Hot Springs Board of Directors

April 1, 2025 Civic Briefing

Hot Springs Board Approves $5,068K Water Treatment Bid, $3,623K Fire Station Contract, and $225K Emergency Wastewater Work

The Hot Springs Board of Directors approved $9,917,714.36 in total identified spending at its April 1, 2025 meeting, including a $5,067,809 bid award for water treatment plant lagoon work, a $3,623,238 construction work order for Fire Station #6, a $225,000 emergency dewatering contract at the Davidson Drive Wastewater Plant, two dump trucks for $312,864, two residential rear-load collection vehicles for $499,121.76, fifteen roll-off containers for $89,730, and ninety commercial front-load containers for $99,951.60.

Hot Springs Board of Directors Regular Meeting April 1, 2025 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 $5,067,809 contract to Grant Garrett Excavating, Inc. for backwash lagoon work at the Ouachita Water Treatment Plant — the largest single item of the meeting.
The Board approved a $3,623,238 construction work order with Hill and Cox Corporation to build Fire Station #6.
The Board approved a $225,000 emergency contract with Kayden Industries (USA) Inc. for dewatering services at the Davidson Drive Wastewater Plant, waiving the normal competitive bidding process.
The Board approved the Fiscal Year 2025 Community Development Block Grant Annual Action Plan 6-1, the only non-unanimous vote of the meeting; an amendment to shift $30,000 from Potter Street to Habitat for Humanity failed 2-4 before the final vote.
The Board granted an exclusive franchise agreement to Survival Flight EMS, LLC to provide emergency and non-emergency medical services to the city.

By the numbers

Total identified spending

$9,917,714

Votes taken

includes procedural votes

Unanimous votes

Largest single item

$5,067,809

Ouachita Water Treatment Plant Backwash Lagoons Bid Award

Emergency / ratification items

Resident questions unanswered

Money approved

Item	Amount	Vendor	Vote	Source
Ouachita Water Treatment Plant Backwash Lagoons bid award	$5,067,809	Grant Garrett Excavating, Inc.	7-0	`item:14`
Fire Station #6 construction work order	$3,623,238	Hill and Cox Corporation	7-0	`item:13`
Purchase of two residential rear-load collection vehicles	$499,122	River City Hydraulics, Inc.	7-0	`item:11`
Purchase of two dump trucks	$312,864	Doggett Freightliner of Arkansas, LLC	7-0	`item:8`
Emergency dewatering services at Davidson Drive Wastewater Plant emergency	$225,000	Kayden Industries (USA) Inc.	7-0	`item:16`
Purchase of ninety commercial front-load containers	$99,952	Wastequip, LLC	7-0	`item:10`
Purchase of fifteen 30-cubic yard roll-off containers	$89,730	Wastequip, LLC	7-0	`item:9`
Total identified spending	$9,917,714

Major decisions

Community Development Block Grant Annual Action Plan

Item: Approval of the Community Development Advisory Committee's prioritized recommendations for a Fiscal Year 2025 CDBG Annual Action Plan — a federal grant funding allocation plan, not a direct city expenditure.
Vote: 6-1
Cost: The record does not show a city spending commitment at this step.
Vendor / responsible: n/a
Discussion level: Extended Significant debate, public comment, or multiple speakers
Resident impact: Determines how federal community development funds are allocated to projects and organizations in Hot Springs for fiscal year 2025.
What the Board said or did: Director Holliday proposed an amendment to reduce Potter Street funding by $30,000 and redirect that amount to Habitat for Humanity in order to keep funding in housing; the amendment failed 2-4. Two members of the public, Cindy Wagstaff and Anne Quinn, spoke on the allocations. The plan then passed 6-1.
What remains unclear: The specific project allocations in the approved plan — including the final Potter Street funding level and which organizations received grants — are not itemized in the available record.
Source: item:15

Emergency Dewatering Services at Davidson Drive Wastewater Plant

Emergency / Ratification

Item: Ordinance waiving competitive bidding requirements and approving an emergency contract for dewatering goods and services at the Davidson Drive Wastewater Plant.
Vote: 7-0
Cost: $225,000
Vendor / responsible: Kayden Industries (USA) Inc.
Discussion level: None Approved without separate discussion
Resident impact: Addresses an emergency condition at the Davidson Drive Wastewater Plant; the nature of the emergency and any service impact to residents are not described in the available record.
What the Board said or did: Approved without separate discussion.
What remains unclear: The nature of the emergency requiring dewatering, when the work began, and whether additional costs are anticipated are not described in the available record.
Source: item:16

Approved without separate discussion

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

Fire Station #6 Construction Work Order

Vote: 7-0 · $3,623,238 · Hill and Cox Corporation

item:13
Ouachita Water Treatment Plant Backwash Lagoons Bid Award

Vote: 7-0 · $5,067,809 · Grant Garrett Excavating, Inc.

item:14
Hot Springs Area Cultural Alliance Public Art Program Contract

Vote: 7-0 · No dollar amount is specified in the available record. · Hot Springs Area Cultural Alliance

item:17
Subdivision Code Amendment and Planning Commission Restructuring

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

item:18
Zoning Map Amendment — 2748 Malvern Avenue

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

item:20
Historic District Commission Restructuring

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

item:21
Exclusive Franchise Agreement for Emergency Medical Services

Vote: 7-0 · No cost specified in the record. · Survival Flight EMS, LLC

item:22

Locations affected

Ouachita Water Treatment Plant

Backwash lagoon construction

Status: Confirmed
Davidson Drive Wastewater Plant

Emergency dewatering work

Status: Confirmed
Fire Station #6

New fire station construction

Status: Planned
2748 Malvern Avenue

2748 Malvern Avenue, Hot Springs

Rezoned from R-2 Residential to C-N Neighborhood Commercial

Status: Confirmed

Watch list

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

Survival Flight EMS exclusive franchise contract terms

Open

The contract term, response-time standards, and service requirements for Survival Flight EMS, LLC's exclusive franchise agreement have not been described publicly.

Why it matters: The public needs to know the service-level commitments and terms of the exclusive provider for emergency medical transport.
Next check: Review ordinance text when published to confirm contract terms and service-level requirements.

Historic District Commission appointment timeline

Open

The two new at-large seats on the Historic District Commission need to be filled; no appointment timeline was stated at the meeting.

Why it matters: Ensures the commission is fully staffed to review historic property changes.
Next check: Follow up with City Manager's office on when the two new at-large members will be appointed.

CDBG Annual Action Plan project allocations

Open

The final project-by-project allocation in the approved FY 2025 CDBG Annual Action Plan — including the final Potter Street funding level — was not disclosed at the meeting.

Why it matters: The public and affected organizations need clarity on how federal community development funds are being spent.
Next check: Review the approved CDBG Annual Action Plan document to see final Potter Street funding level and all project allocations.

Water treatment plant lagoon project scope and timeline

Open

The scope, timeline, and funding source for the Ouachita Water Treatment Plant backwash lagoon project were not explained at the meeting.

Why it matters: Residents and the public should understand the nature and expected duration of work on critical water treatment infrastructure.
Next check: Request project details from Public Works or Engineering department, or review the executed contract with Grant Garrett Excavating.

Davidson Drive Wastewater Plant emergency details

Open

The nature of the emergency at the Davidson Drive Wastewater Plant and whether additional costs are anticipated have not been disclosed.

Why it matters: Residents need to understand the scope and impact of the emergency and any potential cost overruns.
Next check: Follow up with Public Works on the nature of the emergency, timeline, and whether the $225,000 contract is a fixed cost or estimate.

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 1, 2025 Meeting Agenda
minutes: April 1, 2025 Meeting Minutes
video: April 1, 2025 Meeting Video
transcript: April 1, 2025 Meeting Transcript

Confidence: High

Complete meeting documentation available: minutes, agenda, transcript, and public-comment capture. All 24 parsed agenda items accounted for.

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.