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Fort Smith sets public hearing on sewer rate changes and approves Basin 12 engineering contract as part of consent‑decree work
Summary
The board set a Feb. 4 public hearing and vote on proposed sanitary sewer rate changes tied to the consent decree and approved an engineering services contract for Basin 12 remediation work; board emphasized plan to show progress to EPA/DOJ and asked for clearer public materials.
The Fort Smith Board of Directors on Jan. 7 set a public hearing for Feb. 4 to consider proposed sanitary sewer rate increases and approved a not‑to‑exceed $224,444 engineering services agreement with Hawkins‑Weir for remedial design in Basin 12 — both actions tied to the city’s consent‑decree obligations.
Director of Water Utilities Lance McEvoy explained Basin 12 is one of the basins the city is required to address under the consent decree; the Basin 12 engineering scope includes design for rehabilitation of 24 manholes and 23 pipe segments with pipe sizes ranging from 18 to 20 inches, using methods that may include open cut, cured‑in‑place pipe (CIPP), or pipe bursting. The engineering contract with Hawkins‑Weir is a not‑to‑exceed $224,444.40 amount and is expected to take about 180 days for design; construction funding comes from sales and use tax.
McEvoy also introduced the process for proposed sewage rate increases: a rate freeze was part of the ballot measure tied to a sales tax approved in 2022; after the initial freeze period, proposed increases would be capped at no more than 3.5% per year for the remaining term of the sales tax. The board must set a public hearing date before adopting any rate ordinance; the notice is scheduled to be published Jan. 19 with the public hearing on Feb. 4.
Public commenters raised technical and communication questions about the rate proposal and about sewer billing methods (seasonal averaging language in the draft ordinance). Director Kevin Settle and others urged aggressive public outreach and requested a “red‑line” comparison showing current rates and the proposed changes for public communications. The board discussed that the rate schedule is part of the larger financial plan the city has presented to the EPA and DOJ as evidence of fiscal commitments to the consent‑decree remediation.
Actions and votes: The Hawkins‑Weir engineering services agreement was approved by roll call vote 7–0. The board set the publication and public hearing dates for the proposed sewer rate ordinance (publication Jan. 19; public hearing Feb. 4) and directed staff to provide clearer comparison materials for the public. The board also asked staff to publicize information on the website and social media in addition to the required newspaper notice.
Why it matters: These actions are components of the city’s financial and technical plan to comply with a federal consent decree addressing sanitary sewer overflows. The rate schedule and engineering work are steps toward capital construction and compliance; funding and timelines are central to negotiations with EPA and DOJ.
