Hot Springs Board of Directors

September 24, 2024 Civic Briefing

Hot Springs Board Approves $300K CDBG Street Contract, $95K Airport Roof Bid, and $21K Lamp Ornament Contract

The Board of Directors approved $415,805 in spending across three items — a $300,000 bid award to Steep Creek LLC for Malvern corridor and Park Avenue lighting improvements, a $95,000 bid award to Capital Builder Solutions for the Memorial Field Airport Terminal roof replacement, and a $20,805 term contract with Elliott Electrical Supply for ornamental street lamps — and discussed but did not resolve a contested short-term rental license appeal.

Hot Springs Board of Directors Agenda Meeting September 24, 2024 Confidence: Medium 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 $300,000 contract to Steep Creek LLC covering three CDBG-funded projects: two phases of Malvern corridor upgrades (irrigation, sidewalks, and street lighting) and Park Avenue street lighting.
The Board awarded a $95,000 contract to Capital Builder Solutions to replace the roof at the Memorial Field Airport Terminal, with $54,784 in insurance proceeds offsetting part of the cost and the remaining $40,216 to be submitted to AML for reimbursement consideration.
The Board approved a one-year term contract with Elliott Electrical Supply for ornamental street lamps at $20,805 per lamp, locking in pricing after lamp costs nearly doubled over recent years.
The Board set October 15 as the public hearing date to consider closing an undeveloped stretch of Tyler Street and an adjacent right-of-way to allow Hot Springs Beauty College to develop a teaching facility.
A short-term rental license at 288 Lake Hamilton Drive was discussed but the available record does not show a final vote or resolution.

By the numbers

Total identified spending

$415,805

Votes taken

includes procedural votes

Unanimous votes

Largest single item

$300,000

Award Bid for Community Development Block Grant Improvement Projects

Emergency / ratification items

Resident questions unanswered

Money approved

Item	Amount	Vendor	Vote	Source
CDBG Improvement Projects — Malvern Corridor Schedule 1 (Jefferson to Grand)	$103,184	Steep Creek LLC	Passed	`item:3`
CDBG Improvement Projects — Malvern Corridor Schedule 2 (Church to AR-324)	$121,846	Steep Creek LLC	Passed	`item:3`
CDBG Improvement Projects — Park Avenue Lighting	$75,000	Steep Creek LLC	Passed	`item:3`
Airport Terminal Roof Replacement	$95,000	Capital Builder Solutions, LLC	Passed	`item:5`
Term Contract — Ornamental Street Lamps	$20,805	Elliott Electrical Supply, Inc.	Passed	`item:4`
Total identified spending	$415,835

Major decisions

CDBG Street and Lighting Improvements — Malvern Corridor and Park Avenue

Item: Bid award to Steep Creek LLC for three CDBG-funded projects: Schedule 1 — Malvern Jefferson to Grand (irrigation, sidewalks, street lighting), $103,184; Schedule 2 — Malvern Church to 324, $121,846; Schedule 3 — Park Avenue lighting, $75,000.
Vote: Passed
Cost: $300,000 total across three pay schedules
Vendor / responsible: Steep Creek LLC
Discussion level: Brief Brief presentation
Resident impact: Residents and businesses along the Malvern Avenue corridor between Jefferson and Grand, and between Church and AR-324, will see sidewalk construction, new irrigation, and upgraded street lighting. Park Avenue will receive new street lighting.
What the Board said or did: City engineering staff explained that the three projects were bundled into a single bid to attract vendors and improve pricing. Only one responsive bid was received; staff negotiated scope reductions with Steep Creek to stay within budget. No protests were filed after the intent to award was published. The Board approved the resolution.
What remains unclear: The specific scope items reduced during negotiation with Steep Creek are not detailed in the available record. The overall project timeline is not stated.
Source: item:3

Airport Terminal Roof Replacement — Memorial Field

Item: Bid award to Capital Builder Solutions, LLC for roof replacement at Hot Springs Memorial Field Airport Terminal, with authorization for a budget adjustment.
Vote: Passed
Cost: $95,000. Insurance proceeds of $54,784 will offset part of the cost; the remaining $40,216 will be submitted to AML for reimbursement consideration.
Vendor / responsible: Capital Builder Solutions, LLC
Discussion level: Brief Brief presentation
Resident impact: The airport terminal's main roof, damaged by a 2023 hailstorm and degraded by age, will be replaced. The net city exposure depends on whether AML approves the remaining balance.
What the Board said or did: Staff noted that five bids were received ranging from $95,000 to $355,000. The low bid of $95,000 is close to the insurance company's estimate of $113,000. The Board approved the resolution.
What remains unclear: Whether AML will approve reimbursement of the $40,216 balance, and the project completion timeline, are not stated in the available record.
Source: item:5

Term Contract — Ornamental Street Lamps

Item: Bid award of a one-year term contract with four renewal options to Elliott Electrical Supply, Inc. for ornamental globe street lamps at $20,805 per lamp.
Vote: Passed
Cost: $20,805 per lamp; total contract value depends on the number of lamps ordered under the term
Vendor / responsible: Elliott Electrical Supply, Inc.
Discussion level: Brief Brief presentation
Resident impact: Ornamental street lamps damaged by vehicle collisions can be replaced at the locked-in price. The city bills the at-fault driver's insurance for replacement cost plus installation labor.
What the Board said or did: Staff explained that lamp prices have nearly doubled over the past three to four years, making a term contract with fixed pricing advantageous. Any price increases proposed before an annual renewal will be evaluated before the option is exercised. The Board approved the resolution.
What remains unclear: The number of lamps the city expects to purchase under the contract and the locations of the ornamental lamp inventory are not specified in the available record.
Source: item:4

Public Hearing Date Set — Tyler Street Right-of-Way Closure

Item: Resolution R-24-172 sets October 15 as the public hearing date to consider abandoning and closing an undeveloped portion of Tyler Street and an unnamed right-of-way in J.P. Millard's Addition Subdivision.
Vote: Passed
Cost: No spending commitment identified in the available record at this step
Vendor / responsible: Hot Springs Beauty College (owner: Andrea Causey) and neighboring property On Our Own
Discussion level: Brief Brief presentation
Resident impact: If the closure is approved at the October 15 hearing, the undeveloped right-of-way would be vacated to allow Hot Springs Beauty College to develop a teaching facility and office space on the adjacent parcel. Utility easements for sewer and Entergy lines have been coordinated to protect existing service.
What the Board said or did: Staff explained that the right-of-way splits the Beauty College's parcel and blocks development plans. Utility easements have been arranged. The Board approved setting the public hearing date.
What remains unclear: The final disposition of the right-of-way will not be decided until the October 15 public hearing. The specific terms of the utility easements are not detailed in the available record.
Source: item:2

Short-Term Rental License — 288 Lake Hamilton Drive

Item: Resolution R-24-163 considers granting a short-term residential rental license for 288 Lake Hamilton Drive, following a neighbor appeal of a Board of Adjustment and Appeal decision that upheld staff's issuance of the license.
Vote: —
Cost: No spending commitment identified in the available record
Vendor / responsible: n/a
Discussion level: Moderate Questions or explanation from board or staff
Resident impact: The city currently has 426 licensed short-term rentals against a cap of 400. If this license is granted, the total would reach 427. The application was submitted before the cap was reduced and is entitled to approval under the existing ordinance.
What the Board said or did: Staff explained that the 26 over-cap licenses exist because they were grandfathered before the cap was implemented. A circuit court previously ordered the city to issue a special use permit for this property, which has been completed. The item was discussed; the available record does not indicate whether a final vote was taken or the item was tabled.
What remains unclear: Whether the Board voted on, tabled, or deferred this item is not clear in the available record. The identity of the appellant neighbors and the grounds of their appeal are not detailed.
Source: item:6

Locations affected

Malvern Avenue (Jefferson St. to Grand Ave.)

Malvern corridor

CDBG corridor improvements: irrigation, sidewalks, street lighting (Schedule 1, $103,184)

Status: Awarded
Malvern Avenue (Church St. to AR-324)

Malvern corridor

CDBG corridor improvements: irrigation, sidewalks, street lighting (Schedule 2, $121,846)

Status: Awarded
Park Avenue

New street lighting (Schedule 3, $75,000)

Status: Awarded
Hot Springs Memorial Field Airport Terminal

Roof replacement, $95,000

Status: Awarded
Tyler Street and unnamed right-of-way, J.P. Millard's Addition Subdivision

J.P. Millard's Addition

Public hearing set for October 15 to consider street and right-of-way closure

Status: Scheduled
288 Lake Hamilton Drive

288 Lake Hamilton Drive

Short-term rental license under board review

Status: Pending

Watch list

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

STR license at 288 Lake Hamilton Drive outcome

Open

The available record does not confirm whether the Board voted, tabled, or deferred this item. The outcome should be confirmed at the next meeting.

Why it matters: Clarifies whether the city's STR count reaches 427 and documents how the over-cap situation is being managed.
Next check: Next Board meeting to confirm vote or action taken

CDBG project scope reductions

Open

City engineering staff negotiated reduced quantities with Steep Creek LLC to stay within budget, but the specific scope items cut are not in the available record.

Why it matters: Understanding what was cut helps assess whether the final deliverables meet project objectives for Malvern and Park Avenue improvements.
Next check: Review of final contract documents with Steep Creek LLC

AML reimbursement for airport roof project

Open

The $40,216 remaining balance after insurance was to be submitted to AML for consideration — approval is not guaranteed, and the outcome affects the city's net cost.

Why it matters: Final municipal liability reimbursement decision determines net city exposure and budget impact.
Next check: AML reimbursement decision after project completion

STR cap management strategy

Open

The city is now at 427 licensed STRs (if the Lake Hamilton license was granted) against a cap of 400, with 26 grandfathered over-cap licenses. No mechanism for drawing down below the cap was described in the available record.

Why it matters: Clarifies whether the city has a strategy to reduce the over-cap licenses and return to compliance with the 400-unit cap.
Next check: Board discussion of STR cap management plan

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.

video: Board of Directors Meeting Video — September 24, 2024
agenda: Agenda Item 1 — Procedural Recognition
agenda: Agenda Item 2 — Tyler Street Right-of-Way Closure Hearing Date
agenda: Agenda Item 3 — CDBG Improvement Projects Bid Award
agenda: Agenda Item 4 — Ornamental Street Lamps Term Contract
agenda: Agenda Item 5 — Airport Terminal Roof Replacement Bid Award
agenda: Agenda Item 6 — Short-Term Rental License Appeal

Confidence: Medium

Video transcript and parsed agenda items available. Vote tallies were not captured in parsed material; the short-term rental license outcome is unconfirmed.

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.