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Hot Springs staff recommend a slate of equipment purchases and service contracts for board approval
Summary
The Hot Springs City manager and department heads told the board that multiple purchases and service agreements — from APX radios and firefighter protective gear to loaders, dump trucks and repair work for a pump station — will be on the March 3 consent agenda, funded from budgeted 2026 resources and existing bond or restricted funds.
Hot Springs City staff outlined a series of procurement requests the board will consider at its March 3 meeting that would replace aging equipment, outfit a new fire station and fund design work for wastewater infrastructure.
City Manager Bill Burrow opened the discussion and turned items over to department staff, who said purchases are budgeted or funded through restricted accounts and capital funds. Karen Scott asked the board to acknowledge the December 2025 financial statements and recommended use of previously restricted general-fund money to furnish the new Fire Station No. 6, citing a non-C capital equipment line of about $93,525 and a separate capital equipment line of about $57,750 for furniture and fixtures.
Fire Chief Ed Davis asked the board to approve the purchase of additional Motorola APX 6000 portable radios for firefighters assigned to the new station under the State of Arkansas cooperative contract. Chief Davis said the radios match the department’s existing inventory and that the quote and the state contract are included in the board packet; the purchase is reflected in the department’s 2026 budget.
Chief Davis also presented results from solicitation HS260009 for personal protective equipment. Staff recommended awarding bid items by line to three vendors: Casco Industries (lowest responsive bidder on multiple items), Shiddens Martin Equipment Group LLC and MEES Service Company; the department said the awards are within the 2026 Fire Department safety-supplies budget and will be partially funded with Act 833 turnback funds.
Utilities Director Monty Led Better described three planned vehicle and equipment replacements: a Caterpillar 930 wheel loader for the compost facility (quote in packet: $224,075), a Peterbilt dump truck for water distribution (quoted at $136,318), and a Caterpillar mini excavator for the distribution division (quoted at $132,795). Led Better said the older units will be declared surplus and sold once the new equipment is placed in service.
Solid Waste Director Samantha Jones recommended purchasing a daycab tractor for $165,570.77 and awarding a low bid for two transfer trailers to Spectre Manufacturing at $135,759 per unit (total $271,518); staff said both purchases are below the 2026 budgeted amounts. Project manager Todd Pillar asked the board to approve a $198,000 Garver LLC work order for design and construction management services for Lakeside Pump Station improvements, to be funded by the board-approved 2025 wastewater bond fund.
Assistant Project Manager Joey Stadler reported a recommended $39,667 utility-relocation package related to Garland County’s Warwick Boulevard bridge replacement; the work includes relocating about 750 feet of sanitary sewer and about 725 feet of water main and is budgeted in the city’s water and wastewater capital-improvement funds.
All items were presented for the board’s consideration at its March 3 meeting; staff emphasized that funding sources and contract documents are included in the packet and that notices required by procurement rules were posted for advertised solicitations.
Ending: The board did not vote during the agenda meeting; each item was introduced for formal consideration on March 3, when motions and final actions may be taken.
