Fort Smith officials hold election info meetings

by The City Wire staff ([email protected]) 98 views 

A round of public information meetings is announced in anticipation of the March 13 sales tax election.

Following are items on the ballot for the March 13 election.
• Approval of refinancing current sales tax bonds ($55.3 million total). This issue must be passed in order for the second issue to pass.
• Approval of changing the current 1% sales tax to a three-quarter-cent sales tax for fire station improvements, wet weather sanitary sewer improvements, and water transmission system improvements. Voters will decide on whether to use bonds for each of these three areas separately.
• Approval of a quarter-cent sales tax to provide operating costs for the fire department and new projects for the Parks and Recreation Department. This tax has a 10-year sunset provision.

City officials said Tuesday (Feb. 21) that Mayor Sandy Sanders, City Administrator Ray Gosack, Fort Smith Fire Department Chief Mike Richards and Fort Smith Parks & Recreation Director Mike Alsup have conducted or scheduled almost 12 civic club presentations and forums.

In addition to the regularly-scheduled Ward 2 neighborhood meeting on March 1 at Elm Grove Community Center, the Fort Smith Fire Department has scheduled three more public meetings prior to the March 13 election, and the Fort Smith Parks Department has one additional meeting scheduled. Several civic club presentations are also planned.

Information events planned are:
Information event conducted by the Fort Smith Parks Department — Feb. 28, 2012, 6 p.m., Creekmore Community Center

Information events conducted by Fort Smith Fire Department are:
Ward 1
March 5, 2012 – 6 p.m. – Creekmore Park – Rose Room – Rogers Ave & South 31st

Ward 2
March 1, 2012 – 6 p.m. – Elm Grove Community Center – 1901 N. Greenwood (This presentation will be part of the already scheduled Ward 2 neighborhood meeting.)

Ward 3
March 8, 2012 – 6 p.m. – Fort Smith Senior Activity Center – 2700 Cavanaugh Road

Ward 4
Feb. 27, 2012 – 6 p.m. – Woods Elementary School Auditorium – 3201 Massard