Arkoma sewer rate, internal auditor, Ebbing work part of Fort Smith Board agenda

The Fort Smith Board of Directors has a busy June 3 regular meeting, with an Arkoma sewer service agreement delay, $2.5 million in entrance work to Ebbing Air National Guard Base, and internal auditor discussion on the agenda.

The board, Fort Smith officials and Arkoma officials have in recent weeks discussed publicly and privately a plan by the City of Fort Smith to substantially increase what the city charges Arkoma for sewer service.

Arkoma officials say city residents can’t afford the $8.75 ccf sewer rate set to begin June 1. The existing rate is $2.69 ccf, meaning the new rate imposed by Fort Smith would be a 350% increase. Arkoma Mayor Josh Johnson went public in mid May with his frustrations about the sewer increase that was sent to begin June 1.

The Fort Smith board at a May 27 study session heard from Johnson and Arkoma Vice Mayor Bobby Weatherford about their effort to improve the troubled water and sewer system in the Oklahoma city that borders Fort Smith. Several Fort Smith directors suggested during the study session that more time be given to find a compromise with the rate structure.

“The Board requested City Administration and Water Utilities Management work with the Town of Arkoma to find a compromise and solution to the impact of the wholesale sewer rates on the Town of Arkoma,” Lance McAvoy, director of Fort Smith water utilities, noted in a memo to Acting City Administrator Jeff Dingman for the June 3 agenda. “As requested by Directors Kemp and Rego, the proposed ordinance suspends the rate increase for the Town of Arkoma for twenty-one days.”

AUDITOR ISSUE
Fort Smith Director Lee Kemp sought a discussion on “future steps” in the effort to hire an internal auditor. The internal auditor and the city’s administrator are the only two positions the board directly hires and fires.

The Fort Smith Board of Directors on April 22 unanimously approved a resolution to hire Rebecca Cowan for the position of internal auditor with an annual salary of $110,000.

On April 23 it was reported that Cowan faced felony charges related to a 2024 stalking charge. On April 24, the board met in a special called session to rescind the resolution to hire Cowan. Board members said they were not aware of Cowan’s legal situation prior to the April 22 vote. The board also called on city administration to begin a new search without using an executive search firm.

The board also asked Dingman to initiate disciplinary measures against Human Resources Director Rick Lolley. Acting Fort Smith City Administrator Jeff Dingman has decided on a “progressive discipline” action against Chief Human Resources Officer Rick Lolley.

Cowan’s felony charge would in late May be reduced to a misdemeanor. Cowan, through her attorney, has declined to comment on her case.

EBBING WORK
Ebbing, located adjacent to the Fort Smith Regional Airport, was selected in March 2023 by the U.S. Air Force to be the long-term pilot training center supporting F-35 fighter planes purchased by Singapore, Switzerland, Poland, Germany, Finland, and other countries participating in the Foreign Military Sales (FMS) program. Singapore will also house F-16 fighter jets at the base.

The estimated total cost to complete the training center is $1.2 billion, and around $600 million has been appropriated since 2021 for the center, according to Robert Ator, Secretary of Veterans Affairs in Arkansas. Part of the work is set to include $2.5 million for road and signalization work to improve access to the base.

“Current access to the base is not sufficient to accommodate the projected increase in traffic due to the growth at the base related to the FMS project,” Stan Snodgrass, director of engineering, noted in a memo to Dingman. “The anticipated work is expected to include intersection/traffic signal improvements at Phoenix Avenue and Airport Boulevard, an additional access street along Phoenix Avenue south of Airport Boulevard and a proposed traffic signal on Phoenix Avenue at the north end of base.”

The work, in coordination with the Arkansas Department of Transportation, requires the board to approve a $500,000 match by the City of Fort Smith.