Hot Springs Board of Directors

April 2, 2024 Civic Briefing

Hot Springs Board Approves $821K Fire Engine Purchase, Rezones Carpenter Dam Road Property

The Board of Directors approved a $821,376.99 fire engine purchase — the meeting's sole spending item — and also approved a zoning change at 1100 Carpenter Dam Road, a federal block grant spending plan, and 13 advisory board appointments.

Hot Springs Board of Directors Regular Meeting April 2, 2024 Confidence: High Independent — not affiliated with the City of Hot Springs

Published: May 17, 2026 · Last updated: May 17, 2026

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The short version

The Board approved the purchase of a custom-built Pierce Manufacturing Saber fire engine for $821,376.99 from Siddons-Martin Emergency Group through a cooperative purchasing program.
A 3.44-acre parcel at 1100 Carpenter Dam Road was rezoned from rural residential to light manufacturing, with the city's future land use map amended to Community Commercial Center.
The Board approved a prioritized spending plan for the city's 2024 federal Community Development Block Grant, with one director abstaining.
Thirteen residents were appointed to six city advisory boards and commissions, including the Planning Commission, Arts Advisory Committee, and Historic District Commission.
The City Manager reported that the Parks and Trails department received an $80,000 grant for Velocity Park Phase 2 construction and that a free asphalt regrind giveaway runs through April 30.

By the numbers

Total identified spending

$821,377

Votes taken

includes procedural votes

Unanimous votes

Largest single item

$821,377

Fire Engine Purchase (R-24-67)

Emergency / ratification items

Resident questions unanswered

Money approved

Item	Amount	Vendor	Vote	Source
Fire Engine Purchase (R-24-67) emergency	$821,377	Siddons-Martin Emergency Group, LLC	7-0	`item:17`
Total identified spending	$821,377

Major decisions

Fire Engine Purchase

Emergency / Ratification

Item: Ratified purchase of a 2024 Custom-Built Pierce Manufacturing Saber Fire Engine through the Sourcewell Cooperative Purchasing Program.
Vote: 7-0
Cost: $821,376.99
Vendor / responsible: Siddons-Martin Emergency Group, LLC
Discussion level: None Approved without separate discussion
Resident impact: The fire department receives a new custom-built fire engine; no additional cost to residents was described in the record.
What the Board said or did: Approved without separate discussion as part of the consent agenda.
What remains unclear: The record does not explain which station will house the engine, what unit it replaces or supplements, or when delivery is expected.
Source: item:17

Community Development Block Grant Annual Action Plan (R-24-68)

Item: Approved the Community Development Advisory Committee's prioritized spending recommendations for the city's FY2024 federal Community Development Block Grant.
Vote: 6-0-1
Cost: The record does not show a city spending commitment at this step; CDBG funds are federal.
Vendor / responsible: Planning & Development Department
Discussion level: Moderate Questions or explanation from board or staff
Resident impact: The plan sets priorities for how federal community development funds will be spent in Hot Springs during FY2024, directing money toward activities the CDAC recommended.
What the Board said or did: Directors Webb and Garcia participated in discussion; one director abstained. The record does not detail what was said or who abstained.
What remains unclear: The specific project priorities and dollar allocations within the CDBG plan are not detailed in the available record, nor is the reason for the abstention.
Source: item:18

Zoning Amendment — 1100 Carpenter Dam Road (O-24-14)

Item: Rezoned 3.44 acres at 1100 Carpenter Dam Road from R-1 Rural Residential to M-1 Light Manufacturing, and amended the Future Land Use Plan Map designation to Community Commercial Center.
Vote: 7-0
Cost: No cost specified in the record.
Vendor / responsible: Planning & Development Department
Discussion level: Brief Brief presentation
Resident impact: The property at 1100 Carpenter Dam Road may be developed for light manufacturing or commercial uses. The record does not identify a specific proposed use or developer.
What the Board said or did: Director Trusty participated in discussion; the record does not detail what was said.
What remains unclear: The record does not identify who requested the rezoning, what use is planned for the site, or whether any residents commented.
Source: item:19

Approved without separate discussion

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

Advisory Board Appointments

Vote: 7-0 · No cost specified in the record.

item:8
Physicians Air Transport Lease — Hangar A-14 (R-24-66)

Vote: 7-0 · No cost specified in the record; lease terms and any city revenue are not detailed. · Physicians Air Transport, LLC

item:16
Water and Wastewater Fixed Asset Register (R-24-65)

Vote: 7-0 · No cost specified in the record.

item:15

Locations affected

1100 Carpenter Dam Road

1100 Carpenter Dam Road

Rezoned 3.44 acres from rural residential to light manufacturing; Future Land Use Plan Map amended to Community Commercial Center.

Status: Confirmed
Velocity Park

Parks and Trails department received an $80,000 grant for Phase 2 construction; new restroom installation completed.

Status: Confirmed
Hot Springs Airport, Hangar A-14, Room 3

Hot Springs Airport, Hangar A-14, Room 3

Lease approved for Physicians Air Transport, LLC for flight simulator installation.

Status: Confirmed
Ouachita Water Treatment Plant

Backwash tank renovation reported as completed.

Status: Completed

Watch list

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

FY2024 CDBG Annual Action Plan — Project Allocations and Abstention Reason

Open

The CDBG Annual Action Plan was approved 6-0-1, but the specific project allocations and the reason for the abstention are not in the available record. The full plan document would show how federal funds are directed.

Why it matters: Federal community development funds set community priorities; understanding how they are allocated and any dissent is important for residents and accountability.
Next check: Review the full FY2024 CDBG Annual Action Plan document when published.

Carpenter Dam Road Rezoning — Intended Use and Development Timeline

Open

The Carpenter Dam Road rezoning is approved, but the intended use and any development timeline have not been disclosed. The record does not identify who requested the rezoning or what use is planned for the site.

Why it matters: This is a 3.44-acre property rezoning from residential to manufacturing/commercial; the community should know what is planned.
Next check: Monitor Planning Commission or permitting activity related to 1100 Carpenter Dam Road.

Fire Engine Purchase — Delivery, Station Assignment, and Replacement Status

Open

The fire engine purchase was processed through a cooperative purchasing program; delivery date, assigned station, and whether it replaces an existing unit are not yet in the record.

Why it matters: Residents should know when critical infrastructure arrives and how it affects service delivery.
Next check: Check for delivery announcement and fire department communications about station assignment and fleet changes.

Jones Mill Site Remediation and Marketing

Open

The Jones Mill site remediation and marketing noted in the economic development report is ongoing. The available record does not include a timeline or next formal action date.

Why it matters: This is an economic development project; transparency on remediation progress and timeline is important.
Next check: Monitor economic development reports and city communications for Jones Mill project updates.

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.

agenda: April 2, 2024 Meeting Agenda
minutes: April 2, 2024 Meeting Minutes
video: April 2, 2024 Meeting Video

Confidence: High

Inputs available: minutes, agenda, transcript, public-comment capture, 21 parsed agenda items. No changes between published agenda and meeting were identified in the available record.

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.