Highlights of the Fort Smith Board of Directors Meeting 9/16/25
At the Fort Smith Board of Directors meeting held 9-16-25 and led by Vice Mayor Rego, the Board voted in favor of amendments to the agreement with Oakview Group (OVG) to manage the Fort Smith Convention Center. These amendments were discussed at the 9-9-25 study session meeting.
The amendments will change the term of their contract from the original contract with a 5 year initial term followed by 5 one year terms to instead have an initial term of 8 years followed by one 2 year term. This amendment was requested by OVG to make it easier for them to attract and retain high quality staff. The amendments will also allow them to conduct a study regarding parking around the convention center and in the parking garage and provide the City with advice about that parking. OVG will conduct the study and advise the City on the parking at their own expense, at no cost to the City. There was discussion at the 9-9-25 meeting regarding OVG’s desire to start charging for parking around the convention center during ticketed events at the facility (not during conventions or private events). If action is eventually taken regarding allowing paid parking, the convention center anticipates being able to generate $3000 per show in revenue by charging $10 each for 300 parking spaces.
Director Kemp and Director George Catsavis asked if the additional revenue from parking would offset some of the amount of the subsidy from the general fund needed for the convention center. Acting City Administrator Dingman clarified that any additional convention center revenue including from parking would reduce the subsidy needed from the general fund but reminded that the amendment to be voted on at this time was only for the study and the advisory regarding parking not taking any action that would have any revenue generating potential yet. Director Christina Catsavis called the parking study a “good idea in theory” but voiced her concern that while the study would not cost the City, taking action as a result of the findings of the study might require funding and that there is not money available for upgrades to the parking garage.
The amendments passed with all except Director Christina Catsavis and Director Martin voting in favor of the amendments.
Another measure slated to be voted on would have allowed OVG to offer off-site catering to any event. Currently, they are only allowed to cater off-site to events that are for a client that has an event booked at the convention center that same week.
Kim Fodge and Joey McCutcheon spoke and expressed their opposition to the off-site catering because it would put local privately owned catering businesses at an unfair disadvantage to have to compete with the City subsidized convention center. Fodge mentioned that outside businesses are not allowed to cater events held at the convention center and suggested if the convention center were to be allowed to do outside catering that other caterers should be allowed to cater at the convention center.
No Directors motioned to adopt the off-site catering amendment to the OVG contract so it died for lack of a motion and was not discussed by the Board or voted on.
The Board discussed whether to enter into a loaned personnel agreement with Burns & McDonnell to allow for Ben Marts to serve as the Interim Director of Engineering. There are currently no qualified applicants to fill the position. The agreement would be for up to 6 months of full-time work at a cost not to exceed $317,493.
Director Martin asked if the agreement was just for Ben Marts or if it also included other employees or services from Burns & McDonnell. Dingman clarified that it was just for Marts. Director Martin said that he doesn’t “have a problem with Ben Marts” but expressed his concerns about the price for the contract. Dingman said that the City is “actively recruiting” for the Director of Engineering position as well as for project engineers.
Lavon Morton spoke and said that he is not against Marts and that he feels the rates are “not unreasonable” for that type of professional position. However, he said “we need the best firm in the United States” to help on the water infrastructure and consent decree sewer projects. He voiced his support for hiring a national firm that has experience with utilities projects in big cities instead of reliance on a local firm or in-house expertise only. He suggested a top-tier national firm could possibly help find ways for the projects be completed faster and for less money.
The Board voted unanimously to table the issue to a future study session meeting.
The Board voted unanimously to contract with Nicosia Contracting International for a time fill upgrade to the existing compressed natural gas filling station at the Transit headquarters. The upgrade will allow the buses to be filled fully with CNG fuel overnight and would result in savings of personnel time and the cost savings for that labor savings could be used instead for upgrades in passenger transportation services. The upgrade will cost $746,502 in total, but 90% of that cost will be reimbursed by the federal government. Nicosia was the only bidder for the contract.
The Board voted unanimously to purchase a 35 ft heavy duty blue transit bus from Gillig to replace a 2018 high mileage white cutaway style bus. The total cost for the bus will be $724,700, but the federal government will reimburse 85% of the cost resulting in the cost from City funds being only $108,700.
During the Officials Forum section of the meeting, Director Christina Catsavis announced her resignation from her seat on the Advertising and Promotion Commission.
During the Executive Session, Bill Hanna and Trent Goins were reappointed and Eric Hartness was appointed to the CBID.
