Arkoma sewer rate, potential property sales on Fort Smith board agenda

The Fort Smith Board of Directors on Tuesday (June 10) will again discuss what has become a contentious sewer rate negotiation with the neighboring Oklahoma town of Arkoma. The board also will talk about city-owned property that could be sold.

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 the rate Arkoma pays 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.

During the June 3 regular meeting the board voted to delay the rate increase for 21 days to provide more time to negotiate a new rate, with the negotiation possibly including the phasing in of a higher rate. Some board members also discussed a lower ccf rate charged to Arkoma to account for that city’s sewer infrastructure cost.

POSSIBLE PROPERTY SALES
The board also will discuss a 10-page list of 381 properties owned by the city. The list, developed by the office of City Clerk Sherri Gard, includes notes on properties that could be sold.

“Earlier in the year, the Board asked for a comprehensive list of all properties in the city that are owned by the City of Fort Smith,” Acting City Administrator Jeff Dingman noted in a memo to the Mayor and board. “The City Clerk worked up the list and circulated it through staff for feedback on the various properties, and that list was sent to the Board on May 15. There are certainly properties on the list that the city could sell or convey to others.”

Property on the list noted for possible sale includes the former Bost Building at 1801 S. 74th St., the former Mallalieu Church Building at 800 N. 9th St., 18 acres that is part of the Massard Business Park, and 14.15 acres along Riverfront Drive.

Other items on the study session agenda include discussion of a city grants policy, and a review of the city’s Energy and Environment Comprehensive Action Plan. The study session will be held at 6 p.m. in the Smith-Pendergraft Campus Center at the University of Arkansas at Fort Smith.