Tag: Fort Smith Board of Directors

Fort Smith Board denies nonprofit extra $8,000 payout on city-caused water issue, cites tort immunity

The Fort Smith Board of Directors denied an exception to its $5,000 sovereign immunity policy on Tuesday (Aug. 15) for damage incurred to nonprofit Midtown Apartments due to city negligence….

Fort Smith City Administrator admits city should have told citizens about recycling problem

Fallout from the city of Fort Smith’s decision to landfill close to 1,500 tons of curbside recyclables continued to play out during the abbreviated regular meeting and in the town…

Fort Smith’s CDBG, HOME programs for low-income citizens could be cut in 2018

Each year the Fort Smith Board of Directors reviews recommendations from its citizen-led Community Development Advisory Committee (CDAC) on how to allocate federal funding to area nonprofit programs designed for…

Fort Smith Board approves panhandling and smoking ban ordinances, $4 million drainage contract

The Fort Smith Board of Directors approved two controversial ordinances on street panhandling and smoking in city parks Tuesday night (Feb. 21) at its regular meeting. Also, the Board voted…

Fort Smith Board of Directors places RITA on notice, terminates River Valley Sports Complex

The Fort Smith Board of Directors approved an intermodal port study, overruled the city’s planning commission on a new business development, and terminated its contract with River Valley Sports Complex…

Fort Smith Board pushes back on water, sanitation plans

The Fort Smith Board of Directors took issue with two proposals from city officials at the Tuesday (Jan. 24) study session. The first was a recommendation the Board transfer 30…

Fort Smith Board of Directors voices frustration, calls for deadline on River Valley Sports Complex

The Fort Smith Board of Directors drew a line in the sand for organizers of the River Valley Sports Complex at Tuesday’s (Jan. 10) study session. Fort Smith businessman Lee…

Fort Smith Director criticizes spending on Riverfront Park Sports Complex

The Fort Smith Board of Directors approved $1.938 million in consent agenda items related to the Riverfront Park Sports Complex on Tuesday night, Jan. 3, but it was not without…

Fort Smith Board bond approval gives ArcBest a $2.4 million tax incentive over the next 10 years

The Fort Smith Board of Directors has approved an ordinance for $46 million in Industrial Development Revenue Bonds on behalf of ArcBest Corp. to support its corporate headquarter expansion. The…

Fort Smith Utility Department eyes $550,000 meter replacement program, would reduce lost revenue

The city of Fort Smith will launch a $550,000 effort in 2017 to begin replacing its more than 35,000 water meters pending approval of next year’s budget. Interim Utilities Director…

Fort Smith Board hears update on Chaffee redevelopment, rejects effort to regulate Airbnb sites

The Fort Chaffee Redevelopment Authority (FCRA) is down to its last 1,800 marketable acres, FCRA Executive Director Ivy Owen said Tuesday (Dec. 13) at the Fort Smith Board of Directors…

Fort Smith Board of Directors approve overage on Greg Smith River Trail, talks about review of legal support

The Fort Smith Board of Directors approved a $50,853 addition to Frontier Engineering’s original $156,000 contract for work on the recently completed Greg Smith River Trail, but it was not…

Fort Smith city employees could see cost of living raises, more budget cuts required

The Fort Smith Board of Directors tasked City Administrator Carl Geffken and staff to find $275,000 in cuts to the general fund to pay for 1% cost of living adjustment…

Donald Trump and Fort Smith consent decree, employee pay highlight night two of budget hearings

The upcoming administration of President-elect Donald Trump could alter the $480 million federal consent decree leveled against Fort Smith, according to City Administrator Carl Geffken. Fielding a question from City…

Fort Smith ISO rating now ‘elite’ in nation, Board waives downtown parking meter fees during December

Fort Smith’s Insurance Service Office (ISO) rating has improved from Class 2 to 1, “the most elite classification in the country,” according to Fort Smith Fire Chief Phil Christensen. He…

Interest rate rise, treasury note jump won’t soon help with Fort Smith’s LOPFI woes

It’s not likely that rising interest rates following the surprise general election results will have a significant short-term impact on city of Fort Smith’s investments, nor the struggling LOPFI retirement…

Fort Smith Board approves education reimbursement policy, explains budget postponements

The Fort Smith Board of Directors approved the city’s education reimbursement policy, rescheduled both of this week’s 2017 budget hearings following a calculation error, and authorized water and sewer refunding…

Martin receives Dawson endorsement in race against Fort Smith Director George Catsavis

Ward 4 City Director George Catsavis will face challenger Neal Martin on Nov. 8 following the Aug. 9 primary in which the incumbent scored more votes than his three opponents,…

Fort Smith Board critical of lack of CNG consideration of new vehicle purchases

The Fort Smith Board of Directors approved $744,267 for the purchase of 12 new fleet trucks and vehicles for the city’s engineering and street departments Tuesday night (Oct. 18), but…