Live broadcast of Fort Smith board meetings to start July 21
by July 17, 2009 4:57 pm 63 views
It will be nothing like what is telecast live from New York on Saturday night, but the regular meetings of the Fort Smith Board of Directors will be telecast live beginning with the July 21 meeting.
Those interested in watching the sausage being made can tune to cable access channel 5 at 6 p.m., July 21. If catching the drama live is not an option, the meetings will be rebroadcast Thursday through Sunday at 7 a.m., 2 p.m., 7 p.m. and 11 p.m.
Items on the agenda for this first live meeting include an ordinance authorizing Fort Smith’s agreement to the creation of the Western Arkansas Intermodal Authority, presentation of the 2008 comprehensive annual financial report and a minor amendment to the 2009 Unified Development Ordinance.
The annual financial report could produce the best show for those who intentionally dial up the broadcast or stumble across it looking for sports scores. According to a memo from City Finance Director Kara Bushkuhl, the report — prepared by the accounting firm of BKD — notes for the third consecutive annual report that employees in the finance department have “incompatible duties” that “may not be adequately segregated to safeguard City assets.”
Bushkuhl notes: “In accordance with recent auditing standards, these comments will continue to be reported until the City is able to implement more complimentary controls such as reassigning duties among personnel or by hiring additional staff.”
The authority requires approval from the governing bodies in Fort Smith and Van Buren, and the quorum courts in Crawford County and Sebastian County. The Crawford County Quorum Court has approved the authority and the Van Buren City Council will address the issue July 20. The Sebastian County Quorum Court also is scheduled to vote July 21 on the authority.
According to the agreement to be considered by the four governing bodies, the primary purpose of the authority “shall be to acquire, equip, construct, maintain, and/or operate an intermodal facility or facilities” in the effort to improve shipping products into and out of the Fort Smith area. The regional multi-modal transportation authority is allowed under Act 690 of the 2001 Arkansas General Assembly.
The board also is scheduled to meet in executive session to consider one new appointee or reappointment each to the city’s audit committee, the Convention Center Commission and the Property Owners Board of Appeals.