Hot Springs Civic Brief

Hot Springs Board of Directors

January 23, 2024 Civic Briefing

Hot Springs Board Approves $469K Sewer Truck, $1.4M in Total Spending Including Equipment, Infrastructure, and Zoning Changes

The Hot Springs Board of Directors approved $1,412,631.79 in total identified spending on January 23, 2024, including a $468,733.58 sewer cleaner truck, a $275,446.65 asphalt patch truck, a $143,250.00 wastewater plant roof replacement, a $123,596.84 sewer inspection camera system, a $112,173.02 water treatment plant electrical upgrade, a $92,561.45 taser purchase, a $79,494.25 tractor, a $61,585.00 boom mower, and $55,791.00 in CDBG street improvement contracts; all 21 votes were unanimous.

Hot Springs Board of Directors Regular Meeting January 23, 2024 Confidence: High Independent — not affiliated with the City of Hot Springs
Published: May 17, 2026 · Last updated: May 17, 2026
View source notes Watch meeting ↗

The short version

  • The Board approved the purchase of a $468,733.58 Vactor sewer cleaner truck — the largest single spending item of the meeting — through a cooperative purchasing program.
  • Nine spending items totaling $1,412,631.79 passed, covering sewer and street equipment, an electrical upgrade at the water treatment plant, police tasers, and a CDBG street contract.
  • The Board authorized filing for two separate U.S. Department of Transportation RAISE grants for trail design and construction; the record does not show a city spending commitment at this step.
  • Four zoning map changes were approved for properties on Alpine Street, Beard Street, Higdon Ferry Road, and Harvest Lane, all without recorded public opposition.
  • City Manager Bill Burrough reported that the 2023 paving program is 60% complete, the Whittington Avenue accessibility project is 75% complete, and the animal shelter achieved an 87.9% save rate in 2023.

By the numbers

Total identified spending
$1,412,632
Votes taken
21
includes procedural votes
Unanimous votes
21
Largest single item
$468,734
Vactor 2100i Sewer Cleaner Truck
Emergency / ratification items
0
Resident questions unanswered
0

Money approved

Item Amount Vendor Vote Source
Vactor 2100i Sewer Cleaner Truck
 $468,734 Vactor Manufacturing via Environmental Products Groups, Inc. 7-0 item:14
Asphalt Patch Truck
 $275,447 PB Loader Corporation 7-0 item:16
Roof Replacement and Building Repairs, Davidson Drive Wastewater Treatment Plant
 $143,250 HD Roofing and Construction, LLC 7-0 item:18
Envirosight Sewer Inspection Camera System
 $123,597 Environmental Products Groups, Inc. 7-0 item:15
Electrical Transmission Mains Extension to Water Treatment Plant
 $112,173 Entergy Arkansas, LLC 7-0 item:12
Tasers and Related Accessories
 $92,561 Axon Enterprises, Inc. 7-0 item:19
John Deere 6510 E Tractor
 $79,494 Greenway Equipment, Inc. 7-0 item:13
Tiger AR-12 Wildcat Boom Mower
 $61,585 Little Rock Equipment Sales 7-0 item:20
CDBG Improvement Projects (Park Ave., Tom Ellsworth Dr., Holly St.)
 $55,791 Goslee Construction Company, Inc. 7-0 item:9
Total identified spending $1,412,632

Approved without separate discussion

These items passed without individual debate as part of the consent agenda.

  • Sewer Cleaner Truck Purchase
    Vote: 7-0 · $468,734 · Vactor Manufacturing through Environmental Products Groups, Inc.
    item:14
  • Asphalt Patch Truck Purchase
    Vote: 7-0 · $275,447 · PB Loader Corporation
    item:16
  • Roof Replacement and Building Repairs, Davidson Drive Wastewater Treatment Plant
    Vote: 7-0 · $143,250 · HD Roofing and Construction, LLC
    item:18
  • Envirosight Sewer Inspection Camera System Purchase
    Vote: 7-0 · $123,597 · Environmental Products Groups, Inc.
    item:15
  • Electrical Transmission Mains Extension to Water Treatment Plant
    Vote: 7-0 · $112,173 · Entergy Arkansas, LLC
    item:12
  • Taser Purchase
    Vote: 7-0 · $92,561 · Axon Enterprises, Inc.
    item:19
  • John Deere Tractor Purchase
    Vote: 7-0 · $79,494 · Greenway Equipment, Inc.
    item:13
  • Tiger Boom Mower Purchase
    Vote: 7-0 · $61,585 · Little Rock Equipment Sales
    item:20
  • CDBG Street Improvement Projects
    Vote: 7-0 · $55,791 · Goslee Construction Company, Inc.
    item:9
  • RAISE Grant Applications — Trails and Trail Connectors
    Vote: 7-0 · No city spending commitment at this step
    item:10
  • ISI Water Company Utility Review Contract
    Vote: 7-0 · No cost specified in the record · ISI Water Company
    item:8
  • High Impact Movement, Inc. Contract Amendment
    Vote: 6-0 · No cost specified in the record · High Impact Movement, Inc.
    item:21
  • Zoning Map Change — 117 Alpine Street
    Vote: 7-0 · no cost specified
    item:22
  • Zoning Map Change — 422 Beard Street
    Vote: 7-0 · no cost specified
    item:23
  • Zoning Map Change — 1103 Higdon Ferry Road
    Vote: 7-0 · no cost specified
    item:24
  • Zoning Map Change — 155 Harvest Lane
    Vote: 7-0 · no cost specified
    item:25

Locations affected

  • Davidson Drive Wastewater Treatment Plant
    Roof replacement and building repairs
    Status: Scheduled
  • Randall Road Water Treatment Plant
    Electrical transmission mains extension
    Status: Scheduled
  • Park Avenue
    CDBG street improvement project
    Status: Scheduled
  • Tom Ellsworth Drive
    CDBG street improvement project
    Status: Scheduled
  • Holly Street
    CDBG street improvement project
    Status: Scheduled
  • 117 Alpine Street
    117 Alpine Street, Hot Springs, AR
    Rezoned to C-TR Commercial Transitional zone (0.172 acre)
    Status: Confirmed
  • 422 Beard Street
    422 Beard Street, Hot Springs, AR
    Approved for Planned Development zone with site plan (0.14 acre)
    Status: Confirmed
  • 1103 Higdon Ferry Road
    1103 Higdon Ferry Road, Hot Springs, AR
    Rezoned to C-3 Office/Neighborhood Commercial zone (0.51 acres)
    Status: Confirmed
  • 155 Harvest Lane
    155 Harvest Lane, Hot Springs, AR
    Rezoned to C-4 Regional Commercial zone (2.864 acres)
    Status: Confirmed
  • Whittington Avenue
    Federal Lands Accessibility Program project; includes sidewalk, ADA ramps, crosswalks, and trail improvements
    Status: Completed
  • Family Park
    Two 55-foot gravity-fed rail-rider playground structures to be installed, funded by Friends of the Parks and the Art Merkle family donation
    Status: Planned

Watch list

Open follow-up issues we'll check on in future briefings.

ISI Water Company Utility Billing Review Contract

Open

The Board approved a contract with ISI Water Company to review utility services that may be unbilled or misbilled. The contract value, duration, compensation method, and estimated scale of issues remain undisclosed in the public record.

Why it matters
Unbilled or misbilled utility accounts directly affect city revenue and resident billing accuracy. The lack of transparent contract terms and performance metrics limits public accountability.
Next check
Monitor for public disclosure of contract value, timeline, and any findings or recovered amounts from the utility billing review.
First raised: January 23, 2024 briefing

High Impact Movement, Inc. Contract Amendment Vote Discrepancy

Open

The Board approved a 2024 services contract amendment with High Impact Movement, Inc. by a 6-0 vote, while nearly every other agenda item passed 7-0. The record does not explain the discrepancy, and the contract value and service description remain undisclosed.

Why it matters
Unexplained voting discrepancies and undisclosed contract terms reduce transparency. Understanding which director was absent or abstained, and why, is important for accountability.
Next check
Verify the reason for the 6-0 vote (absence, abstention, recusal), obtain the contract value and detailed service description, and monitor for future amendments.
First raised: January 23, 2024 briefing

Tiger Boom Mower Competitive Bidding Waiver

Open

The Board waived competitive bidding requirements to purchase a Tiger AR-12 Wildcat Boom Mower from Little Rock Equipment Sales as a sole-source procurement. The public record does not state the reason for the waiver.

Why it matters
Competitive bidding waivers should be supported by documented justification (technical requirement, emergency, etc.) to ensure public procurement integrity and value for money.
Next check
Request city procurement documentation explaining the sole-source justification for the boom mower purchase.
First raised: January 23, 2024 briefing

Zoning Changes at Four Properties — Development Intent Unknown

Open

The Board rezoned four properties: 117 Alpine Street (C-TR), 422 Beard Street (Planned Development), 1103 Higdon Ferry Road (C-3), and 155 Harvest Lane (C-4). The public record does not disclose what specific development or use is planned at any location.

Why it matters
Zoning changes enable future development. Residents and neighboring property owners benefit from transparency about intended uses that may affect traffic, density, or neighborhood character.
Next check
Monitor city planning and permit records for development applications at these four addresses to identify intended uses.
First raised: January 23, 2024 briefing

Source notes

This briefing is based on the public records below. Every claim above can be traced back to one or more of these sources.

Confidence: High

The card cites agenda items, meeting minutes, and video transcript with specific timestamps. All 21 votes were unanimous and are clearly documented.

How we know this
  • We do not invent facts.
  • We cite source records.
  • We distinguish what happened from what remains unclear.
  • We use neutral language.
  • We correct errors when found. See corrections.