Highlights of the Fort Smith Board of Directors Meeting 10/28/25
At the Fort Smith Board of Directors study session meeting held 10-28-25 with Director Rego absent and Director Good and Director Settle only in attendance for the last half hour of the two hour meeting, the Board discussed the 10 year Capital Improvement Plan (CIP) for Streets, Bridges, and Drainage.
No new streets or new intersection projects are planned to be added in 2026, instead the focus will be on existing streets, sidewalks, and signs. Planned projects for 2026 include Airport Boulevard realignment, extension of Spradling Avenue to North 23rd, a study of the Garrison and 5th Street intersection, layout of the route and acquisition of rights-of-way for the Jenny Lind extension, a master plan for streets and sidewalks and signs including an inventory and ratings, removing power poles and adding light poles on Rogers, neighborhood drainage projects, storm mitigation ponds at the former Acme Brick site, riverbank stabilization, and design and acquisition of easements for Maybranch drainage.
Director Martin reminded that the funds for the Streets, Bridges, and Drainage CIP come from the 5/8 cent sales tax. He mentioned before the voters recently voted to reallocate the tax from the previous full cent to Streets, Bridges and Drainage to 5/8 for Streets, Bridges, and Drainage and 3/8 to the consent decree the income from the tax would have been about $30 million and now will be about $18 million.
About the master plan to be conducted, Interim Director of Engineering Marts mentioned that the streets master plans are typically recommended to be conducted every 15 years and the last one was done in 2005.
Director Kemp asked for an update regarding hiring a Director of Engineering. Deputy City Administrator Rice answered that a Director of Engineering has been hired and is set to start January 5, 2026.
Director Christina Catsavis asked about how Streets determines which streets to repave. Marts said that the rating project involves driving each street and measuring the cracks and giving each street a letter grade rating and those evaluations are used. He suggested when they are completed that those evaluations be discussed by the Board at a study session meeting.
Director Martin advocated for burying the power lines on Rogers. Director Kemp asked if there are also plans to possibly bury power lines on Towson as a part of the future ARDOT Towson project. Marts said that that is not planned for Towson. Director Kemp expressed disappointment. Director Martin also advocated for encouraging ARDOT to bury the lines on Towson,too. Marts explained that the ARDOT project on Rogers will require expansion of the rights-of-way and that many of the poles would have to be moved and that the burying of the lines and the addition of the street lights is a cost share between the City and the State, but that the project on Towson will not require the widening that would require any poles to be relocated so the cost sharing opportunity would not be created.
The Board discussed the 10 year Capital Improvement Plan for Streets and Traffic Control. Plans for 2026 include purchasing replacements for three 3/4 ton trucks, three 1 1/2 ton flatbed dump trucks, two 2 ton dump trucks, three 1/2 ton pickup trucks, and a 2 ton dump truck with snow plow.
Director Martin asked the funding sources for the Streets and Traffic Control and sidewalks CIP plans. Director of Public Works Meeker said that they come mostly from the State turnback from the fuel tax and highway tax, but also some from property taxes and sidewalk assessment fees.
Director Christina Catsavis asked what would happen to the trucks that are being retired. Meeker answered that they would be added to the reserve fleet to serve as backups to be able to keep work going when equipment goes down. Director Christina Catsavis asked if they could be used by different departments. Meeker said that before they send any no longer needed equipment to auction, it is offered first to other departments within the City.
The Board reviewed the 2026 plan for sidewalks. The plan includes construction of 3.09 miles of new sidewalks and repairs to .85 miles of existing sidewalks.
Director Kemp praised the sidewalk improvements made recently.
The Board discussed the 5 year Parks Capital Improvement Plan. Planned projects for 2026 include work on the Maybranch Greenway from Martin Luther King Park to Creekmore Park, resurfacing the parking lot at Tilles Park, replacing the fiberglass grates at the Creekmore Pool with plastic grates, renovation of the Spradling Park restrooms, a sun shade for the Riverfront Bike and Skate Park, replacement of bridges at Riley Farm Park, Spradling Park walking trail improvements, resurfacing the top 4 tennis courts at Creekmore Park, converting the bottom 4 tennis courts at Creekmore to a concrete base, and replacement of fencing and adding spectator seating and converting to LED lights at the Creekmore tennis courts.
Parks Director Deuster mentioned that while the Maybranch Greenway project total cost is $5.1 million, there are already $3.5 million in outside grants and contributions dedicated for that project.
Director Martin asked about the possibility of installing shade structures other than ones made of wood to reduce costs by improving sustainability as wood deteriorates too quickly. Deuster said that the shade at the bike and skate park will be a shade sail style and added that she does not intend to ever build any wood pavilions anywhere because steel lasts for 50+ years. Director Martin asked about the Portland Loo that is mentioned as a potential future possibility for the Farmers Market. Deuster said that it is a “glorified portable restroom” that can be connected to the sewer system, is vandal resistant, and cannot be looked inside. She said that it is much less expensive than a half million dollars for a regular restroom. Director Martin mentioned that you can see legs under it and see if someone is lying down in it from the outside and agreed that it is a less expensive alternative.
DIrector George Catsavis asked for an update on the former ACME property. Deuster said that the Master Plan committee should have an initial drawing to present in December or January. She mentioned that no Parks project is in the Parks CIP for the site due to lack of funding. She said the focus of her department CIP is to “invest in what we have instead of growing” and that adding anything that would increase maintenance would be “difficult to sustain for us.”
Director Christina Catsavis asked about a previous plan that had been discussed that would involve adding 4 more tennis courts at Creekmore. Deuster said that the Parks Department and the Parks Commission are “strongly opposed'“ to that because it would require removal of trees and building in a swampy area plus an expansion at Ben Geren has eliminated the need.
The Board discussed the 10 year Solid Waste Capital improvement Plan. Plans for 2026 include replacements for 5 trash trucks, a bulldozer, an excavator, a skid loader, a pickup truck, commercial containers and compactor boxes, and replacement software systems for the route system and scales system.
Director Kemp asked if the wash bay discussed and tabled at the 10-21-25 meeting could be replaced by instead expanding and renovating the wheel wash station that already exists at the landfill. Solid Waste Director McDonald said that wheel wash does not have the ability to be modified in a way that would allow needs like to spray underneath the trucks to be met. He said to upgrade the wheel wash would be to put “a lot of effort into very little return.”
Director Martin asked if the CIP was made with considering/obligating rate increases. McDonald said “not at this time” and that everything in the CIP has funds already available in the sinking fund.
The Board reviewed the 5 year Transit Asset Management Plan. Purchases planned for 2026 include replacements for one 35 ft bus and one service truck. Vehicle purchases are reimbursed at 85% by Federal grants.
Director Kemp asked for clarification about the Transit budget requests. Transit Director Savage clarified that the $1.2 million that is requested that includes both operations and the capital expenses (that would actually need to be locally funded, that is not funded or reimbursed through grants and fares) would need to come from the county sales tax and the City general fund.
The Board discussed a potential new ordinance that would require capital projects estimated at $500,000 or more or that significantly impact debt or recurring operational costs
to be discussed at a study session meeting before being added to a voting meeting agenda
there must be 7 days between the study session meeting discussing the issue and the issue being put to a vote
staff must provide to the Board scope, cost estimates, funding sources, operational impacts, and alternatives considered
The Internal Auditor will conduct annual compliance reviews.
Exceptions can be made for true emergencies when certified by the City Administrator and 2/3 of the Board
Director Christina Catsavis who proposed the ordinance said that she meant the ordinance as presented to be a starting point and expressed a desire to fine tune it based on discussion. She said that the ordinance was inspired by her disagreement with how the water slide purchase was handled quickly rather than going to a study session first. She said she wants an ordinance that would serve as “guard rails” on spending. She suggested changing the ordinance to only include spending over $500,000 that was not already included as a part of a CIP.
Director Martin said that he was “definitely in favor of” the ordinance for items not already in the CIP or already budgeted for. He supported that change to not cause “grinding things to a halt” by it applying to too many projects that have already been discussed.
Director Kemp said that he likes the “spirit of the ordinance.” He expressed his desire to not hold up CIP projects but also his desire to “find ways to build a consensus.” He said that discussing things at study sessions could help with building consensus.
Chief Financial Officer Richards said that while there are a lot of items over $500,000, new items that are not in the CIP that are over $500,000 would have only been a “handful”, like 4-5 items, last year.
Director Martin suggested that the ordinance with limiting it to new items not already budgeted or in the CIP could be put in place and then evaluated and expanded if need be in the future.
Director Kemp voiced his concern about slowing down consent decree projects by requiring them to go first to a study session. Director Martin said that consent decree projects are CIP projects. Director Kemp asked about the slower process working with grant driven timelines. Director Christina Catsavis said that the waiting period is only seven days.
The ordinance, limited to just new non-budgeted non CIP items, will be on the agenda for a vote at the 11-18-25 meeting.
During the Citizens Forum section of the meeting, Andy Posterick asked about the Jenny Lind extension mentioned in the Streets CIP. Rice answered that it will run from the end of Fianna Hills south to White Bluff Road. She said that it has been on the master street plan “a long long time” and that right now a property owner is willing to donate the needed easement. Posterick praised the sidewalks on North O and the new striping by 74th and expressed his support for the Transit buses.
Bridget Duncan spoke to voice concerns about street safety. She mentioned unsafe conditions at 21st and Rogers, 19th and Rogers, and the South D intersection near the Adult Education Center. She suggested that 5 ways be converted to 4 ways.
Kim Fodge praised the Police Department quick response to a concern she brought to their attention. She spoke about the proposed indoor sports complex and said that it is an “absolutely great idea” but that it should be a “strictly private endeavor.” She expressed concerns about the financial situation of Parrot Island water park. She mentioned that while the management company attributes much of the shortfall in 2025 to the loss of 44 planned days of operation due to inclement weather, the park was only open 8 less days in 2025 than in 2024. She suggested financial reports be sent to the Board monthly.
David Roberts, a Parks and Recreation Commissioner, spoke and said that while he originally supported the purchase of the water slides that he is “very disappointed” about the extra expense that would be needed to install them and voiced his view that no more money should be committed to the slides. He suggested that a buyer be found for the slides or that the management company could install the slides. He urged the Board to not consider taking money from the Parks CIP for the slides.
Dan Williams spoke and advocated against putting any more money into the slides. He also asked for an update on the Arkhoma water agreement. Director Martin said that the increase is in place but that Arkhoma is not paying the full bill so far.
Richard Medford asked about the recent visit to Washington, DC made by some Board members and the Mayor and if infrastructure and the consent decree were discussed at the meetings during the trip. Director Martin said that the “primary thing” talked about was infrastructure. The F-35 mission was also a major topic. He mentioned that $500 million federal dollars, mostly for the F-35 mission and I-49, have come in recently or will be coming in soon.
Quinton Cunningham spoke and said that he is “fully behind” the proposed ordinance for new items over $500,000. He asked about a differentiation between “essential” and “non-essential” projects. Director Christina Catsavis clarified that the ordinance includes specific language to allow for public health and safety emergencies. Cunningham voiced his agreement with the street safety concerns mentioned by Duncan. He also expressed his disagreement with Parrot Island spending and spending on attracting tourism profits. He suggested prioritizing addressing “afflictions” like homelessness and stray animals over “profit and pleasure.”
Molly Echavarria expressed her opposition to Director Good walking out during the moment of silence in recognition of the death of Charlie Kirk.
Krystal Cadelli spoke against the water slide spending. She expressed concerns about the budget deficit and consent decree costs. She voiced her view that the proposed sports complex should be a private business venture. She mentioned her disapproval of Director Rego “bullying” a citizen on social media about a FOIA request.
Chris Cadelli spoke against the water slide spending. He also expressed his disapproval of Director Rego’s social media post regarding a FOIA request about his brother-in-law and the proposed sports complex. Cadelli voiced his view that the proposed sports complex should be funded by private investors.
Talicia Richardson, NAACP President, expressed her support for Director Good regarding his walk out during the moment of silence in recognition of the death of Charlie Kirk.
