Hot Springs Civic Brief

Hot Springs Board of Directors

February 6, 2024 Civic Briefing

Hot Springs Board Awards $10,072K Gulpha Basin Sewer Contract, Rejects Horse-Drawn Carriage Franchise

The Board of Directors awarded a $10,072,200 construction contract for a new wet-weather sewage pumping station in the Gulpha Basin and separately approved $87,437.45 in winter road-treatment equipment — then unanimously rejected a franchise application for a horse-drawn carriage transit service.

Hot Springs Board of Directors Regular Meeting February 6, 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 awarded a $10,072,200 contract to Max Foote Construction Company for a new wet-weather sewage pumping station serving the Gulpha Basin, the city's highest-priority wastewater project.
  • The Board approved $87,437.45 to purchase brine-making and application equipment used for winter road treatment, through a cooperative purchasing program.
  • The Board authorized filing for two separate state airport-aid grants for a hangar construction project at the Hot Springs airport, with different cost-sharing splits in each application.
  • The Board unanimously rejected a franchise agreement that would have allowed a horse-drawn carriage specialty transit service to operate in Hot Springs.
  • The City Manager reported that the city's paving program was 67% complete as of 2023 and that all major water and wastewater projects total approximately $110 million in active work.

By the numbers

Total identified spending
$10,159,637
Votes taken
12
includes procedural votes
Unanimous votes
11
Largest single item
$10,072,200
Gulpha Basin Wet Weather Sewage Pumping Station CMAR Contract
Emergency / ratification items
0
Resident questions unanswered
0

Money approved

Item Amount Vendor Vote Source
Gulpha Basin Wet Weather Sewage Pumping Station — CMAR contract award
 $10,072,200 Max Foote Construction Company, LLC 7-0 item:15
Brine Master brine maker and application equipment purchase
 $87,437 C&H Outdoor, LLC d/b/a Sno-Biz 7-0 item:10
Total identified spending $10,159,637

Major decisions

Gulpha Basin Wet Weather Sewage Pumping Station — construction contract awarded

Item
Bid award — the Board awarded a Construction Management At Risk (CMAR) contract for construction of a new wet-weather sewage pumping station in the Gulpha Basin.
Vote
7-0
Cost
$10,072,200
Vendor / responsible
Max Foote Construction Company, LLC
Discussion level
Brief Brief presentation
Resident impact
The station is designed to handle excess sewage flows during wet weather in the Gulpha Basin area. The City Manager identified this as the highest-priority project among the city's major water and wastewater work.
What the Board said or did
Staff member Todd Piller presented the contract. The Board voted without extended discussion.
What remains unclear
The record does not show a project completion timeline or explain how the $10,072,200 contract relates to the broader $67 million Gulpha Basin project cost cited in the City Manager's report.
Source
item:15

Zoning change for Weston Road property — approved

Item
Zoning ordinance — the Board rezoned approximately 1.064 acres at 163 and 165 Weston Road from its prior designation to C-4 Regional Commercial/Open Display Zone and amended the Future Land Use Plan Map to Linear Commercial Corridor.
Vote
7-0
Cost
No cost specified in the record
Vendor / responsible
n/a
Discussion level
Brief Brief presentation
Resident impact
Properties at 163 and 165 Weston Road are now zoned for regional commercial and open-display uses.
What the Board said or did
Planning & Development Director Kathy Sellman presented the amendment. The Board voted without extended discussion.
What remains unclear
The record does not show who requested the rezoning, what specific development is planned for the site, or why the Future Land Use Plan Map was amended at the same time.
Source
item:16

Horse-drawn carriage franchise — rejected

Item
Franchise agreement — the Board considered and rejected an ordinance that would have granted Ramsey H. Zimmerman, doing business as Hot Springs Horse Memories, a franchise to operate a specialty horse-drawn carriage transit service.
Vote
0-7
Cost
No cost specified in the record
Vendor / responsible
Ramsey H. Zimmerman d/b/a Hot Springs Horse Memories
Discussion level
Moderate Questions or explanation from board or staff
Resident impact
The service will not operate under a city franchise. The record does not state the proposed service area or routes.
What the Board said or did
The applicant, Ramsey H. Zimmerman, spoke in support of the franchise. The Board voted unanimously against approval. The record does not state the reasons given by individual directors for their votes.
What remains unclear
The record does not explain why the Board rejected the application or whether the applicant may reapply.
Source
item:17

Approved without separate discussion

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

  • Brine Master equipment purchase — approved
    Vote: 7-0 · $87,437 · C&H Outdoor, LLC d/b/a Sno-Biz
    item:10
  • Airport hangar grant applications — authorized (two separate applications)
    Vote: 7-0 · The record does not show a city spending commitment at this step for either application.
    item:12
  • Edward Byrne Memorial Justice Assistance Grant (JAG) — application authorized
    Vote: 7-0 · The record does not show a city spending commitment at this step.
    item:14
  • DEQ financial assurance for transfer station — extended
    Vote: 7-0 · No cost specified in the record
    item:9
  • Housing Authority Board appointment — approved
    Vote: 7-0 · No cost specified in the record
    item:11

Locations affected

  • Gulpha Basin, Hot Springs
    Gulpha Basin
    Wet-weather sewage pumping station construction contract awarded to Max Foote Construction Company
    Status: Planned
  • 163 & 165 Weston Road, Hot Springs
    163 and 165 Weston Road, Hot Springs
    Property rezoned to C-4 Regional Commercial/Open Display; Future Land Use Plan Map amended to Linear Commercial Corridor
    Status: Approved
  • Hot Springs Memorial Field Airport
    Two state airport-aid grant applications authorized for hangar construction
    Status: Scheduled

Watch list

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

Gulpha Basin project cost discrepancy

Open

The Gulpha Basin project totals approximately $67 million according to the City Manager's report, but the awarded contract is $10,072,200. The record does not explain what additional contracts, phases, or funding sources account for the remainder of the project cost.

Why it matters
Understanding the full scope and funding structure of the city's highest-priority wastewater project is essential for public accountability and accurate project tracking.
Next check
Follow up at next meeting or when project updates are presented to determine additional contract awards or phases.
First raised: February 6, 2024 briefing

Horse-drawn carriage franchise rejection rationale

Open

The Board rejected the Hot Springs Horse Memories franchise 0-7 but gave no stated reasons in the available record. It is not known whether the applicant intends to revise and resubmit.

Why it matters
Transparency regarding the basis for rejecting a business franchise application is important for applicants, the public, and future similar applications.
Next check
Monitor for reapplication or any board discussion of similar franchise requests.
First raised: February 6, 2024 briefing

Airport hangar grant application strategy

Open

The city filed two airport hangar grant applications with different funding splits (80/20 and 90/10). The record does not explain the rationale for filing both simultaneously or which the city prefers.

Why it matters
Understanding the city's preferred funding scenario and strategy for grant applications affects budget planning and project implementation.
Next check
Check for grant award notices or city announcements regarding which application was successful.
First raised: February 6, 2024 briefing

Edward Byrne JAG grant details

Open

The 2023 Edward Byrne JAG grant application was authorized, but the record does not show the amount sought or target programs.

Why it matters
Knowing the scale and intended use of federal criminal justice grant funding is important for public oversight and program accountability.
Next check
Check whether an award notice was received and what programs or departments will receive funding.
First raised: February 6, 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

Minutes, agenda, transcript, and public-comment capture available. 19 parsed agenda items with consistent documentation across sources.

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.