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.
Goodwin & Goodwin sewer rehab contract
The city negotiated the sole bidder down $440,700 on a sewer rehab project after its bid came in 19% over the engineer's estimate — but one director warned the renegotiation sets a risky precedent.
Homelessness and the Bell Point Schoolhouse proposal
Glenn Forte' proposed converting the vacant Bell Point Schoolhouse into a transitional housing and jobs facility with work requirements, sobriety support, and rent savings returned when residents secure permanent housing.
Convenience store with gas sales at Jenny Lind and Jackson
Directors Settle, Martin, and Kemp pushed back hard on the proposed $2.3 million Jenny Lind extension, calling it an unwanted cut-through that would speed traffic through Fianna Hills. They want neighborhood input sessions before any vote.
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.
FCRA dissolution accountability
Speaker Patrick McGuire pressed the Board to reaffirm its 2024 call to dissolve the Fort Chaffee redevelopment authority, get a legal assessment of dissolution routes within 60 days, and start a public transition process with deadlines.
Flock camera audit
Sharon Lockwood warned that Flock cameras can listen inside vehicles and that the data belongs to the vendor, calling it 'wireless tapping' and urging the Board to think carefully about privacy before expanding surveillance.
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.
Tilles Park splash pad
The city will spend about $1 million on a new, larger splash pad at Tilles Park, replacing a cheaply built one from a prior administration that would otherwise need a $150,000 mechanical retrofit. The old pad becomes a basketball court.
Auto and property insurance renewal
The board renewed its self-funded employee health coverage and a $84,544.72 cyber liability policy, the latter notable while the city recovers from a recent cyberattack.
Maybranch Greenway within Levee Improvement District No. 1
A proposed one-mile concrete trail segment crossing levee district land was rejected 3-1, with the no vote citing lifetime maintenance costs; supporters say it's a planned, grant-funded trail with no new flood risk. It returns November 17.
Potential revenue enhancement options
Staff floated doubling the alcohol tax from 5% to 10% to fund the full firefighter raise, but not a single director supported it — restaurants and bars would have borne the cost.
FCRA land use authority dispute
Director George Catsavis pressed whether the city can revoke the Fort Chaffee Redevelopment Authority's land use authority, calling the arrangement 'a nightmare' for developers. The city attorney will review the governing documents and report back.
Demolition of chronic blighted properties
Three long-neglected houses will come down after years of failed enforcement, including one where the owner died and one with squatters. The city will demolish and lien the properties.
B Street South Sewer Upgrades
A small contract amendment adds $10,700 and 115 days for engineering work on the B Street South sewer project, which is tied to the federal consent decree work.
Mayoral Campaign Fundraising
Fort Smith’s mayoral race has already drawn more than $71,000 in campaign contributions, which tells you this isn’t a sleepy contest. The cash matters because it buys ads, mailers and outreach that shape what voters hear before Election Day.
Main Street mini-grants and business incubator
The Commerce Collective incubator has secured a downtown location, opens applications in March, and plans a June opening with chamber ribbon-cutting. Main Street also needs $28,000 in matching funds for the Levitt AMP music series and awarded eight mini-grants totaling $16,000 for building improvements.
Downtown revitalization via Main Street Fort Smith
Main Street Fort Smith reported $4.3 million in downtown investment this year, a successful business incubator, and a Bricktown Brewery rebuild bringing 75-90 jobs by April 2027.
Non-Uniformed Employee Salary Study
The city's consultant found non-uniformed employees lag the market by about 2% on median — better than 2023 but still behind most peer cities — and recommended 2-4% pay range adjustments for the 2027 budget.
Parrot Island Water Park Finances
Resident Patrick McGuire warned the water park is heading toward insolvency, projecting a $307,000+ year-end operating loss the city must cover under its contract, with attendance down 3,326 visitors.
Butterfield Trail Monument
A life-size stagecoach-and-horses sculpture honoring the late Judge Jim Spears will be installed within about 90 days, with all engineering, foundation, and material costs now covered through donations and a new CBID contribution.
Proposed reconstruction of the original Fort Smith
Private citizen Carl Corley wants to rebuild the original fort on federal land within the district, a $3 to $3.5 million project he reportedly funds himself. The board agreed Chairman Holland should meet with him to see how the CBID might help navigate tribal and federal hurdles.
Honorary designation of Ravin Caldwell Way
A stretch of North D Street would be named for Fort Smith native Ravin Caldwell, the Northside High grad and two-time Super Bowl champion with the Washington Redskins.
CBID Commissioner Vacancy
After Lee Ann Vick resigned, the commission wants the city to shrink the board back to seven members, which drops the quorum from five to four and avoids tie votes. The ordinance could be on the city Board's April 7 agenda.
Water and wastewater treatment plant maintenance
The city was set to spend $919,000 cleaning treatment plant lagoons and $78,822 replacing worn-out grit conveyors — routine but necessary work to keep drinking water and sewer service reliable.
2025 Department Reports and Top Ten Goals
The police chief's yearly report gives residents a snapshot of department activity, staffing, and crime trends for 2025.
Internal audit independence under a new form of government
The city's internal audit shop is professionalizing fast — new templates, a new certification, and a jump from the lowest maturity level to Level 2. The committee wants assurance that management actually fixes audit findings this time, with the acting city administrator on the hook for follow-through.
Franchise fee collection audit
Internal audit is chasing down cable, telecom and utility franchisees to verify the city is getting every franchise fee dollar it's owed — a first for Fort Smith. They've contacted six of seven sampled entities and suspect annexed areas may be slipping through.
Silent fraud hotline
Two straight years of zero hotline reports. Members noted industry guidance says a silent hotline usually means employees don't trust it — a leftover, they said, from a previous administration's control of the process.
Purchasing card and travel policy gaps
City policies on purchasing cards and travel contradict each other across the ordinance, employee handbook, and standalone policies — and the audit recommends a single consistent policy, training, and a rethink of whether P-cards are even the right tool.
Sunday sale of alcohol for off-premises consumption
The board confirmed it cannot refer Sunday off-premises alcohol sales to the ballot itself — only a citizen petition with 3,120 signatures can do it. Residents are already organizing to gather signatures.
2027 Departmental Service Objectives
Resident Casey Millspaugh found mislabeled years throughout the department KPI report — 2026 data shown as 2023, 2024, or 2025 — and asked who validates the data before it reaches the board. The board asked staff to fix the errors before budget review.
Fort Smith Regional Airport operations
The airport director explained that airports pitch routes but airlines decide — Fort Smith captures only about 20% of its 230,000-250,000 passenger catchment area, with the rest leaking to XNA, Tulsa, and Little Rock. A fourth daily DFW flight was added for October and November.
Street overlays and water plant maintenance
A $1.5 million street resurfacing contract and a $919,000 lagoon-cleaning contract were on the consent agenda — routine work that keeps roads smooth and water plants running.
Vacation of North N Street and alley in Urbandale Addition
The city was set to give up unused street and alley rights-of-way near North 31st and 32nd Streets so neighboring owners can use the land. Utilities keep an easement in the alley, and nearby owners got notice with no objections reported.
Sewer basin remediation change orders
Two change orders under the consent-decree-related sewer work: $95,407 and 50 extra days with Forsgren, and $12,099 and 16 extra days with Patriot Utilities. These continue federally mandated sewer improvements funded by the 5/8% sales tax.
Municipal fine for transporting unhoused people to Fort Smith
A proposed ordinance would make it illegal for outside communities or individuals to transport unhoused people into Fort Smith without the city's consent, with exceptions for jails, hospitals, verified shelters, and court dates.
Operation of Kelley Ballfields Complex
The city sought proposals to run the Kelley Ballfields Complex, and only the existing youth baseball/softball group applied. A recommendation to the Board of Directors was expected on whether to keep the lease arrangement going.
Creekmore Park tennis court rebuild
The Western Arkansas Tennis Association, the Tennis Center's operator since 2003, was the only bidder to continue running it. The commission was set to recommend to the Board whether to enter a new agreement.
Bulk water fill station operations at Lake Fort Smith
Rural residents who haul water from the Lake Fort Smith fill station were worried it might close. Instead, the city is installing coin-operated machines so the honor-system cash box goes away but the water keeps flowing — 72 customers told the city they depend on it.
Mayoral Candidate Interview
A Fort Smith mayoral candidate, Shayne McKinney, did a Q&A ahead of the election. It’s basically a voter cheat sheet: hear what the person who wants to run your city thinks before you cast a ballot. There’s no new policy or budget decision here—just candidate messaging.
Harbor House campus expansion and neighborhood parking
Harbor House got the zoning it needs to build a new transitional dwelling on North 18th Street and unify zoning across its campus. Neighbors previously raised traffic, parking, and tenant-count questions.
Water and sewer grant applications
The city is applying for state grant dollars to help pay for a lift station, water plant pumps and filter media, and a wastewater biosolids system.
2027 Strategic Priorities
City leaders brainstormed what Fort Smith should focus on in 2027 — homelessness, water project funding, airport expansion, healthcare, and competing with Northwest Arkansas for jobs. No final list was chosen; staff will bring back a refined set of measurable goals.
Annual Reports and Top 10 Goals Timeline
City leaders brainstormed what Fort Smith should focus on in 2027 — homelessness, water project funding, airport expansion, healthcare, and competing with Northwest Arkansas for jobs. No final list was chosen; staff will bring back a refined set of measurable goals.
Sanitary sewer consent-decree payment
Two sewer consent decree items were before the board: an $844,805 payment to Krapff-Reynolds and a $4,000 property acquisition for Sub-Basin P005 — part of the federally mandated sewer fixes.
City interest in Fort Smith Cemeteries, Inc. properties
The private nonprofit running Roselawn, Holy Cross and Forest Park cemeteries has faced maintenance complaints and code liens in past years. The city could acquire and operate them like Oak Cemetery, but the nonprofit declined a sale to a private buyer and is currently meeting code standards. The tabled resolution returns July 21.
Delinquent property cleanup liens 2026
The city has about $140,000 in delinquent cleanup liens on 159 properties this year, down from roughly $188,000 last year. Numbers are preliminary after a software glitch delayed the report, and the repeat-offender count isn't available yet. These liens head to appeal hearings in September before being certified to the county tax collector.
Police Investigation of Threat
Fort Smith police are looking into a threat against a mayoral candidate’s press secretary, and it’s a sign the local race is getting ugly. The investigation matters because political staff shouldn’t have to work under intimidation—and it can shape how safe and credible the election feels.
Parking garage losing money
The downtown parking garage burned $123,000 in cash last year and has borrowed about $350,000 from other city funds. With meter revenue gone and the elevator broken, committee members discussed possibly selling the garage during budget season.