Hot Springs Board of Directors

October 7, 2025 Civic Briefing

Hot Springs Board Approves $3,529K Tertiary Filter Purchase, Ratifies $66K Emergency ARFF Lease, Awards $1,751K Whittington Avenue Remodel

The Hot Springs Board of Directors approved $12,210,954.37 in identified spending across seven money items, including a $3,528,920 emergency purchase of two tertiary filters at the Davidson Drive Wastewater Treatment Plant, a $1,751,341 remodel contract for 900 Whittington Avenue, a $403,000 engineering work order for Davidson Drive filter improvements, a $180,480 change order for the new water treatment plant, a $65,821.37 emergency lease of an aircraft rescue and firefighting vehicle, a negative $2,761,392 change order removing scope from the Spring Street Gravity Sewer Project, and term contracts to Ouachita Landworks and AmeriChemm with amounts not specified in the available record.

Hot Springs Board of Directors Regular Meeting October 7, 2025 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 approved an emergency purchase of two tertiary filters at the Davidson Drive Wastewater Treatment Plant for $3,528,920, waiving competitive bidding; City Engineer Gary Carnahan presented the emergency rationale.
The Board approved a $1,751,341 work order with Hill and Cox Corporation to remodel the building at 900 Whittington Avenue.
A $2,761,392 negative change order was approved, removing Schedule III from the Spring Street Gravity Sewer Project and reducing that contract accordingly.
The Board approved an emergency lease of an aircraft rescue and firefighting vehicle for $65,821.37, waiving competitive bidding requirements, to address an urgent need at the airport.
One item — Change Order No. 3 to Max Foote Construction for UV Effluent Chamber and New Tertiary Filter Structures, not to exceed $3,520,000 — was tabled and not acted on.

By the numbers

Total identified spending

$12,210,954

Votes taken

includes procedural votes

Unanimous votes

Largest single item

$3,528,920

Purchase of Two Tertiary Filters at Davidson Drive WWTF

Emergency / ratification items

Resident questions unanswered

Money approved

Item	Amount	Vendor	Vote	Source
Purchase of Two Tertiary Filters at Davidson Drive WWTF emergency	$3,528,920	—	7-0	`item:23`
Work Order No. 25-03 — 900 Whittington Avenue Remodel	$1,751,341	Hill and Cox Corporation	7-0	`item:19`
Work Order No. 12 — Davidson Drive WWTF Filter Improvements (engineering)	$403,000	Crist Engineers, Inc.	7-0	`item:17`
Change Order No. 3 — New Water Treatment Plant construction management	$180,480	Crist Engineers, Inc.	7-0	`item:16`
Emergency Temporary Lease of ARFF Vehicle (budget amendment) emergency	$65,821	Siddons-Martin Emergency Group	7-0	`item:25`
Negative Change Order — Spring Street Gravity Sewer, Schedule III removal	$-2,761,392	Diamond Construction Company, Inc.	7-0	`item:22`
Term Contract — Property Maintenance	—	Ouachita Landworks LLC	7-0	`item:14`
Term Contract — Aluminum Chloride Hydroxide Sulfate	—	AmeriChemm, LLC	7-0	`item:15`
Total identified spending	$3,168,170

Major decisions

Emergency Purchase of Two Tertiary Filters — Davidson Drive Wastewater Treatment Plant

Emergency / Ratification

Item: Emergency bid-waiver purchase of two additional tertiary filters at the Davidson Drive Wastewater Treatment Plant; the Board approved an ordinance waiving competitive bidding requirements.
Vote: 7-0
Cost: $3,528,920
Vendor / responsible: City Engineer Gary Carnahan
Discussion level: Brief Brief presentation
Resident impact: Affects wastewater treatment capacity for the city; the Davidson Drive plant serves Hot Springs residents and the emergency purchase aims to keep treatment operations functioning.
What the Board said or did: City Engineer Gary Carnahan presented the emergency rationale for waiving competitive bidding. The Board voted unanimously to approve.
What remains unclear: The specific emergency condition that triggered the competitive-bidding waiver is not detailed in the available record, nor is the vendor named.
Source: item:23

Negative Change Order — Spring Street Gravity Sewer Project, Schedule III

Item: Approved a negative change order removing Schedule III from the Spring Street Gravity Sewer Project, reducing the contract with Diamond Construction Company, Inc. by $2,761,392.
Vote: 7-0
Cost: -$2,761,392 (contract reduction)
Vendor / responsible: Diamond Construction Company, Inc.
Discussion level: Brief Brief presentation
Resident impact: Schedule III work will not be completed under this contract. The available record does not describe what Schedule III covered or when or whether that scope will be rebid.
What the Board said or did: City Engineer Gary Carnahan explained the negative change order. The Board voted unanimously to approve.
What remains unclear: What specific work Schedule III included, why it was removed, and whether the scope will be completed under a separate contract are not explained in the available record.
Source: item:22

Emergency Temporary Lease of Aircraft Rescue and Firefighting Vehicle

Emergency / Ratification

Item: Ratified an emergency temporary lease of an aircraft rescue and firefighting (ARFF) vehicle from Siddons-Martin Emergency Group, waiving competitive bidding, and approved a budget amendment of $65,821.37.
Vote: 7-0
Cost: $65,821.37
Vendor / responsible: Siddons-Martin Emergency Group
Discussion level: Brief Brief presentation
Resident impact: Maintains required fire and rescue equipment at the Hot Springs Memorial Field Airport.
What the Board said or did: Airport Director Don Rowlett explained the emergency need. The Board voted unanimously to approve.
What remains unclear: The condition that created the emergency — such as failure of existing equipment or a regulatory deadline — is not detailed in the available record, nor is the lease duration.
Source: item:25

Tabling of Change Order No. 3 — Max Foote Construction CMAR Contract

Item: Proposed change order to the construction management at-risk contract with Max Foote Construction Company, LLC for the UV Effluent Chamber and New Tertiary Filter Structures, not to exceed $3,520,000 — the Board delayed the decision.
Vote: Tabled
Cost: Up to $3,520,000 (not approved at this meeting)
Vendor / responsible: Max Foote Construction Company, LLC
Discussion level: None Approved without separate discussion
Resident impact: The UV Effluent Chamber and New Tertiary Filter Structures project remains on hold pending a future Board decision.
What the Board said or did: The item was tabled; no explanation for the tabling is recorded in the available record.
What remains unclear: The reason the item was tabled and when it will return to the Board are not in the available record.
Source: item:18

Tabling of Nuisance Abatement and Condemnation at 302 Lincoln Street

Item: A resolution to declare the structure at 302 Lincoln Street a nuisance and condemn it under city code was tabled; the Board delayed the decision.
Vote: 7-0 to table
Cost: No cost specified in the record
Vendor / responsible: City Attorney Brian Albright
Discussion level: Extended Significant debate, public comment, or multiple speakers
Resident impact: The structure at 302 Lincoln Street is not condemned at this time; the matter will return to the Board.
What the Board said or did: City Attorney Brian Albright presented the city's position. An attorney representing the property owner (Josh Hurst) presented the owner's position, and the property owner (Terry Woodfork) also addressed the Board. The Board voted unanimously to table.
What remains unclear: The reason for tabling rather than voting on the merits, and the timeline for the item to return, are not in the available record.
Source: item:21

Transfer of Location for Private Club Permit 20-01 — Central Avenue

Item: Approved an ordinance authorizing the filing of a transfer-of-location application for private club permit 20-01, moving from 256 Central Avenue to 334 Central Avenue.
Vote: 7-0
Cost: No cost specified in the record
Vendor / responsible: Saddiq Mir (club owner)
Discussion level: Brief Brief presentation
Resident impact: A private club on Central Avenue will relocate approximately one block along Central Avenue.
What the Board said or did: Club owner Saddiq Mir presented the relocation request. City Clerk Harmony Morrissey processed the application. The Board voted unanimously to approve.
What remains unclear: The type of establishment and the timeline for the relocation are not specified in the available record.
Source: item:24

Planned Development Plan — 109 Oma Street (Busch Park Addition)

Item: Approved a Planned Development (PD) plan for Block 10, Lots 11 & 12 of Busch Park Addition, located at 109 Oma Street.
Vote: 7-0
Cost: No cost specified in the record
Vendor / responsible: Planning Manager Rick Stauder
Discussion level: Brief Brief presentation
Resident impact: Development on the two lots at 109 Oma Street is now governed by a new planned development plan. The available record does not describe what the plan authorizes to be built.
What the Board said or did: Planning Manager Rick Stauder presented the planned development review. The Board voted unanimously to approve.
What remains unclear: The specific uses or structures authorized under the planned development plan are not described in the available record.
Source: item:26

Zoning Amendment — 500 Quapaw Avenue

Item: Approved a zoning map amendment for Lots 1–3 of Block 102 of Hot Springs Reservation at 500 Quapaw Avenue, changing the designation from Residential Neighborhood 5 (RN-5) to Neighborhood Commercial (C-N) and updating the Future Land Use Plan Map to Commercial Enclave.
Vote: 7-0
Cost: No cost specified in the record
Vendor / responsible: Planning Manager Rick Stauder
Discussion level: Brief Brief presentation
Resident impact: The three lots at 500 Quapaw Avenue can now be developed for neighborhood commercial uses rather than residential uses.
What the Board said or did: Planning Manager Rick Stauder presented the zoning amendment. The Board voted unanimously to approve.
What remains unclear: No specific development proposal is described in the available record.
Source: item:27

Approved without separate discussion

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

Work Order No. 25-03 — 900 Whittington Avenue Remodel

Vote: 7-0 · $1,751,341 · Hill and Cox Corporation

item:19
Work Order No. 12 — Davidson Drive WWTF Filter 03 and Filter 04 Improvements

Vote: 7-0 · $403,000 · Crist Engineers, Inc.

item:17
Change Order No. 3 — Crist Engineers, New Water Treatment Plant

Vote: 7-0 · $180,480 · Crist Engineers, Inc.

item:16

Locations affected

Davidson Drive Wastewater Treatment Plant

Emergency purchase of two tertiary filters ($3,528,920) and engineering work order for Filter 03 and Filter 04 improvements ($403,000)

Status: Approved
900 Whittington Avenue

900 Whittington Avenue, Hot Springs

Building remodel, not to exceed $1,751,341

Status: Approved
Spring Street Gravity Sewer Project

Spring Street corridor

Scope removed by negative change order ($2,761,392)

Status: Scope Removed
Hot Springs Memorial Field Airport

Emergency temporary lease of aircraft rescue and firefighting vehicle ($65,821.37)

Status: Approved
302 Lincoln Street

302 Lincoln Street, Hot Springs

Nuisance abatement and condemnation proceeding tabled

Status: Pending
256 Central Avenue / 334 Central Avenue

256 Central Avenue to 334 Central Avenue, Hot Springs

Private club permit transfer of location authorized

Status: Application Approved
109 Oma Street (Busch Park Addition, Block 10, Lots 11 & 12)

109 Oma Street, Hot Springs

Planned Development plan approved

Status: Approved
500 Quapaw Avenue

500 Quapaw Avenue, Hot Springs

Zoning changed from Residential Neighborhood 5 to Neighborhood Commercial

Status: Approved

Watch list

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

Change Order No. 3 to Max Foote Construction (up to $3,520,000) Status

Open

Change Order No. 3 to Max Foote Construction for UV Effluent Chamber and New Tertiary Filter Structures was tabled with no explanation recorded.

Why it matters: This represents a potentially substantial contract modification that was pulled from the consent agenda; understanding why it was tabled and when it will return is necessary for project timeline clarity.
Next check: Next briefing should check whether this item has been rescheduled and what triggered the tabling.

Nuisance Abatement and Condemnation at 302 Lincoln Street

Open

The nuisance abatement and condemnation proceeding at 302 Lincoln Street was tabled after extended public comment from property owner Terry Woodfork and legal counsel Josh Hurst.

Why it matters: The property owner contested the city's position, and the Board chose to delay rather than vote on the merits; the outcome could affect the property's status and the owner's obligations.
Next check: Next briefing should confirm whether the item returns to the Board and what, if any, resolution is reached.

Spring Street Gravity Sewer Project Schedule III Scope Removal

Open

A negative change order removed Schedule III from the Spring Street Gravity Sewer Project, reducing the contract by $2,761,392, but the available record does not explain what Schedule III covered or why it was removed.

Why it matters: Clarity on whether this scope will be rebid, abandoned, or completed under a separate contract is important for understanding the full project plan and budget.
Next check: Next briefing should determine whether Schedule III scope will be rebid or abandoned.

Davidson Drive Tertiary Filter Emergency Purchase Vendor and Justification

Open

The $3,528,920 emergency purchase of two tertiary filters at the Davidson Drive Wastewater Treatment Plant does not name the vendor in the available record, nor does it detail the specific emergency condition.

Why it matters: The emergency justification was used to waive competitive bidding; transparency requires understanding what triggered the emergency and who the supplier is.
Next check: Direct inquiry to the city engineering department should clarify what caused the emergency and identify the supplier.

900 Whittington Avenue Remodel Intended Use

Open

The $1,751,341 remodel of 900 Whittington Avenue is approved but the record does not specify which city function or department will occupy the building.

Why it matters: Understanding the intended use of the facility is relevant to evaluating whether the remodel scope and budget are appropriate.
Next check: Asking the city manager's office which department or function will occupy the building would answer that question.

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
transcript: Video Transcript (Full)

Confidence: High

Inputs available: minutes, agenda, transcript, public-comment capture, and 29 parsed agenda items provide comprehensive meeting documentation.

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.