[{"_1":2,"_98":-5,"_99":-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",[32,75,86],{"_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",6240323,"mediaKeyId","3324646-561488712c37ace37c4078d96dd06458","parentId",3324646,"title","Hot Springs staff outline multiple utilities purchases, upgrades ahead of May 20 vote","audioSeconds",250,"startMs",2245000,"endMs",2495000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=3324646-561488712c37ace37c4078d96dd06458&start=2245&end=2495","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3324646-561488712c37ace37c4078d96dd06458/thumbnail_2245000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6240323/Hot-Springs-City/Garland-County/Arkansas/Hot-Springs-staff-outline-multiple-utilities-purchases-upgrades-ahead-of-May-20-vote","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6240323-83e55bec761432155d23de437737d65d/orig.mp4?Expires=1771189979&Signature=hAvYKJZmhd7WMqmi4nx~72tTELs7N~2C1kV~uGjFiWMjcFyR25oHGIrAXfMENzOgGVBQkxHfxUedIl6zcG3OgBmApYLRyS3CW-2xJrrx97CoeuYMeXXdwMn6yWgVBtTB~L8nM2C3PFQp1~uygD73bPcH~VxxIfOpdHci381bkJmjXRY-uKpkeXldEWeOlcd6jZ7wMPMmTtWDyRTMYRa7oA98REXW~hj3OiinZnWEuKF5cCYDxmtIxStFYXZGQjldsUflIRc3PyRP15HKcG~mR2TGY76UzyI-Dlv63LeSUM~rUOOrb7gq5w1BR5svR2Ji5KUDAvIYg6Te1lcCi1jhlA__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","City of Hot Springs, AR","date","2025-05-15T19:57:31.47Z","article","City staff on an agenda-review meeting on the afternoon before the May 20 board session presented a package of utilities purchases and contracts that will be on the board’s consent agenda for formal consideration.

City engineers and utilities staff said the most immediate need is a $580,453 Entergy Arkansas upgrade to extend and strengthen distribution lines to power the new Gulf pump station. “Because we are basically creating the need by building the pump station, we have to pay for that,” said Carter Hill, presenting the item. Staff said the cost will be paid from wastewater bond funds and noted the expense was not anticipated in the original bond calculations.

The utilities package also includes an $818,655 construction contract award to Diamond Construction Company to replace aging asbestos-cement lines on Belvedere Drive with roughly 3,400 feet of 6-inch ductile-iron pipe and 350 feet of 2-inch pipe, plus new hydrants and valves. Joey Stadler, assistant project manager, told the board Diamond was the low responsive bidder out of seven and that the bid is considerably lower than the preliminary estimate of $1,170,157 provided by the city’s consultant. “Completion is anticipated by the end of the year, November of this year,” Stadler said. He clarified pavement will be restored to the existing condition after trenching: “We’re going to put the asphalt back as is.”

Several related consent items were previewed: a term contract to purchase liquid aluminum sulfate (alum) for water and wastewater treatment from Univar Solutions USA LLC, a purchase of a 2026 Kenworth T380 dump truck from MHC Arkansas Kenworth LLC for $142,880.74 to replace unit 9080, and a $10,000 purchase of approximately 1 acre of property at 308 Fontana Road adjacent to the Hot Springs Creek pump station.

Utilities director Monte Ledbetter described the alum contract procurement and budget planning: staff recommended awarding to Univar as the lowest responsive bidder once sales tax is included; the apparent pricing difference versus another bidder (Chemtrade) reflected tax treatment. On the truck, staff said the 2009 unit slated for replacement has about 4,700 hours and 69,883 miles and needs a new engine that is not cost-effective to replace.

Gary Carnahan, city engineer, described the Fontana Road parcel as strategically valuable because it adds land around the Hot Springs Creek Pump Station for valves, manholes, future maintenance access and potential trail extension; he said the $10,000 purchase price will be split between parks and utilities and that the seller is Darren Myers.

All of the items were presented for formal board action at the May 20 meeting; no final votes were taken during the agenda-review session.

","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","5-13-25 Board of Directors Agenda Meeting","oneSentenceSummary","City staff on an agenda-review meeting on the afternoon before the May 20 board session presented a package of utilities purchases and contracts that will be on the board’s consent agenda for formal consideration.","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":79,"_47":80,"_49":81,"_51":82,"_53":83,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":84,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":85,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6240313,"Board to consider CDBG reprogramming for quarantine shelter and routine DWI court grant",0,2064000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3324646-561488712c37ace37c4078d96dd06458&start=2064&end=2064","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3324646-561488712c37ace37c4078d96dd06458/thumbnail_2064000.jpg","/articles/6240313/Hot-Springs-City/Garland-County/Arkansas/Board-to-consider-CDBG-reprogramming-for-quarantine-shelter-and-routine-DWI-court-grant","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6240313-afab4773c253b2e56b3f84837eb90fdc/orig.mp4?Expires=1771189979&Signature=K~efYyFvQu3q7uxTcadCw2oCQKu8EacySOYl3jDsG6uefSOWhwp-CANPZ8XSEgYn0jLKqe-R1QFgks~8QeyVHNQeE9l2Q0F2LiH5TRhEMdywv1l5leDUIANFRy-7HUxOobenlWrFFwOdvWU8dl1g2GYskd0G8aJFEv8--wS-hGsC42cPISGzi3z8X8Xr543ukUR2FaOkFvcQtvP4HjqbLzD3fRgI0piiBE-syeX99tl7-8hBkjPNfJdhyxLA~ePxr6x0CIVLH6ZdV9TJMrYYxP2x02lgETKbrk~HMiOneisbeb1cM~NCerzoiLRuSTIugHPmPVn5D9A4Qsv050rd7w__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","City staff previewed two funding items that will be on the May 20 consent agenda: a substantial amendment to the city’s FY2022 Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) annual action plan to repurpose $12,250.70, and acceptance of a recurring grant from the Arkansas State Police/Highway Safety Administration for DWI District Court support.

Planning and development director Kathy Salmon told the board the CDBG amendment would reallocate unencumbered funds from a completed Malvern Avenue flashing crosswalk project (2022) to rehabilitate the city’s quarantine shelter. “This amendment repurposes funds from 2022 totaling $12,250.70 from the Malvern Avenue improvement project… and this was completed under budget,” Salmon said. She told the board the local Community Development Advisory Committee (CDAC) considered the item and that it was the only project CDAC considered for the reprogramming. Staff noted urgency because FY2022 funds must be spent down according to program requirements.

On a separate grant item, a presenter identified as Chris described an Arkansas State Police/Highway Safety grant the city has received for nearly two decades to support DWI court operations. The grant pays for staff training, attendance at the national conference, drug screens (targeted to higher‑risk participants), and certain office supplies; it is a match grant that is under $40,000. “It also pays for drug screens… and as they build accountability, it kind of moves forward,” the presenter said. Staff characterized the DWI grant as long‑running and routine and said they would seek board authorization to file and accept the funds.

Both items were presented for placement on the May 20 agenda for formal action; no board votes were taken during the agenda review.

","Staff presented a proposed substanial amendment to reprogram $12,250.70 in FY2022 CDBG funds to rehabilitate the city's quarantine shelter and previewed an Arkansas Highway Safety grant for DWI District Court training and drug screens (match grant under $40,000). Both items will be before the board on May 20.",{"_33":87,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":88,"_41":89,"_43":90,"_45":91,"_47":92,"_49":93,"_51":94,"_53":95,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":96,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":97,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6240318,"Metro Partnership outlines Majestic project prospects, workforce push; uptown mall, library plans remain unsettled",1057,326000,1383000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3324646-561488712c37ace37c4078d96dd06458&start=326&end=1383","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3324646-561488712c37ace37c4078d96dd06458/thumbnail_326000.jpg","/articles/6240318/Hot-Springs-City/Garland-County/Arkansas/Metro-Partnership-outlines-Majestic-project-prospects-workforce-push-uptown-mall-library-plans-remain-unsettled","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6240318-52f92cd86b129a4f0c9a993bd36190bf/orig.mp4?Expires=1771189979&Signature=aRPVygGP3kuCizZ9kpYmSrO6SAjhKBY~Uq8Iw-qF~Gk3we1ojTEiIJK4cuRUYROQ8xDYzFsm5jzxLR~2ZVP-ADDqI0Puaw5JAW1FrUoBTZRN-7cTrXAmEHUfTb4wLPJ9JHd~d4J2rdBUPh1tjVxjKiXm780EBB3IEo5tmfxl9XGbkLOanL2-rz0vth~G8JTU9A-nhkth2F5HRvfoDN-gqEAmEvVAsx4EMxEFtTf3dgGeX~Xl1N6lCPWI9N5P5ERBAcgJ9cavGikAHXwQpbeR7VEiwmxqLffrN3kuNwU6LnGQB6wZ1BRAuVBUOtwCW~dYlFpTHxWjn64T3QV8iNcFlQ__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Gary Traubman, president and CEO of the Greater Hot Springs Chamber of Commerce and Hot Springs Metro Partnership, gave the board an economic development update at an agenda-review meeting ahead of the May 20 session, highlighting workforce initiatives, prospect visits and continuing work on the Majestic site.

Traubman told the board the Majestic Committee has been meeting with an out-of-state prospect and with Oak Lawn representatives about prospective uses of the Majestic property. “We were back in school at Lakeside with the eleventh and twelfth graders,” Traubman said, stressing local workforce outreach. He highlighted the chamber’s “draft day” event, which he said included 18 schools, a record 61 companies and more than 1,200 students over the multi‑year effort to connect career‑technical students with local employers.

Board discussion centered on the Uptown Mall and Majestic Village concepts and a separate library proposal that has been reported as a possible use of the Majestic site. Director Webb asked when a side‑by‑side comparison of proposals might be available. Traubman said staff had pushed for an early June target to present competing concepts but that July 1 was a more likely date: “They are moving quickly. They’re doing renderings of their own… I wouldn’t even discount a meeting between the two parties and see if there’s a mutual fit there, because I would remind you there is 5.7 acres behind the property.” He emphasized outreach and due diligence by the prospective developer, including meetings with Oak Lawn and local business owners.

Traubman also briefed the board on other economic activity: site visits with technology firms (Ryder Technical Solutions and FiberPro), hosting visitors from the Federal Reserve and media coverage opportunities. He noted SJR 15, a proposed constitutional amendment that would allow TIF and TID funding at the ballot, and said any state‑level change would not appear on the ballot until November 2026.

No formal board action was taken at the agenda review; staff said these topics will be part of ongoing discussions and that formal proposals, if received, will be presented to the board for consideration.

","Gary Traubman of the Greater Hot Springs Chamber and Metro Partnership briefed the board on business prospect visits, workforce events and continuing work on the Majestic site; he and board members said a library proposal and another developer may present competing or complementary plans by mid-summer but no formal proposal yet.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

Hot Springs staff outline multiple utilities purchases, upgrades ahead of May 20 vote

Board to consider CDBG reprogramming for quarantine shelter and routine DWI court grant

Metro Partnership outlines Majestic project prospects, workforce push; uptown mall, library plans remain unsettled