Highlights of the Fort Smith Board of Directors Meeting 3/10/26

At the Fort Smith Board of Directors study session meeting held 3/10/25, the Board heard an update on the project at 6th and Wheeler near the Bakery District that will include street resurfacing, realigning the center line on 6th, increased parallel parking on 6th, traffic calming features, drainage modifications, traffic signal relocation, and replacement of 300 ft of water line.

Director Kemp called the project a “great project” that “needs to be done.” He questioned if there might be need to replace more than 300 ft of water line to avoid digging up fresh street overlay later. Engineering Director Mitge mentioned that the project includes a “bare minimum 300 ft” because the 120 year old sand cast line in that area is “very tough to control” and “keeps on breaking” once it is disturbed. He said that if the Board desires the project could go further northeast past Parker “beautifying this strip of roadway” but expressed concerns about additional spending that would be needed for additional scope.

Director Martin asked if the project will address the confusion at the Wheeler intersection from drivers. Michelle Dodroe with Crafton Tull, the engineers on the project, said that the intersection would be changed altogether to eliminate confusion.

Director Settle mentioned that angled parking was discussed in the original plan for the project and asked why it was changed to parallel. Dodroe said that Fort Smith doesn’t currently have any back-in parking and that the project’s location wasn’t the place to put the first example (recommending that the first be a place with better sight distance).

Director Rego asked about the next steps. Acting City Administrator Dingman answered that the design work will be finished and then the construction bidding will begin.

The Board discussed job growth in Fort Smith. Kendall Ross from UAFS Center for Economic Development presented data. He said that Fort Smith has 4.4% unemployment, a rate near the US average but slightly above the Arkansas average. Fort Smith has 105,200 nonfarm jobs. The jobs number has been making a “steady climb” and slightly rising. The job numbers are “stable” but “growing more slowly than our peers” and “capacity strained.” Ross said that “population growth is weak.”

Manufacturing makes up about 18,000 jobs and is an “anchor” and a sector with “stability rather than rapid growth.” Manufacturing makes up a little over 17% of total jobs with no other metro area in Arkansas anywhere near that strong in manufacturing jobs. Ross called the manufacturing sector “a strength.” Ross called the Construction sector “volatile.” The Health Services sector is at a 20 year record for employment. Ross said “We don’t have enough health care workers.” Leisure and Hospitality is the sector with the most growth and “one of the drivers of recent job growth”. Ross called Leisure and Hospitality sector gains “a really good sign.” Government, at a loss of 200 jobs in 2024-2025, saw the most job loss of any sector. Ross said that “broad based growth” is good to see.

Average weekly earnings are up about 30% since Covid and are keeping up with US and Arkansas averages. However, housing prices in Fort Smith have gone up 60% since 2020. Ross voiced concerns about the effects of affordability on attracting and retaining employees and less affordability tightening the labor pool.

Ashley Garris with Western Arkansas Planning and Development District discussed the organization’s workforce development programs including vocational training, apprenticeships, and job search help to help folks with barriers to good paying employment find jobs in in-demand occupations. She mentioned a program for people ages 16-24 that pays the wages for those young employees for up to 1020 hours at minimum wage to help them get a start in a job and develop “soft skills.” She also mentioned programs for workers who have been laid off to help them get education to transition to a new field. She mentioned that the Adult Education Center also offers workforce development programs. Ross mentioned that UAFS offers training aligned to local employer needs and that they will start a Manufacturing Academy this summer.

Director Settle mentioned that the data presented is for the whole Fort Smith Metro area, that includes the whole River Valley area, not just Fort Smith. He mentioned that because of that things like the Tyson layoff in Van Buren might skew the data.

Director Martin said “We’ve gotta set our focus on population growth.” However, he acknowledged that decisions being made about water infrastructure needs are based on a projected 1.5% population increase and that if the growth is not that robust that there may be a “longer window” for building the Lake Fort Smith water transmission line.

Director Christina Catsavis mentioned that to attract larger employers Fort Smith needs a qualified workforce. She suggested taking better advantage of State funded workforce development programs.

Director Kemp wondered aloud about how many high school graduates are going into the workforce, going to college, or leaving to go elsewhere and what the biggest barriers are for job seekers. He asked how many graduates from UAFS are staying here. Ross answered that the “majority” are staying here and that the University’s programs are designed with the idea of graduates staying here. Director Kemp voiced his desire to see more defense manufacturing here in the future. Ross mentioned that the UAFS has a new degree in Advanced Manufacturing Engineering and that UAFS is the only institution in the State offering that degree.

Director Rego mentioned that each of the 6100 new jobs represents an opportunity and is a positive thing in an individual’s life.

The Board discussed an ordinance prohibiting camping on public property that would mirror the one from Grants Pass Oregon that was upheld in the Supreme Court. A proposed ordinance mirroring the one from Grants Pass was voted down by the Board at the 12-17-2024 meeting. Homelessness including ordinances similar to Grants Pass and the a Fort Smith version of an ordinance was discussed at the 3-11-25 meeting. At the 4-22-25 meeting the Fort Smith version ordinance  was discussed.

Director Martin mentioned that issues related to homelessness were one of the main concerns voiced by respondents to the survey about downtown conducted by Main Street Fort Smith. He said that the neighborhood has a “reputation of homelessness.” He said of the ordinance similar to Grants Pass “maybe it’s not this ordinance” but that there is a need to address the homelessness situation. He voiced his intent for a solution not to criminalize homelessness but to connect homeless individuals with services.

Director Christina Catsavis mentioned that there is a difference between homelessness and vagrancy and that the problems are with people acting unlawfully. She said that there is a mental health crisis and that “we don’t have adequate resources here” to address it properly.

Director Rego expressed his desire to not add more ordinances when there are already laws on the books that address the same thing. He asked about it already being against the law to sleep on a public sidewalk and obstruct the use of the sidewalk. City Attorney Rowe said that there are State statutes already in place for disorderly conduct for obstructing vehicle or pedestrian traffic, loitering for “creating an impediment”, and obstruction of a vehicle or pedestrian thoroughfare. Neighborhood Services Director Gard mentioned that there are already ordinances in place to prohibit outdoor camping and outdoor storage of camping supplies. Director Rego said that being homeless is “not in and of itself a crime” and voiced his support for a solution that is “humane.”

Director Christina Catsavis said that it is “not humane to enable someone to live on the sidewalk.” She asked if the Police are not enforcing the existing laws because we don’t have the necessary services. Police Chief Baker said “We are utilizing the existing laws. The jail stays full with homeless folks.” He said that the problematic individuals don’t want to utilize the services available.

Director Kemp said until there is funding for expansion of long-term mental health housing “You’re not gonna solve this problem.” He asked what the Grants Pass style ordinance would allow the police to do that they aren’t able to now. Baker said that it would not give them any more options. He said that it would be “essentially cite and release” and that most people are sleeping where they are not obstructing the sidewalks and that those that are would be in violation but enforcement wouldn’t alleviate the problem. Director Kemp questioned if there is enough shelter capacity to enforce it. He voiced a preference for a solution that is “progressive” rather than “punitive actions” and said that citations are not addressing the issue. He said that the homelessness issue is getting “high expectations but zero funding” from the City. Director Kemp suggested a “community work based mentor therapy group” and better use of the federal ESG grant funding program.

Baker mentioned that most of the people his officers interact with “are from other places” and mentioned that he has heard about homelessness aid organizations in Alma and law enforcement in Oklahoma bringing homeless people in and just dropping them off in Fort Smith.

Director Christina Catsavis asked about the role drugs play in homelessness. Baker said that drug use among the homeless population is “prevalent” but that it is linked together with untreated mental health. He called the mental health issue the “root cause” of the drug issue.

The Board discussed security lighting for alleyways. Currently, except for the Alleyway Rehabilitation Project alleys, it is the responsibility of the property owners who want lights in their alleys to rent their own security lights from their electric company. OG&E charges $6.71 per month for a light on an existing pole and $13.11 per month if a new pole is required. Arkansas Valley Electric charges $9.45 per month.

For the City to provide public security lighting for the alleys, 2000 lights would be required. It would increase the City’s cost for lighting by $280,000-$340,000 per year. In 2025, the cost paid for all City lighting was $1,403,253.62. Public Works Director Meeker said the cost “might cause us to have money troubles in the future.”

Director Settle asked about the City buying the poles and lights and tying them to the grid and paying the electric company instead of going through the electric company for the entire system. Meeker said that that has been looked at and that it “wasn’t a cost advantage to us to do that.”

Director Kemp suggested overlaying crime heat maps and areas without lights and looking into concentration on putting lights in dark areas with high crime. Baker mentioned that if Police see someplace that is dark and also high crime that they reach out to Meeker and/or to OG&E. Director Kemp also mentioned that some residents want the alleys lit up more and others do not.

Director Rego expressed support for a small targeted pilot program saying that it would be “very workable” budget wise.

The Board discussed the bids received for the installation of the additional water slides at Parrot Island water park. At the 1-20-26 meeting, the Board approved an allocation for for the installation of the slides and approved a no-bid contract with Royal Ridge Construction for the construction on the project. At the 3-3-26 meeting, in response to legal action against the City in regards to a violation of the required bidding process, the no-bid contract was rescinded and a request for bids was advertised with the work broke into two sections up for bids, one for the construction and one for the aquatics parts of the expansion.

3 bids were received for the construction with the lowest being from SSI for a total of $1,751,910. 2 bids were received for the aquatics with the lowest being from Clarity Pools for a total of $664,200.

Director George Catsavis expressed his support for the contract going to Burton Pools instead of Clarity Pools even though they were not the lowest bidder because Burton is a local company and Clarity is out of Little Rock. Dingman mentioned that the 5% local preference allowance that is a part of the standard bidding process was applied to Burton’s bid and that it still was not the lowest bidder.

Director Christina Catsavis said that the bids are evidence that “competitive bidding works” and that it should be done instead of waiving the competitive bidding process.

The Board discussed renewal of the management agreement with American Resort Management (ARM) for management of the water park. In December, five proposals were received from companies interested in the management contract in response to the Request for Proposals. The proposals were reviewed by County Judge Hotz, Fort Smith HR Director Eric Garvin, Fort Smith Chief Financial Officer Richards, Sebastian County purchasing official Charity Gregory, and Acting City Administrator Jeff Dingman. They found 2 of the proposals to be “worthy of further discussion”, including the one from ARM. Because of concerns that the timeline until the park is set to open for the 2026 season in May is too short to transition smoothly to a new management company, they recommend contracting with ARM to continue to manage the park from April through the 2026 operating season and issuing another Request for Proposals no later than July 2026.

Dingman discussed with ARM that if the renewal for the 2026 season is approved that ARM will likely face extra scrutiny. ARM “expect, acknowledge, and welcome that.”

Director Christina Catsavis asked when the audit of ARM will be concluded. Dingman said that the work will be conducted in April with the finished results delivered in May or June. Director Christina Catsavis advocated against the renewal and called the renewal “a slap in the face to the people of Fort Smith.” She mentioned that ARM lost an $8000 check and called them “negligent.” She said “I don’t know why we’re even entertaining this.”

Director Martin requested to see the other bids received for the management contract. He also asked if the $46,000 surplus for the park projected by ARM for 2026 is figured with the additional new slides included. Dingman answered that the slides are not included in the figure and that they will likely not be operational for the entire season if operational for any of the season at all.

The renewal will be up for a vote at the 3-17-26 meeting on the same night as the County votes on the issue at their meeting.

During the Citizens Forum, Jimmy Harrison spoke about his recent high water bill and asked why there were 38 days on the billing cycle instead of only 30. Director Good said that he spoke with Citizen Services Director Robertson and that he learned that a delay due to weather resulted in the delayed reading and the extra days in the billing cycle. Director Good said that he next bill’s cycle should be shorter than normal. Director Rego apologized to Harrison for the inconvenience.

Shane McKinney spoke and mentioned that he is circulating a petition to put a change in the form of the Fort Smith government from Administrative to Mayoral onto the ballot for a vote by the citizens. He mentioned that the possible change could create a challenge in finding a new City Administrator. He suggested that the Board vote to change the form of government rather than wait for the petition and the vote.

Gary Podgurski spoke and encouraged the Board to consider the busy special days at the National Cemetery when working on the project at 6th and Wheeler. He also pointed out that any veteran who is experiencing homelessness can go through the VA to get shelter. He voiced his opposition to renewing the contract with ARM.

Joey McCutcheon spoke and expressed his concerns about the City’s reliance on the Chamber of Commerce. He also expressed concerns about who pays for the security detail for high profile visitors like those related to the Foreign Military Sales program. He voiced his support for the change in the form of government. He announced that he intends to dismiss the lawsuit against the City about the no-bid contract with Royal Ridge for the water slide installation since the contract was rescinded and the project was rebid through the standard bidding procedure.

Dan Williams spoke about Christian religious matters.

Crystal Cadelli spoke and voiced support for Fort Smith’s application for the grant from the Boring Company. However, she expressed that the tunnel would not be a solution to the entire water transmission line project funding shortage. She also voiced concerns about drainage problems and advocated for prioritizing infrastructure spending.

Richard Morris spoke and praised the staff for the good service at the City departments he has interacted with. He also encouraged the City to look into and try to take advantage of additional opportunities that are being advertised by the Air Force related to pilot training (outside of the FMS program Fort Smith is currently involved in).

Quinton Cunningham spoke about homelessness. He said that “nobody is going to understand this until it happens to you” and “It’s awful.” He mentioned a variety of causes that can cause local people to become homeless with many households being only one paycheck away from homelessness including fires, car accidents, and stolen money. He said that “vilifying” homeless services does not help the situation.

Sara Harrison spoke and mentioned her involvement in AVO Group that she founded that feeds people downtown and gives bags full of toiletries to homeless individuals. She asked about the City consolidating sites feeding the homeless. Dingman mentioned that the recent moving of the pavilion from Hope Park to Hope Campus is part of that effort. She asked about the effects of the cuts to the number of Police officers on their ability to do enforcement related to homelessness. Director Martin mentioned that the cuts were all from not filling vacant positions and the positions that are to go unfilled are from the Crisis Intervention Unit, the Front Desk, and a Property Crimes Investigator. Harrison suggested using the parts of the former ACME property that are not needed for flood mitigation to build tiny houses for the homeless. Director Martin voiced his desire for the City to not get into providing housing and said “We’ve got providers that do this.” Harrison asked about job fairs. Director Settle mentioned that the Chamber of Commerce and the Peak Innovation Center both held fairs recently. Director Martin also mentioned the help provided at Hope Campus and Next Step for job seekers. Dingman added that WAPDD does some outreach to connect employers and job seekers.

Sharon Chapman with Next Step spoke and mentioned their program that provides homeless people from other places who want to go back to their hometowns and have accommodations/support available to them there with bus tickets back home. She mentioned that her organization performs street outreach and that information is not a problem. She said that most homeless individuals know about the resources that are available to them but that she cannot force them to participate in the programs and services available. She suggested that if camping is prohibited that a designated area be established where camping is allowed.