1% opponent suspicious of Rodeo-Fair Board vote

Liz Armstrong, a leader of the group opposing the 1% prepared food tax issue in Fort Smith, takes exception with Tuesday’s vote by the Rodeo-Fair Board to endorse passage of the 1% tax. She says it was a hurried vote that caught board members off guard following a “very heated” board meeting.

The Arkansas-Oklahoma Regional Education & Promotion Association, also known as the Rodeo-Fair Board, announced Tuesday that its members voted 26-0 to endorse the proposed 1% prepared food tax during its annual meeting. This board forms the nonprofit that manages Kay Rodgers Park and produces the Old Fort Days Rodeo, the Arkansas-Oklahoma State Fair and other events throughout the year.

Proceeds from the 1% prepared food tax, which is on the Nov. 8 ballot, would support operations of the Fort Smith Convention Center.

Armstrong provided the following statement to The City Wire.
The press release was factually incorrect and grossly misrepresented what happen at the meeting according to our sources on the Board and we were told:
• The meeting in question had issues discussed that became "very heated" some of which resulted in what has been  characterized "unprofessional, and embarrassing behavior" and this issues "was not a true unanimously agreed upon vote".
• There was not a role call vote.
• The issue was not on the agenda, The 1% Prepared Food Tax was added after the some Board Members left the meeting.
• We were not given the opportunity to present why the proposed tax is not good for Ft. Smith.

We believe this press release misrepresents the facts.

But Rodeo-Fair Board member Judge Jim Spears and Denny Flynn, director of Kay Rodgers Park, disagreed with Armstrong’s assessment and information.

“It was true that it was not on the agenda, but no one had left the meeting that I was aware of,” Spears said. “There was not a heated debate about anything. There was very little comment made I talked and (Billy) Dooly talked. It was then put up for a vote and that was it.”

Continuing, Spears said: “And yes, it was a voice vote, but no one said ‘nay.’ That (voice vote) is not uncommon with this board.”

The Rodeo-Fair Board did have a lengthy meeting that had a 13-13 tie in the vote for board chairman with Dr. Monroe Morton, present board chairman, and Mike Cialone, a local bank executive with Regions Bank.

“There wasn’t anything really heated in the board meeting,” Flynn said. “Yes, we had a tie with that (board chairman vote(, but we had a real good meeting yesterday.”

But when told what Spears and Flynn had said, Armstrong stood firm. She claimed that some board members told her the last minute motion by Spears to seek the 1% endorsement was an "underhanded" attempt to support the 1% tax.

Due to the dynamics of this board our sources have asked at this time to remain anonymous. I would challenge you to call and ask the board members if they personally to support this tax. We contend it was not a truly unanimous vote,” Armstrong said.