River Valley Communications Center Board Regular Meeting - October 28, 2026

The River Valley Communications Center (RVCC) Governing Board met on October 28, 2026, to review the 2027 budget, consider possible changes to the December 2024 Interlocal Agreement, and conduct routine business. All board members answered roll call. The agenda and transcript are dated October 23, 2026, but the timestamp provided for this summary is October 28, 2026. No public comment period was held.

Consent Calendar

• The board approved the minutes of the September 16, 2026 regular meeting.
• The board approved the RVCC financial report, which included updated 2026 year-end projections.

2027 Budget Review and Approval

• The 2027 budget had been tabled since September 16. The director reviewed meetings with the fire association, mayors, city administration, and police and fire chiefs.
• Budget changes included removing maintenance and property insurance, reducing the projected ATT agreement by $50,000 and the Motorola agreement by $100,000 because both contracts come up for renewal in 2027, lowering air-travel funding to $1,000, and making personnel adjustments.
• The director presented three pages of budget context: pre-RVCC countywide 911 costs, the flow of the 911 budget from 2019 to 2024, and a comparison showing the proposed 2027 budget is almost $70,000 lower than the 2025 total 911 budget.
• Quarterly cost-share figures were discussed, with Fort Smith listed at $400,865 and Sebastian County unincorporated at $80,274, as part of an unresolved billing discussion.
• The director reported a prepaid wireless 911-fee shortfall: two major companies are collecting far less than required, Sebastian County could lose about $300,000, the statewide shortfall is about $1.8 million, and legislators discussed possible replacement or legislative action.
• The board approved the 2027 budget. The motion passed; the transcript records "74 to against," which appears to be a transcription artifact, with no opposition heard.

Interlocal Agreement Resolution

• The board considered a resolution to suggest amendments to the December 2024 Interlocal Agreement to the Fort Smith Board of Directors and Sebastian County Quorum Court to establish cost-sharing guidelines.
• The director recommended not amending the Interlocal Agreement at this time, stating Section 2.6 already allows the county judge to enter separate memorandums of understanding with partner cities.
• No motion was made on the resolution, so the item died. The board agreed to make cost-sharing and possible interlocal changes the focus of a January 2027 workshop.

Operations Manager Position Discussion

• A board member questioned the new operations manager position and whether it could be delayed until the prepaid-wireless revenue issue is resolved.
• The director explained the position is a reclassification, not an additional headcount, and would take administrative duties such as quality assurance, FOI requests, and Calia accreditation work off floor supervisors so dispatchers can stay on radios and phones.
• The director opposed delaying the position, citing the upcoming Calia accreditation and a net budget impact of about $28,000, while noting the overall 2027 budget remains below the 2025 level.

Key Outcomes

• Minutes and financial report approved.
• 2027 RVCC budget approved.
• Interlocal agreement amendment resolution received no motion and was not approved; discussion will resume in January 2027.
• The board agreed to hold a January 2027 workshop on cost-sharing and interlocal agreement changes and to elect a chair and vice chair at that meeting.
• No public comments were made.