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Record of Proceedings

Fort Smith Board of Directors Regular Meeting - October 14, 2025

Meeting Portal — Tuesday, October 14, 2025
BodyFort Smith, Arkansas
SessionMeeting Portal
DateTuesday, October 14, 2025
StatusFILED
Video Record
0:00 / 1:01:38

Original source
Transcript — VerbatimClick a timed line to jump · ⧉ to share it
1:53

Well, good evening.

1:57

What a turnout this evening.

2:00

We expect you to come next week and and next week and next week.

2:07

Again, thank you.

2:08

Thank you for being here.

2:10

Um at this time, we're going to call the meeting to order uh and for the regular meeting of October 14th of 2025.

2:19

Uh keep in mind these meetings are being recorded and transmitted live for the benefit of our residents who can't be with us in person this evening.

2:27

Um so with that, um I'll do the invocation and I'm gonna ask Director Christina Cassavis to lead us in the pledge, if you don't mind.

2:43

Almighty God, we come this evening first thanking you for this day that you've given us.

2:48

Thank you for our health and our strength, and thank you for this amazing community as it grows and prospers.

2:55

Father, we thank you for this board, give them wisdom, knowledge, and understanding, and may the work they do benefit this city from every segment of our community.

3:05

Father, we thank you for this day.

3:07

In Jesus' name we pray, amen.

3:34

Good.

3:35

Here can't George Kitzabas?

3:38

Christina Kitzabis.

3:39

Here, settled.

3:40

Here, Martin, here.

3:42

Okay.

3:42

Thank you very much.

3:44

At this time, I'll ask if there's any board member that have an item uh to be placed on the agenda that's not that's not already on the agenda, please.

3:52

Yes, sir, Mr.

3:53

Reed.

3:53

I just want to thank you, sir.

3:55

I just want to uh let uh my colleagues in the audience know I have to leave at about six forty-five tonight for a family commitment.

4:00

Thank you.

4:01

And I think uh Director Settle.

4:02

I have a family commitment also my daughter plays from South Side and North Side, South Side Voltabs tonight.

4:06

So at some point tonight, I will be leaving for that tonight.

4:08

Okay, what we'll do, we will uh we will handle the business of the city.

4:13

Uh and uh we will do it as expeditiously uh as possible.

4:17

Okay.

4:18

Thank you, gentlemen.

4:22

Okay.

4:30

Uh September 23rd meeting.

4:34

So moved.

4:35

Special meeting.

4:36

Second.

4:36

And regular meeting.

4:37

So moved.

4:38

Okay, thank you.

4:39

All in favor.

4:40

Uh okay.

4:41

Thank you.

4:43

Uh I guess I'm the only I.

4:44

Okay.

4:44

Yeah.

4:47

Okay.

4:48

At this time, we will ask for uh this time we will ask for a okay, thank you.

5:00

This time we'll go directly to the agenda.

5:03

And the first item on the agenda is a presentation of the 2026 proposed operating budget.

5:10

And so it's a presentation only.

5:14

No board action will be required on this.

5:16

So we're just going to hear from those that are responsible for putting this budget together for us.

5:22

Mr.

5:22

Dingman, you're recognized.

5:24

For some uh brief comments on what's distributed to the board this evening, introduced Chief Financial Officer Andy Richards.

5:40

Good evening.

5:48

Should be in your hands at this point.

5:51

So the main book, just want to remind everyone, this is the this is the budget document that's in this bound copy that you have.

Discussion Breakdown — Share of Meeting
Procedural██████████████████████████████████34%
Zoning Variance████████████████████20%
Fiscal Sustainability██████████████████18%
Budget Equity Analysis███████████11%
Water And Wastewater Management██████████10%
Parks and Recreation███3%
Animal Welfare██2%
Tourism Development██2%
Summary of Proceedings

Fort Smith Board of Directors Regular Meeting - October 14, 2025

[Introductory paragraph summarizing the overall meeting.] The Fort Smith Board of Directors met on October 14, 2025, at 6:00 p.m. The meeting covered the 2026 proposed operating budget presentation, annexation of approximately 45 acres in the Highway 271/Texas Road area, multiple rezoning requests, a staff augmentation agreement, annual millage levies, emergency sewer repair contracts, street project completions, and a consent agenda. All votes were unanimous except the staff augmentation item (6-1). Public comment focused on support for selling city-owned excess properties.

Consent Calendar

  • 13A: Resolution authorizing listing of three city-owned properties for sale (7700 Texas Road, $45,000; 4401 Massard Road, $2,000,000; 1400 Riverfront Drive, $70,000) with Ghan & Cooper Commercial Properties, LLC.
  • 13B: Resolution authorizing application to Arkansas Division of Emergency Management for FY2026 Hazard Mitigation Grant for ACME Brick Stormwater Mitigation project ($400,000 total, $100,000 local match).
  • 13C: Resolution authorizing application for Riverbank Stabilization project ($400,000 total, $100,000 local match).
  • 13D: Resolution authorizing application for Mill Creek Bank Stabilization project ($400,000 total, $100,000 local match).
  • 13E: Resolution authorizing acceptance of FEMA Assistance to Firefighters Grant ($691,636.36 federal, $69,163.64 local match) for 73 SCBA units and 150 face pieces.
  • 13F: Resolution accepting completion and authorizing final payment of $345,050.00 to Entegrity Energy Partners, LLC for LED sports lighting retrofit at Kelley Ballfields.
  • All consent items were approved unanimously (5-0, with Directors Rego and Settle absent for this vote).

Public Comments & Testimony

  • Crystal Cadelli: Expressed support for the sale of unused city-owned properties (Item 13A), stating it would help address the $10 million deficit and that citizens cannot bear additional taxes or utility increases. She also criticized Director Rego's earlier comments about questioning city spending, urging more scrutiny of finances.
  • No other public comments were made on any agenda item.

Discussion Items

  • Item 1: 2026 Proposed Operating Budget Presentation – Chief Financial Officer Andy Richards presented the budget document, noting that capital outlay is now included. He expressed low confidence in achieving a balanced budget, citing inflation and health insurance costs. Director Christina Catsavis requested a balanced budget. Discussion included vacancy savings (estimated $3.8 million citywide, $440,000 in general fund) and a lobbyist contract ($150,000 per year) questioned by Director George Catsavis. The budget hearing is set for November 14, 2025.
  • Items 2A-2F: Annexation and Rezoning of Highway 271/Texas Road Area – Deputy City Administrator Maggie Rice explained the annexation of a 45-acre enclave (20 parcels, 9 residential, 11 non-residential) under state law. A public hearing on August 19 had no opposition. The six related ordinances (2A: annexation; 2B-2F: master land use plan amendments and rezoning) were each approved unanimously (7-0) with suspension of rules. Conditions were applied to some rezoning (e.g., fencing, screening, no vehicular access from Texas Road).
  • Item 3: Rezoning at 6001 Prairie Drive – Ordinance to amend land use from General Commercial to Office, Research, and Light Industrial and rezone from Commercial Heavy (C-5) to Industrial Light (I-1) for a 2.2-acre site. Approved 7-0, with emergency clause.
  • Item 4: Rezoning at 6210-6234 Massard Road – Ordinance to rezone 2.99 acres from Commercial Moderate Special (C-3 SPL) to Planned Zoning District (PZD) to allow reduced lot standards. Approved 7-0, with emergency clause.
  • Item 5: Rezoning at 6000, 6100, 6120 Prairie Drive – Ordinance to rezone 6.27 acres from C-5 to I-1 for a 35,252 sq. ft. wholesale trade establishment. Approved 7-0, with emergency clause.
  • Item 6: Staff Augmentation Agreement with Burns & McDonnell – Tabled from September 16, revised to a 3-month term (not to exceed $155,121.80). Interim Deputy Director of Engineering for Streets and Drainage to be provided. Director George Catsavis voted no; others voted yes (6-1). The agreement requires a 5-day notice for termination.
  • Items 7A-7D: Annual Millage Ordinances – City Clerk Sherri Gard presented the levies of 8 mills total (5 general, 1 library, 1 fire pension, 1 police pension) for 2025, collectible in 2026. No rate changes. Approved as a batch 7-0.
  • Items 8 & 9: Emergency Sanitary Sewer Repairs – Deputy Director Jimmie Johnson explained a collapsed sewer line near Cherokee Circle and Leigh Avenue. Original trenchless repair by Vortex Services encountered issues; Vortex completed two point repairs for $130,000. Krapff-Reynolds Construction Company then replaced the line for $304,762. Both ordinances were approved.
  • Items 10 & 11: 2023 Street Overlays Phase D – Interim Director Ben Marts requested a 49-day time extension (40 days weather, 9 days extra work) and final payment of $326,520.45 to Forsgren, Inc. Approved.
  • Item 12: 2023 Street Overlays Phase A – Final payment of $480,443.05 to Forsgren, Inc. for work on Phoenix Avenue. Approved.
  • Officials Forum: Mayor McGill announced the Mayor's Youth Advisory Council and a visit from the Finland ambassador. Director Martin requested an update from Fort Smith Animal Haven and gave an update on the Baker Tilly utilities risk assessment (survey response rate ~25%). Director George Catsavis asked about lobbyist return and water park slide bids. Director Good thanked NAACP youth attendees. Upcoming events noted: Caroline Cross Park ribbon cutting (Oct 17), next meeting Oct 21, study session Oct 28.

Key Outcomes

  • Annexation approved: 45 acres in Highway 271/Texas Road area annexed into Ward 3 (Ordinance 2A, 7-0).
  • Rezonings approved: All five companion ordinances (2B-2F) and items 3, 4, 5 were approved unanimously (7-0) with conditions where applicable.
  • Staff augmentation contract approved: Three-month agreement with Burns & McDonnell for $155,121.80 (6-1).
  • Millage rates maintained: 8 mills total for 2025 (7-0).
  • Emergency sewer repairs approved: $130,000 to Vortex Services and $304,762 to Krapff-Reynolds Construction Company.
  • Street project completions accepted: Phase D final payment $326,520.45 and Phase A final payment $480,443.05.
  • Consent agenda approved: Including property listings, three hazard mitigation grant applications, AFG grant acceptance, and LED lighting final payment.
  • Water park slide bids: Set to open on Friday, October 17, 2025.
  • Next steps: Budget hearing scheduled for November 14, 2025; further discussion on Animal Haven and utility risk assessment to continue.

Meeting Transcript

Well, good evening. What a turnout this evening. We expect you to come next week and and next week and next week. Again, thank you. Thank you for being here. Um at this time, we're going to call the meeting to order uh and for the regular meeting of October 14th of 2025. Uh keep in mind these meetings are being recorded and transmitted live for the benefit of our residents who can't be with us in person this evening. Um so with that, um I'll do the invocation and I'm gonna ask Director Christina Cassavis to lead us in the pledge, if you don't mind. Almighty God, we come this evening first thanking you for this day that you've given us. Thank you for our health and our strength, and thank you for this amazing community as it grows and prospers. Father, we thank you for this board, give them wisdom, knowledge, and understanding, and may the work they do benefit this city from every segment of our community. Father, we thank you for this day. In Jesus' name we pray, amen. Good. Here can't George Kitzabas? Christina Kitzabis. Here, settled. Here, Martin, here. Okay. Thank you very much. At this time, I'll ask if there's any board member that have an item uh to be placed on the agenda that's not that's not already on the agenda, please. Yes, sir, Mr. Reed. I just want to thank you, sir. I just want to uh let uh my colleagues in the audience know I have to leave at about six forty-five tonight for a family commitment. Thank you. And I think uh Director Settle. I have a family commitment also my daughter plays from South Side and North Side, South Side Voltabs tonight. So at some point tonight, I will be leaving for that tonight. Okay, what we'll do, we will uh we will handle the business of the city. Uh and uh we will do it as expeditiously uh as possible. Okay. Thank you, gentlemen. Okay. Uh September 23rd meeting. So moved. Special meeting. Second. And regular meeting. So moved. Okay, thank you. All in favor. Uh okay. Thank you. Uh I guess I'm the only I. Okay. Yeah. Okay. At this time, we will ask for uh this time we will ask for a okay, thank you. This time we'll go directly to the agenda.

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