FCRA donates land to county, seeks Kentucky Guard money

story by Aric Mitchell
[email protected]

The Fort Chaffee Redevelopment Authority (FCRA) met Thursday to act on two new recommendations from the Real Estate Review Committee (RERC).

The first recommendation was that the FCRA donate approximately 42 acres of land to Sebastian County for inclusion at Ben Geren Park. The land will include Stick Lake, and will serve to connect Chaffee and Ben Geren. It was passed unanimously by the board.

FCRA Executive Director Ivy Owen said the donation will enable Sebastian County to attain grant money for development of their bike trails, and that “with the amphitheater opening, interest in developing those trails is heightened.”

Sebastian County Judge and FCRA board member David Hudson noted: “Game and Fish will be administering the grant money through the Parks and Recreation Department. This is really a win-win for all concerned. It will make this (Fort Smith) a more desirable place to reside and live.”

“A lot of people aren’t sure when they’re in Chaffee Crossing and when they’re in Ben Geren Park, so this will help mark the territories, while making it more convenient for visitors,” FCRA Chairman Michael Milton added.

The second RERC recommendation was to grant two 3-year extensions to Arvest Bank should they not be able to open a new branch within three years of purchasing land at the southwest corner of Chad Colley and Massard Road. This recommendation was also approved unanimously.

In August, Arvest offered FCRA $100,000 for approximately 2.6 acres of land for a new branch, but the final purchase was delayed because Arvest was uncertain whether it could close the project in a 3-year framework. At that time, the FCRA agreed to grant the purchase if an agreement could be reached in 30 days.

“I feel comfortable with what they’ve proposed to us,” Owen said, noting that the land would begin to depreciate after five years and that the board holds a first right of refusal to buy back the land should Arvest be unable to install a branch within nine years of purchase. The buyback price would be for the amount that FCRA is selling it to the Bentonville, Ark., based company.

In other items of business, the FCRA is continuing to seek help from the Kentucky National Guard for the old base hospital fire in August. Owen said cleanup efforts will cost approximately $585,000 and the official cause was “accidental, smoking materials.”

Owen continued: “We’ve heard some talk that the buildings were going to be torn down anyway, so what’s the big deal? Yes, that’s true. But those buildings were going to be set for demolition on our time. To take care of this now, $585,000 would have to be taken away from something else that we’re doing. We have money earmarked, contracted and dedicated to water and sewer developments and other projects, and we’re going to continue to do those things. It’s not a good time to be taking more than a half million dollars away from those projects to clean up a fire we know we didn’t start.”

The FCRA continues to work with the Kentucky National Guard to reach an agreement on the cleanup plan, according to FCRA Marketing Director Stephanie Malone, but so far, the matter is still open. Owen said the Arkansas National Guard has offered its support.

Finally, the board acknowledged former member Linda Schmidt’s letter of resignation.

“Linda has been a dedicated, hard-working member of this board for many years,” Owen said. “But she’s had some family health problems, and can no longer devote the time that it takes. While she was here, she volunteered for almost every committee, and we’re just going to miss her.”

A committee has been selected to find a replacement “as quickly as possible,” Owen said.

The next regularly scheduled meeting of the FCRA will be held Oct. 20.