Hot Springs Board of Directors

September 3, 2024 Civic Briefing

Hot Springs Board Awards $462K Runway Contract, Approves $961K in Total Spending Including Airport, Park, and Transit Items

The Board of Directors approved $961,481.68 in identified spending across six items — a $461,779.00 bid award to Metro Construction Services for runway rehabilitation, a $153,800.00 work order to Garver LLC for taxiway reconstruction design, a $115,007.46 playground and surfacing purchase for Kimery Park, a $100,938.00 federally funded paratransit van, a $97,957.22 salt dome purchase, and a $32,000.00 airport hangar door repair budget transfer — while a nuisance condemnation at 846 Park Avenue failed on a 3-3 tie vote and a short-term rental license at 288 Lake Hamilton Drive was delayed.

Hot Springs Board of Directors Regular Meeting September 3, 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 awarded a $461,779.00 contract to Metro Construction Services, LLC to rehabilitate Runway 5-23 at Hot Springs Memorial Airport, the largest single item of the night.
A resolution to declare structures at 846 Park Avenue a nuisance and condemn them failed on a 3-3 tie vote — the only split vote of the meeting.
The Board delayed a decision on a short-term residential rental license at 288 Lake Hamilton Drive, voting 6-0 to table the item.
Two zoning changes passed unanimously: 1355 Seventh Street moved from low-density to medium/high-density residential, and 220 Gulpha Street moved from residential to commercial transition.
The Board also approved a Flood Damage Prevention Code amendment and adopted the city's 2024-2028 Community Development Block Grant Consolidated Plan.

By the numbers

Total identified spending

$961,482

Votes taken

includes procedural votes

Unanimous votes

Largest single item

$461,779

Runway 5-23 Rehabilitation Project Bid Award

Emergency / ratification items

Resident questions unanswered

Money approved

Item	Amount	Vendor	Vote	Source
Runway 5-23 Rehabilitation Project Bid Award	$461,779	Metro Construction Services, LLC	6-0	`item:15`
Taxiways A, B, and C Reconstruction Work Order	$153,800	Garver, LLC	6-0	`item:17`
Kimery Park Playground System and Turf Safety Surfacing	$115,007	Barre Commercial Playgrounds Inc.	6-0	`item:9`
ADA High Roof Paratransit Van Purchase	$100,938	Not specified in record	6-0	`item:8`
Salt Dome Procurement	$97,957	ClearSpan Fabric International, Inc.	6-0	`item:10`
Airport Hangar Door Repair Budget Transfer emergency budget transfer	$32,000	Not specified in record	6-0	`item:13`
Total identified spending	$961,482

Major decisions

Airport Hangar Door Repair — Budget Transfer

Emergency / Ratification

Item: Budget transfer from the Airport Fund Balance to the Airport Operating Budget to cover an extensive large hangar door repair already performed.
Vote: 6-0
Cost: $32,000.00
Vendor / responsible: n/a
Discussion level: None Approved without separate discussion
Resident impact: Ratifies spending already incurred for emergency hangar door repair at Hot Springs Memorial Airport.
What the Board said or did: Approved without separate discussion as part of the consent agenda.
What remains unclear: The reason the repair was treated as an emergency, which hangar was affected, and who performed the work.
Source: item:13

Approved without separate discussion

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

Runway 5-23 Rehabilitation — Bid Award

Vote: 6-0 · $461,779 · Metro Construction Services, LLC

item:15
Runway 5-23 Rehabilitation — Grant Authorization

Vote: 6-0 · The record does not show a city spending commitment at this step.

item:14
Taxiways A and N Reconstruction — Grant Acceptance

Vote: 6-0 · The record does not show a city spending commitment at this step.

item:16
Taxiways A, B, and C Reconstruction — Work Order

Vote: 6-0 · $153,800 · Garver, LLC

item:17
Kimery Park Playground System and Turf Safety Surfacing

Vote: 6-0 · $115,007 · Barre Commercial Playgrounds Inc.

item:9
ADA High Roof Paratransit Van Purchase

Vote: 6-0 · $100,938

item:8
Salt Dome Procurement

Vote: 6-0 · $97,957 · ClearSpan Fabric International, Inc.

item:10
Nuisance Declaration and Condemnation — 846 Park Avenue

Vote: 3-3 · No cost specified in the record.

item:19
Short-Term Residential Rental License — 288 Lake Hamilton Drive

Vote: 6-0 · No cost specified in the record.

item:20
Flood Damage Prevention Code Amendment

Vote: 6-0 · No cost specified in the record.

item:21
Zoning Map Amendment — 1355 Seventh Street

Vote: 6-0 · No cost specified in the record.

item:22
Zoning Map Amendment — 220 Gulpha Street

Vote: 6-0 · No cost specified in the record.

item:23
2024-2028 Community Development Block Grant Consolidated Plan

Vote: 6-0 · No city spending commitment is shown at this step; the plan governs use of federal CDBG funds.

item:12
School Resource Officer Memorandum of Agreement

Vote: 6-0 · No dollar amount is specified in the available record.

item:7
Flood Warning System Joint-Funding Agreement Extension

Vote: 6-0 · No dollar amount is specified in the available record.

item:11

Locations affected

Hot Springs Memorial Airport

Runway 5-23 rehabilitation bid awarded to Metro Construction Services, LLC; FAA grant authorization for Runway 5-23; FAA grant accepted for Taxiways A and N reconstruction; work order approved for Taxiways A, B, and C design; hangar door repair budget transfer ratified.

Status: Confirmed
Kimery Park

New playground system and turf safety surfacing approved for purchase.

Status: Confirmed
846 Park Avenue

846 Park Avenue, Hot Springs, AR

Nuisance and condemnation resolution failed; structures remain in current status.

Status: Unresolved
288 Lake Hamilton Drive

288 Lake Hamilton Drive, Hot Springs, AR

Short-term residential rental license decision delayed.

Status: Tabled
1355 Seventh Street

1355 Seventh Street, Hot Springs, AR

Rezoned from low-density residential (R-3) to medium/high-density residential (R-4) for 1.94 acres.

Status: Confirmed
220 Gulpha Street

220 Gulpha Street, Hot Springs, AR

Rezoned from low-density residential (R-3) to commercial transition (C-TR).

Status: Confirmed
Beatrice Lane (Johnsons Subdivision)

Johnsons Subdivision

Public hearing held on proposed abandonment and closing of an undeveloped portion of Beatrice Lane.

Status: No action recorded

Watch list

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

846 Park Avenue Nuisance Condemnation Follow-up

Open

The nuisance condemnation resolution for 846 Park Avenue failed on a 3-3 tie vote, the only split vote of the meeting. The record does not show whether the city plans to bring this item back or take other action.

Why it matters: Properties declared nuisances can impact neighborhood conditions and property values. The failed vote suggests divided opinion among board members, and the lack of clarity on next steps leaves the property's status uncertain.
Next check: Monitor for any announcements or return of this resolution at future board meetings.

288 Lake Hamilton Drive Short-Term Rental License Decision

Open

The short-term residential rental license for 288 Lake Hamilton Drive was tabled on a 6-0 vote without explanation. No future date for reconsideration appears in the available record.

Why it matters: Short-term rentals can affect neighborhood character and property management practices. The lack of stated reason for tabling and absence of a scheduled return date creates uncertainty for the applicant and the public.
Next check: Watch for when this item returns to the board agenda and what circumstances prompted the tabling decision.

2024-2028 CDBG Consolidated Plan Implementation

Open

The 2024-2028 Community Development Block Grant Consolidated Plan was adopted, but the specific projects and funding allocations it contains are not described in the available record.

Why it matters: The CDBG plan determines which neighborhoods and community programs receive federal funding. Reviewing the plan document would show which areas and projects are prioritized.
Next check: Obtain and review the full CDBG Consolidated Plan document to identify specific projects and dollar allocations.

Flood Damage Prevention Code Changes

Open

The Flood Damage Prevention Code amendment was approved, but the specific changes made to the code are not described in the available record.

Why it matters: Flood prevention code changes can affect permitting timelines, construction standards, insurance requirements, and property development in flood-prone areas.
Next check: Review the adopted ordinance text to clarify what new requirements or changes were implemented.

Beatrice Lane Abandonment Public Hearing Outcome

Open

A public hearing was held on the proposed abandonment and closing of an undeveloped portion of Beatrice Lane (Johnsons Subdivision), but the available record does not show any Board action following the hearing.

Why it matters: Street abandonments can affect property access, future development potential, and neighborhood connectivity. The lack of recorded action means the outcome and status remain unclear.
Next check: Monitor for Board action on the Beatrice Lane abandonment proposal in future meetings.

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: Meeting Agenda
minutes: Meeting Minutes
video: Meeting Video Recording
transcript: Full Video Transcript

Confidence: High

Meeting minutes, agenda, and full video transcript available. All 25 agenda items parsed and documented with consistent source citations.

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.