[{"_1":2,"_121":-5,"_122":-5},"loaderData",{"_3":4,"_26":27},"root",{"_5":6,"_17":10,"_18":19,"_20":21,"_22":10,"_23":-5,"_24":-5,"_25":10},"user",{"_7":8,"_9":10,"_11":10,"_12":-5,"_13":-5,"_14":15,"_16":-5},"roles",[],"isAuthenticated",false,"isPremium","planName","subscriptionStatus","featureFlags",{},"insightsBudget","isDevelopmentHost","userPreferences",{},"recaptchaSiteKey","6LcvOJcUAAAAAHsB-gPGfGktcRlKpH7OTIU_dMTD","isImpersonating","impersonation","affiliateStatus","isFreedomPortal","routes/v2/article/layout",{"_28":29,"_30":31},"notFound",true,"relatedArticles",[32,75,87,97,109],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":46,"_47":48,"_49":50,"_51":52,"_53":54,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":60,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":66,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},"mediaId",6515191,"mediaKeyId","5019186-1dd0a95ce7eda5b95287a90ea012efbf","parentId",5019186,"title","Votes at a glance — Fort Smith Board of Directors, June 17, 2025","audioSeconds",6756,"startMs",172000,"endMs",6928000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=5019186-1dd0a95ce7eda5b95287a90ea012efbf&start=172&end=6928","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5019186-1dd0a95ce7eda5b95287a90ea012efbf/thumbnail_172000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6515191/Fort-Smith/Sebastian-County/Arkansas/Votes-at-a-glance-Fort-Smith-Board-of-Directors-June-17-2025","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6515191-06c5abe5d266bc6cf4157b1a18b083a7/orig.mp4?Expires=1771156584&Signature=US6PqqTop0pHrfDzoAf9YoSob0jcPuAWScxBkT7C5azEMP7UVXDK964jdPXBDBQeLgbXYiZXMWDDh7hZHIewMdX6jAix9zRZlsGIzgh2bDQUyg4EM0GjW4A42tEyCMkN0IagZqrgxDiib5FIS6uUpGma-SmHb0Zsglx2E4Ho7qh-giPkMhMolpn5Y4WK7qdL~ruNFh6hHTdNktTdDEnILYXPJkOjUk~H6wyOp86~mwBKZRGxmf5TWIpeImELOaqm-1GSF7CVRu9RPOnaraE~Vts46yXrQubF3dn6jFJlwt1RfvtGdVcN6DXlgrx7yFOVXO9A5RT96s50SaFz0z~h0w__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","Fort Smith","date","2025-06-17T17:59:00Z","article","The Fort Smith Board of Directors took the following formal actions at its June 17, 2025 meeting.

Ordinances and emergency clauses
- Ambulance-rate ordinance (Item 1): Adopted (6-0). Emergency clause adopted (6-0). The ordinance amends section 12-32 of the municipal code to reference the state rate index established by recent state legislation (Act 867).
- Parcel-number correction (Item 3): Adopted (6-0). Emergency clause adopted (6-0). Ordinance amends ordinance 40-25 to correct a tax parcel number for property at 1504 Bell Avenue.
- Insurance proceeds appropriation (Item 4): Adopted (6-0). Ordinance appropriating recent insurance proceeds (staff reported roughly $135,000 in proceeds for department vehicle/property repairs).

Contract and procurement actions
- Sewer remedial measures change order (Item 6): Approved (6-0). Board approved a change order to the Forsgren contract in the amount of $235,067.75 and added 60 days to the project schedule; the work increases linear feet of repaired pipe as part of consent-decree remediation.
- Lee Creek lagoon cleaning (consent item, 7c): Approved on consent with recorded vote of 4-2 (Christina Gitsavas, Settle, Martin and Good in favor; George Gitsavas and Kemp opposed). Staff corrected a packet error (documented increase was 32%, not 76%) and said the vendor was the lone bidder this year.

Other consent actions (approved 6-0 unless noted)
- Application to COPS hiring grant program (consent)
- Application to law enforcement mental health and wellness grant program (consent)
- Utility easement acquisitions for relocations (consent)
- Transit: acquisition of three passenger vans (consent item) — board noted federal/local match and general fund implications (consent vote passed 6-0)

Personnel/governance
- Personnel authority ordinance (Item 5): Failed (2-4). The proposed ordinance that would have placed hiring/disciplinary/termination authority for department heads with the board was defeated; two directors voted in favor, four opposed.

Other items
- Appointments announced from executive session: Airport Commission — Bridal Hagy; Audit Advisory Committee — Levon Morton; Community Development Advisory Committee — Thomas Bankerski; Future Fort Smith Committee — Chris Chaney; Library Board of Trustees — Sandy Sanders; Fort Smith Municipal Employees Benevolence Board — Lt. Dewey Young, Daryl Clark, Maria Miller, Rhonda Hayes; Property Owners Appeal Board — Megan Rayner; Sales Tax Review Committee — Amy Whittington, Lee Easley, Michael Johns; Transit Advisory Committee — Melissa Bixby and Melissa Woodall. The board voted to adopt all appointments (voice vote recorded on the floor).

Votes not separately listed above include routine consent items adopted 6-0 except where noted. For adopted items, staff will proceed with contract execution and administrative steps as indicated in each item’s packet.

If you need the vote roll call for a specific item, the board’s clerk recorded roll-call tallies in the meeting minutes.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","Fort Smith - Board of Directors - Regular Meeting - Jun 17, 2025","oneSentenceSummary","Summary of formal votes taken by the Fort Smith Board of Directors at its June 17 meeting, including ordinance adoptions, contract approvals and appointments announced after executive session.","taxTitle","Fort Smith, Sebastian County, Arkansas","taxId",3748,"location","headline","","shortSummary",{"_33":76,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":77,"_41":78,"_43":79,"_45":80,"_47":81,"_49":82,"_51":83,"_53":84,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":85,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":86,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6515195,"Board approves Lee Creek lagoon cleaning contract after questions about scope and price increase",377,5151000,5528000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=5019186-1dd0a95ce7eda5b95287a90ea012efbf&start=5151&end=5528","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5019186-1dd0a95ce7eda5b95287a90ea012efbf/thumbnail_5151000.jpg","/articles/6515195/Fort-Smith/Sebastian-County/Arkansas/Board-approves-Lee-Creek-lagoon-cleaning-contract-after-questions-about-scope-and-price-increase","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6515195-1261dfb07dae6944fba1bd10ea177e26/orig.mp4?Expires=1771156584&Signature=KwiEDjSwr1Pq60yIqkJQIUMYXWsRwFUZ1BusmAzYsxHcdKRoiNrVE3okIy21aZd2nK~hp~8izkY1-QuTWhcCUqpjiY4qSjzVjpNi77mPjZre9~7T7CewJxcY3863hAB-jfr5-yny5Me2ZoSgEYeDe~1I79YwQYZfs0pZD1APp00dWBVlsj6pxap5lImKcvKYIFVk5tQIEe24o1lZI8iHJaohFoVvLUmx6d6g66w6Y1ucHx9ECcBT6wWHTHCYGMwWfUJljb11SwnixABGsHiDwLgBIed7wGN7Q-9ED6UcbrrUdtZHMQIiYKyBnM1IeFwG8hEvr8O9794-WQPyaMAR7g__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The Fort Smith Board of Directors on June 17 approved a contract to clean a lagoon at the Lee Creek wastewater treatment plant, voting on the consent agenda after a separate discussion about scope, cost and disposal.

City staff said the work will clean one of the plant’s concrete lagoons; staff performed a similar job last year and plan roughly one lagoon per year. The contract award was the subject of questions from several directors about why only one bid was received, where the slurry or sludge would be land-applied, and why the bid showed a percentage increase from the prior contract. Administration said the apparent 76% figure in documentation was an error and the correct increase is 32%.

Staff said Denali (vendor name referenced in discussion) was the lone bidder this year; staff indicated the project was publicly advertised and that last year two bids were received. The work involves pumping slurry from the lagoon, hauling it and land-applying it to permitted fields near the Van Buren/Lee Creek facilities, and using track equipment to remove residual solids.

During discussion directors asked staff to evaluate whether the city could perform similar work in-house and to cost out long-term alternatives—buying land and equipment for city-managed land application could reduce recurring outside-contract costs, a director said. Staff agreed to investigate lifecycle costs and bring a report back.

Vote: The lagoon-cleaning contract passed as part of the consent agenda with a recorded vote of 4 in favor and 2 opposed on that item specifically; the overall consent agenda otherwise passed 6-0 for the remaining items.

What’s next: Staff will proceed with the awarded contract, correct the packet error on percentage change, and investigate whether land-application equipment or permitting would be cost-effective in the long run.","The board approved a contract for cleaning one lagoon at the Lee Creek treatment plant amid questions about vendor competition, a cited price increase and where sludge would be land-applied.",{"_33":88,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":89,"_41":90,"_43":44,"_45":91,"_47":92,"_49":50,"_51":93,"_53":94,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":95,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":96,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6515199,"Board adopts ordinance updating Fort Smith ambulance service rate language to reference state index",105,277000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=5019186-1dd0a95ce7eda5b95287a90ea012efbf&start=172&end=277","/articles/6515199/Fort-Smith/Sebastian-County/Arkansas/Board-adopts-ordinance-updating-Fort-Smith-ambulance-service-rate-language-to-reference-state-index","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6515199-ddb80c7488d29c5340c6d50f615cd982/orig.mp4?Expires=1771156584&Signature=F2FOpwucFrGioNbBWccEACTFGiSPU7mnUFxvf1L9TflMucIuH81z0OGE-c~8Gl15zpIPTVKtjpOjj4Rjsr5BQwUaOTnEz9Clz6k-eJRkF8or-13n0udGrNwamD4~YXwVwv8d57sJgigQHbXf9XO1a6nsnCT3Hh6g9ajULMbyT38lsKpVpNNVYGzxaO2-oAr7keWxFivgRUM-~lnNNs4qU9tn~zb65YsJjEP7Lr~fUSi3invfyMKCNzmZMVvTRn9~5RabZ9IKKH~QOwAQcbw04mUjLPlhj-za2IFMpD0f1vN9N29yHnOsAdNwpWUJ4e1V0qtZlvAH12NV0y-W8uMdvA__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The Fort Smith Board of Directors unanimously adopted an ordinance June 17 amending section 12-32 of the municipal code to update the city’s ambulance service rates to reference the state rate index established by Act 867 (2025), which aligns local code language with the Arkansas legislature’s change to tie allowable ambulance charges to the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services Medicare ambulance fee schedule (rural rate index).

Fort Smith EMS Director Tim Hearn was present for questions, and administration said the change will avoid repeated dollar-amount amendments to the city code if the state adjusts its index in the future. The board approved the ordinance and separately adopted the emergency clause by 6-0 roll call votes.

What’s next: The ordinance takes effect under the adopted emergency clause; the code will now reference the state rate index as the basis for allowable ambulance charges rather than listing fixed dollar amounts.","The board adopted an ordinance updating the municipal code to reference the state rate index for ambulance services established by recent state legislation and approved emergency clause.",{"_33":98,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":99,"_41":100,"_43":101,"_45":102,"_47":103,"_49":104,"_51":105,"_53":106,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":107,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":108,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6515204,"Fort Smith board rejects measure to give Board hiring/firing authority over department heads",2146,2612000,4758000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=5019186-1dd0a95ce7eda5b95287a90ea012efbf&start=2612&end=4758","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5019186-1dd0a95ce7eda5b95287a90ea012efbf/thumbnail_2612000.jpg","/articles/6515204/Fort-Smith/Sebastian-County/Arkansas/Fort-Smith-board-rejects-measure-to-give-Board-hiringfiring-authority-over-department-heads","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6515204-8486b9da1359c7f23cbfa2c284ff5b1b/orig.mp4?Expires=1771156584&Signature=PJEpbqOqOxVMuFbM04yEq215QkUMq86k4PJBwJYdItIPoDFRUIOO0JGPiMAAsp2IHdASQS2SLnJ8qPRT6H22WSRlpYDobhvCFVxOkZD6qtVOX2gOtLSDfD6uUeRxi~-GXHFHO4HfOxX0fkeSzX4pgRAPlLX0fAKDSWDy-WvPJJdv47-w5j5z5hMD-lGMsjrCCEV8If0Aw741T-FR41c-Ee7LnEdTPXr9blQ0GLN1H-wpC9lo4L~Vk-3ixUriS2ysbm4HVf0FCBka8AtXZuiWS93ECKsoadPxIlq2cCd07L7i1Hnk~ymH54FWYFb8srQudyCxKMXIfaCHNPDEOQItcQ__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The Fort Smith Board of Directors on June 17 rejected an ordinance that would have shifted hiring, disciplinary and termination authority for department heads (including deputy city administrator, fire chief and police chief) from the city administrator to the seven-member board.

The ordinance was introduced at the board’s request and drew substantial public comment. Three residents urged the board to approve the change, saying it would increase accountability; other speakers, including former Mayor Sandy Sanders, urged defeat and recommended hiring a professional city administrator and restoring managerial authority to that office.

Board discussion ran nearly two hours. Supporters, including Director Christina Gitsavas, said the ordinance aims to break an “us-versus-them” culture in city hall and restore direct accountability to elected officials. Gitsavas cited Arkansas Code and Fort Smith’s own governance history as authority for the board’s power. She said department heads should feel free to speak directly to directors without fear of retaliation.

Opponents called the proposal a risk of politicizing administration. Several directors, including Director Settle, Director Camp and others, argued that operational personnel decisions are appropriate to the city administrator and that the current governance form—where the board provides strategic oversight and the administrator runs day-to-day operations—provides needed stability for a growing city.

In a roll call the motion to adopt the ordinance failed 2-4 (Directors George Gitsavas and Christina Gitsavas voting yes; Directors Settle, Martin, Good and Kemp voting no). The board did not adopt any amendment; the motion was defeated.

Public commenters highlighted competing concerns. A resident said the board already hires the city administrator and internal-audit director and asked the board to prioritize filling the internal-auditor vacancy. Another resident warned that putting 21 department heads under direct board control would create conflicting supervision and invite political hiring.

Administration and several directors said alternatives exist short of changing authority lines: the board can pass votes of no confidence, request annual or quarterly reviews, or require performance reviews and policy-based evaluations. Board members asked for further staff-driven processes such as annual reviews and formats that give department heads and subordinates a channel to provide feedback.

Quote: “Strong governance requires trust in the leadership we appoint,” a director said during discussion, arguing that boards should hold leadership accountable without taking over day-to-day operations.

What’s next: The ordinance was defeated; the board discussed but did not adopt a follow-up process at the meeting. Several directors requested future study-session work on performance reviews, hiring protocols and a possible annual review structure for the city administrator and department heads.","A proposed ordinance to transfer hiring, disciplinary and firing authority for department heads from the city administrator to the Board of Directors failed after public comment and extended debate about governance and staff morale.",{"_33":110,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":111,"_41":112,"_43":113,"_45":114,"_47":115,"_49":116,"_51":117,"_53":118,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":119,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":120,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6515209,"Fort Smith board rejects proposed wastewater rate plans for Town of Arcoma; defaults to higher rate if no agreement",2018,278000,2296000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=5019186-1dd0a95ce7eda5b95287a90ea012efbf&start=278&end=2296","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5019186-1dd0a95ce7eda5b95287a90ea012efbf/thumbnail_278000.jpg","/articles/6515209/Fort-Smith/Sebastian-County/Arkansas/Fort-Smith-board-rejects-proposed-wastewater-rate-plans-for-Town-of-Arcoma-defaults-to-higher-rate-if-no-agreement","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6515209-e2b840cefd6f267fc73c121ccbfd0cef/orig.mp4?Expires=1771156584&Signature=lC1wPaBUWtSnf6npEryptQIwDMZejwR8PvlJ7j0PEiR8Jk5-NF2HWnEQ5RLlAY8oUWd689sv4fmKlBobOTpLwfJZVR0~9CyuK6sFXHZtoq~mD5UnznnUSnjypufL6GtNsz04rWtTsm-dXmpip1WBT68G~rXfajNVo1rFTazjUe89ZSaaiD7X7oUWZNz8uNGvWEiBQj8LFOwJeAXWQ6nIvtKEsHgTeYWuvluRbkuDKkYunFKjEbmg7-yDL5onoEjrM~AESoCXlnhKANWQJKjXQEg5woopwjbeWlLgrzfbfFUNOSbp7iVDUA1oI5dBI47DRQlPgEefRGWH1tyg4JBtww__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The Fort Smith Board of Directors on June 17 declined two proposed five-year rate agreements for wholesale wastewater service to the Town of Arcoma after roughly two hours of questions and public comment.

City staff had offered two alternatives: option 2A, a rate of $3.48 per hundred cubic feet (CCF) based on Fort Smith’s 2024 treatment cost plus a 10% return on investment; and option 2B, a $5.68-per-CCF rate that added a 39% inflow-and-infiltration (I&I) adjustment to reflect shared system losses. Staff recommended option 2A as “defensible” and said it did not include an I&I component because that allocation was difficult to quantify.

The board first voted on a motion to adopt option 2A. That motion failed on a 3-3 roll call vote (Directors George Gitsavas, Good and Kemp voting yes; Directors Christina Gitsavas, Settle and Neil Martin voting no). A subsequent motion to adopt option 2B failed 1-5 (Kemp voting yes; five directors voting no). City staff had told the board that if no agreement is reached the rate for services to Arcoma will default to $8.75 per CCF as of June 22.

Why it matters: Fort Smith treats Arcoma’s sewage at its P Street facility under a wholesale arrangement. Board members emphasized two competing priorities: recovering Fort Smith’s full cost and avoiding a rate that Arcoma residents cannot pay. Administration said bond covenants and debt-service coverage require rates that recover treatment costs; Arcoma officials said their customers already pay higher total monthly bills and that their town is working on infrastructure improvements with grants and loans.

During discussion, staff said Arcoma discharged 122,848 CCF to Fort Smith in 2024. City staff explained how it computed the two proposed rates: option 2A derives from Fort Smith’s 2024 per-CCF treatment cost adjusted by a 3.5% increase and a 10% ROI; option 2B added a 39% I&I factor to the same base. CFO Andy Richards confirmed the I&I figure is the primary difference between the options.

Arcoma Mayor Joshua Johnson and Vice Mayor Bobby Weatherford addressed the board, saying Arcoma’s plan is to continue pursuing grants and financing and that recent Arcoma projects included a roughly $1.2 million manhole-and-line replacement effort and a $400,000 forgivable loan for upgrades.

Board members split on policy and implementation. Director Goode said Fort Smith retail customers are already covering the city’s I&I costs and warned against a wholesale rate that would “force” Fort Smith citizens to subsidize Arcoma. Director Good and Director Kemp supported option 2A as a fair, legally defensible price for the city’s costs. Director Neil Martin and Directors Settle and Christina Gitsavas opposed option 2A because they viewed the term length and the lack of stronger incentives for Arcoma to fix its system as insufficient.

Administration warned that the board’s choice could prompt litigation; several directors acknowledged Arcoma officials had said they might sue regardless of the outcome. City staff also said an agreement would require Arcoma to pay its outstanding balance in full by August (staff stated the current past-due balance is $149,720.95). A developer who had previously discussed paying that balance has not finalized such a payment and, staff said, may await an agreement.

The board left the matter without adopting either proposal. Because both motions failed, the board did not set a new contract or price table; staff reiterated the $8.75-per-CCF default rate that would apply starting June 22 if no negotiated agreement is in place. Officials said the city could also pursue collection of past due amounts and other alternatives.

Quotes: “The proposed $3.48 per CCF rate is defensible as a true cost of providing services to Arcoma,” Staff member Jeff Dingman said in the presentation. Arcoma Mayor Joshua Johnson told the board, “Our plan is to continue to aggressively pursue grants, pursue financing, and continue to evaluate, through engineering, the best use of those funds to improve the system.”

What’s next: With no adopted agreement, the board directed no formal follow-up motion; staff said they would continue discussions with Arcoma and noted the unpaid balance remains due. The board may revisit wholesale service terms if staff or Arcoma return with new proposals or if the outstanding balance is not resolved.

Votes at a glance: Motion to adopt option 2A (rate $3.48/CCF) — failed, 3-3. Motion to adopt option 2B (rate $5.68/CCF including 39% I&I) — failed, 1-5.

Background: City staff said the proposed rates are based on metered outflow and a five-year term. Fort Smith said its bond covenants require rates that recover the cost to provide treatment; Arcoma said its customers already face high monthly bills and that the town has been investing in infrastructure.","After lengthy debate, the Fort Smith Board of Directors declined two staff-proposed rate options for wholesale wastewater service to the Town of Arcoma and did not adopt an alternative; staff had warned a default, higher rate would apply if no agreement is reached.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

Votes at a glance — Fort Smith Board of Directors, June 17, 2025

Board approves Lee Creek lagoon cleaning contract after questions about scope and price increase

Board adopts ordinance updating Fort Smith ambulance service rate language to reference state index

Fort Smith board rejects measure to give Board hiring/firing authority over department heads

Fort Smith board rejects proposed wastewater rate plans for Town of Arcoma; defaults to higher rate if no agreement