Fort Smith approves $14.5M EPA grant subaward plan; debate over long‑term maintenance, oversight leads to 4–3 vote

The Fort Smith Board of Directors on Jan. 7 authorized a subrecipient agreement with MetroPlan for projects funded by a $14.5 million EPA Climate Pollution Reduction Grant, approving the city’s role in administering $11,250,000 in direct project funding and formalizing subrecipient responsibilities. The vote passed 4–3.

Joshua Robertson, Director of Citizen Services and Sustainability, told the board the grant will fund three city-led initiatives: Urban Greenway Rehabilitation, public EV charging infrastructure and solar energy installations. The city will directly receive $11,250,000 for those projects; $3,250,000 of the total award will fund an e‑bike rebate program and workforce development through subrecipients Trail Blazers and the Arkansas Advanced Energy Foundation, which will administer those programs on the city’s behalf. Funding will also support a dedicated staff position for five years for project oversight.

Public commenters were split. Several speakers — including Reverend Steven Kurtz representing Citizens Climate Lobby and other supporters — urged the board to accept the funds and begin projects. Other speakers raised concerns about long‑term maintenance obligations, reporting and repayment risks if projects were not completed or maintained as specified. Multiple commenters noted the grant terms state the subrecipient (the city) would be responsible for 100% of suballocated project costs if the work were not completed and for ongoing maintenance obligations that could extend decades; Becky Hartsfield and others specifically asked how the city would cover maintenance costs after grant funds ended.

Robertson and other staff responded that contracted firms would operate and maintain EV charging stations, solar arrays would include a 25‑year cost/savings analysis to show offsets for operation and maintenance, and that the city would use a mix of grant offsets and savings to cover insurance, inverter replacement and land lease costs. He said remaining program details and long‑term maintenance plans would be uploaded and available to the public.

Board discussion split along fiscal and policy lines. Director Jared Rigo supported taking the federal dollars to accelerate greenway and infrastructure improvements and said federal funds can help the city meet maintenance obligations it already should perform. Director Kevin Settle and Director Neil Martin expressed concern that the coalition application favored projects they would not have prioritized locally and asked whether MetroPlan was the appropriate regional administrator for the grant. Director Christina Gatsavas and Director Good argued that the city should accept the funds and that declining would risk the money being allocated to other jurisdictions.

A motion to end debate passed; on the roll call to adopt the resolution the tally was 4 in favor and 3 opposed (Yes: Good, Kemp, Christina Gatsavas, Jared Rigo. No: George Gatsavas, Kevin Settle, Neil Martin). The transcript records the board’s approval of the subrecipient agreement.

Why it matters: The award channels federal grant dollars for greenway rehabilitation, EV charging infrastructure and municipal solar to Fort Smith. But the agreement makes the city the subrecipient with long‑term maintenance and compliance responsibilities that citizens and some board members said need clearer cost and staffing plans before major commitments.

Next steps: Staff will finalize subrecipient paperwork with MetroPlan, publish cost/savings analyses and project maintenance plans, and proceed with contracting and implementation consistent with grant requirements.