Job numbers, waterslides, homeless ordinance part of Fort Smith Board meeting

With a regional job numbers report, possible Parrot Island Waterpark slides and management changes, and a homeless ordinance discussion, Tuesday’s (March 10) study session of the Fort Smith Board of Directors could prove lively and lengthy.

According to the city’s agenda for the study session, officials from the University of Arkansas Fort Smith (UAFS) Center for Economic Development and the Western Arkansas Planning and Development District (WAPDD) will discuss the regional economy and workforce support programs offered by their respective organizations.

The latest U.S. Bureau of Labor (BLS) report shows that the Fort Smith metro had 105,200 jobs in December, up from 104,500 in December 2024, but down from 105,400 in November. The December numbers are also down 3.3% compared with peak nonfarm employment of 108,800 in November 2007. The metro jobless rate was 4.4% in December, higher than 3.3% in December 2024.

The Compass Report, which is managed by Talk Business & Politics and produced by UAFS, has reported on regional economic conditions since 2023.

“The Fort Smith Metro experienced modest economic growth in the third quarter of 2025, supported by steady gains in non-farm employment,” according to the most recent report. “From September 2024 to September 2025, the region added approximately 800 jobs, bringing total employment to 104,600. Taken as a whole, the regional economy remained stable, with job growth concentrated in select sectors.”

WATERSLIDES
After a botched attempt to use Royal Ridge Construction to help install five new waterslides at Parrot Island Waterpark, the board will on Tuesday be presented with two new bids to install the slides.

The water park opened in 2015 at Ben Geren Regional Park, which is owned by Sebastian County. Its initial construction cost was shared jointly by the county and the city. Grand Prairie, Texas-based American Resort Management (ARM) has managed the park since its opening.

The Fort Smith board initially voted to spend $2.1 million on the slides and installation, with Sebastian County expected to also spend $2.1 million. The Sebastian County Quorum Court voted against buying the slides. The Fort Smith board voted in September 2024 to pick up the other $2.1 million and continue with purchase and installation of the slides.

It was learned in October 2025 that the cost to install the five slides would push beyond the $4.2 million approved for the project. The board then voted Jan. 20 on a $2.689 million plan to finish the project, with Fort Smith-based Royal Ridge Construction awarded the work outside of the competitive bidding process. However, Fort Smith attorney Joey McCutchen filed a lawsuit saying the city unlawfully awarded Royal Ridge a $1.059 million contract without seeking bids. Director Lee Kemp said he worked with Royal Ridge to expedite the process to install the slides.

According to a city memo from Acting City Administrator Jeff Dingman, city staff recommends SSI Inc. of Fort Smith be awarded a $1.751 million contract for the construction of the five slides, and awarding Little Rock-based Clarity Pools at $664,200 bid for water pumps and piping portion of the slide project.

“These two bids represent a total combined cost of $2,416,110. The remaining $273,128 will be used for third-party inspections as well as other site improvements such as fencing, flat concrete, landscaping, lighting, etc. that are not essential components of the slides themselves,” Dingman noted.

PARROT ISLAND MANAGEMENT
The city and Sebastian County officials are considering proposals for waterpark management for the 2026 season. Dingman has said he and Sebastian County Judge Steve Hotz signed a temporary management agreement with ARM to ensure the facility would be managed through March 31.

In the agenda for the Tuesday meeting, Dingman said the consensus is that ARM continue to manage the park through the 2026 season, with new management proposals reviewed prior to the 2027 season. He also said keeping ARM engaged will help with an ongoing audit.

“This interim solution for the 2026 management avoids putting even presumed responsibility for the success of that project (new waterslide installation) on a new operator,” Dingman noted in a memo. The other company we interviewed contended that while they could certainly take on management of the park with a short transition period, they recommended in follow-up discussion that we not transition to a new operating team for the 2026 season, saying that regardless of the provider, a constrained transition timeline is likely to be disruptive and will not yield optimal results for the park.”

‘GRANTS PASS’ ORDINANCE REVIEW
The board is set to discuss an ordinance they rejected in December 2024. The ordinance is based on an ordinance approved by the city of Grants Pass, Ore., that prohibit camping on public properties that survived U.S. Supreme Court scrutiny.

The board voted 4-3 on Dec. 17, 2024, against a plan that was crafted in part to address concerns by people who live and work in downtown Fort Smith. The vote came after the board received pushback from several citizens who said the plan is too onerous on those who are homeless because of mental illness, drug abuse, and other issues.

Details in the proposed ordinance included that no person may occupy a campsite on city property that does not meet existing city code; no person may sleep on sidewalks, alleyways and in doorways; weapons, drug paraphernalia, items appearing to be stolen, and evidence of a crime may be retained as evidence by the Fort Smith Police Department until an alternate disposition is determined; and, violators will be charged with a misdemeanor.

Fort Smith Police Chief Danny Baker said during the December 2024 meeting he had concerns with an ordinance requiring police officers to physically relocate the homeless, and said “legislation” will never fully address the issue of homelessness.