Fort Smith Board of Directors Regular Meeting — November 2, 2026

The Fort Smith Board of Directors met at 6:00 p.m. on November 2, 2026, at the Blue Lion, 101 North 2nd Street. All seven directors were present: Rego, Good, Kemp, George Catsavis, Christina Catsavis, Settle, and Martin. Mayor George B. McGill presided. The board approved the October 20 minutes, advanced several zoning ordinances, approved a 13.7% average fire pay increase, tabled a Parrot Island appropriation, approved a revised Arcadis consent-decree program-management contract, approved wastewater consent-decree contracts and seven capital improvement plans, and handled a four-item consent agenda.

Consent Calendar

• Approved the October 20, 2026 regular meeting minutes.
• Approved consent agenda items 12A–12D: final payment of $79,318.99 to Steve Beam Construction for Creekmore Park Tennis Courts Improvements; Change Order No. 1 with Langford Roofing and Construction for $36,157 and 42 additional days at Massard Wastewater Treatment Plant; final payment of $187,685 to Westbrook's Concrete Construction for the Miss Laura's Brothel Museum parking lot replacement; and acceptance of Van Horn Construction's $168,076 quote for the Lee Creek Water Treatment Plant clarifier drive mechanism. Item 12A carried 6-0 with Director Christina Catsavis abstaining; the remaining consent items carried 7-0.

Public Comments & Testimony

• Methodist Village items 2A and 2B: Joey McCutcheon opposed the rezoning and reverter removal, arguing the property was being given away after about a year, questioning whether it had actually been used as a daycare, saying the reverter should remain until that use was established, citing Article 12, Section 5, and threatening litigation.
• Fire pay: Shane McKinney, Samuel Schleif, Crystal Cadelli, Chris Cadelli, Jason Skirbitz, Joey McCutcheon, and Casey Millspaw spoke in support of the raise. Several urged making it effective January 1 rather than April; Chris Cadelli specifically asked for a January 1 effective date.
• Parrot Island: Gary Podgarski, Shane McKinney, Crystal Cadelli, Chris Cadelli, Jason Skirbitz, Joey McCutcheon, and Casey Millspaw opposed or urged delay. They sought a forensic audit, questioned ARM's management and missing funds, opposed paying before county action or legal review, and raised contract notification and reporting provisions. Shane McKinney relayed a resident's suggestion to sell or privatize the park and suggested a private resort developer.
• Arcadis: Shane McKinney supported professional program management. Crystal Cadelli raised concerns about audit exclusions, the discretionary budget, reporting, and city oversight. Jason Skirbitz raised similar concerns. Joey McCutcheon supported item 8B and opposed item 8A.
• Goodwin & Goodwin: Gary Podgarski praised Todd Mittge and suggested a dedicated city contracting division. Shane McKinney, Crystal Cadelli, Jason Skirbitz, and Joey McCutcheon generally supported the negotiated approach while urging better bidding procedures.
• Capital improvement plans: Crystal Cadelli opposed item 11C, the parks CIP, and urged halting capital projects until water and sewer obligations were clearer. Jason Skirbitz said he was a solid no on 11C and a solid yes on 11E, the transit plan.
• Miss Laura's: Shane McKinney and Joey McCutcheon praised the Miss Laura's parking lot project and the museum.

Zoning & Land Use Ordinances

• Item 1: Rezoned 1406 and 1408 South 11th Street, 0.32 acres, from Office, Research and Light Industrial to Mixed Use Residential and from Industrial Light (I-1) to Transitional (T) to facilitate two duplexes on individual lots. The Planning Commission recommended approval 8-0. The board approved with suspension of the rules 7-0 and adopted the emergency clause 7-0.
• Item 2A: Rezoned the approximately 26.85-acre Methodist Village campus at 1801 South 74th Street and 7425, 7811, and 7815 Euper Lane from Commercial Light Special (C-2-SPL) and Transitional (T) to a Planned Zoning District. The Planning Commission recommended approval 8-0. Four neighboring owners attended the October 5 neighborhood meeting and one email was received. The board approved 7-0 and adopted the emergency clause 7-0. George Catsavis asked whether the property had already been deeded to Methodist Village; staff clarified the transfer had occurred and this ordinance rezoned the whole campus, while item 2B removed the reverter. Christina Catsavis expressed support for the childcare use. Neal Martin asked Melissa Curry about the TAP-funded connector trail to Carol Ann Cross Park; Curry said the project was waiting on engineers and bat-season timing and had no firm timeline, and said the daycare planned to take children to the park.
• Item 2B: Approved removal of the reversionary clause for 1801 South 74th Street 7-0.
• Item 3: Rezoned 8501 Chad Colley Boulevard, 2.06 acres, from not zoned to a Planned Zoning District. The Planning Commission recommended approval 8-0. No neighbors attended the September 24 meeting. The board approved 7-0 and adopted the emergency clause 7-0. Neal Martin asked what would be built; staff said no specific use was known and the zoning was intended to make the property more marketable.
• Item 4: Rezoned 2908 Xavier Street and 5401 South 29th Street, 0.16 acres, from Commercial Heavy (C-5) to Residential Single Family High Density (RS-4) to make the two existing single-family homes conforming and allow subdivision into two lots. The Planning Commission recommended approval 8-0. One neighbor attended the September 30 meeting with no concerns; adjacent owner Justin Wisdom opposed by phone and email, saying the change would decrease his property value. The board approved 7-0 and adopted the emergency clause 7-0.
• Item 5: Rezoned 6812 Phoenix Avenue, 0.77 acres, from Commercial Light (C-2) to Commercial Heavy (C-5) to allow an auto quick lube in the existing building. The Planning Commission recommended approval 8-0. No neighbors attended the September 29 meeting. The board approved 7-0 and adopted the emergency clause 7-0.

Fire Department Pay Ordinance

• Approved an ordinance establishing 2027 pay rates for uniformed Fire Department employees with an average 13.7% increase over the 2026 schedule. The prior scale increase was in 2025. The board first amended the ordinance to make the pay effective January 1, 2027, instead of April 11, 2027, by a 7-0 vote, then adopted the ordinance as amended 7-0. Directors praised the union's preparation and said the city must continue addressing competitiveness and cost-of-living adjustments rather than waiting another four or five years.

Parrot Island Water Park

• Considered an ordinance appropriating $144,000 from General Fund balance for the city's half of an estimated $287,936.11 in 2026 Parrot Island operating obligations. Staff said about $230,000 was accounts payable, the management fee was about 5% of gross revenues, and sales tax owed to the city and utilities was also outstanding. Sebastian County was expected to consider a matching contribution on November 17. The City Attorney outlined possible civil claims against ARM if facts showed breach, fraud, or negligent supervision, and discussed statute-of-limitations windows; Chief Baker discussed the criminal statute of limitations. The board tabled the item to its first December meeting for further due diligence and prioritization of expenses by a 7-0 vote. No appropriation was made.

Arcadis Consent Decree Program Management

• Item 8A was the original $2,474,000 agreement tabled from October 20; staff recommended no action. Item 8B was the revised negotiated agreement with Arcadis, U.S., Inc. for Federal Wastewater Consent Decree program management, Project No. 26-01-ES1, at a not-to-exceed $2,256,000 for one year, a $218,000 reduction. The contract is time-and-materials, not a guaranteed amount. The board approved 8B on a recorded 5-1-1 roll call: Settle opposed and Christina Catsavis abstained. A later transcript phrase says four in favor and three opposed, but the specific roll call was 5-1-1. Discussion covered IDIQ delivery, competitive procurement, audit rights, reporting, and the absence of a guaranteed first-year savings figure. Todd Mittge said year two was estimated at $1.75 million in the CIP as a placeholder pending a revised scope.

SSA Remedial Measures & Consent Decree Contracts

• Items 9A and 9B concerned 2023 SSA Remedial Measures, Sub-Basin Z003, Project No. 25-12-C1. The sole bid from Goodwin & Goodwin, Inc. was $5,500,715.50, about 19% over the $4,619,393 engineer's estimate. The board did not adopt 9A; it approved 9B, the revised negotiated bid of $5,060,015.50, about 9.5% over the estimate, with 390 calendar days, by a recorded 5-1-1 vote: Settle opposed and Christina Catsavis abstained.
• Item 10A: Approved the bid of InLiner Solutions, LLC for 2022 SSA Remedial Measures, Sub-Basin S005, Project No. 25-13-C1, at $3,441,442.90 and 330 days. Six bids were received; the engineer's opinion was $6,499,163.50. Neil Martin questioned the low bid; staff and Halff's Alan Deaver said InLiner stood behind the bid and had performed prior city work. Approved 7-0.
• Item 10B: Approved an agreement with Halff Associates, Inc. for engineering services on Sub-Basin S005, Project No. 25-13-EC1, at $106,610 and 365 days. Approved 7-0.
• Item 10C: Approved Change Order No. 1 with Forsgren, Inc. for 2017 SSA Remedial Measures, Sub-Basin P009, Project No. 19-18-C1, adding $684,184 and 89 days, bringing the total contract to $5,580,574 and the substantial completion date to April 8, 2027. Approved 7-0.

Capital Improvement Plans

• Items 11A–11G were approved as a batch, with all passing 7-0 except item 11C, which passed 6-1 with George Catsavis opposed.
• 11A: 2027-2028 Water CIP, with $5,900,000 funded for 2027 and $5,991,000 estimated for 2028.
• 11B: Ten-year 2027-2036 Streets and Traffic Control CIP and 2027 Sidewalk Program; 2027 vehicle and equipment replacements totaled $1,120,000, and the 2027 sidewalk program proposed 3.21 miles of new construction and 1.04 miles of repairs.
• 11C: Five-year 2027-2031 Parks and Recreation 1/8% sales and use tax CIP.
• 11D: Ten-year 2027-2036 Solid Waste Services CIP; 2027 requests totaled $12,348,000, including $7,000,000 for a new landfill cell.
• 11E: Adopted the 2026 Transit Asset Management Plan; the plan identified about $6.95 million in asset investments over five years, about $1.17 million local impact after grants, and about $9 million in active federal grants.
• 11F: Five-year 2027-2031 Police CIP; 2027 expenses were $6,135,390 against $5,349,045 in revenue, requiring $786,345 from the General Fund.
• 11G: Five-year 2027-2031 Fire CIP; 2027 totaled $2,252,069, including $80,000 in General Fund items and $2,172,069 in 1/8% sales tax apparatus costs.

Consent Agenda

• Approved items 12A–12D as described above, with Christina Catsavis abstaining on 12A.

Officials Forum

• The mayor encouraged residents to vote. Director Rego thanked candidates for running. Director Kemp raised conflicts with the November 13 budget hearing; four directors supported rescheduling, and City Administrator Jeff Dingman was directed to find an alternate date. George Catsavis asked whether candidates elected in the election could attend budget meetings; the City Clerk said historically they are included. Christina Catsavis requested a policy on political signs on city-owned property after a sign was moved inside the Creekmore polling place, saying signs should be stored at Public Works rather than a polling location. The administrator announced no meeting November 3, a study session November 10, city offices closed November 11 for Veterans Day, and that an alternate budget hearing date would be sought. The meeting adjourned.

Key Outcomes

• All zoning ordinances and emergency clauses passed 7-0: South 11th Street, Methodist Village PZD and reverter removal, Chad Colley Boulevard, Xavier/South 29th, and Phoenix Avenue.
• Fire pay ordinance passed as amended, 7-0, with an average 13.7% increase and an amended January 1, 2027 effective date.
• Parrot Island's $144,000 appropriation was tabled to the first December meeting, 7-0.
• Arcadis item 8B was approved 5-1-1; item 8A was not acted on.
• Goodwin & Goodwin item 9B was approved 5-1-1; item 9A was not adopted. Consent-decree items 10A–10C passed 7-0.
• Capital improvement plans 11A–11G passed, with 11C passing 6-1.
• Consent agenda 12A–12D passed, with a 6-0-1 vote on 12A.
• The budget hearing date is to be re-set, and staff was asked to develop a political-sign policy for city-owned property.