City critic considers televised meeting support

C&H Tire Owner Jerry Hamel is wanting to discuss "the parameters of funding" for televising City of Fort Smith Board of Directors meetings, he told The City Wire on Tuesday (March 13).

Hamel emphasized that "at this moment, it's an interest, not something I've said that I'm going to do."

City Administrator Ray Gosack confirmed as much at the City of Fort Smith Board of Directors Study Session earlier in the day. Gosack told The City Wire that it costs “between $26,000 and $27,000 per year” to televise all of the meetings.

“Approximately $6,500-$7,000 of those monies come out of the general fund,” Gosack said.

As a cost cutting measure in the latter part of 2011, the board voted to suspend televising meetings until July, at which time the matter would be revisited.

Hamel, an outspoken critic of the Fort Smith Board of Directors and city administration, was not in attendance on Tuesday, but spoke by phone after the event.

"I think it (televising) would be good for a public service," Hamel said. "We've been pretty active in the community through the years. We donated a building to the Fraternal Order of Police for 10 years, worth around $250,000, and we've helped a lot of community organizations. It's in our best interests to help the community; that's what companies should do."

At the meeting, when Gosack revealed to board members that Hamel had “an interest in funding at least part” of the television broadcasts, and that discussion would begin at the next staff meeting, the news was met with a lukewarm reaction.

“I can’t believe we’re even having this conversation,” City Director Don Hutchings said.

Director Philip Merry noted that “private citizens have helped fund other city projects,” including the Mayor’s Fourth of July event and the Christmas lights at Creekmore Park. But Hutchings and others were concerned about a “hidden agenda.”

“This is a man, who has been brutal to our city and our directors. You can’t hide it. And I think partnering with him would be a major mistake,” Hutchings said.

Gosack explained that Hamel “routinely runs ads in the Southwest Times Record with cartoons that are anything but flattering” towards the city.

Director Good added, “Let them have the meeting. This’ll have to come before the board anyway.”

Hamel was "bothered" about the criticism over his ads.

"We live in a city with one of the lowest pay rates in the state, and I'm talking the average pay rate, which is $19,000 or $20,000 per year. If we run ads against over the top city spending and higher taxes, I think we're protecting the best interests of the community."

Hamel continued: "If everybody gets involved in city government, you have a good city government. Being a public servant is about serving the public. Sometimes it gets off center, and it needs to be pushed back. Our ads are meant to be funny. I don't like personal attacks, and I try never to do them."

Top city staffers are set to meet 9 a.m., Thursday (Mar. 15) with Hamel.

CUSTOMER SERVICE SURVEY
Also at Tuesday’s study session, the Board discussed revisions to the customer service survey platform for Development Services. The city has shown interest in making surveys ongoing, rather than once annually.

They are also hoping to add a “name optional” field to the surveys in case any contractors wish for an open dialog.

City Planning Director Wally Bailey also expressed interest in utilizing a “site like SurveyMonkey (free online survey software and questionnaire tool)” in an effort to cut costs and expedite issues.

The next regularly scheduled City of Fort Smith Board of Directors meeting will take place March 20.

That meeting will follow a March 15 study session scheduled for 6:30 p.m. in the Bartlett Community Room of the Fort Smith Police Department. Board members will discuss and review recommendations from the Animal Services Task Force.