Fort Smith · issues
Civic issues
Topics getting the most attention in Fort Smith public meetings, ranked by how frequently they come up.
Roadway engineering update
Ben Marts, the interim deputy director of engineering for roadways, is lined up as guest speaker. Expect talk about street conditions, project priorities and the roadwork pipeline.
2027 Sidewalk Program
Public Works proposes 3.21 miles of new sidewalks and 1.04 miles of repairs in 2027, prioritized by school proximity and pedestrian traffic, with a homebuilder offering to pay material costs on two stretches.
In-house street paving crew proposal
Public Works wants to build two internal paving crews — 23 personnel and $12-13 million up front in 2027 — claiming roughly 56% savings versus contracting out. Directors balked, saying they need the full numbers before approving it in the CIP.