Fort Smith · issues
Civic issues
Topics getting the most attention in Fort Smith public meetings, ranked by how frequently they come up.
Political sign handling at city facilities
Director Christina Catsavis said a candidate's sign was removed and displayed inside Creekmore during early voting, and asked staff to draft a policy keeping removed signs out of polling places and city buildings.
Transparency dashboard for CIP projects
A resident proposed a plain-language, ward-by-ward online dashboard showing where CIP money goes — saying the city already owns the mapping software and it would rebuild public trust before any future tax ask.
Civic engagement programs
The city reviewed its Trailblazer 101 Citizens Academy and a proposed 'Citizens First: The American System' participation model for getting residents more involved.
Driveway paving limits on small cul-de-sac lots in PZD subdivisions
The city caps concrete in residential front yards at 40%, but this homeowner wants 50% so fire trucks can turn around on his property. It's a trade-off between neighborhood green space/appearance rules and emergency response practicality.
Bobby Crabtree Boulevard Designation
A stretch of Towson Avenue would be renamed in honor of Bobby Crabtree.
Creekmore Park Tennis Center operations
The Western Arkansas Tennis Association, which has run the city tennis center since 2003, was in line for a new five-year agreement to keep operating it.
Honorary street designations for Madison Marsh and Judge Jim Spears
The Board was set to name parts of Gary Street and Riverfront Drive after Fort Smith figures: Miss America and Air Force officer Madison Marsh, and the late Judge Jim Spears, who helped land the U.S. Marshals Museum.
Girl Scouts Artwork at Creekmore Pumphouse
The city hired MAHG Architecture for $145,520 to design the pool pump house renovation at Creekmore Park, paid from the 1/8% parks sales tax.
Water billing units: CCF vs. gallons
The Board looked at switching water bills from CCF (hundred cubic feet) to gallons so bills are easier to understand. It's on hold — every meter in the city would need replacing, and that costs serious money.
Creekmore Park pool pump house renovation
The city hired MAHG Architecture for $145,520 to design the pool pump house renovation at Creekmore Park, paid from the 1/8% parks sales tax.
Solid Waste Services building addition
A $934,518 contract with Goodwin & Goodwin, Inc. would build an addition to the Solid Waste Services Administration Building.
Spradling Avenue Extension Phase 2 engineering
An $83,230 contract amendment with Hawkins-Weir Engineers moves the Spradling Avenue Extension Phase 2 road project into final design.
New nursery school and private school options for families
Two new school options won approval: a 15-child nursery school off Wells Lake Road and a two-day-a-week supplemental school for homeschool families on South 16th Street, capped at 35 students a day.
Manus Easement Settlement
The city planned to settle a lawsuit over easements for the Lake Fort Smith Water Transmission Line for $11,000.
Cemetery operations update
Directors asked for a future update on Rose Lawn, Holy Cross, and Forrest Park cemeteries.
St. Francis Crest residence setbacks and drainage
A large new single-family home with garage and pool house won reduced front-yard setbacks and double-frontage driveway access after a neighborhood architectural committee member raised aesthetic and drainage concerns on behalf of residents.
Insurance Proceeds Appropriation
Insurance payouts would be spread across several city departments through a 2026 budget amendment.
Regional Art Museum expansion plan
The museum, at the gateway to the district, is pursuing national accreditation and an $8–10 million expansion, testing a $15 million fundraising goal with a feasibility study due in September.
Friendship Pact with Lask, Poland
A resolution would formalize a Friendship Pact between Fort Smith and Lask, Poland, recognizing the Polish Air Force pilots who trained on F-35s at Ebbing Air National Guard Base and fly out of Lask Air Base.
First quarter 2026 budget performance
The city's chief financial officer showed how spending and revenues tracked from January through March 2026. It was informational — no action needed.
Vacancy on the Civil Service Commission
The commission still has an empty seat and no new applications have come in. The city will readvertise the position to try to fill it.
Duplexes on reduced-size lots near Willow and North 32nd
Two new brick duplexes are coming to the corner of Willow Street and North 32nd Street on lots smaller than zoning normally allows. The vote was 7-2, with concerns about lot size relief.
CBID Commission Size Change
A proposal to shrink the downtown improvement district commission from eight members to seven, at the commission's own request — it shapes who guides downtown reinvestment.
CNG time-fill fueling project
A new system will let CNG buses fuel overnight automatically, simplifying operations. Testing was set for March 3 with completion expected within weeks.
Creekmore pool diving boards and gutter upgrades
New diving boards (installed this morning) and slip-resistant HDPE gutter grating will be ready before summer — the first diving well access since COVID.
Mahogany Avenue Zoning
Currently unzoned land at 7208 Mahogany Avenue would be zoned Transitional (T), a buffer district between uses.
Downtown parks improvements
The Compass Park splashpad fence came in under $10,000 (reducing the district's share), the Cisterna Park pumphouse gets raised five feet out of flood risk with bids opening next week, and the downtown fountain should be working again by summer.
Former theater property auction and Wingate grant obligation
Main Street is auctioning the former theater and adjacent 11th Street buildings January 20; proceeds from the non-theater buildings must repay a Wingate grant of up to $340,000, while theater proceeds stay with Main Street for financial stability.
River Valley Church of Christ activity center
The church gets to build a 2,400-square-foot activity center with kitchen and dining space and expand parking to 30 spaces, with a new sidewalk required along Skywood Drive.
Armour Street duplex setback error
A duplex was built two feet into the required front setback because of a measuring error — the board let it stay and allowed a second house behind it on a shared driveway, over a drainage ditch.
Miss Laura's Brothel Museum renovations
The historic museum needs siding and molding replacement; the board had no objection to seeking bids for the work.
Crane Hyundai rooftop equipment visibility
The new Hyundai dealership's rooftop units are visible from the street despite promises they'd be hidden. The BZA refused to let the dealership just paint them, denying the variance 1-7-1.