Hot Springs Board of Directors

December 2, 2025 Civic Briefing

Hot Springs Board Approves $398K in Spending, Pulls $140K Software Contract for Competitive Bid

The Board of Directors approved $398,268.13 in total spending — covering a $139,932 emergency ratification for time-and-attendance software (later pulled from the agenda for rebid), a $119,600 work order for airport taxiway engineering, an $85,055.13 grinder engine purchase, and a $53,681 airport insurance budget amendment — condemned two properties as nuisances by a 6-1 vote, and deferred a proposed special election on board member compensation pending a work session.

Hot Springs Board of Directors Regular Meeting December 2, 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 $398,268.13 in total identified spending across four items, including airport infrastructure engineering, equipment, and an insurance budget transfer.
A $139,932 sole-source software contract for time-and-attendance services was pulled from the agenda at a director's request so it could go through competitive bidding instead.
The Board voted 6-1 to condemn structures at 302 Lincoln Street and 211 Jackson Street as nuisances; both votes drew opposition and the Lincoln Street hearing included public comment from the property owner and their attorney.
A proposed ordinance to call a special election on Board member compensation was kept on the agenda after a motion to remove it failed, but no vote was taken — a director requested a work session to resolve outstanding details.
The Finish Line RV Park at 263 Golf Links Road was approved to expand its footprint eastward under a modified planned development.

By the numbers

Total identified spending

$398,268

Votes taken

includes procedural votes

Unanimous votes

Largest single item

$139,932

Time and Attendance Software (Ordinance O-25-48)

Emergency / ratification items

Resident questions unanswered

Money approved

Item	Amount	Vendor	Vote	Source
Airport taxiway engineering work order (Taxiways E, H, M)	$119,600	Garver, LLC	7-0	`item:13`
Grinder engine purchase	$85,055	Vermeer Midsouth, Inc.	7-0	`item:10`
Airport liability insurance budget amendment budget transfer	$53,681	—	7-0	`item:12`
Compost testing term contract	—	Environmental Services Company, Inc.	7-0	`item:8`
Sodium hydroxide solution term contract	—	Univar Solutions USA Inc.	7-0	`item:9`
Smith Blair parts term contracts	—	Core & Main LP; Ferguson Enterprises LLC; River Valley Winwater Works Co.	7-0	`item:14`
Total identified spending	$258,336

Major decisions

Nuisance Condemnation — 302 Lincoln Street

Item: Resolution declaring the structure at 302 Lincoln Street a public nuisance and condemning it under Title 17 of the Hot Springs Code.
Vote: 6-1
Cost: No cost specified in the record.
Vendor / responsible: City Neighborhood Services (James Hardage, Manager); City Attorney Brian Albright
Discussion level: Extended Significant debate, public comment, or multiple speakers
Resident impact: The structure is subject to condemnation proceedings; the property owner would be required to bring the structure into compliance or face city-initiated abatement.
What the Board said or did: The Neighborhood Services Manager and City Attorney presented information supporting the condemnation. The property owner and their attorney both addressed the Board opposing the declaration.
What remains unclear: The record does not show which director cast the dissenting vote, the current condition of the structure, the compliance timeline, or the estimated cost of abatement if the city proceeds.
Source: item:15

Nuisance Condemnation — 211 Jackson Street

Item: Resolution declaring the structure at 211 Jackson Street a public nuisance and condemning it under Title 17 of the Hot Springs Code.
Vote: 6-1
Cost: No cost specified in the record.
Vendor / responsible: City Neighborhood Services (James Hardage, Manager)
Discussion level: Brief Brief presentation
Resident impact: The structure at 211 Jackson Street is subject to condemnation; the owner would be required to comply or face city-initiated abatement.
What the Board said or did: The Neighborhood Services Manager provided information; no public comment was recorded.
What remains unclear: The record does not show which director dissented, the current condition of the structure, the compliance timeline, or the abatement cost estimate.
Source: item:16

Time and Attendance Software Contract — Withdrawn for Rebid

Emergency / Ratification

Item: Ordinance to waive competitive bidding and approve a sole-source agreement for web-based time-and-attendance software — withdrawn from the agenda before a vote.
Vote: —
Cost: $139,932 (proposed; not approved)
Vendor / responsible: Andrews Technology HMS, Inc.
Discussion level: Brief Brief presentation
Resident impact: City payroll and scheduling software remains on its current system until a competitive bid process is completed.
What the Board said or did: Director Garcia requested removal of the item so the contract could be put out for competitive bid, as it had not initially been subject to that process.
What remains unclear: The record does not show a timeline for the new bid process, whether Andrews Technology HMS remains eligible to bid, or which city departments this software would serve.
Source: item:17

Special Election on Board Compensation — Deferred to Work Session

Item: Ordinance to call a special election asking voters whether to increase compensation for Board of Directors members — discussed but not voted on.
Vote: —
Cost: No cost specified in the record for the election itself.
Vendor / responsible: n/a
Discussion level: Moderate Questions or explanation from board or staff
Resident impact: If eventually approved and passed by voters, the ordinance would change how much Board members are paid; the proposed compensation amounts are not detailed in the available record.
What the Board said or did: Director Webb stated there were disparities in the proposal and asked for a work session to work out additional details before the Board proceeds. The item stayed on the agenda after a removal motion failed, but no vote on the ordinance itself was taken.
What remains unclear: The record does not show what specific disparities Director Webb identified, what compensation amounts are being proposed, or when the work session will be scheduled.
Source: item:19

Approved without separate discussion

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

Airport Taxiway Engineering Work Order

Vote: 7-0 · $119,600 · Garver, LLC

item:13
Grinder Engine Purchase

Vote: 7-0 · $85,055 · Vermeer Midsouth, Inc.

item:10
Airport Liability Insurance Budget Amendment

Vote: 7-0 · $53,681

item:12
Finish Line RV Park Expansion — 263 Golf Links Road

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

item:18

Locations affected

302 Lincoln Street

302 Lincoln Street

Structure declared a public nuisance and condemned under city code.

Status: Condemned
211 Jackson Street

211 Jackson Street

Structure declared a public nuisance and condemned under city code.

Status: Condemned
263 Golf Links Road

263 Golf Links Road

Finish Line RV Park approved for eastward expansion and planned development modifications.

Status: Approved
Hot Springs Memorial Field Airport

Engineering work order approved for improvements to Taxiways E, H, and M.

Status: Scheduled

Watch list

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

Time-and-Attendance Software Competitive Bid

Open

The $139,932 time-and-attendance software contract (Andrews Technology HMS) was pulled from the agenda for competitive bidding instead of sole-source award.

Why it matters: The Board opted for competitive bidding to ensure best value and transparency; watch for bid issuance, submissions, and whether the final award differs in cost or vendor.
Next check: Monitor for competitive bid announcement and final contract award.

Board Member Compensation Special Election Ordinance

Open

Ordinance O-25-50 to call a special election on Board member compensation remains on the agenda without a vote; Director Webb requested a work session to resolve outstanding disparities in the proposal.

Why it matters: The item could significantly affect Board compensation and requires resolution before a vote; specific compensation amounts and Webb's identified disparities remain undisclosed.
Next check: Watch for work session scheduling and details on proposed compensation amounts and outstanding issues.

Nuisance Condemnation Follow-up (302 Lincoln Street & 211 Jackson Street)

Open

Both condemnations passed 6-1; no compliance timeline or abatement cost estimates are recorded. Follow-up needed on next steps for property owners and timeline for city-initiated abatement if applicable.

Why it matters: These are enforcement actions that will require either owner compliance or city intervention; clarity is needed on the process and timeline.
Next check: Confirm with Neighborhood Services what next steps are required of property owners and when the city could initiate abatement.

Airport Taxiway Engineering Project Advancement

Open

The $119,600 work order covers design and engineering services only for Taxiways E, H, and M. No construction timeline, total project cost, or federal funding information is recorded.

Why it matters: The project will advance through bidding and construction phases; full project scope and cost need to be tracked as the project develops.
Next check: Watch for construction bid announcement and final project cost 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: Meeting Agenda
minutes: Meeting Minutes
video: Meeting Video
transcript: Video Transcript

Confidence: High

Inputs available: minutes, agenda, transcript, public-comment capture, 21 parsed agenda items.

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.