Hot Springs Civic Brief

Hot Springs Board of Directors

June 17, 2025 Civic Briefing

Hot Springs Board Approves $5,775K Wastewater Outfall Contract, Awards $6,864K in Spring Street Sewer Bids

The Board of Directors approved $15,819,903.81 in total spending across six bid awards and one equipment purchase — the largest being a $5,775,000 contract to Kajacs Contractors for the Davidson Drive wastewater treatment plant outfall and Lake Catherine diffuser, followed by a $3,708,685 sewer contract to Diamond Construction for Spring Street Schedules II & III, a $3,155,462.70 sewer contract to Boyles Construction for Spring Street Schedule I, a $1,554,900 sewer evaluation survey contract to RJN Group, a $1,085,173 airport improvements contract to Shields & Associates, a $383,721 transfer trailer purchase from Spector Manufacturing, and a $156,962.11 day cab tractor purchase from Tri-State Truck Center — while tabling a nuisance condemnation at 302 Lincoln Street and awarding an exclusive ambulance franchise to LifeNet.

Hot Springs Board of Directors Regular Meeting June 17, 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 $5,775,000 contract to Kajacs Contractors to build a new 54-inch outfall pipe at the Davidson Drive Wastewater Treatment Plant and install a diffuser in Lake Catherine — the single largest spending item of the meeting.
  • Two separate bid awards totaling $6,864,147.70 to Boyles Construction and Diamond Construction will fund construction of the Spring Street gravity sewer improvement project in three schedule segments.
  • The Board granted LifeNet, Inc. an exclusive franchise agreement to provide medical emergency and non-emergency ambulance services in Hot Springs.
  • A proposed nuisance condemnation of the structure at 302 Lincoln Street was delayed — tabled for five meetings to return September 2, 2025 — after a family member of the owner spoke at the meeting.
  • The Board authorized filing for three federal grants: a Law Enforcement Mental Health and Wellness grant, a Project Safe Neighborhoods grant, and a FEMA SAFER firefighter staffing grant.

By the numbers

Total identified spending
$15,819,904
Votes taken
20
includes procedural votes
Unanimous votes
19
Largest single item
$5,775,000
Davidson Drive WWTP Outfall and Lake Catherine Diffuser
Emergency / ratification items
2
Resident questions unanswered
0

Money approved

Item Amount Vendor Vote Source
Davidson Drive WWTP Outfall and Lake Catherine Diffuser
 $5,775,000 Kajacs Contractors, Inc. 7-0 item:24
Spring Street Gravity Sewer Improvement — Schedules II & III
 $3,708,685 Diamond Construction, Inc. 7-0 item:23
Spring Street Gravity Sewer Improvement — Schedule I
 $3,155,463 Boyles Construction, Inc. 7-0 item:22
Sanitary Sewer Evaluation Survey
 $1,554,900 RJN Group, Inc. 7-0 item:25
Airport Terminal and Air Traffic Control Tower Improvements
 $1,085,173 Shields & Associates 7-0 item:17
Transfer Trailers for Solid Waste (3 units)
 $383,721 Spector Manufacturing, Inc. 7-0 item:12
Day Cab Tractor
 $156,962 Tri-State Truck Center 7-0 item:11
Total identified spending $15,819,904

Major decisions

Nuisance Property Condemnation — 302 Lincoln Street (Tabled)

Item
Resolution that would have declared the structure at 302 Lincoln Street a nuisance and condemned it under Title 17 of the Hot Springs Code — tabled for five meetings, to return September 2, 2025.
Vote
7-0
Cost
No cost specified in the record.
Vendor / responsible
n/a
Discussion level
Brief Brief presentation
Resident impact
The structure at 302 Lincoln Street is not condemned at this time. A decision is scheduled to return to the Board on September 2, 2025.
What the Board said or did
A family member of the property owner spoke before the Board. The Board then voted 7-0 to delay the decision for five meetings.
What remains unclear
The record does not show what the speaker said, what conditions the owner is expected to address, or what criteria the Board will use when the item returns.
Source
item:21

Approved without separate discussion

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

  • Davidson Drive Wastewater Plant Outfall and Lake Catherine Diffuser
    Vote: 7-0 · $5,775,000 · Kajacs Contractors, Inc.
    item:24
  • Spring Street Gravity Sewer Improvement — Schedule I
    Vote: 7-0 · $3,155,463 · Boyles Construction, Inc.
    item:22
  • Spring Street Gravity Sewer Improvement — Schedules II & III
    Vote: 7-0 · $3,708,685 · Diamond Construction, Inc.
    item:23
  • Sanitary Sewer Evaluation Survey
    Vote: 7-0 · $1,554,900 · RJN Group, Inc.
    item:25
  • Airport Terminal and Air Traffic Control Tower Improvements
    Vote: 7-0 · $1,085,173 · Shields & Associates
    item:17
  • Transfer Trailers for Solid Waste
    Vote: 7-0 · $383,721 · Spector Manufacturing, Inc.
    item:12
  • Day Cab Tractor
    Vote: 7-0 · $156,962 · Tri-State Truck Center
    item:11
  • LifeNet Medical Emergency Services Franchise Agreement
    Vote: 7-0 · No cost specified in the record. · LifeNet, Inc.
    item:27
  • Nuisance Property Condemnation — 108 Bess Street
    Vote: 6-1 · No cost specified in the record.
    item:19
  • Nuisance Property Condemnation — 122 Gardner Street
    Vote: 7-0 · No cost specified in the record.
    item:20
  • Law Enforcement Mental Health and Wellness Grant Authorization
    Vote: 7-0 · The record does not show a city spending commitment at this step.
    item:13
  • Project Safe Neighborhoods Grant Authorization
    Vote: 7-0 · The record does not show a city spending commitment at this step.
    item:14
  • FEMA SAFER Grant Authorization
    Vote: 7-0 · The record does not show a city spending commitment at this step.
    item:16
  • Community Resource Center Kitchen Remodel
    Vote: 7-0 · No cost specified in the record for this work order. · Hill and Cox Corporation
    item:15

Locations affected

  • Davidson Drive Wastewater Treatment Plant / Lake Catherine
    Construction of new 54-inch outfall pipe and lake diffuser
    Status: Scheduled
  • Spring Street corridor
    Gravity sewer improvement construction in three schedule segments
    Status: Scheduled
  • Hot Springs Memorial Field Airport
    Terminal building and air traffic control tower improvements
    Status: Scheduled
  • 108 Bess Street
    108 Bess Street, Hot Springs
    Structure declared a nuisance and condemned
    Status: Confirmed
  • 122 Gardner Street
    122 Gardner Street, Hot Springs
    Structure declared a nuisance and condemned
    Status: Confirmed
  • 302 Lincoln Street
    302 Lincoln Street, Hot Springs
    Nuisance condemnation tabled; decision deferred to September 2, 2025
    Status: Pending
  • Community Resource Center
    Phase 1 kitchen and pantry remodel work order approved
    Status: Scheduled

Watch list

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

108 Bess Street Condemnation Dissent

Open

The record does not show who cast the dissenting vote on the 108 Bess Street condemnation (6-1) or the reason for the dissent.

Why it matters
Worth noting if the Lincoln Street item or other condemnations return, to understand whether there are systematic concerns with the condemnation process or criteria.
Next check
Review next condemnation item that returns to the Board.
First raised: June 17, 2025 briefing

Federal Grant Applications Status

Open

Three federal grant applications were authorized: Law Enforcement Mental Health and Wellness, Project Safe Neighborhoods, and SAFER. The record does not show amounts sought, any local match requirements, or application deadlines.

Why it matters
Award status should be tracked in future meetings; approvals or denials will affect city funding and programming.
Next check
Future meeting agendas for grant award notifications or supplemental funding.
First raised: June 17, 2025 briefing

LifeNet Franchise Agreement Terms

Open

The LifeNet franchise agreement was approved with no term length, performance standards, rate information, or response time requirements visible in the record.

Why it matters
Future meetings may bring implementation details or a franchise document for review that clarifies service obligations and accountability.
Next check
Monitor for franchise document publication or implementation updates.
First raised: June 17, 2025 briefing

Sanitary Sewer Evaluation Survey Scope and Timeline

Open

The Sanitary Sewer Evaluation Survey will assess the city's gravity sewer collection system. The scope, timeline, and regulatory driver are not yet on record.

Why it matters
Findings will likely drive future capital spending on sewer system repairs or replacements throughout Hot Springs.
Next check
Future meeting updates on survey progress, preliminary findings, and resulting capital project recommendations.
First raised: June 17, 2025 briefing

302 Lincoln Street Condemnation Return

Open

Nuisance condemnation of 302 Lincoln Street was tabled for five meetings and is scheduled to return September 2, 2025. Record does not show what the owner's family member said, what conditions are expected to be addressed, or Board criteria for the decision.

Why it matters
Owner and neighbors should be prepared for the item to return; understanding the grounds for tabling will inform the next decision.
Next check
September 2, 2025 Board meeting.
First raised: June 17, 2025 briefing

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: June 17, 2025 Board Agenda
  • minutes: June 17, 2025 Board Minutes
  • video: June 17, 2025 Meeting Video
  • transcript: June 17, 2025 Meeting Transcript
Confidence: High

Inputs available: minutes, agenda, transcript, public-comment capture, 27 parsed agenda items. All major decisions documented with vote counts and cost figures.

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.