County to revisit Ben Geren water park plan

story by Aric Mitchell
[email protected]

Sebastian County Judge David Hudson said during Tuesday’s (July 26) Quorum Court meeting that up to $7.4 million in Ben Geren water park plans would be revisited during an early September meeting.

The meeting, tentatively scheduled for “Sept. 8 or Sept. 13,” according to Hudson, would be the second time Sebastian County and the city of Fort Smith have discussed this issue. The first meeting between the two factions of local government occurred Sept. 29, 2009. During that time there was discussion about several improvements that could be made to Ben Geren Park.

Among these improvements were 16 soccer fields, six tennis courts, and a minimum of two baseball fields. Also discussed was what Hudson referred to as “an interlocal agreement” for building a new aquatics facility at one of the entry points to the popular Fort Smith-based location. Ben Geren Park already includes a disc golf course, driving range, running trail, playground, and go-cart track, among other attractions.

Two plans are being discussed for the aquatics park
• A $4.75 million facility that Sebastian County would install and operate;
• A $7.4 million facility that would be a city and county partnership. The aquatics park would include water slides, a lazy river, swimming areas, a large pavilion, and other amenities.

“Our consultants see the larger facility as being more beneficial,” Hudson said. “Estimates are that there would be an 86% recovery rate of operating expenses against just 77% for the County only plan.”

Funds for the improvements would come from the county sales tax that will be revisited during the 2013 elections. By then, Sebastian County would have approximately $4.3 million earmarked for the project.

In other news, Sebastian County Sheriff Bill Hollenbeck shared progress on the Greenwood Courthouse security improvements.

“We’re right on track for extra security and currently working with the County Judge’s office to buy an X-ray machine. At this time, we’d like to ask the quorum court to pool the resources that we have regarding our deputies. Each one has a certain amount of money they can make, and it’s difficult finding qualified people, who are willing to work just 20 hours per week,” Hollenbeck said.

Previously, the quorum court had approved two part-time deputy positions for the Sheriff’s department to maintain security standards at the Greenwood facility. The new plan will combine hours from both positions to allow more freedom in scheduling.

Hollenbeck said his office has the “bare bone minimum” to upkeep security at Greenwood from 7:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. each weekday through the end of the year. More funding will be necessary when the 2012 budget is addressed, Hollenbeck said.

Aside from additional deputy manpower and the aforementioned X-ray machine, the deputy workstation has also been completed and security doors will be installed to ensure any non-emergency passage is channeled through the front door.

Hollenbeck also introduced members of the quorum court to Captain Hobe Runion, who will fill the Sebastian County Court Security Division position, which was vacated by the late John Mendenhall, who died of pancreatic cancer on July 11.

Other new personnel introduced at Tuesday’s meeting included Steven Hotz, who is assuming the Human Resource Director position, and Kathy Lawrence, who has been promoted to comptroller. Melissa Sinclair will take over as assistant comptroller for Lawrence.

The next meeting of the Sebastian County Quorum Court will be held on Aug. 16 at the Greenwood Courthouse.