Highlights of the Fort Smith Board of Directors Meeting 4/21/26

At the Fort Smith Board of Directors held 4-21-26 and led by Vice Mayor Rego in the absence of Mayor McGill, the Board was set to vote on moving the Citizens Forum (currently held at the end of one study session per month and allowing speakers 5 minutes to address the Board on any topic not on the meeting agenda) to being held at the beginning of every regular meeting and allowing speakers 3 minutes to speak on any City business related topic (including topics on the meeting agenda). This issue was discussed at the 4/14/26 study session meeting.

Kim Fodge spoke and supported changing it to the beginning of the meeting and allowing comments on any topic. She suggested that the speakers be allowed 5 minutes to speak and that the Citizens Forum also held at all meetings (study sessions and regular meetings).

Eric Weidman spoke and asked the Directors if they’d ever been told no at any point in their lives.

Jo Elsken spoke in support of the change to 3 minutes twice a month instead of 5 minutes once a month. She said “Three minutes is adequate.”

Chris Cadelli spoke and suggested that Citizens Forum be held at all meetings and that speakers be allowed 5 minutes to speak.

Kristen Kitchens spoke and suggested the Citizens Forum be held at all meetings. She also voiced her concerns about the floodwater mitigation pond project at the former Acme Brick property including the potential presence of heavy metals in the soil.

Krystal Cadelli spoke in support of changing Citizens Forum to the beginning of meetings and mentioned the difficulty for some residents who are elderly, handicapped, or have small children to wait until the end of meetings to speak. She said that 3 minutes is not long and suggested speakers be allowed 5 minutes instead and that citizen comments on the agenda items should also be allowed 3 minutes (instead of the current 2 minutes).

Gary Podgurski spoke and asked the Board who could be heard in the footage from last week’s meeting saying “God, here we go again.” in response to his speaking. He suggested allowing 5 minutes for Citizens Forum comments at all meetings, allowing comments after the Board makes amendments to an agenda item at regular meetings, and allowing citizens to comment after the Board adds additional items to the agenda.

Joey McCutchen spoke and praised the improvements to the video, audio, and website for the meetings. He called moving the Citizens Forum to the beginning of the meetings “a really really good idea”. He voiced his support for allowing comments on any topic. He suggested allowing 5 minutes for Citizens Forum comments at all meetings.

Director Christina Catsavis motioned for an amendment to change the time allowed for Citizen Forum comments from 3 minutes to 5 minutes. The amendment passed with all but Director Good, DIrector Settle, and Director Martin voting in favor of extending the time limit from 3 minutes to 5.

Director Settle asked if the changes would allow residents to speak on agenda items during the Citizens Forum and then again later when the item comes up on the agenda. It was clarified that they would. Director Settle said of the Citizens Forum format “I’m ok with changing it back” but acknowledged “how it has changed and evolved” mentioning in the past how it was sometimes used for things like singing, throwing footballs at the Board, and sometimes was a “sideshow.”

Director Martin reminded of the history of the changes to the Forum, from it being a Town Hall that was an entirely separate meeting held after a regular meeting, to the change to a Citizens Forum section of a study session meeting in 2022. He mentioned that one of the main reasons for the change was to give it the flexibility to be moved around to the beginning or end of a meeting when desired (where the Town Hall as a stand alone meeting rather than an agenda item cannot be moved). He mentioned that the end was chosen to help people who work and cannot get to the meeting by 6pm. He mentioned that it was considered that back then study sessions used to be shorter than regular meetings, but acknowledged that that may not be the case now. Director Good said that while there are still citizens who have a hard time arriving by 6pm, most can make it. Director Martin said that the “goal is to accommodate people.”

Director Good said “we are very lax when it comes to appeasing our citizens” mentioning the Directors making themselves available for direct contact even on nights and weekends and during vacations. He mentioned the Citizens Forum has been adjusted multiple times. He said “We’re here to hear from our citizens.”

Director George Catsavis inquired if the Mayor could stop speakers who are out of line. City Attorney Rowe answered that if the changes are passed that speakers would be allowed to speak on any topic so there would be no guidelines for the Mayor to say what lines of commenting are out-of-order during the Citizens Forum (they could talk about anything) but on the agenda items that the Mayor could make speakers stick to addressing only that agenda item. Director Good mentioned that the Board members can also call for order. Director Christina Catsavis said “It’s not for us to police the tone.” but voiced her desire for the comments on the agenda items to stay on topic to help the meeting progress smoothly.

Director Good asked how the rules would be enforced if a speaker went over their 5 minutes or were to get out of line. Director Rego said that the Mayor would “do their level best to enforce the time limit at hand” and to prevent getting out of control in a way that would not be professional and would not represent our community well. He said that the Chair of the meeting would keep decorum in mind.

The Board voted unanimously to move the Citizens Forum to being held at the beginning of every regular meeting and allow speakers 5 minutes to speak on any City business related topic.

The Board voted unanimously to amend the existing contract with Halff Associates for design for the flood mitigation ponds at the former Acme Brick Property. The original idea for the site included 2 ponds, but soil tests revealed that the Quarry pond on the west side of the site would require extensive rock excavation. To reduce construction costs, it is suggested that a third pond be built further west to eliminate the need to excavate the Quarry pond deeper. Also, the amendment will include a design for a potential wet version of the Quarry Pond instead of the originally planned dry version. The wet version would be a lake-like water feature year round, unlike the dry version that would only have water in it periodically when heavy rains fill it. The amendment will also incorporate $173,000 worth of design work for consent decree sewer work related to the project. The amendment will cost a total of an additional $464,860. This issue was discussed at the 4-14-26 study session meeting.

Shane McKinney spoke in support of the flood control efforts. He also voiced his concerns about projects being presented stripped to the lowest level to get approval and then having to be added to later.

Kim Fodge spoke in support of the project. She praised the combination of the consent decree sewer work with the flood mitigation project to reduce costs.

Krystal Cadelli spoke and voiced concerns about the increased cost for the design work. She suggested better discussions with third-party engineering firms to get more firm numbers on costs. She praised Engineering Director Mittge. She suggested “beefing up” the engineering department to allow more design work to be done in-house to reduce reliance on outside firms.

Carl Nevin spoke in support of the project. He mentioned that selling the shale would be “a win-win for us.” He praised Mittge.

Joey McCutchen spoke. He praised Mittge. He voiced concerns about the amendment doubling the cost of the design work for the project. He voiced support for the flood control measures but not for parks amenities at the site. He expressed his hope that the management company for consent decree projects that is to be hired soon will help save money in the future.

Director Settle also praised Mittge.

Director Good mentioned concerns about other flooding issues including on the North side of town including Town Branch, Maybranch, and Mill Creek drainage troubles. He mentioned progress being made on purchasing flood properties on Kinkead. Acting City Administrator Dingman confirmed that progress and added that the Maybranch project is “an engineering feat” and “expensive” and that the Acme project should help with that problem.

Director Kemp voiced his support for a full staff in the Engineering Department. He asked if the Acme project is the size of project that could be done in-house with a full staff or if that size would always need outside help. Mittge answered that it would be too big for handling in-house. He said “I would love to not have the expense of a consultant.” He mentioned recent projects including a utility project and a project on Euper Lane that are being done in-house and called doing things in-house when possible a “very good value.”

Director Christina Catsavis asked for an update on the hiring for engineers. Mittge said that there is an interview scheduled next week for a project engineer. He said “I’m optimistic.” Director Christina Catsavis said that with the third pond that she doesn’t see room left for a park. Mittge said that the wet detention pond would be more attractive than a dry one for grant funding later and that he thinks that there is still room for amenities even with the third pond.

Director George Catsavis expressed concerns about the costs for the project, both for the engineering phase and the construction. He voiced concerns that it will be “another 10 million dollar project” when it is done.

Mittge mentioned that there will be an agenda item on the 5/5/26 meeting to set things in motion to apply for FEMA BRIC grant funds for the project. Grants Manager Hoover mentioned that the grant would be 75% federal funding with a 25% local contribution. Mittge said of the project cost “It is a lot of money.” Director George Catsavis voiced his support for the flood mitigation measures but not for parks amenities.

The Board voted unanimously to install honorary street name signs designating a portion of Midland Avenue near the former location of Twin City Colored Hospital at 1717 Midland “Rainbow Girls Boulevard” in honor of the Rainbow Girls, a black women’s auxiliary who raised funds for patients receiving care at the Twin City hospital.

Nichelle Christian whose grandmother was President of the Rainbow Girls spoke in support of the naming.

Joey McCutchen spoke in support of the naming and called the Rainbow Girls “heros in the time of segregation.” He mentioned that the Rainbow Girls also raised the funds to purchase a neon sign for the hospital that was much needed for ambulances to be able to find it.

Director Rego voiced his support and called the Rainbow Girls an example of “folks working hard to make the very best of a terrible time.”

Director Good praised Nichelle Christian’s diligence in honoring and sharing the history of the Rainbow Girls.

The Board voted unanimously to purchase a Gillig heavy duty bus for the Transit. The total cost of the bus would be $783,611, but the federal government will reimburse 85% of that cost, leaving the amount coming from Fort Smith funds only $117,550.

Gary Podgurski spoke and asked about the maximum occupancy rate of the bus. Transit Director Savage answered that it will hold 30 passengers (including 3 wheelchairs). He also mentioned that the smaller style white buses used before the large buses held only 17 people resulting in people having to sit on the floors and ride standing holding the handrails. Podgurski asked about the increase in price for this bus over the last time that the large buses were purchased. Savage answered that the others were $540,000 each in the original 2019 contract and that the company has a 5% price cap over the price index applied each year resulting in the higher price this year. Podgurski asked if it would be natural gas fueled. Savage confirmed that it would. Podgurski asked if the purchase should have gone to a study session first since the City’s cost will be over $100,000. Director Christina Catsavis clarified that the purchase does not need to go to a study session first because the ordinance requiring purchases over $100,000 to go to a study session only applies to non-budgeted purchases and projects and that the bus purchase was already included in the budget already approved.

During the Officials Forum section of the meeting, Director Kemp suggested that in response to an email from a citizen and a group of 50 residents requesting the mosquito fogging program not be reinstated that the reinstatement be paused for the Board to be allowed to talk more with that group and with the City staff. Director Good added that he has also talked to citizens who would like the program paused again. He said that it was brought back by requests from citizens. He suggested that other measures could be taken instead of resuming spraying. The issue will be added to a future study session agenda.

Dingman updated that the Request for Proposals for the construction management company for consent decree projects should begin 4-26-26. Director Christina Catsavis asked how long the RfP would be open. City Attorney Rowe answered that it would be open for 2 weeks.