Board approves wastewater contract changes, buys two tertiary filters and adopts several permits and leases; manager gives detailed bond-project status

The Hot Springs City Board of Directors on Oct. 21 approved a series of infrastructure and administrative items and received a comprehensive status update from city staff on the bond-funded water and wastewater program.

Actions taken - Resolution R-25-185: Board approved a negative change order to the contract with Diamond Construction Company Inc. to remove Schedule 3 (the National Park Service segment) from the Spring Street gravity sewer project. Roll-call: Director Aaron Holiday, Director Phyllis Beard, Director Marsha Dobbs Smith, Director Dudley Webb, Director Karen Garcia, Director Steve Trustee and Mayor Pat McCabe all voted aye; the resolution was adopted. The deputy city engineer and utilities staff said removal was requested to allow time for environmental and archaeological studies required by the National Park Service.

- Ordinance O-25-37: Board waived competitive bidding and approved purchase of two additional Aqua-Aerobic tertiary filters for the Davidson Drive wastewater treatment plant (vendor and model specified by staff). The board adopted the ordinance after staff explained that delivery lead times are 24'30 weeks and that adding filters is necessary to maintain wet-weather capacity while individual units are taken offline for maintenance. Roll-call: unanimous yes; ordinance adopted. The purchase price the staff provided was $3,528,920 for the two filters.

- Ordinance O-25-39: Board approved an emergency temporary three-month lease for an Aircraft Rescue Firefighting (ARFF) vehicle from Siddons-Martin Emergency Group and an associated budget amendment to cover an estimated $68,822 (three-month lease plus freight and one-time costs). Airport director Don Rowlett said the board's existing ARFF vehicle (unit year ~2007) is out of service pending parts, and a temporary lease is required for FAA compliance. Roll-call: unanimous yes; ordinance adopted.

- Ordinance O-25-38: Board approved a municipal ordinance allowing filing of a transfer-of-location application for a private-club liquor permit (permit 20-01) for owners relocating from 256 Central Avenue to 334 Central Avenue (Ohio Club ' Sip and Swag Shop). Staff recommended approval; applicant described the plan to operate the new retail/sip concept. Roll-call: unanimous yes; ordinance adopted.

- Ordinance O-25-40: Board adopted a Planned-Development plan to allow Garland County Habitat for Humanity to replat two lots into three smaller lots and build three single-family detached affordable homes at 109 Oma Street; Planning Commission recommended approval with conditions. Roll-call: unanimous yes; ordinance adopted.

- Ordinance O-25-41: Board approved rezoning of Lots 1'3, Block 102 (500 Quapaw Ave.) from RN-5 to Neighborhood Commercial (CN) and amended the future land-use map designation to "commercial enclave." Planning staff said the property contains an existing 26,252-square-foot nonconforming commercial building (former YWCA) and Planning Commission recommended the CN rezoning. Roll-call: unanimous yes; ordinance adopted.

- Consent agenda: The board approved the consent agenda while removing item 10 (a Max Foote contract amendment) at the request of staff; Director Dudley Webb moved to remove item 10 and the motion passed by voice vote.

City manager and utilities update City manager and utilities staff gave a detailed status report on the bonded water and wastewater projects, supply-chain impacts and change orders. Utilities director Gary Carnahan and city staff reviewed multiple project lines including the Gulf-of-Gravity interceptor phases, Gulf-of pump station, Davidson Drive upgrades, tertiary filters, diffuser/outfall work at Lake Catherine and related change orders.

Highlights from the status report included: - The team is managing multiple large contracts, engineers and contractors simultaneously and performs monthly "checkbook" reviews to reconcile awards, change orders and actuals. - Several contract awards and change orders have reduced some work estimates (staff cited a $1.2 million reduction on one contract after negotiated changes) while other items have increased because of supply constraints (transformer and electrical work) and inflation in specialty equipment such as tertiary filters. - The tertiary filter procurement that the board approved tonight was justified by staff on wet-weather capacity and lead-time grounds; staff recommended using the vendor/model consistent with existing plant equipment to avoid compatibility issues. - For projects that affect National Park Service property, staff said additional environmental and archaeological review is taking longer than originally expected; that is the primary reason for removing Schedule 3 from the current Diamond contract and addressing the work later.

Board members asked about mitigation steps if archaeological resources are found (staff answered mitigation options include archaeological excavation and, where possible, in-place lining or alternative routing). City manager characterized the overall status as manageable and said staff's monthly oversight is intended to keep projects on schedule and within available bond funding.