Hot Springs Board of Directors

August 6, 2024 Civic Briefing

Hot Springs Board Awards $86K Storm Water Contract, Denies Charter Permit, Tables Transit Ban

The Board of Directors awarded an $86,406 contract to Steep Creek, LLC for storm water drainage improvements on Apple Blossom Place, unanimously rejected a charter transportation permit application after opposition from six Spa City Taxi employees, and voted 4-3 to delay — rather than finalize — a permanent transit ban against one individual.

Hot Springs Board of Directors Regular Meeting August 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 $86,406 bid to Steep Creek, LLC for storm water drainage work on Apple Blossom Place, the only spending item approved at this meeting.
A charter services permit application for J.J.'s Charter Service was rejected 0-7 after six employees of a competing taxi company spoke in opposition.
A proposed permanent ban from city bus service was tabled 4-3 for six months; the individual may apply for Paratransit service in the interim.
The Board authorized the city to apply for a grant from the Arkansas Department of Parks, Heritage, and Tourism to fund a splash pad at David F. Watkins Memorial Park; no city spending commitment appears in the record at this step.
The Board also approved a zoning change affecting 2.2 acres near Golf Links Road and Fontana Road from residential and office-commercial to light manufacturing.

By the numbers

Total identified spending

$86,406

Votes taken

includes procedural votes

Unanimous votes

Largest single item

$86,406

Resolution R-24-137 — Award Bid for 2024 Storm Water Drainage Improvements

Emergency / ratification items

Resident questions unanswered

Money approved

Item	Amount	Vendor	Vote	Source
2024 Storm Water Drainage Improvements, Apple Blossom Place	$86,406	Steep Creek, LLC	7-0	`item:14`
Total identified spending	$86,406

Major decisions

J.J.'s Charter Service transportation permit — denied

Item: Old business — resolution on an application by Jason Bennett d/b/a J.J.'s Charter Service for a Charter Services Transportation Permit with conditions.
Vote: 0-7
Cost: No cost specified in the record.
Vendor / responsible: Jason Bennett d/b/a J.J.'s Charter Service
Discussion level: Extended Significant debate, public comment, or multiple speakers
Resident impact: J.J.'s Charter Service will not receive a city charter transportation permit at this time.
What the Board said or did: Six employees of Spa City Taxi — including the owner — spoke in opposition to the application before the Board voted unanimously to deny it. The record does not capture the Board's stated reasons for denial.
What remains unclear: The record does not show what specific conditions were attached to the permit application, what grounds the Board relied on for denial, or whether the applicant may reapply.
Source: item:17

Permanent transit ban — tabled for six months

Item: New business — resolution to uphold a Transportation Advisory Committee recommendation for a permanent ban on one individual from Hot Springs Intracity Transit Services.
Vote: 4-3
Cost: No cost specified in the record.
Vendor / responsible: n/a
Discussion level: Extended Significant debate, public comment, or multiple speakers
Resident impact: The permanent ban is on hold for six months. During that period, the individual may apply for Paratransit service.
What the Board said or did: Director Holliday moved to table the ban for six months while maintaining the current recommended ban but allowing the individual to apply for Paratransit service. Four speakers from the public addressed the Board, including the individual subject to the ban, who spoke in opposition. The motion to table passed 4-3.
What remains unclear: The record does not show what conduct prompted the original ban recommendation, what the Paratransit application process entails, or what the Board will consider when the item returns in six months.
Source: item:20

Housing Authority Board appointment

Item: Consent agenda — resolution appointing Bruce Mitchell to Position 1 on the Hot Springs Housing Authority Board of Commissioners.
Vote: 7-0
Cost: No cost specified in the record.
Vendor / responsible: n/a
Discussion level: Brief Brief presentation
Resident impact: Dr. Bruce Mitchell joins the board that oversees public housing in Hot Springs.
What the Board said or did: Mitchell was introduced before the vote; the appointment was ratified.
What remains unclear: The record does not show the term length or what qualifications were considered.
Source: item:13

Approved without separate discussion

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

Storm water drainage contract — Apple Blossom Place

Vote: 7-0 · $86,406 · Steep Creek, LLC

item:14
Zoning change — Golf Links Road and Fontana Road

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

item:22
Emergency sewer pump purchase — Winkler Road

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

item:21
Tyler Technologies — electronic payment processing contract

Vote: 7-0 · No dollar amount specified in the record. · Tyler Technologies

item:23
Lead and copper service line grant application

Vote: 7-0 · The record does not show a city spending commitment at this step.

item:18
Outdoor Recreation Program grant — splash pad at David F. Watkins Memorial Park

Vote: 7-0 · The record does not show a city spending commitment at this step.

item:16
Airport hangar lease — Hangar A-10, Unit #3

Vote: 7-0 · No dollar amount specified in the record. · Mason Lord d/b/a Lord Aviation, LLC

item:15
2023 Annual Comprehensive Financial Audit — acknowledged

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

item:19

Locations affected

Apple Blossom Place

Storm water drainage improvements under contract with Steep Creek, LLC

Status: Scheduled
934 & 936 Golf Links Road and 138 Fontana Road

934 & 936 Golf Links Road and 138 Fontana Road, Hot Springs, Arkansas

Rezoned from residential/office-commercial to light manufacturing (2.2 acres)

Status: Confirmed
Winkler Road Pump Station

Winkler Road

Emergency replacement of 125 HP sewer pump, competitive bidding waived

Status: Confirmed
David F. Watkins Memorial Park

Grant application filed for a splash pad

Status: Planned

Watch list

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

Emergency sewer pump purchase cost and vendor

Open

The emergency sewer pump purchase (Winkler Road) has no dollar amount or vendor in the available record — the purchase cost should be tracked when financial documents become available.

Why it matters: Public spending transparency requires identification of amounts and vendors for all city purchases, especially emergency purchases made without competitive bidding.
Next check: Monitor financial reports and purchase records for the sewer pump cost and vendor information.

Tyler Technologies contract terms and fee structure

Open

The Tyler Technologies electronic payment contract has no dollar value, term, or fee structure in the available record — the contract document would show what residents pay per transaction.

Why it matters: The contract directly affects what residents pay for electronic payment processing; fees and terms should be transparent to the public.
Next check: Obtain and review the Tyler Technologies contract for amount, duration, transaction fees, and payment terms.

Grant applications — amounts and local match requirements

Open

Neither grant application (splash pad at Watkins Park; lead and copper line replacement) includes a grant amount or local match figure in the available record — those details will appear in the grant applications or any subsequent acceptance resolutions.

Why it matters: Future city budgeting and planning depend on knowing grant amounts and any required local cost-sharing before funds are committed.
Next check: Track grant applications for lead/copper line replacement (item:18) and splash pad (item:16) for approval and any local match requirements.

J.J.'s Charter Service permit denial reasoning and reapplication eligibility

Open

The J.J.'s Charter Service denial (Item 17) includes no Board reasoning in the record — it is not known whether the applicant may reapply or under what conditions.

Why it matters: Without stated reasons or reapplication guidelines, the applicant has no clear path forward and the public cannot evaluate whether the denial was justified.
Next check: Review minutes or request Board explanation for the permit denial and any reapplication procedures.

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: August 6, 2024 Meeting Agenda
minutes: August 6, 2024 Meeting Minutes
video: August 6, 2024 Meeting Video
transcript: August 6, 2024 Meeting Transcript — Full

Confidence: High

Inputs available: minutes, agenda, transcript, public-comment capture, 25 parsed agenda items. All major decisions documented with vote counts and discussion levels.

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.