[{"_1":2,"_111":-5,"_112":-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",[32,75,87,99],{"_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",6169034,"mediaKeyId","5405347-455dd127935516b7adc35afe131dadd0","parentId",5405347,"title","Manager announces staff hires, CAPS video rollout, neighborhood clean sweep and upcoming meetings","audioSeconds",396,"startMs",700000,"endMs",1096000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=5405347-455dd127935516b7adc35afe131dadd0&start=700&end=1096","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5405347-455dd127935516b7adc35afe131dadd0/thumbnail_700000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6169034/Hot-Springs-City/Garland-County/Arkansas/Manager-announces-staff-hires-CAPS-video-rollout-neighborhood-clean-sweep-and-upcoming-meetings","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6169034-6bfbd26536c8f7b17a02a93ef1e05cc9/orig.mp4?Expires=1771165434&Signature=gaE8D7vRH0L7Ob4PG4emjXbiGi6rgx9CONUeK5yS23~Oya1U5vbGG4EVSOmW8e~wX9LJytoHilOgEEAqhlztY8fcayMMZ~cv7yXW81ErYTcZRf37ZZs3GqgApG1X96TTl8ST9iNAcG~aMJFng5jkOcu5wIsLC5~SykG4yvfoAGDQc8TMwEVyFEVdrL8-zpLKG0apLhANImimmAOXrhWtLDS6~dptAYFwyYqq~BvPtJhODcZEGvchOYEzI3eM8b2ygITg7WTzor-y7zmB2zkJftiOKzaCQFmRrU1uwxvnAYW1JzeFFv7wDkW5HNJoS84xBD~PWnes7JM~fAeHarnJog__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","City of Hot Springs, AR","date","2025-07-16T12:08:23Z","article","City Manager Burrell used his July 15 report to recognize new employees and to preview communications and neighborhood programs the city will roll out this summer.

Burrell named recent hires and a promotion and highlighted new public information work by Courtney Kaiser and Katie Yamaguchi that will convert city code and program text into short explanatory videos using AI-generated avatars. \"This is focusing on our CAPS program or clean attractive property service,\" Burrell said, showing a short demonstration clip and telling the board the library of videos will include topics such as backflow preventers, parking rules and the Clean Attractive Property Service (CAPS).

Burrell announced a neighborhood clean-sweep in Area 2 between West Grand and Hobson Avenue from Third Street to Mason Street. He said about 500 households are affected and that sanitation crews and the CAPS program will collect curbside items during the second week; those collections will not count against the regular two free collections per household each year. City street sweepers and alternative-service workers from district court will support cleanup and neighborhood services staff will return in week three to issue citations for unresolved violations.

Other announcements included: Tip-A-Cop fundraising at Longhorn Steakhouse on July 17 to benefit Special Olympics of Arkansas; a $5,000 donation from Hot Springs 50 for the Future to the Hot Springs Community Resource Center on July 18; a Safe Streets community participation event with consultants on July 24 at the transportation depot (computers will be available to complete the project survey); recognition of Deputy City Manager Lance Spicer with the Arkansas Municipal League\u0000s Marvin L. Vincent Commitment to Excellence Award; and youth tee-ball and softball sign-ups running through July 31 with games beginning the week of Sept. 2.

Burrell also told directors the November agenda meeting had been moved from Nov. 11 (Veterans Day) to Monday, Nov. 10 at 4 p.m. to allow more time for review of the proposed 2026 budget, the 2024 ACFR, fund-balance projections and the city's unfunded capital list.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","7-15-25 Board of Directors Meeting","oneSentenceSummary","City Manager Burrell highlighted new hires and promotions, previewed an AI-avatar video series explaining city programs (including Clean Attractive Property Service), announced a neighborhood clean sweep and Safe Streets participation event, and moved the November agenda meeting to Nov. 10 to allow additional time for the 2026 budget.","taxTitle","Hot Springs City, Garland County, Arkansas","taxId",52830,"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},6169039,"City approves 3-year lease with Arkansas Therapy Group for airport building with rent-credit structure",147,1427000,1574000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=5405347-455dd127935516b7adc35afe131dadd0&start=1427&end=1574","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5405347-455dd127935516b7adc35afe131dadd0/thumbnail_1427000.jpg","/articles/6169039/Hot-Springs-City/Garland-County/Arkansas/City-approves-3-year-lease-with-Arkansas-Therapy-Group-for-airport-building-with-rent-credit-structure","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6169039-e2c2f8c0f5c038af6c905aa526f61344/orig.mp4?Expires=1771165434&Signature=IVTr9UBw3aWSPFlnqCPRZ3MtsNEitVxsw9Lt~Mup72nIfF0J3mZwQOJ8Q1sFpitTEFbNcG8y7yoesI13LTAF~Fucn8cMeYTPAvj38iy-ydYii6NNknczgRvB2Il3IirxexETPiRIIgYWPfFLivxWECxM2oUdMgjQLD9iinmgI-nMVfCHSBwmSs7Rdyk~2NaYVOu6Lv9S3jMTTElUS3ZLRpUQQKITcKRvTaAsKxZfwwPO0SsTFfAvloSMPqZraqvrpw~98PFoLDAqFmQ4eeJUNLzAIXACtqtTXGdVTSil6LIWYjAGSbVLmoCPf6pPyLPi4Rg1wgguOG5sckbZjmiA4Q__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The City of Hot Springs on July 15 adopted Resolution R-25-142 approving a lease with Jason and Jill Locomfora, doing business as Arkansas Therapy Group LLC, for a 2,400-square-foot building at Hot Springs Memorial Field Airport.

Don Rowlett, airport director, told the board the building had been vacant since a ground lease expired in 2017 and that the tenant proposes significant renovations to operate a pediatric therapy clinic. Rowlett said the lease would be for three years with two three-year renewal options.

“It\u0000was said that $8 a square foot on the lease. It\u0000s a 2,400 square foot building and the land that goes with is 0.37 acres, which gives a total monthly rent of $1,859,” Rowlett said during the staff report. He also described a proposed rent-credit structure intended to offset the tenant\u0000s upfront renovation costs.

Rowlett said the tenant\u0000s immediate renovation work would likely exceed typical contracted construction estimates; staff estimated parts and materials of about $66,000 and suggested a contractor-bid cost could exceed $100,000. To encourage private investment and bring the building back into service, staff proposed rent credits for the early lease years as described in the packet.

Board members asked about the separation of building and land charges and about the CPI adjustment schedule. Staff explained the lease breaks out building and land amounts because of Federal Aviation Administration requirements and that no CPI adjustment would apply during the first three years; a cumulative CPI adjustment would be applied if the tenant exercises renewal options.

No public comment was registered on the lease item. The board adopted the resolution by roll call; all voting members recorded affirmative votes.","The city approved a three-year lease (with two three-year renewal options) for a 2,400-square-foot building at the Hot Springs Memorial Airport to Arkansas Therapy Group LLC; staff proposed rent credits to offset substantial tenant renovation costs and separated land and building charges for FAA reasons.",{"_33":88,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":89,"_41":90,"_43":91,"_45":92,"_47":93,"_49":94,"_51":95,"_53":96,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":97,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":98,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6169045,"City awards $13.18 million contract for Lower Gulpha gravity sewer phases 2—6",62,1795000,1857000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=5405347-455dd127935516b7adc35afe131dadd0&start=1795&end=1857","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5405347-455dd127935516b7adc35afe131dadd0/thumbnail_1795000.jpg","/articles/6169045/Hot-Springs-City/Garland-County/Arkansas/City-awards-1318-million-contract-for-Lower-Gulpha-gravity-sewer-phases-26","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6169045-7c1b488ac281b0f4ba383c3cd5b44557/orig.mp4?Expires=1771165434&Signature=FkiByA7lIntccpcGfGHXbuj97vZ5j-336uJybhU4qFABbS~WF0mLxZzmjMCef140NsEJm4Gz1IVRV7uJ2~tFhreog5IQ6RCZekDFQhn14DwWFlnxZ4I9AnkvVitGTiVaoteJQ9gWb~j-KF4GUV1boC7dUETKABbd3exFIqosVVRAah8yqoaY~N5JfK-kwFSPEthxkPe5TfigwWUeBYBVW-W4UPZ2N8DF2pUpy75tOV3YXfBzn~Z~y3FsEGtTAA8r97qySm~yhYXTDglq0OLbb~wM4~st-r-odfSpcrT9nP2G16ygb0gCALtV5eSWgYHKCFG0gESIf73HprTCQEV3Vw__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The City of Hot Springs on July 15 adopted Resolution R-25-143, awarding a $13,183,721 contract to Belt Construction Inc. to build phases 2, 3 and 4 (Schedule 2) of the Lower Gulpha Lower Gravity Sewer Capacity Improvement Project, city staff told the board.

\"The award shall be in the total lump sum price of $13,183,721, which is approximately $2,500,000 under staff budget estimates,\" Joyce Stadler, assistant engineering project manager, told the board. Stadler said the work includes approximately 9,300 feet of 36-inch pipe and 4,600 feet of 30-inch fiberglass reinforced pipe and starts north of the Phase 1 alignment behind Lakeside School.

Stadler also said the project is included in a Department of Environmental Quality consent administrative order, CAO LIS22-077, and is funded by board-approved 2025 wastewater bonds.

Two bids were received; Belt Construction Inc. was the lowest responsive bidder, Stadler said. A notice of intent was posted and no bid protests were received. The board adopted the resolution by roll call; all voting members recorded affirmative votes.

City staff said the contract award is roughly $2.5 million below staff estimates and that work follows design by RGN Group. No public comment was recorded on the item at the July 15 meeting.","The city awarded a $13,183,721 contract to Belt Construction Inc. for phases 2\t4 of the Lower Gulpha Lower Gravity Sewer Capacity Improvement Project; the work is funded by 2025 wastewater bonds and is connected to ADEQ consent order LIS22-077.",{"_33":100,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":101,"_41":102,"_43":103,"_45":104,"_47":105,"_49":106,"_51":107,"_53":108,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":109,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":110,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6169049,"Levi Hospital board votes to wind down inpatient services and form community health foundation",779,2520000,3299000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=5405347-455dd127935516b7adc35afe131dadd0&start=2520&end=3299","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5405347-455dd127935516b7adc35afe131dadd0/thumbnail_2520000.jpg","/articles/6169049/Hot-Springs-City/Garland-County/Arkansas/Levi-Hospital-board-votes-to-wind-down-inpatient-services-and-form-community-health-foundation","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6169049-6263779572d65a7459948d1184eda6ea/orig.mp4?Expires=1771165434&Signature=He7gbPgvFJGN7B3w~Yzed0f12mpif2Mo5~7vpMGFgHiPuYRQzqWk9LZzdvgY5~QyS9t1g3ayjWcvcJ3eiijt1Z3nA854kpmHi4UOhLvMjrv9kNeMg99zr09U-8p6s5uBifMy6bfF-lJwASZSPs~8~uHnnnw6ftDLF7kngvDsz9Ypnn4XOmaDMXWaKP0cGJlY~cxB5hpuVzYR1qeAPvys0NvQTYNmMtvACnCnpNjNRfKstxZMAj9CQuTVQxdeabaRp8azACm6ahOSEo82XiJkr6WqxFq8W4po0QxCT7rVrhATW6dVEIBnA2Ky8hXhtYuMHr6Fii2jZjNlQYBaflrCjg__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The Levi Hospital board of directors voted on May 8, 2025, to wind down inpatient hospital operations and convert Levi into a community health foundation focused on behavioral health and social-determinants services, hospital legal counsel Linda Johnson told the Hot Springs Board of Directors on July 15.

The decision \"did not come from financial distress at all. In fact, 2023 and 2024 were the strongest financial years in Levi's history,\" Johnson said, adding the board acted to preserve resources for long-term community benefit.

The board and hospital CEO said the physical condition of Levi's 300 Prospect campus made renovation impractical. Johnson cited safety incidents and deferred maintenance; she told the board the estimated cost of a partial remodel had grown to nearly $25,000,000 and \"exceeded the book value of the hospital.\" The board later approved a smaller, $18,000,000 plan focused on behavioral-health services but said uncertainty about future Medicaid reimbursement undermined that path.

Levi CEO Mr. Jeffers told the board the hospital kept the timing of the decision confidential to avoid an exodus of staff. \"Our primary concern throughout this process has been keeping it under wraps until we're ready to release the information to our employees because our main risk was staff finding out that the hospital is closing from someone else other than us and, and leaving,\" Jeffers said.

Johnson said the board concluded the hospital could deliver the greatest long-term community benefit by converting to a foundation that would fund behavioral-health programs and services addressing housing instability, medication adherence and outpatient continuity. She described internal patient-discharge data showing about 1,200 discharges in 2024, roughly 800 unique patients and a subset of about 200 patients who readmitted repeatedly; the board tied those readmissions in part to unstable housing.

The hospital has begun donating supplies and equipment and is working on employee severance and transition plans, Johnson said. \"Levi Hospital is closing in the strongest financial position in its history so that it can pay severances to its employees, meet its obligations, and provide the Levi Foundation the most resources possible to achieve its mission,\" she said.

Mayor Pat McCabe told the board he received a cease-and-desist email and later hard copies in early July from Levi's counsel regarding public comments by the former CEO; Johnson said the cease-and-desist letter was issued privately and was not a public document under the Freedom of Information Act, a characterization she made to justify its limited distribution. McCabe told the board he received the email at 3:03:47 p.m. on Thursday, July 3, and that paper copies arrived the following Monday.

Board members and officials at the meeting raised operational concerns for area emergency services and hospitals. One director said the July 4 weekend required 19 psychiatric transports to licensed acute psychiatric programs as far away as Jonesboro and said longer round-trip transport times can tie up local ambulances and complicate court-ordered admissions. Jeffers said he had discussed capacity with local EMS, which told him it could approximately double psychiatric transport volume if needed.

Board members pressed officials on regulatory compliance and billing. Johnson said there were no pending compliance matters that drove the board's decision. \"There was no compliance related issue that factored into the board's unanimous decision,\" she said. She acknowledged past repayments and routine compliance reviews but denied that the conversion was an effort to avoid repayment obligations.

The Levi Foundation board has invited the city to collaborate on preserving the building\u0000including the historic thermal pool\u0000and on future programs for vulnerable residents, Johnson said. The hospital's future role in direct inpatient psychiatric care will be replaced by partnerships with larger health systems and community-based programs, she added.

No formal action by the Hot Springs Board of Directors was taken on Levi Hospital at the July 15 meeting; the discussion was presented as informational and was not on the consent or action agenda.","Levi Hospital\u0000board unanimously approved a plan to close inpatient operations and transition the hospital into a community health foundation focused on behavioral health and social determinants of health; hospital counsel and CEO told the Hot Springs Board of Directors the decision was strategic and not triggered by insolvency.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

Manager announces staff hires, CAPS video rollout, neighborhood clean sweep and upcoming meetings

City approves 3-year lease with Arkansas Therapy Group for airport building with rent-credit structure

City awards $13.18 million contract for Lower Gulpha gravity sewer phases 2—6

Levi Hospital board votes to wind down inpatient services and form community health foundation