Good evening, everyone.

Thank you for attending our regular meeting of the Fort Smith Board of Directors on this Tuesday, April the twenty first, two thousand and twenty-six.

And I would ask Director Neil Martin to lead us in an invocation this evening, and I will lead us in the Pledge of Allegiance.

Director Vigo.

Here.

Good.

Here.

Kent.

Here.

George Ket Savis.

Christina Cassavis.

Here.

Settle.

Here.

Martin.

Here.

Thank you.

We have a quorum present.

Does any member of the board have a presentation of an item of business tonight not already on the agenda?

Seeing none, then we need a motion to approve as written the minutes of the April 7th, 2026 regular meeting.

So moved.

So I get all in favor?

Aye.

All right.

The ayes have it.

A motion and a second, just as a reminder to adopt each of our following agenda items must be offered before director comments are made.

And public comments on items must pertain to the presented item.

First up, before we get into the regular agenda, we have a presentation from the General Darby Challenge organization here in Fort Smith.

Uh Mr.

Acting Administrator Dingman, who do we have to speak to us?

Uh thank you.

This evening we have a guest Caroline Speer and I believe Darlene Darlin Knightlinger from the Fort Smith Museum of History for a presentation regarding the upcoming Darby Days event and Fort Smith's General Darby Challenge.

Ms.

Spear.

Welcome.

Thank you.

Thank you for the opportunity to speak tonight.

I wanted to speak on behalf of the Fort Smith Museum of History and the Fort Smith General Darby Challenge.

This weekend, if you haven't heard, um, is a full weekend for the Darby Challenge.

Uh this year is our third year of the Darby Challenge, and we have added a an extra day to this weekend on Saturday that is called Darby Days.

So this entire weekend we will honor General Darby, his legacy with the 75th Rangers, his relationship and his history with Fort Smith, and the connection with our twin cities in Chisterna, Italy, and in Nago Torbele, Italy.

This event um is a fundraiser for the museum, is the museum as a nonprofit.

But this event has also become very vital to the downtown community and to the city of Fort Smith.

Over the last two years, it has brought in 120,000 to the city tax base.

So we're hoping to grow it for that reason, one of the reasons anyway.

Um, but I wanted to extend an invitation to our city leadership and actually to everyone in this room to come out this weekend.

Darby Days will be a community event.

So on Saturday, beginning at 10 o'clock in front of the Museum of History, the road will be closed, so we have a lot of safety taken care of there.

There will be children's activities, um, there will be ranger organizations, there will be food trucks.

Um over at the historic site, there will be uh encampments and reenactors and a weapons demonstration, and we will have a Derby reenactor.

There is free admission to the museum and free admission to the Fort Smith National Historic Site.

So it's an opportunity for us to give back to the community and allow them to come experience this history and this community effort at no charge.

And I encourage and hope that um all of you can come and that everyone in this room can also come.

And then on Sunday morning, we will have the General Darby Challenge.

It uh as I said previously, it's our third year.

Um this event honors specifically General Darby and our sister city relationships.

We start at 7 a.m.

I know it's early.

People that like to get out there and do those things, but we start at 7 a.m.

It is a half marathon, so we utilize we start at the Darby Challenge or at the Darby statue, we go down A Street, we cross through the Greg Smith Trails down on the riverfront, over to Fort Smith Park, and then back on the same route, and that is a half marathon.

It is also a 5K or 10K, so lots of opportunities to walk it, run it, or ruck it.

We have military coming in who are going to RUC, and the RUC is a 25-pound plus.

We also have we also have military who will be in from Fort Benning, National Ranger Association will be here.

And this year we have started a new piece that will honor a fallen soldier from our area.

So at about 10 o'clock, we will honor um Master Sergeant Joshua Wheeler, who was a member of the 75th Ranger Regiment and eventually Delta Force.

He was killed in Afghanistan in 2015.

So we will have a special ceremony at 10 o'clock.

Um his family will be there, and there will be a commemorative gift that will be given to his family.

So we would love to have representation from the city and from the community.

Um and the last thing we need is if you're not running or rucking, are all the cheerleaders.

So please come out and clap these folks on and encourage them as they run through Fort Smith.

And again, it's a community event, and our aim is for every year this to get bigger and more involved, more involved with the community, and bring people in to see our city and support it in that way also.

Thank you.

Thank you, Caroline.

And I would encourage my uh colleagues to find a way to be a part of this weekend uh when you can and this event in the future.

Uh I took part in the inaugural event a couple years ago.

You might not know it to look at me, but I did the half marathon uh alongside my father, who managed to achieve and uh finish that half marathon while suffering from shingles.

So shout out to my dad uh doing that, but it's a great time.

Thank you, Caroline, and you and Darlin and everybody at the museum for what you do to honor our hero.

Uh item one is an ordinance repealing and replacing section two-44B of the Fort Smith Municipal Code.

This was placed on the agenda by Directors Kemp and Directors George Kit Savis uh at our April 14th study session meeting.

Mr.

Dingman, would you introduce this item, please?

Certainly.

This this proposed ordinance will provide a time for public comment at each regular board of directors meeting prior to the consideration of regular business items.

As mentioned, this uh this topic was discussed at the April 14th study session.

And this ordinance was drafted and placed on this agenda at the direction of the board.

With that introduction, I'll defer to the board's discussion.

Okay.

Uh first up, Madam Clerk, do we have any citizen comment?

Yes, we have eight, the first being Ken Fodge.

All right.

We will dive right into citizen comments.

Ms.

Fodge, thanks for being here.

Thank you.

Glad to be here.

Uh, before I start, um, I just want to say I really love the ability to click on the agenda uh item and then be taken to that uh packet information in the packet.

Um whoever did that, thank you so much.

It makes it so much easier than scrolling and um trying to find the information.

Um several weeks ago I reached out to the board expressing concerns about the inability to speak at study sessions on these study session agenda items.

Uh many times it's discretionary on what citizens can say uh if they can speak on an item, excuse me, on the on a study session agenda item or not, and it can be very confusing on what you can talk about and what you can't.

Um I appreciate that Ms.

Cassabas brought it forth and also recommended that citizens be able to speak at all meetings on a citizens forum.

However, I do disagree with limiting the allotted time limit to three minutes.

Uh, not every person will be speaking on an agenda item, or they may not be able to stay for the entirety of the meeting.

I believe it needs to be changed back to five minutes, which allows the speaker ample time to be able to speak on the matter without feeling rushed, or not be afforded the opportunity to express their opinion or have their voice heard.

I also believe citizens should be able to go ahead and continue to speak at study sessions.

Uh employees and consultants speak, citizens should be allowed to do so as well.

Thank you.

Thank you.

Who do we have next?

Next, we have Eric Wideman.

Mr.

Wideman, welcome.

Thanks for being here.

Thank you.

Good evening, everyone.

Good evening.

Howdy?

Uh I'm not trying to be rude, but I am going to be blunt.

Okay.

I seriously wonder if some of you have ever been told no in your life, especially as a child.

Especially you, Mr.

Kent.

That's all I have to say.

Thank you.

All right.

Who do we have next, Madam Clerk?

Next we have Jo Elskin.

Miss Elskin, thanks for being here.

Oh, did you say?

Yes.

Okay.

You are up, Joe.

It's going to work again eventually.

All right.

Thank you.

I'm sorry.

I was distracted.

Um I I just on this this issue.

I've been on both sides of the issue.

And so I totally understand.

I I remember uh Director Martin Morton saying five minutes is too much, late nights, and I was like, but by you know, we need five minutes.

And and then I I do realize that um there's a lot of repetition and uh it got to be where meetings are long and repetition doesn't really achieve anything.

And so I I really a hundred percent support this because when I look at it, I'm thinking getting to speak twice a month matters.

There are a lot of issues you all are covering.

I really like the adding the extra regular meeting speech.

Um I also feel like um three minutes is adequate if you discipline yourself to stay with the facts, and I want to to appraise everyone here who when someone offers something, thoughts that you will you will extend their speaking time by asking questions.

You do that and you make the information usable.

So I feel like this ordinance this way is a great way to start.

If it doesn't do what y'all need it to do, I guess you'll be changing it again.

But uh thank you for looking into it, analyzing it, and coming up with more ways for us to engage.

Thank you.

Thanks, Joe.

Madam Clerk, who's next?

Next we have Chris Cadelli.

Mr.

Cadelli, welcome.

Good evening, board, and thank you for the time to address the board.

Um I I just want to say that um I believe that we need the five minutes.

Um, you know, a lot of a lot of speakers don't even use the five minutes.

Uh, but for those who want and take the effort to come and stand up here.

I mean, for me, this is way out of my comfort zone.

I I get nervous up here, I don't really enjoy doing this, but I feel compelled to do it.

Um I know there are others that feel the same way.

Uh and you know, I would hate for anyone that has something they feel like they need to speak to the board about to uh to be denied at least five minutes to get whatever they have on their chest off their mind, regardless of whether I agree with it or not.

Um I would hope that we get to five minutes.

I would like to see it added to in front of every meeting.

I think that really in my mind, the first thing the board should do is hear from the people for whoever wants to come and address the board.

So I hope that uh we get to five minutes, we keep that and maybe add some more time in front of other meetings for those who have something they need to address the board for.

I appreciate it.

Thank you.

You're welcome.

Madam Clerk, who do we have next?

Next we have Kristen Kitchens.

Kitchens, welcome.

Thank you.

Well, through the years, we all know how fast I can speak.

So basically, if we're gonna slow, you know, duck cut the time, I'm gonna speak faster.

It's gonna be harder for y'all to understand.

I can get more on the record than anybody, I've been told.

So, but basically, um we're gonna talk about this, and um, you know, I'm I'm interested more in the study sessions and being able to speak with uh, for instance, the guy that the people that did the uh stuff on acne break this last time, that was the most informative um meeting and information that I've heard through the whole session or anything regarding Acme Brick, because basically we bought an unreclaimed shell pit.

And we bought a uh the clay pit had been reclaimed, but not the shell pit.

And one thing that did disturb me when I was um listening to that was they were talking about um you know mining some uh shell that was left there.

We can't even mining and open pit mining in city limits, it should be um off limits, period, which should never have been happening to begin with.

Um if you read about acne brick and the one here in Fort Smith, the old Fort Brick, it was one of the heaviest stuff uh toughest, strongest bricks there was.

There's magganese, heavy metals in there.

Nobody did any kind of soil samples before we bought it, anything to that nature.

And so we've bought something we can't take care of or we can't afford to fix.

And for instance, like if you look at whoever's leased this other side over there, driving through town, you see all these uh piles of like dirt and all kinds of stuff from some kind of construction business.

I mean, what are we here?

I mean, is whoever negotiated this lease, is that in the lease?

We can just have done you know garbage sitting out there or dirt.

I mean, that's right there in the flood zone, comes right out of that neighborhood behind there from you know Cliff Drive over there to that circle right there.

So I'm kind of wondering like what's going on here.

We're just gonna keep making the city look bad.

That's all I have to say about that one.

Thank you.

Madam Clerk, who's next?

Next we have Crystal Cadelli.

Mrs.

Cadelli, thanks for being here.

Good evening, board.

Last week we heard Ms.

Kitzavis advocate for citizens' uh voices to be heard.

Right now, citizens are only granted five minutes once monthly to speak.

And unfortunately, what is happening is on those nights, agenda the agenda is being packed, and citizens are waiting for hours for their voices to be heard.

There are citizens that come here that are elderly that are handicapped, that have small children, and they just can't stay till nine or ten o'clock at night for the board to be able to hear either their ideas or their issues.

And I think that you know we speak a lot about decorum.

I think you're you would have more decorum if people didn't feel so frustrated and knew that you were listening to them and that you respected them.

Um and I just don't feel like that's what's happening at a lot of these meetings.

So I asked this board tonight to um not only keep in the five minutes, but I would also add a minute to the agenda items to three minutes.

Um listen to your constituents, hear what they have to say.

Sometimes they come up with really good ideas.

Um, whether you are in agreement or opposition, um, the tides always turn, and so the people that are in opposition that may not need the five minutes now will want it later.

So that's that's what I have to say.

Thank you.

Thank you.

Madam Klerk, who's next?

Next we have Gary Podgerski.

Mr.

Fodgerski, thanks for being here.

Thank you.

So last week I gave a presentation on First Amendment rights.

Just so we know that's a right.

Okay.

There has been several incidences from this board of disrespect to the citizens.

I'm gonna try and play this clip it.

Okay, it's not gonna play.

So I'm gonna ask real quick to the board, which one of you last week when I was called up here said, quote, God, here we go again.

Because it's on the tape.

Which one of you pulled the Carl Gillaton moment?

That's what I thought I was gonna get.

A couple weeks ago, I signed up the comment on every single agenda item.

For that, I've been called, quote, malcontent.

That was a protest.

A First Amendment protest.

I disagree with going from five minutes to three minutes.

Mr.

Costabish, I'm gonna ask that you make two amendments to this.

That citizens be allowed to comment after the board makes amendments.

Uh no.

On any agenda for for this type of meeting.

So I come up here, I make a comment, you guys go into your little discussion, somebody makes an amendment, and nobody gets to comment on the amendment.

That's wrong.

Well, that happened during a study session, too, didn't it?

Okay, but you were concerned about that happened in in a regular meeting.

It happened in the other room, but that that happened.

No, that actually happened in this room.

The second amendment I'm gonna ask you to make is that citizens be granted the right, and I say that strongly, the right, the comment after the board agrees unanimously to add items to the agenda.

And I agree with some of the other comments that the five minutes needs to happen at all meetings.

And unless anybody wants to fuss up to God, here we go again, and that's going out on social media here shortly.

Okay.

No?

Okay.

That's all I got.

Madam Clerk, who's next?

Lastly, we have Joey McCutcheon.

Mr.

McCutcheon, thanks for being here.

Thank you.

Just briefly to comment on Joey McCutcheon, but just briefly to comment on what Ms.

Fodge commented on.

I think the city does an outstanding job with videoing these meetings, audioing these meetings, and also the website is phenomenal.

I mean, uh I've seen things across the state that would make you quiver, but this the city does a really, really good job on that.

With regard to this ordinance, I like the fact that I think it's an improvement on we don't have to wait two or three or four hours.

Some people don't want to wait that long to speak, uh, but many citizens do, so I think having it prior is is a really really good idea.

Um I I do think and and allowing us to talk about whatever subject we want, that's that seems to be an improvement uh on any topic.

Uh I would like to see five minutes and I'd I'd like to see five minutes on study sessions and uh regular meetings.

Um I think that it's important that uh that we listen to citizens, and I I think we do get confrontational.

I do.

I think board members do at time, but I think the practice of active listening goes a long way.

That is where we're trying to understand each other, that we're listening when someone's talking, and and I think we get crossways uh sometimes on that.

Um I do think the this practice of asking questions sometimes, and I think it's reality, it may be perception, but I think sometimes questions are asked to give certain individuals more time, and so you gotta be careful about that.

But I think that you know, allowing citizens to talk is never a bad thing.

You know, First Amendment rights are extremely important.

Uh so I hope that that you'll add it before every meeting.

Uh five minutes.

Thank you.

Thank you.

Madam Clerk, anyone else signed up?

That is all.

All right.

The next thing in the procedure uh to handle this properly is a motion to adopt the ordinance with suspension of the rules.

So move with suspension of the rules.

Do we have a second?

Second.

Madam Clerk, please read the ordinance.

Ordinance repealing and replacing section two forty-four B of the Fort Smith Municipal Code.

Okay.

Uh we'll go first with Director Christina Kitsavis and then Director Settle for Director's Comments.

I'd like to make a motion to amend um the item in front of us from three minutes to five minutes.

You know, it takes people a lot of effort to get here, especially um, you know, if they're not planning on being here every week.

Um, you know, they're having to take time off work sometimes, maybe having to arrange child care.

It takes a lot for people to come here.

I know some people are nervous to speak, that it takes them longer to get everything out.

But you know, over the years that I've been here, what we've seen are some people have really complex issues they're bringing to us.

Maybe it's something with an easement or a dispute with a neighbor or drainage issues that take some time to really get into.

And sometimes what we've seen is members of the board will ask questions and the person responds, and then when the timer goes off, that's it.

And a lot of their time has been used up with our questions.

So I think five minutes is reasonable.

I think it's fair.

It's the the standard that we've been working with, and I don't see any reason to reduce it.

Thank you.

Okay.

We have a motion to modify the uh ordinance in front of us from three minutes to five minutes.

Does that motion have a second?

Uh-huh.

I'll circummit.

All right.

Any comments or discussion on that motion?

Director So on the motion, no, on the whole ordinance, yes.

Okay, well, we'll come back to that.

Any comments on the motion?

All right.

Seeing none, Madam Clerk, please call the roll on the amendment to this ordinance.

Director Rego.

Yes.

Good.

No.

Kim?

Yes.

George Kit Savis?

Yes.

Christina Kitzavis?

Yes.

Settle?

No.

Martin.

No.

All right.

I believe the item cares.

Oh, sorry, Madam Clerk.

So it's four in favor and three opposed.

Wonderful.

Uh now we'll go to comments on the amended ordinance.

Director Setter.

Thank you.

Sorry I wasn't here last week.

I was uh not feeling well.

I'm glad I didn't show up here.

My question to the board is I need some clarification here.

My my understanding is this was put on the agenda so because there was a question of allowing citizens to talk about an item at the study session at the citizens' forum.

That's the whole reason this was brought back to us.

So now it's going to be if this proposal goes through, it's going to be now at the beginning of the meeting.

Is this going to allow anybody to talk about an agenda item on the agenda that's going to be at the meeting and then talk about the agenda item?

So my only question question to the board is is the intent of this to allow somebody to talk about an agenda item on the meeting, like for example, let's say this past this was already in play and somebody want to talk about item two tonight.

Would they be able to go to the citizens forum and talk about item two and then come back in front of the board and talk about item two at item two?

That's my clarification to this board.

Is that the intent of this?

Or is this 10 is to talk about subjects not related to anything on the agenda?

My understanding, if and someone please correct me if I'm wrong, uh, is that the changes that are in front of us would allow uh a citizen forum portion uh to be potentially five minutes long uh at the beginning of each regular meeting where citizen would be able to speak about uh anything on their mind.

Uh and then I suppose if that citizen really felt uh compelled to speak additionally about uh an item uh that then they would also be able to speak uh if that item was on the agenda.

I I think that's what's in front of us.

Is that not right?

Judge Kemp?

Thank you, Vice Mayor.

Uh the intent, yes, was that people could speak to any item, which is why I proposed three minutes.

Um but as we've heard people speak tonight, I mean I the spirit of what I was trying to help bring forward was not divisive whatsoever.

It was simply let's allow people to be heard at the front of these meetings at a frequency of all regular meetings.

Um so you know, uh this is not a hill for me to die on here.

I mean, whether it's three or five, but I do think to be clear, it was that they could speak to any item.

Um you know, I think I of listening to people tonight.

I I don't think everyone will need five minutes.

Perhaps, you know, I was leaving if they don't feel rushed and they feel heard at a frequency, then the the opportunity would probably be that people yield back a lot of time.

But the content was originally proposed as that there would be no restrictions.

So that so the idea is no restrictions so they can be able to speak on an item on the agenda and then back an item at the agenda.

Director Christina Kitsavis, I think it's votes.

Yes, I proposed it and that was my intent.

And right now people have the ability to speak on an item for two minutes, and they get to talk for five minutes, they're just not doing it on the same night.

Yeah, I'm I'm I I'm not I I'm allowing I'm okay with allowing people to speak.

I'm just questioning an items on the agenda.

Are they going to be able to speak on that agenda item at the beginning of the meeting and at the agenda item when it comes up?

That's all I was trying to clarify.

Because that wasn't clear when I was listening to the meeting.

Initially, when we started talking about it, um we were still talking about doing it in on the study sessions.

Okay.

So, you know, this this thing has evolved over the years.

Um Andre, George, myself, uh we're back here in the day when we had people singing, throwing footballs at us.

Um, and it turned into more of a uh a side show.

And I and what I really hope is people come here with legitimate issues, concerns the city.

We are we are running a business meeting, we have people watching us from all over the world.

And we need to remember that.

We are trying to present a great positive attitude of this to everybody that watches us to show that we are doing the business of the city and they want to invest in our city, and that's the reason we made the change from where it was at the beginning of the meetings because it turned into a side show to after the meetings to more coffee table, round table to where it was today.

So I'm okay with changing it back.

I'm okay with where we're gonna go with this, but just remember that this thing is evolved.

If you go back in the onus of the days back in the day, you'll see those videos with Mayor Baker and Mayor Sanders was here, and you'll see how this thing is a changed and evolved.

So I appreciate the clarity and com and thank you very much.

Thank you.

Thank you for that important context, Director Settle.

Director Martin.

I want to give a little context as well.

We made this change back in 22.

So if you were folks that were on the board or folks that uh that that weren't, it used to be a town hall, which we we went through the meeting, the town hall was a separate meeting.

So it was it was completely separate.

You couldn't do anything with it.

It just had to sit at the end of the meeting.

Well, in 22, we made the change from a town hall to a citizens forum.

And the citizens forum allows flexibility to move it around.

You can move it, item number two, you could move it at the you could keep it at the end, you could move it to the beginning.

So uh I think that was one of the selling points for moving it to a uh citizens forum.

Part of the I went back and listened to the meeting when we discussed it in on November 19th of 2022.

And I remember specifically uh, or I I I noted it here that um Director Good said was saying that this help having it at the end helps folks that can't get here by six o'clock, people that are working.

You mentioned you work and you had you should sometimes you struggled to get here at six o'clock.

That also allows those folks that maybe work till six or six thirty the the opportunity to get here and and and to to speak.

Uh Director Settle uh suggested putting it at a study session because study sessions were generally shorter, and I don't know if that's necessarily true now, but it's they're they're generally shorter.

But uh and and Director Rigo talked about the flexibility with the being able to move the citizens' form around.

I'm okay.

I I voted I voted no uh on the amendment because I wanted to get to this point.

But is are those things do those things still exist?

Yes, we do have Gary Podgersky.

Yes, citizens, if I can reply, yeah.

Oh yeah, go ahead.

I still have the floor, but go ahead.

Yeah.

Absolutely.

So yes, I still have citizens uh like myself that that work either in the evenings or get off late and have a hard time getting here by six.

But again, the majority of people now I that I talk to now come to the meetings and seem to make it just fine.

But there are those that that just simply can't.

Okay.

All right.

Well that I think that's the only the only thing that we uh that that I thought.

I wanted to make sure are those is that still a uh a scenario that we want to address.

If not, um, you know, we can go ahead and move forward.

But I I think there's the the intent of the whole thing was to accommodate people.

Um somebody is gonna come and say a year from now, they're gonna say, oh my gosh, there's so so much time at the front.

Uh yeah, you know, I'm wanting to hear about item seven on the agenda and it takes so long to get there.

And we'll hear that and we'll you know we'll uh have to you know kind of understand uh uh or kind of explain to them how we got to this point if if this passes uh tonight.

But I I think ultimately the goal is to, at least in my opinion, and and what I heard back in 22 was to accommodate citizens in a way that would work for them.

And um if that's changed, then it's changed.

So we can we can make that move.

So I'm I'm I'm good with that.

But just want to give a little context as to where we were.

Thank you.

Director Good.

Thank you, Vice Mayor.

Um, like Director Martin just spoke to, you know, we were we need to talk about intent and accommodating our citizens, and just to give you more uh context, and I don't know how long ago uh Director Settle or Kassavitz or uh Sherry may put a date, but you know, during our citizens forum uh at one time because we wanted the feel of the meetings to be more hospital and open, we weren't the board weren't on the dais.

We were on the floor.

We set up tables on the floor to be closer to the citizen hall setting.

And the citizens can come and speak.

So the fact that you know some people feel like um people aren't being respected or or being considered is not the case at all.

Um try to make every accommodation for as many citizens as we possibly can, especially you know, individual board members.

I know personally myself and I know other board members, if I'm getting emails, phone calls, and requests to come to citizens uh residents on the weekends um in the evening when I get off work, uh phone calls after board meetings, phone calls during the day during work, and even when I'm on vacation or holidays.

I mean, we don't we don't we aren't light, we aren't light.

I mean, we're very lax when it comes to appeasing our constituents.

Uh we do what we can to address the concerns of the majority of people.

So we are available.

So honestly, if there's any more time that you know people wish to have to talk about an issue, it's it's obviously there and open, and I'll give you a good example of getting issues in front of the entire board.

You know, Ms.

Faj has written, you know, multiple emails in great context and detail, you know, to the entire board.

Um so I think the opportunity is there, and there's no disrespect uh to any citizen that you know that would like to speak or have more time, and that is another thing.

So if my thought was if we approve what uh director uh Kempett uh mentioned about the three minutes, if actual more time was needed, we would see that, and we as the board could adjust if we saw fit.

I mean it's obvious we've adjusted multiple times, uh, front of the meetings, back of the meetings, uh how long, you know, for years.

So that's not going to stop.

We're here to hear from our citizens in point blank.

That's what we'll continue to do.

Thank you, Director Good, and and and all my colleagues for the the uh information about the the story, which I think can can be summarized as you know, many changes have been made over many years, all with the goal of trying to uh meet the folks where they're at uh and hear from them, and I appreciate uh folks sharing that.

Any other comments on uh the ordinance program?

Director Kitsabis.

Sherry.

Do you have do you have a microphone?

Doesn't work.

I do, yes.

Let me ask you a question.

The mayor, according to Roberts Rules of Order is the mayor controls the meeting, correct?

He is the chair, yes.

Okay.

If somebody comes up to speak that say they're just totally out of line, they're not or space the American, can the mayor stop them and make them quit?

Huh?

I believe the mayor does have that authority.

But he does have the authority.

Yes, sir.

Okay.

I think that the the mayor has would have to have some something to make them stop.

I'm sorry.

Go ahead.

What is it?

What is it, Colby?

Yeah.

My comment was if if the ordinance passes as presented and a citizen can speak on any any topic, uh, I I don't know what guidelines the mayor would have to say anything is out of order.

I mean, if an agenda item is about zoning and the public input, you know, the citizens comment is unrelated to that.

I I think the chair could say, hey, you know, this is you know, your comment should be about the agenda item.

But if the you know if the citizens' forum agenda item is you can speak on anything, then I don't think there is any guidelines that a mayor would have to say, oh, you can't talk about this.

I mean, they can speak about anything.

Okay.

Thank you.

Director Good?

Yeah, I just wanted to comment to Director George Cassavis comment.

Um you had mentioned if the speaker is is out of order.

Yeah.

Just totally just totally lost it.

Okay.

So just totally lost it in your in your words, out of order was the initial uh phrase you used.

Uh the mayor does have the authority to halt that communication, but also board members individually have the authority to use Robert Rules award to call order uh that could stop said action as well.

Right.

Okay, I understand.

Director Christina could say recognized.

Well, I did uh just want to clarify with Colby for the citizens forum, my intention was for the citizens forum, people can speak about anything they like.

For the agenda, that will still pertain to each agenda item so that we can stay orderly.

I just want to make sure that's how you have interpreted it.

I just wanted to clarify that.

Yes, I I agree with the other.

If I misspoke, I just wanted to clarify.

No, I'm not aware of any change that's being considered as to public input on agenda items.

So there's that's that will remain uh as as it historically has, that the the substance would be relate to the item on the floor.

Right.

I mean, as long you know, it's not up to us to police what people are saying, and we've got to realize what what some people have concerns about are very important to them.

And I would reference the first uh few months I was here, there was a gentleman that came and spoke about the raccoon worms, and that was really important to him, and he felt it was an existential threat, and he was here trying to warn us, and that was um that that was something that was important to him.

That's not for us to police the tone.

Um but I do think that when once we get into the agenda, the comments need to be relevant to the item so that we can progress professionally through the meeting.

Thank you.

All right.

Do we have any more comments or questions about the item before we vote?

Vice Mayor, tell me exactly what we're voting on her amendment.

The amendment has been voted on in pass, Director Kitzavis.

Uh, we're voting on the ordinance with a five-minute time limit.

Four or five minute time limit.

Correct.

Okay, thank you.

Director Good.

Thank you, Vice Mayor.

You did ask if there were additional questions so because we're we're speaking about um how the meetings are going to be uh uh the time length and and who has the authority to govern.

Um so how are the rules enforced if the time limit go if if the citizen goes over the five minutes and wants to continue or in in your words um you know kind of get out there.

You know, how how are the rules enforced?

Well, I would I would uh suggest uh as with any situation where we have uh a structure and and rules in place.

I mean, if there's a time limit, it's up to the mayor or the vice mayor or whoever's uh acting as the chairperson of the meeting to do their level best in a respectful way to enforce the time limit that's at hand uh and also to do their level best to make sure that there's a um it's not about policing content, but making sure that there's a uh you know a decorum and a good spirit of of dialogue that takes place and that things don't um uh ever descend into uh where anyone gets the feeling that the meeting is out of control or that the meeting is not professional or that the meeting is not representing our community the way that we all, everybody in this room wants our community to be represented well.

And so I think a lot of that is just going to uh be up to the the mayor or the vice mayor, whomever is serving as the chairperson of the meeting uh to make sure that uh time is kept and that decorum uh is uh something that is important and uh kept in mind.

You're welcome.

Uh seeing no further comments or questions, Madam Clerk, please call the roll on the amended ordinance.

Director Good.

Again, this is on the amended Yes.

Kent?

Yes.

This is on the five minutes, correct?

Okay, yes.

George Kit Savas, is he yes?

Yeah, yes, ma'am.

Okay.

Christina Kit Savis.

Yes.

Settle?

Yes.

Martin.

Yes.

Rego.

Yes.

Passes seven in favor, zero opposed.

All right.

May we have a motion, please, to adopt the emergency clause.

So moved.

Second.

Madam Clerk, please call the roll on the emergency clause.

Director Kemp?

Yes.

George Kit Savas?

Yes.

Christina Kit Savis.

Yes.

Settle?

Yes.

Martin?

Yes.

Rego?

Yes.

Good.

Yes.

Passes seven in favor, zero opposed.

Thank you all very much, and thank you for your feedback uh on that item.

Uh item number two is a resolution authorizing to just to clarify, will this this will take effect immediately?

So the first the first meeting in May.

May 5th.

Uh, May 5th.

Okay.

The first regular meeting.

Thank you.

Uh item two uh is a resolution authorizing the mayor to execute amendment number one with half associates incorporated to provide professional engineering services for the ACME Briggs stormwater mitigation ponds, project number 25-06-A.

Uh, this is a 464, 860 dollar budgeted engineering project.

Uh this was tabled at our April 7th regular meeting pending a study session discussion.

That took place our last study session, and Director Kemp and myself placed it here on the agenda for consideration tonight.

Mr.

Dingman, would you please uh introduce this item?

Sure.

Uh actually Director of Engineering Todd Mitke will speak to this item and respond to further questions from the board.

Mr.

Mickey.

Thank you, Mr.

Dingman.

This is the amendment as discussed two weeks ago, and then again last week at the study session in review, if you wouldn't mind Mr.

Bufink going to slide number 22 in the agenda packet.

Overall, this is a project increase for the design amendment for 291,585 for the uh roadway and geotechnical, not roadway, I'm sorry, uh geotechnical investigations, utility excavation, west pond design, center pond conversions to wet pond, and a drainage reroute, and 173,275 for required consent degree that is going to be lumped into this design as a part of an efficiency process.

So we gave a presentation last week and in uh way to avoid going through each slide again, which we would be happy to do.

I'd love to ask or answer any questions you might have on this project.

All right.

Well, we will make sure that those uh get asked during the uh director comment portion.

Madam Clerk, are there any citizens signed up to speak on item two?

Thank you, Todd.

Yes, we have Alan Deaver here to answer questions, and we have six individuals.

All right, the first one.

Thank you, Mr.

Deaver, for being here to answer questions, and who's speaking first?

First, we have Shane McKinney.

Mr.

McKinney, thanks for being here.

Could we go that back to that slide that you that we were just on, just so we can see the numbers while folks are talking?

Thank you.

Hi everybody.

So uh I've reiterated this a few times.

I'm very in favor of flood control.

I think this is uh something that our city needs uh kayaking down my street last year, watching somebody literally do that.

We have issues, and uh so I'm I'm in favor of that.

Uh uh, I do want to reiterate though, uh another concern, and I've said this before.

Projects keep coming to you guys stripped down to the lowest level possible to to try to get just four of your votes to approve something, and then just like in this case, we have to come back and add to it over and over water slides, we have to come back and add to it.

Uh I saw the police presentation on a police station and they're pitching and everybody's interested in what's the lowest we can do on something.

And I feel like this is I've seen this enough times now.

I think this is a problem itself.

So I don't think that's necessarily related to the issue, but we need to ask ourselves how can we get a more realistic expectation from what a project like this should cost.

How can we make somebody feel comfortable presenting something to us in a more realistic way so that over and over again we aren't surprised by the extra $400,000, the extra million, the extra three million added to projects.

I think that's an issue that you guys need to address.

Thank you.

Madam Clerk, who's next?

Next we have Ken Fodge.

Ms.

Fodge, thanks for being here.

Um I do agree with what Mr.

McKinney said.

Um I also appreciate Mr.

Binach and his efforts to minimize the costs on this project and incorporating other projects in this so that we can potentially save money and then applying for grants to also help um offset the costs.

Although I'm not happy about the increase in the cost, and I think Mr.

McKinney touched on that as well.

We need to do better on um how the project is initially presented.

Um I do agree that this project needs to be completed, and uh, I approve of it.

We need to mitigate flooding in this area.

Thank you.

Thank you.

Madam Clerk, who's next?

Next we have Crystal Cadelli.

Ms.

Cadelli, thanks for being here.

Good evening again.

Um I appreciate last week's presentation.

It gave, you know, it highlighted why the um the project has increased in cost.

Um I still do have some major concerns on how much the project increase just in design work.

Um I mean, the cost has doubled um since the beginning, and it to me seems a little bit out of line.

Um I feel like that um engineering and just leadership as a whole uh should be having some strong conversations with some of our third-party engineering firms on um designs and projects and costs because it's really easy to get in the middle of a project and um then say, hey, we've got to add this, and then we're stuck.

What are we gonna do?

We're gonna start the work all over.

No, we're we are stuck with what we have and stuck with paying more money.

Um Todd has been so impressive.

I love that he's reaching out and um doing due diligence, finding grants for infrastructure.

Um I know they're there, and it's exciting that someone is passionate about it.

Um you know, our engineering uh department is working very lean.

I would even like to see it beef up a little bit, hire more engineers where they don't have to rely on third parties and they can do a lot of the projects in-house themselves.

Thank you.

Thank you.

Madam Clerk, who's next?

Next we have Kristen Kitchens.

Ms.

Kitchens, thanks for being here.

You know, we're gonna spend all this money here on all these engineering and ideas here, and so when we bought ACME Break, it was gonna be for flood mitigation only.

And then all of a sudden we have plans for bike parks, isn't that what we spent money on that?

But here what everybody's gonna uh talked about is how the money we've spent um since 2008 in the Corps of Engineers report for that area, the Maybrant flood zone.

Now nothing's been done.

We're supposed to get uh 32 million dollars uh for certain areas to uh and grant money to fix this area and this uh this floods area and the flood zone and the waterway from there, and nothing's been done.

And so it even speaks in this 2008 Corps of Engineers report that you know residents should have been bought out long time ago before just now.

And so I'm confused on why we're just keep spending money.

What happens when we don't get this program, right, or this area done because we can't afford it, or something else is up there, and then we now we've got to pay 32 million dollars, or it's gonna be way more than that now for this you know flood zone branch all the way down to the river, the new routerway.

So I'm confused.

You know, we keep spending money on all these different things, but is the flood zone gonna get fixed if this doesn't happen?

Right?

That we don't get these ponds?

That's kind of what that's where I'm at with that one.

So I'd like to maybe we can you know uh think about some things like this before we start spending more money on plans and engineering.

Thank you.

Thank you.

Madam Clerk, who's next?

Next we have Carl Nevin.

Mr.

Nevin, thanks for being here.

Um first I want to address the board, uh Jeff Dingman, Vice Mayor Brigle, and Maggie Rice.

Um I want to thank the board, everybody up here for the job you do.

Is it not an easy job?

But thank God y'all are doing it.

Okay, the first um after that.

My first comment is to Todd, and I see he's left the room, but I do want to congratulate him for a job well done.

I think he's been very diligent.

Carl, if I if I can interrupt for just a second, Todd is actually right there behind you if you want to give him the kudos.

Oh, very good.

I'm glad you're here to hear this, Todd.

Uh Todd's been involved in a project on North Inn, and it went south.

They had to change the engineering diagram is the way I would say it.

And he was in there, and Maggie knows about this also, and they did a fine job.

They got the job done.

It took a little longer.

The homeowners were very thankful it was handled and finished.

They did get it finished.

People didn't think it would be in a timely manner, but they did do the job right.

So that's the way we should do all our projects in the city.

Um, the possibility of making a million dollars off of shale by re uh boring other sections in the pit is a win-win for us.

If we've got a million dollars sitting there in the ground, why wouldn't we dig it up?

I think that's awesome.

And then part of this, I want to remind the citizens.

Part of this is citizen uh, I mean, consent decree.

So it's a multi-layered project.

The last thing I want to say is I think we need to pass this resolution.

Thank you.

Thank you, sir.

Madam Clerk, who's next?

Next we have Joey McCutcheon.

Mr.

McCutcheon, thanks for being here.

To echo what uh Carl just alluded to.

I think that that uh Todd is doing an outstanding job in under difficult circumstances.

Um he's professional, he's enthusiastic, he's transparent to a fault.

Uh, and I think he's doing the city a really, really good job, just like our FOIA guy is James Gentry.

Those are two outstanding hires of people who really care who have passion.

Um, you know, we've heard some c we obviously this project doubled.

Um I'm not gonna regurgitate everything that Neil Martin said the other night, but uh I thought Neil clarified, and he went through item by item, and I think I think it was an explanation that that was helpful to me.

Uh where's this money going?

Where's it where's the money coming from?

And and to me that that made sense.

And but I think the comments are valid that when we have a project, we really need to know the true cost on the front end.

And with that, uh I've pushed forever, and I and I think uh we're making progress, and I'd like to hear from the board, but you know, on the consent decree project, we've been talking about the management company, and I hope we're getting close to finding a management company because there's a lot of money out there, and uh I think a management company can save us a lot of money, look at things on the front end and give us a true estimate.

And uh I know that the board has been pushing that.

Uh but um the bottom line is that my hope is this thing gets crossed when we start talking parks.

Clearly, we need we need flood control, we need stormwater mitigation.

But when we start talking about parks, that's where the thing goes south.

You know, when there's a multi that when there's an expensive presentation on parks, let's get this job done first so that the people on the north side don't continue to get flooded.

Thank you.

Thank you.

Madam Clerk, who's next?

That is all for citizen comments.

Let's uh let's handle the business.

Uh Mr.

Dingman actually does have uh an update on uh I believe progress uh when it comes to engineering of stormwater projects, but to keep us in order and on our uh agenda and keep it appropriate.

I'll just ask him to give that update uh during the administrators uh comment section at the end.

Uh okay.

Do we have uh any more citizen comments?

All right, not indicating.

Do we have a motion to adopt the resolution for item number two?

So moved.

Second.

All right.

Motioned and second.

Any comments or questions from directors?

Director Settle.

Thank you.

Uh Todd.

Uh sorry I wasn't here last week.

I did watch your online while you had the presentations.

I appreciate all your hard work you did after we talked about this the first time.

Going forward, this is what I'm hoping we do in the future of how we do stuff like this.

Better explanation, gives everything we need, and so I thank you very much and your staff and your team for doing what you did.

Thank you.

Thank you.

Director Good.

Thank you, Vice Mayor.

Todd, sharp time.

Thank you, sir.

Thank you.

Just a couple of comments.

Um want to thank the uh folks that came to the the mic to speak.

Uh Todd, I I don't have any questions for you at the moment.

Um first one want to speak to Mr.

Net uh Carl, is it Nevins?

Okay, and Mr.

McCutcheon, uh, both gave uh members of our staff some excellent um professional comments about how well they do their jobs.

Uh and on that on that same note, you know, uh the folks that we use um like half and associates, I believe they have that same intention and same professionalism.

So I would like for um Alan, if you don't mind, Alan Deavers from HAF.

If you don't mind, would you come up and just speak to the uh your initial assessment and and presentation?

Uh because I'm sure that it was for what we knew at the time was spot on.

Uh yes, sir.

Thank you for those kind words.

Uh yes, the scope as presented originally in January of 2025, we felt very confident about our amendment.

We weren't holding anything back.

Uh felt very good to proceed under that given scope.

But the what's before you is a it's a change scope.

We're adding things to the project here.

Does that answer your question?

Yes, sir, it does.

Awesome.

Thank you so much.

Director Kemp.

No.

Oh, sorry.

Sorry.

I apologize as well before.

I'm one just one other comment.

Um, and this is about Ms.

Kitchen's comments.

Uh and um Mr.

Dingman, correct me if I'm wrong, but she spoke to uh multiple flood zones.

And I know we have different flood zones, different areas.

Matter of fact, I talked to staff today about um something that that you and I've spoke to on numerous occasions, the town branch, flooding area, uh mill branch, may I mean uh Mill Creek and May Branch, and those are issues that are going to come back and speaking to staff as well, wanting other board members to know.

But Jeff, if you don't mind, didn't we actually uh make some progress purchasing property there on Kincaid?

That was part of that flood that flows.

On Kincaid, yes.

And you know, just to go along with that, the of course the the discussion reference from as long back as 2008 or so, the May branch drainage project is a large and comprehensive project that goes through the north side of town.

And it is certainly is a an engineering feat and an expensive proposition of itself that we haven't talked about in some time.

However, this particular piece that we're talking about with ACME is along the the head of the the May branch section of town, and it will help alleviate some of that ongoing flooding that is that has been happening in uh uh ever since we've been talking about that project.

Thank you, and I and uh and I am aware of that, and I think uh in speaking to staff, just because of talking about this um drainage issue with the ponds, it spurred a conversation from me about going back since it has been a while since uh Jeff just spoke to since we talked about some of the flooding issues on the north side, particularly from Ford Street to Midland Boulevard, a little further south.

Thank you, Director Good, Director Kemp, and then Director Christina Kitzebs.

Thank you, Vice Mayor.

Uh Mr.

Todd, I just a few things listening to people tonight.

I just wanted to go through a couple questions I just thought listening well here.

How when you when we think about how do we get a realistic cost up front?

Is there any comments you have in your just kind of from your expertise about these sorts of projects and you know, you working for municipal governments in the past and doing the scope of work?

Is there any things that we can do in the future to tune that up?

It's it's a tricky subject to get an accurate engineering estimate before we do any engineering.

So the normal practice is to look at the acreage of the pond that you want to excavate or the cubic yardage of the pond that you want to excavate or whatever project you're doing, if it's a road project to square foot of road or the tonnage of asphalt, etc.

Uh, take that and apply a unit cost, just a range of unit costs, let's say fifty to a hundred dollars per cubic yard of excavation, and that's not applying to this, but as you you could hear fifty to a hundred dollars per cubic yard, that's a that's a hundred percent increase.

So we really try our best to get a good range in there if it's a very large project.

That's why you see to the nearest million dollars a lot of times.

And we need to get more study involved to be able to get a closer number, and that's that happens a lot.

Sure.

And one other question, I'll just kind of combine a few thoughts into one for time's sake.

You know, we think about like if you had more staff, which I agree, I think we do need to get you more staff, hopefully a recruitment's coming along in that area.

But is this the size of project that you would like to see your team do in-house, or is this sort of project because of its scope something that you still need some outside help, or can you speak to in the future as you build your team that you're looking to build?

I mean, would this be a project you'd try to float in-house, or would you direct your team to do other things?

This this project would be probably too large for an in-house engineer to do if we expect them to do anything else.

So this would probably take nine months of just one person's time with a technician to design it.

And I need them to be able to manage the volume of other projects, both on the roadway and drainage side and the utility side.

So I am using our existing staff right now on the utility side, we're taking the I-49 casing job, which is on the first mini CIP you approved, and instead of $120,000 for a consultant designing it, we're designing it in in-house for something we're already paying them.

So free, no, but we have to pay them anyway.

So it's it's a very good value.

And also the Yuper Lane project we are designed, we designed in-house.

And as I stated, I think three weeks ago, I would love to not have the expense of a consultant, although every consultant I've met here in Fort Smith and the surrounding area have been to at the utmost to the highest of the profession.

So I I love them, but they are very expensive.

This project here I probably would still consult out.

Yeah, thank you.

Appreciate your comments.

Keep up the good work.

Thank you.

Director Christina can say this.

Todd, where are we with hiring?

We have an interview with an individual uh from the east side of the country next week for a project engineer position, and we're excited and hopefully they work out and would love this area.

But I'm optimistic.

I think we're gonna have more interest.

I've for now I've held off on the deputy director advertisement just to see what kind of candidates we get for the project engineer because I always have the ability to entertain them for that position.

But that is it it is working.

So thank you for your your help with that.

So initially, when we were first looking at this, Josh, can you go to the next slide?

And we were talking about two ponds.

Now we're talking about three.

Um having been out there and um you know, kind of seeing it in person, I don't see where there would be room for a park.

I mean, would you say that's a fair assessment?

The proposal before you is not for any park items, although with with the possible wet detention pond upgrade, so to speak, that could be more attractive for some sort of feature later if we wanted to get a grant for that, which we do have some opportunities for that.

But it is a very large property, so me personally, I think there is room for more amenities than just ponds if the board chooses to go that direction.

Because it looked like the terrain was pretty uneven out there.

It is.

Okay, thank you.

Director George gets to Evus?

Todd, would so what does this bring the total price to now?

This would bring the total price of the original project plus the amendments to believe a little under $900,000.

Good Lord.

$931,190 would be the total, including included in that is one of the seventy three thousand dollars.

Is this turnkey?

That's just the engineering, George.

This is just the engineering.

That is not a million dollars for engineering?

Yes, sir.

Uh uh.

Yeah.

So part of that is including 173,000 for consent decree design for sewer design that we have to do anyway.

Which, in my opinion, we're getting a better value to lump it into this.

How much to do the ponds?

To do the ponds, we don't have that estimate yet.

That's part of the reason for the amendment, so they can put more study into it, but it could be in the range of eight million dollars.

And so we're looking at another 10 million dollar project.

And one thing I wanted to bring up again, we we talked a little bit about last week, but the opportunity for brick funds from the uh FEMA, the Federal Emergency Management Association, or um through FEMA is there, and we may bring this to you on the May 5th meeting for consideration to go into that.

And I actually have Chris Hoover here that's available to talk a little bit more about that.

About okay.

Go ahead.

Chris, just briefly.

Yes, sir.

So it's the building resilient infrastructure communities grant program through the federal through the Federal Emergency Management Agency.

Uh essentially for us, it would be construction only.

Uh it does uh come at a 75% um federal cost share and a 25% local cost share.

Um I have gone through this notice of funding opportunity document.

Unfortunately, uh because of our population size, we don't qualify for one of the lower cost shares, which is unfortunate.

Um but the way that this works, and this is not guaranteed at all.

Uh the way that this program works is that we have to submit a notice of intent to the Arkansas uh division of emergency management, and then they are going to do an analysis of all the um app of all all the NOIs that they get throughout the state, and then if they say, okay, yes, Fort Smith, we log your up, we love your project, we love your application, then they will work with us to formulate an application, and then we submit that project to FEMA.

Okay, thank you.

You're welcome.

So Todd, you you say no more, no more.

I mean I just can't just mind boggling ten almost ten million dollars.

It is a lot of money, and the the ponds are gonna be very large, so that takes a lot of excavation and it's in bedrock, so that takes a lot of extra.

This money's coming out of the utility budget?

No, this would come out of streets and drainage.

Streets and drainage.

Do we have the money?

Yes, we do.

We do have 10 million or whatever.

Sales tax George.

That's the two.

That's the 586, right?

What are we voted on?

Yes.

Some of this would also come out of the uh consent decree sales tax.

Yeah.

Well, some where where we found the consent decree work, we would work that in in an advanced project.

That would come out of the utility fund.

But you know, if the city would have done their due diligence and made that purchase contingent on us knowing all this stuff ahead of time, that would make more sense than go, let's buy it, and then oh my god, we've got a problem.

You know.

Just like you buy an example if you don't get an inspection.

But George, it's helping us with medication.

I understand.

I understand that.

And I'm all for the flooding deal, but um, I'll tell you what, I'm not for is another park.

I don't want to spend uh we got there's one down the road.

Um I will not I won't support another park.

Thank you, Todd.

Any more questions or comments for Todd before we vote on the item?

Seeing none, Madam Clerk, please call the roll.

Director George Kit Savis.

Well, like I guess yes.

Christina Cassavis, yes.

Settle?

Yes.

Martin?

Yes.

Rego?

Yes.

Good.

Yes.

Kent.

Yes.

Passes seven in favor, zero opposed.

Thank you very much.

Uh item number three is a resolution authorizing partial payment to Kraft Reynolds construction company for construction of the 2017 SSA remedial measures and subbase and MC 06 for project 19-15-C1.

Uh Mr.

Dingman, is uh Todd speaking on the side of again.

Thank you, Todd.

Please introduce this item.

Thank you.

Uh Mr.

Buffick, if you could go to slide number 33.

Uh this is for a the payment number three of Crafts Reynolds project, and it is for 1.2 million dollars.

Anything over $750,000 has to come to the board for approval.

So this is a routine payment for this consent decree project.

Uh just financially, this project is approximately 30% complete of the $9 million that is budgeted for it.

Uh and it is here before you it's a pipe bursting project, as you can see on this this uh this picture here is one continuously fused high density polyethylene pipe that is pulled through a smaller pipe that we can uh effectively enlarge in our sewer mains and not have to dig.

So that's one of the the features we do that in this project and many others.

This is a example of a pipe coming into the top of this that uh it comes from somebody's home and with a clean out on it, and then below that is a manhole that is going in.

So we like to put as many pictures as we can to show you what kind of value you're getting.

All right, thank you, Mr.

Mickey.

Uh Madam Clerk, does anybody sign up to speak on this item?

None indicated.

All right.

Do we have a motion to adopt the resolution?

Second.

All right.

Uh any comments from directors, I believe Director Martin.

Yeah, Josh, go to page 36 real quick.

Todd, um, this says it's the third payment.

But I only see one previous payment.

And it says previous payments.

I don't know if that is really meaning plural.

Um, but 1.1 million, this is 1.2.

Is it?

I would I would expect to see another payment there if this is the third one.

Yeah, the in the uh agenda memo.

It's characterizes payment number three.

Yes.

And I don't have the details of the first two payments.

I can get it for you though.

But you know.

I was just gonna say I think that line references all at the cumulative total of perpetual.

The payments plural.

Okay.

All right.

Thank you.

Any other comments or questions on item three?

Seeing none, Madam Clerk, please call the roll.

Directors Christina Kit Savis.

Yes.

Settled?

Yes.

Martin?

Yes.

Rego?

Yes.

Good?

Yes.

Kemp?

Yes.

George Kit Savis.

Yes.

Passes seven in favor, zero opposed.

Thank you.

Item four is a resolution authorizing the city administrator to accept an offer made by property owners for acquisition of property in connection with the 2017 SSA remedial measures in sub basin MC 06.

Project number 19-15-C1.

Mr.

Mickey.

Thank you very much.

This project uh asked for a utility easement in front of this property on Savannah.

And we offered $235 for the right to the easement.

And the the property owners said, can you please just buy the property for $235?

We do not want to give you an easement.

We just want to sell you the property.

So in order to do that, we are bringing it before you as a property purchase.

Thank you.

Madam Clerk, did anybody sign up to speak on this item?

Any citizen?

None indicated.

All right.

Do we have a motion to adopt the resolution for item four?

Thank you.

Any comments?

Director Kit Savis.

Christina?

Why did they want to sell the whole property for $235?

We do not know, but I believe informally they uh told somebody that they wanted they don't have any family in town.

It's uh property that was bequeathed to them that they don't have any interest in and just want the city to have it.

It feels a little bit like we're taking advantage of them.

I mean, what's the fair market value on the property?

I don't have that data for the fair market value.

We did do an appraisal for um the assessed value.

I mean, there's a tax value is three thousand eighty dollars.

There's been times I've wanted to give my house away when something else breaks.

So I I just want to make sure we're not taking advantage of of somebody that's uh that may regret may regret that.

Director Kitzavis, if I may, I've had communications with the attorney for these landowners, and I think the the reason behind their proposal is it's a vacant lot.

Um it's actually owned by a trust and another individual.

Uh there, I don't even know.

It's a very small lot.

I don't even know if it could be built upon.

Uh and they're tired of paying property taxes and they're tired of upkeeping the lot.

So they have no desire.

This was a proposal proposed by the landowners, the other council.

So I think this is what they want to do.

So they are represented by legal counsel?

Yes.

Okay.

Thank you.

All right.

Any other comments or questions?

Seeing none, Madam Clerk, please call the roll.

Director Settle?

Yes.

Martin?

Yes.

Rego?

Yes.

Good.

Yes.

Kemp?

Yes.

George Kit Savis.

Christina Get Savis.

Yes.

Passes seven in favor, zero opposed.

Thank you.

Item five is a resolution amending resolution number R-158-25 regarding the 2017 SSA remedial measures in subbasin MC 06, project number 19-15-C1.

Mr.

Mickey.

Thank you.

This is here before you to correct an address for track 19 that should have been labeled as 1713 Savannah Drive and was mislabeled.

But in order to get it into the record, we needed to bring it before you.

So there's nothing else different in this.

Thank you.

Madam Clerk, did any citizens sign up to speak on this item?

None indicated.

Do we have a motion to adopt the resolution?

So move.

Second.

Any comments or questions from the board?

Please call the roll, Madam Clerk.

Director Martin.

Yes.

Rego?

Yes.

Good.

Yes.

Kemp?

Yes.

George Kit Savis.

Christina Kit Savis?

Yes.

Settle.

Yes.

Passes seven in favor, zero opposed.

Thank you.

Item number six is a resolution amending resolution number R-157-25 regarding the 2017 SSA remedial measures in sub basin FL02.

Project number 19-19-C1.

Mr.

Mickey.

Thank you.

This was also from last September, and this property has changed hands between the original approval from when the easement was processed.

So we needed to bring it before you to get it official into the record.

Thank you.

Madam Clerk, any citizen comments?

None indicated.

We need a motion to adopt the resolution, please.

So move.

Second.

Any director comments or questions?

Madam Clerk, please call the roll on item six.

Director Rego?

Yes.

Good.

Yes.

Kemp?

Yes.

George Kit Savis?

Yes.

Christina Kit Savis.

Yes.

Settle?

Yes.

Martin.

Yes.

Passes seven in favor, zero opposed.

Thank you.

We're now on to item seven, which is the consent agenda.

We have four separate items.

Item 7A is a resolution designating a portion of Midland Boulevard in honor of the Rainbow Girls Auxiliary as Rainbow Girls Boulevard.

Item 7B is a resolution authorizing partial payment to Forsgrin Incorporated for construction of the Highway 45 Utility Relocation Project No.

19-12-C1.

7C is a resolution authorizing the purchase of a large heavy-duty transit bus from Gillig LLC, and 70 is a resolution authorizing the execution of a memorandum of understanding between the City of Fort Smith, Arkansas, and Sebastian County, Arkansas, regarding the 2025 Edward Byrne Memorial Justice Assistance JAG grant program.

Does any board member desire to remove any of these items from the consent agenda for separate consideration?

Mayor, I I have a question on C, but I don't want to remove it.

Okay.

We will note that.

We have two on item A and then one on item 7C.

All right, let's get started.

The first one is Nichelle Christian.

Welcome, ma'am.

Thank you for being here.

Thank you.

I appreciate the board for allowing me to speak today about the Rainbow Girls Auxiliary Club.

For those of you who are not familiar with the Rainbow Girls, they were a colored women's auxiliary club during the early to mid-1940s, and they uh raised funds for the Twin City Colored Hospital, which was an annex of Sparks Hospital.

Um they serve residents in colored residents in Fort Smith, Van Buren, and even those who came across the border uh from Oklahoma for medical care.

Um they raised uh funds for toiletries, linens, any practical items that the hospital needed.

Um they uh I'm so I'm nervous, so please forgive me.

No, no, no problem.

Um my grandmother was president of the Rainbow Girls, and they uh she and Mrs.

Uh Bass were the last two living Rainbow Girls in 2010 when they were honored at the University of Arkansas Fort Smith on behalf of the American Democracy Project.

And it was such a thrilling day for her, January 2010.

We had no idea that we would lose her June 7, 2010.

So this is one of the highlights of my grandmother's life, and she never spoke about the rainbow girls.

I only found out when I was going through a chest of photographs, and I saw all these lovely women in long gowns holding their handkerchiefs is when I found out about them.

But I think with Fort Smith being such a community that has such historical death that I believe that the Rainbow Girls should be honored.

The Twin City Colored Hospital was located at 1717 Midland Boulevard.

No one would know that it was there unless you knew the history, and I think it's very important that if you all would be willing to designate a portion of the Midland Boulevard in honor of the Rainbow Girls as Rainbow Girls Boulevard.

Thank you very much.

Yes, thank you.

Very well done.

Next we have Joey McCutcheon.

Mr.

McCutcheon?

Thanks for being here.

Thank you.

And thank Ms.

Christian for her for her talk.

Um, we've talked in the past about our history and our history is something that we should keep before us.

Uh that was a difficult time, and just because of this, you know, I learned something in the last week or so.

Uh I mean, these these this auxiliary, the rainbow auxiliary, uh, I mean, they were heroes in the time of segregation uh when there was a black hospital on Midland Boulevard.

And uh, you know, what these women did, yeah, they prov they provided toiletries and and gowns, uh, you know, to those folks, but uh they also uh created a sign, a a neon sign which identified the hospital.

And many times when when when and I know if she had enough time, she would have spoken to this, but many times when people, black people in particular, obviously, were coming into the city, the ambulances couldn't find uh the hospital.

Uh and we know that in emergencies people die.

So they raised money uh to create uh that sign and no telling how many lives they save, not to mention the dignity for raising money for basic things that probably on the white side of town uh were a given thing.

So the other thing I would say is, you know, I think Fort Smith's come a long way, as has the United States in terms of trying to make all people equal and uh under the law, and so uh I think it's a great idea to honor these women with uh with naming a portion of uh Midland uh boulevard after them.

Thank you.

Thank you.

Madam Clerk, there was uh one more comment on seven seat.

On seven C, yes, we have Gary Peterski.

Mr.

Pogerski, thanks for being here.

So uh Mr.

Dingman, my my comments are a bunch of questions, and I understand this gentleman probably has the answer.

So if you don't mind, I I asked him to come up with me.

Okay.

Uh first of all, I'm gonna ask what is the current occupancy rate of a bus?

And I know you and I were kind of talking about that, and you're saying, you know, I'm I'm just kind of looking at how full are the buses.

Is that okay?

Did he answer?

Yes.

I mean, Ken, if you're uh comfortable uh providing a response, uh feel free to answer the questions of Mr.

Paderski to the level of your uh comfort and uh ability to do so.

Sure.

So our buses, our buses, particularly the bus that we're uh discussing tonight, has an occupancy rate of uh 30 uh passengers and three wheelchair stations.

Okay, so that's that's the is that the maximum occupancy, or is that how many seats are typically filled?

That's the maximum occupancy.

So in 2019, when we made the decision to move to the larger buses, we had uh uh capacity of 17, and we had people sitting on the floor and standing up holding on to the handrails.

So at that time we made the decision to go to larger buses, so that's why we went to the how many buses do we actually have on routes?

So we have 16 buses in the fleet.

Okay, that was my next question.

But how many how many routes, how many are actually working at any given time?

We we have 10 to 11 routes throughout the day.

Okay.

So you have five in reserve.

Well, that could be for maintenance or whatever else.

We have two different modes of service.

We have fixed routes and demand response.

Okay.

And then um, what is the cost of the previous buses?

Somebody mentioned to me that the previous buses we got were like 500,000, and this one's close to 50 percent more.

Sure, I can answer that.

So our original buses on the R Doc contract uh were 540,000.

Those were bought back in um uh procured in 2019 off a 2020 contract, and we actually took possession of them in 2022.

Um those were um the initial.

The contract specifies a five percent cap of the producer price index each year.

So the that five percent cap was applied in each year, and that brings us to the total of what we are today at 783.

Are these buses LPG, electric or regular diesel gas?

Natural gas.

Natural gas.

And uh this is part of the capital outlay for vehicles, Jeff.

Is that what you're tracking?

It is as part of the transit asset management plan.

All right.

Okay, we have we have gone, it looks like uh approaching a minute overtime.

Uh are there uh I got one more thing.

First of all, I want to know if there's been a study session because it's been over a hundred thousand dollars.

And the second thing is unbudgeted.

Yeah, we're looking at five, and and I understand, but we're looking at five extra buses right now, but we need cop cars.

Okay, so I want you guys to consider that.

Okay.

Thank you, sir.

Thank you, Ken.

Thank you.

Madam Clerk, any other citizens uh sign up to speak on any consent agenda items?

None indicated.

Okay.

We need a motion to adopt the consent agenda.

So move.

Do we have a second?

Second.

Uh any director comments?

I would just um like to clarify that the 100,000 dollar um, the uh ordinance for that was around unbudgeted items.

This was a budgeted item.

And I would just say uh on item 7A, thank you, Director Christina Kitzavis for that clarification.

Um thank you for uh having a mechanism and working hard to achieve something that will help lots of people in the community learn about a uh very, very difficult and unfair chapter of history uh to the African American members of our community, but that even during that time uh that there were folks working hard to make the best of a terrible, terrible time, uh including members of your family and the members of many families in this community.

Uh and it's it's very exciting to uh see something like this come forward for our consideration, and it's an important thing, and I'm really looking forward to uh supporting this and and sharing what I've learned about this with lots of people.

Thank you very much.

Director Good.

Thank you, Vice Mayor.

I just want to take the opportunity to thank um Miss Nichelle for coming in and speaking.

You brought your daughter with you.

Thank you.

I believe your daughter had made a uh presentation, correct?

Granddaughter, granddaughter, oh Lord.

That means I'm getting old.

Speak.

And also I see uh Miss Dorothy Johnson is with you as well.

Uh Miss Dorothy Johnson is actually uh a mentor of mine.

She's been a part of city leadership for as long as I can remember.

And not only that, I grew up right down the street from her, so I got to see how she disciplined her own children.

So I didn't want to be a good question.

Did you get any whoopings from her?

I I I don't remember that I did.

Probably should have, right?

But anyway, I wanted to thank you for being here and thank you for making that presentation, but I wanted to let the board and and the community know that this just wasn't an idea that she just had and just started.

She started this uh quest you know years ago.

Uh uh I think Mike Tilly did an article back in 2010.

Uh University of Arkansas uh recognized the uh the rainbow girls.

She went even as far as is reaching out to State Representative State Representative Jay Richardson, and he and I got in touch with Rdot at Little Rock.

So she's been really diligent about getting this done.

So thank you for your attention and the time.

Well said.

Any other comments or questions from board members about the consent agenda?

Seeing none, Madam Clerk, please call the roll.

Director Good.

Yes.

Kemp.

Yes.

George Kit Savis?

Yes.

Christina Kit Savis.

Yes.

Settle?

Yes.

Martin?

Yes.

Rego.

Yes.

Passes seven in favor, zero opposed.

All right.

We are at the officials forum.

Uh I don't believe the mayor has anything for me to share with y'all.

Uh, and I don't have anything myself.

Director Good.

Um, yeah, thank you.

So I will mention that um this weekend uh we celebrated Earth Day uh at 8th Street Park.

It was a great turnout actually put on by several nonprofits uh in conjunction with Arkansas Climate League.

Uh it was just a great event.

Uh lots of vendors.

Um the attendees represented the community.

A true picture of what the community looks like, all different ages, races.

It was just a great event.

Wonderful.

Director Kemp.

Yes, thank you, Vice Mayor.

Just uh uh three things.

One, the board did receive an email from a Miss Amanda Lankart.

Uh I think I've seen that last name right.

I don't know if I am.

Um just about her concerns again with following up on the mosquito adult deciding program and just wanting to ask the board to consider pausing while they uh have a look at this.

And it sounds like there's a group of residents.

Um I'm not spoken with this lady or their group, but they have a group of 15 or 50 Fort Smith residents actively engaged on the issue.

And I just wonder if there's any interest on this board to just consider pausing and allowing them to talk with staff and then you know follow back up with us.

Yes, yes.

I have an interest.

I've actually if I may spoke to several people this weekend alone uh about pausing and I stress that the reason we move forward was because of the request from citizens requesting the mosquito spray.

So in conversation, you know, we can take measures, kind of pause on the spraying, but take other measures, some of which Director Martin spoke to.

Um, and in the process, when people ask, you know, why are we not spraying?

We can already start by doing other measures.

So if we can, you know, we can start doing other measures before we start the pausing.

So I guess the question for administrator acting uh administrative is do you just can you just take the consensus of the board and have a or do you need a motion for such a maneuver or or what do you need?

Well, I think that since we have recently taking specific action to reenact that program, I think we would need something from the board formal sense to be able to do that.

So I guess to that spirit, then I'll I'll just make a motion that the uh that the city pause and make connection with this group and hear their concerns and then bring back the feedback to the board in a study session.

Now, Sherry, for clarification, uh it takes a motion and a second to place something on a study session and it takes a motion and three uh concurrences to place something on an agenda for voting, is that correct?

No, it just takes two directors to concur to place an item on a future study session.

Okay.

But two in the study sessions.

Yeah.

Thank you.

I I guess just a point of clarity with my colleague, and if I may, just so that we can kind of openly discuss.

Your concern is to what now I'm sorry, sir?

My concern is if we pause now without taking any other action to address the mosquito larvae in ponded areas in and wet areas.

Oh, I have four.

I don't and I don't think that's what they are asking for.

Okay, good point of clarity.

I see what you're saying.

The uh the tablets that we do, they were in full support of.

They were asking us to pause on the spraying from my understanding of this matter.

So I'm I'm making a motion that we pause on the spraying and make connection with the concerned citizen group and then bring back some information for the board to see in a study session.

Did you need a second?

I'll I'll second.

Okay.

I really do uh not trying to underscore anything too much, but uh surely we can't.

Lights went out.

Uh surely we can't pause spraying with a motion and a second in the officials forum.

That is correct.

You you can place a matter on a future study session to pause it.

Okay.

To consider a resolution to pause it.

So future regular meeting?

Okay, I make a motion to put this on a future regular meeting.

Next meeting to pause the mosquito spring for a further evaluation of this board's direction.

Second.

Okay.

Thank you.

I just had clarification.

Sure.

And then another one is just uh in the spirit with uh Mr.

Garvin or Chief of our uh human resources.

The board did receive an email about this, but there are two important dates to be aware of for the job posting for the city administrator search.

That posting is scheduled to go on May 8th, and then they have asked in their timeline that we would look uh to block out the entire day of July 31st for interviews.

Um so if you have any feedback, I would get with Mr.

Garvin.

But that is his request at this time is that on.

That is a it's a leave day.

I believe it's a Friday.

Friday.

Um Friday, July.

No.

Oh, don't went past it.

Uh yes, Friday, July 31st.

Um then just a couple congratulations.

Uh, I'm a I'm a proud father and a really a proud parent.

Uh Southside High School just conducted their student council elections.

Congratulations to all those officers.

Congratulations to my son Andy.

Uh the school elected him to be student council presidents.

That's been a dream of his since he was a kid at Bramsey, uh, that he wanted to do for Southside, and he's very proud and uh ready to serve among his friends, and I'm excited for their coming senior year.

And then just best wishes to a frequent flyer, uh, my daughter Hallie, who comes on Tuesdays often, will be leaving to work at a camp, a young life camp in Colorado, uh California, not Colorado, California, even further away.

And uh she'll be gone leaving May 2nd and has gone all the way to August 15th, and this is the furthest my daughter has ever left me.

And uh she's driving her way there, so prayers for safety and all of the things of concern, but I wish her the best in this great adventure.

Thank you.

That's all.

Thank you, Director Camp, and congrats to your kiddos.

Director George could say, anything from you?

Yes, I do.

Yeah.

Um Jeff, uh let's let's clear the air on this under this water pipe under the for the water slides, okay?

Because you weren't here last week, correct?

I was not.

Okay.

So the quote you sent us was 43,000 to bore it and put it under the road?

Yes.

Okay, that's is that the casing, the pipe and everything.

$33,000, $33,600 is for the board and the casing.

Okay.

What about the rest of it?

Then there's additional amount for pipe.

Um that is summarized in the the breakdown that was sent to you, I believe totaled to 43,000, I think all on top of that too.

Uh potentially there will be a cost for the meter itself, which I think all told the cost is about 48,000.

Okay.

Does that include engineering, the bonds, the permits, the testing, the backflow prevent, or they have to have backflow prepared.

That is that is inclusive of all of that.

Then when they make the connection to the plumbing, then that will be addressed as well.

Where would that money come from?

That is included in the water park project.

That's why we were going to be able to do that.

In the 2.6 million?

Yes, sir.

Is the pump house included in the 2.6 million?

Yeah.

Yes.

Okay.

One more question.

Why were there only two bids on this project?

I don't know why there were only two bids on it.

There were they were uh staff sought quotes for this work.

Somebody had to approve it, didn't they?

It's under the $35,000.

So it was a $33,600 project to do the board.

And so that that was awarded.

The rest of it will be done with uh city staff.

And then who's playing for the connecting depot the system out?

That's part of the water park project.

The 2.6 million.

Yes.

So I'm sure getting as the city putting any money into it other than other than the 2.6 million.

We are not.

Nothing?

No, sir.

Can we get a uh when it's all said and done, can we get a copy of the bill of the receipt?

Well, I mean it's not going to be on one receipt, but we certainly will have an accounting for the expenses of the Okay.

Yeah, I'd like to see that.

Sure.

Thank you.

You're welcome.

Director Peterson.

So Jeff, just to clarify, there won't be any more money appropriated for the water slide project.

That's correct.

Okay.

Um also there was a question earlier about the RFP for the consent decree manager.

I know you had some information to share on that.

Yes.

The request for proposals for program management for the consent decree projects has been a uh been an undertaking that Todd has championed uh along with the rest of the staff and the city attorney to get the RFP ready for publication.

It is intended to publish on April the 26th for the start of the solicitation of proposals for that work.

And how long will it be open for?

I'll have to defer to Colby.

I think how long will the uh RFP be open?

I think it said two weeks.

I think that's correct.

Yeah.

Okay.

Thank you.

Thank you.

Director Settle?

Sir.

Director Martin.

Um an item came up in our audit committee meeting.

Um that the chair of the audit committee suggested that entities that are providing financial statements to the city.

Um have those financial statements provided to internal audit.

This would be Parrot Island, um the the uh uh convention center.

Um so when those are provided.

The audit committee and I concur would um those financial statements be provided to the internal audit.

Any third party?

Um it's uh it would currently only apply to Parrot Island and the convention center.

Um for that.

So if we could if I don't know if we need to do anything with that, is that just uh Can you make that happen?

Okay.

All right.

And just just some I'm clear.

Just so we're all clear.

Um there's no three hundred thousand dollar charge, three or four hundred thousand dollar charge for a water line or anything coming uh to Parrot Island Water Park.

That's correct.

It is two we appropriated four point two million uh originally and two point six million, nothing else.

That's why I think all I think altogether the total of dollars appropriated for that project are north of six point two million.

Okay, and the there's no additional three hundred thousand, four hundred thousand, like was told to us last week.

That's correct.

Okay.

Thank you.

I'm sorry.

Could I say something?

Yes.

Are you all in favor of an open checkbook policy?

What's an open checkbook policy?

Where people can see what checks are written from the city?

Actually, we have that.

Or do we have that?

We have that.

That was something just came out.

They can go online and say where these checks were written, where the money is.

Or they could also come to the sales tax review committee that go over all the expenses related to anything sales tax related.

Which is uh that's a that's a good one.

A lot of good people on that committee.

Okay.

Thank you.

Uh Mr.

Dingman, do you have any additional?

No, I would just to that uh point.

Recently we have started putting the uh I forgot exactly what we call the report, but it's the it's essentially what we're just talking about, the checkbook, the the vendor payables list.

Uh by month, we you know I think we have we started in January and we have the three months on there now.

As soon as April is over, we'll post those on there as well.

It's just a it's a report from the financial system showing where the uh what accounts what account payables were made uh that particular month.

And when will the audit on the uh on paired island be done?

That is probably through the they'll probably still be doing the work through April.

I would anticipate a June delivery of the audit on the we did get an update um on that from our internal auditor today that sits in on the calls with Parrot Island, so check your email.

There's an update there.

Uh Amanda gives an update um about the progress.

Was that just for the audit committee or was that for the shoot?

I don't know.

Is it for all of us?

You got any?

Okay.

All right.

Yep.

Uh and I just wanted to say real quick before we go into executive session.

Uh, usually point this out when we receive them.

Uh but we all got uh prayer cards from uh Patty Payne and the Congregational Care Ministry at First United Methodist Church.

Um wrote about uh numbers 624 this evening.

May the Lord bless you and keep you safe.

Uh may God give you courage, confidence, and encouragement as he leads you safely through each of your challenges.

We keep you covered in our prayers as you make decisions for our community.

So thank you to Patty and anyone who's involved, not only with the uh Congregational Care Ministry at First United Methodist Church, but from any denomination, any faith, anyone who thinks about us, prays for us, and and uh anyone in our community trying to make a difference uh in a positive way.

We really appreciate you and and the care and concern you have for everybody.

Definitely good point.

Uh great point.

Mr.

Dingman?

Just to follow on what we were just talking about on the screen here.

Uh Josh has pulled up the finance department's website, and you'll see along the left hand side towards the bottom, it says a what do you call it?

A paid invoices, uh paid invoices reports.

So you'll see the three months that are there already.

Very good.

Encourage people to take a look.

Uh we're going to convene into executive session uh to announce uh to decide appointments for the housing assistance board, the planning commission, and the property owners appeal board, and we will be back in just a little while.

Thank you all.

All right, folks, we have reconvened and we have made the following appointments to the property owner appeal board, Randy Hall, to the Housing Assistance Board, Omar Portillo, and to the Planning Commission, Rod Coleman, Jackson Mendenhall, and Kelly Wilson.

Do we have a motion to accept all appointment nominations?

So moved.

Second.

All in favor, say aye.

Aye.

And do we have a motion to adjourn?

All in favor, say aye.

Aye.

All right, we are adjourned.

Thank you, everyone.

Well done, Jared.

Good job.