The Fort Smith Board of Directors completed multiple formal actions at its Oct. 14 regular meeting. The items below summarize each ordinance/resolution reported in the meeting record and the Board’s recorded outcome. Where the meeting record provided roll-call names or tallies, those are included; where roll-call names were not read aloud, the meeting recorded the numeric tally.

Annexation and rezoning (Items 2A–2F and related zoning items)

- Ordinance (Item 2A): Annexation of approximately 45 acres (island annexation) near U.S. Highway 271 and Texas Road, comprising about 20 parcels (9 residential, 11 nonresidential). Public notices, certified letters and public input sessions were held; no property owners spoke at the public hearing. Vote: approved 7–0.

- Ordinance (Item 2B–2F): A series of master land-use plan amendments and rezoning ordinances for multiple parcels west of US-271, east of Texas Road and other nearby locations (parcel totals for individual subitems ranged from a half-acre to roughly 20 acres); Planning Commission recommendations were unanimous in favor. Votes: each ordinance approved 7–0 as read.

Rezoning and Planned Zoning Districts (Items 3–6)

- Ordinance (Item 3): Rezoning at 6001 Prairie Drive (approx. 2.2 acres) to allow an electrical/plumbing/HVAC wholesale trade establishment; Planning Commission recommended approval 8–0. Board action: ordinance adopted, emergency clause adopted; roll call recorded 7–0.

- Ordinance (Item 4): Rezoning properties in the 6200 block of Mazard Road to create a Planned Zoning District (PZD) for a unified commercial development; Planning Commission recommended approval 7–0. Board action: ordinance adopted; vote 7–0; emergency clause later adopted.

- Ordinance (Item 5): Rezoning at 6006 Thousand / Prairie Drive (just over 6 acres) to allow a 35,000-square-foot wholesale trade facility; Planning Commission recommended approval 7–0. Board action: ordinance adopted; emergency clause adopted; vote 7–0.

- Ordinance (Item 6): Loan-to-personnel agreement with Burns & McDonnell (see separate article). Board action: resolution adopted 6–1.

Millage ordinances (Item 7)

- Ordinances (Items 7A–7D): Annual millage ordinances to fix rates and levy property taxes for 2025 (collectible 2026) across the city’s levy categories: general purposes, public library (note: any increase to library millage would require voter approval), police retirement and pension, and fire retirement and pension. The record states these mills are unchanged from prior years; the package was adopted in a batch with suspension of rules. Vote: approved 7–0.

Street overlay / consent-decree projects (Items 10–12)

- Resolutions (Items 10–11): Change order and final payment actions for the 2023 Street Overlay / Reconstruction project (Project 23-03-D) and associated sanitary sewer rehab included under the consent-decree work. Item 10 authorized a change order adding 49 days (40 days for weather, 9 days for a storm-pipe replacement) and noted about 1.4 miles of roadway and several sanitary segments were completed. Vote recorded in packet: approved (numeric tallies recorded in meeting minutes).

- Resolution (Item 12): Acceptance of completion and authorization of final payment for 2023 Street Overlay Reconstruction (Phase A, Project 23-3-A), including about 1.8 miles of roadway and roughly 3,000 feet of sanitary pipe and 40 manholes rehabbed. Vote: approved (numeric tally recorded in minutes).

Emergency repair payments (Items 8–9)

- Ordinance/Resolution (Item 8): Emergency authorization and acceptance of two point repairs performed by Vortex Services after in-field discovery made full CIPP infeasible. Board authorized payment to Vortex for the emergency point repairs. Vote: approved 7–0.

- Resolution (Item 9): Final payment to Kraft Rentals Construction Company for replacement of sanitary sewer main between specified manholes. Vote: approved (recorded tally 6–0 with one member absent for that roll call).

Consent agenda (Item 13)

- Consent items the Board adopted in a single vote included: authorization to list city-owned properties for sale; applications to the Arkansas Department of Emergency Management for hazard-mitigation grants (Acme stormwater project, riverbank stabilization project, Mill Creek stabilization); acceptance of a FEMA Assistance to Firefighters grant; and final payment authorization for LED lighting upgrades at Kelly Park. Vote: consent agenda approved (numeric tally recorded in minutes). Public comment: Crystal Cadelli spoke in favor of selling unused city properties to generate revenue and reduce the city’s deficit.

Other items

- The Board also approved several individual rezoning ordinances for addresses and parcels described in the packet (multiple items where Planning Commission voted 8–0 or 7–0); most land-use and rezoning items were approved unanimously.

Ending

Meeting minutes and the meeting packet list ordinance summaries, Planning Commission recommendations, and roll-call tallies where recorded. For any single ordinance or resolution above with missing details in the meeting transcript, the packet lists the full legal descriptions and exhibits; the meeting record sometimes reflects a clerical correction made to an exhibit and the corrected ordinance was adopted that evening.