Subdivision raises fire rating concerns; organizational revamp moves forward

There was virtually no discussion during the Tuesday (Aug. 10) Fort Smith board of directors study session on a proposed plan to revamp the city’s administrative organizational chart.

Board members did have several questions about plans for a large subdivision planned for south Fort Smith that is estimated to cost $17 million to fully develop.

ORGANIZATIONAL CHANGE
The organizational change would put eight areas under City Administrator Dennis Kelly’s oversight that would put at least 14 people answering to Kelly. Deputy City Administrator Ray Gosack would oversee two city sections — management services and development services — that would include managing at least seven people.

“In the course of setting up a performance evaluation process wherein the Department Directors report directly to the City Administrator (CA) for operational purposes it is necessary to ‘realign’ the organization charts from the 2010 Budget to show Department Directors line up as such,” Kelly noted in a memo to the board.

On Tuesday, board members simply agreed to place the item on the board’s Aug. 17 voting agenda.

PLANNED SUBDIVISION
The large subdivision, Middleton Farms, the large subdivision consuming 325 acres and creating 820 housing lots, did generate discussion — specifically with respect to the city providing adequate fire protection service to maintain a favorable insurance rating for city residents.

Fort Smith Fire Chief Mike Richards said he is concerned that without timely construction of a planned fire station in the White Bluff-Rye Hill area, the response times  may not allow the city to comply with the Insurance Service Offices rating for the city. The city now has a Class 2 rating. A downgrade in the rating would push insurance premiums higher for residential and commercial property.

The proposed 820-lot subdivision is located east of Riley Farms in south Fort Smith. Street work for the new subdivision is estimated at $3.9 million, with the city’s share being $1.6 million. The water and sewer costs would be the full responsibility of the developer. Land around a lake on the property may be donated to the city to develop as a park. Owners and developers of the property include Richard Griffin, Bradley Kidder, Patricia Ann Middleton Bateman and Rob Westphal.

“This is a great investment for our city,” City Director Don Hutchings said of the subdivision plan.

With the first phase of the subdivision estimated to be ready by 2012, the city will have a few years to find the funds to build one or two fire stations. Fire station 11 is already planned for Chaffee Crossing to serve the growing residential and industrial development in that area.

Pat Mickle, with the Fort Smith-based civil engineering firm of Mickle-Wagner-Coleman, said he’s been working on the project for more than 20 years.

“It’s been a function of that (water and sewer) getting to that area. It’s there now, and with the growth (at Chaffee Crossing) and the I-49 work, it’s coming together,” Mickle said after the meeting while pointing to the areas on a map.

Bobby Aldridge, with Mickle-Wagner-Coleman, said home prices in the subdivision will range between $125,000 and $250,000. As to the demand for such a large subdivision, Aldridge said the owners are flexible with the four phases so they may adjust to demand.

“This will depend on how they build out Chaffee Crossing,” Aldridge explained. “We’re competing with extremely cheap land (at Chaffee), so that’s the reason we’re going slow and waiting.”

Middleton Farms won’t be the largest subdivision in recent years, but it may see the most homes built. Riley Farms is built on 512 acres, but Middleton will have about 50% more homes, Mickle explained.