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City manager lists hires, Operation Clean Sweep, Malvern Avenue work and Lake Ouachita intake award
Summary
City Manager Bill updated the board March 10 on multiple city operations, including new hires and promotions, the launch of a neighborhood “Operation Clean Sweep,” $1.6 million in Malvern Avenue streetscape investments, park improvements at Velocity Park and national recognition for a Lake Ouachita intake project.
City Manager Bill (surname not specified in the record) delivered a wide-ranging administrative report at the March 10 meeting, outlining recent hires and promotions, neighborhood and infrastructure work, parks projects, animal-shelter activity and a national award for a Lake Ouachita intake project.
Bill listed new hires across city departments including animal services, wastewater maintenance, solid waste, airport and court staff, and promotions in the police department, where several officers were recently promoted to corporal, sergeant and lieutenant. He recognized a retirement in the fire department: Driver Robert Haggard retired after more than 29 years of service.
The city has launched “Operation Clean Sweep,” a multiweek neighborhood campaign that began with door-to-door information distribution and includes curbside collection of bulky items, targeted neighborhood inspections and follow-up enforcement. Bill said the first sweep targets the East Grand/Spring Street area and that the Solid Waste Department will provide curbside removal at no cost and without counting against annual free collections.
Public-works updates included installation of decorative light poles and new paving along sections of Malvern Avenue; Bill said the city has invested over $1,600,000 in Malvern Avenue streetscape improvements over several years. Parks staff installed the final features of Velocity Park’s pump track and expect finishing work in the coming weeks.
The planning and development department is accepting public input through March 10 on a heritage and historic preservation plan via HotSpringsHSRPreservationPlan.com. Animal Services reported a half-price Valentine’s adoption event that resulted in over 30 animals adopted (dogs, cats and one rooster), and the Bridal Shelter added a new 30-by-40-foot play area to help potential adopters assess animals.
Bill also noted a national engineering award for the city’s Lake Ouachita intake structure — the project drilled a 60-inch hole through Blakely Mountain and positioned the intake so lake pressure will push water 17 miles to the water plant without pumping. He said the new water plant is expected to be online and tested around September; it will add 15 million gallons per day of capacity to the city’s water inventory.
Why it matters: The report summarizes operational changes and capital work that affect neighborhoods, public utilities and parks. The intake project and new water plant are material for long-term water supply and operating costs.
What’s next: Public comment on the historic-preservation plan remains open through March 10, and staff will continue the Operation Clean Sweep work and complete Velocity Park finishing touches.
