and Washington cemeteries. The situation was discussed at the 7-15-25 study session meeting where Fort Smith Cemeteries Inc. (the non-profit organization that currently operates Rose Lawn, Holy Cross, and Forest Park cemeteries) and Bobbie Woodard-Andrews (who currently operates Washington Cemetery) requested for the City to take over responsibility for all of those cemeteries.

One option to be considered is to continue to use the standard Neighborhood Services code enforcement process and continue to have Neighborhood Services provide abatement and place liens on the properties for the clean-up costs when necessary. Fort Smith Cemeteries Inc. already owes $85,907 in clean-up liens that are not likely to be repaid soon.

Another option to be considered is for the City to lease the cemeteries and contract with Fort Smith Cemeteries Inc. to operate them while the City pays to maintain the landscaping, roads, and infrastructure on the properties. The City Attorney advises against this option due to potential issues with constitutional prohibitions on spending public funds on private property.

Another option would be for the City to take ownership and operation of the cemeteries. They would be purchased for the forgiveness of the existing clean-up liens. Debt owed by Fort Smith Cemeteries Inc. would not be assumed by the City. The plan would cost $961, 550 for the initial start up expenses and an increase of the existing cemetery budget in the future of $1,249,413. Revenue from the cemeteries for services including interments is not likely to offset the operating expenses. City Administration notes that staffing at Oak Cemetery, the cemetery currently owned and operated by the City, has been challenging. City staff recommends this option.

The Board will vote on contracting with Amaresco for $125,000 for an investment grade audit to analyse the existing water meter database focusing on meter consumption, sizes, and type of meters and to evaluate potential effects of system rehabilitation and automation and determine potential operational cost savings. The project would take 3-5 months to complete. This issue was discussed and then tabled at the 7-22-25 meeting.

The Board will vote on a three year renewal for the E-Builder software used for consent decree utilities projects. The total cost of all 3 years would be $285,286.79 ($90,495.41 the first year, $95,020.18 the second, and $99, 771.20 the third).

The Board will vote on an emergency contract with Vortex for $316,510.50 to repair 400 ft of collapsed 8 inch sewer main line near the intersection of Cherokee Circle and Leigh Avenue.

The Board will vote on whether to issue a non-residential waste collection permit to Marck Recycling and to renew Lakeshore Recycling’s permit. The permits would be for 2 years and include a 5% franchise fee.