Hot Springs Board of Directors

February 17, 2026 Civic Briefing

Hot Springs Board Approves $1.211M Vehicle Purchase, $414K Garbage Truck, and Paid Parking Changes

At its February 17, 2026 meeting, the Hot Springs Board of Directors approved $2,244,124.74 in identified spending across vehicles, garbage trucks, and a sewer project change order, and passed a contested 5-2 ordinance setting paid parking rates on Central Avenue, Fountain Street, the Exchange Street Parking Deck, and Hill Wheatley Plaza.

Hot Springs Board of Directors Regular Meeting February 17, 2026 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 $2,244,124.74 in identified spending across six items, all on consent agenda except budget revision which passed without objection.
A paid parking ordinance passed 5-2, setting $4/hour rate on Central Avenue and establishing paid parking on Fountain Street, Exchange Street Parking Deck, and Hill Wheatley Plaza after rate reduced from $5/hour and advisory committee alternative rejected.
The Board authorized filing for a U.S. Department of Transportation BUILD grant for multimodal connectivity and safety initiative with no city spending commitment shown.
The Board set a public hearing on proposed wastewater development impact fees and gave the implementing ordinance its first reading.
City Manager Bill Burrough delivered State of the City address highlighting $150 million Lake Washington water project completion, $78 million wastewater improvements, and Fire Station #6 opening May 2026.

By the numbers

Total identified spending

$2,244,125

Votes taken

includes procedural votes

Unanimous votes

Largest single item

$1,210,991

Vehicle purchase (R-26-30)

Emergency / ratification items

Resident questions unanswered

Money approved

Item	Amount	Vendor	Vote	Source
Purchase of vehicles (R-26-30)	$1,210,991	Not specified in record	7-0	`item:10`
Commercial front-load collection vehicle (R-26-36)	$413,896	River City Hydraulics, Inc.	7-0	`item:16`
Gulpha Interceptor bypass pumping change order (R-26-34)	$280,000	Coakley Company, Inc.	7-0	`item:14`
Residential rear-load collection vehicle (R-26-35)	$262,627	River City Hydraulics, Inc.	7-0	`item:15`
Bobcat compact excavator (R-26-33)	$76,607	Bobcat of Hot Springs	7-0	`item:13`
Total identified spending	$2,244,121

Major decisions

Budget Revision for Prior Year Expenditures (R-26-27)

Emergency / Ratification

Item: Resolution ratifying a budget revision to the 2025 and 2026 budgets by appropriating funds for certain prior year expenditures — this is an emergency ratification of spending already incurred.
Vote: 7-0
Cost: The dollar amount of the appropriation is not specified in the available record.
Vendor / responsible: n/a
Discussion level: None Approved without separate discussion
Resident impact: The city adjusted its budget to cover expenditures made in a prior year; the specific programs or departments affected are not identified in the available record.
What the Board said or did: Approved without separate discussion as part of the consent agenda.
What remains unclear: The record does not identify which departments or line items required the revision, the dollar amounts involved, or the reason the expenditures were incurred before a budget appropriation was in place.
Source: item:7

Airport Property Management Policy Rate Update (R-26-37)

Item: Resolution updating Appendix K of the Airport Property Management Policy to reflect Consumer Price Index adjustments to airport property rates.
Vote: 7-0
Cost: No spending commitment specified in the record; this is a rate update.
Vendor / responsible: Hot Springs Memorial Airport
Discussion level: Brief Brief presentation
Resident impact: Businesses or tenants leasing airport property will see rates adjusted in line with the Consumer Price Index; specific rate changes are not detailed in the available record.
What the Board said or did: Airport Director Don Rowlett presented the CPI-based rate adjustments. The record does not show further board discussion beyond the presentation.
What remains unclear: The specific rate changes, which tenants or property categories are affected, and the effective date are not detailed in the available record.
Source: item:18

Out-of-State Travel Authorization — Director Phyllis Beard (R-26-38)

Item: Resolution authorizing out-of-state travel for Director Phyllis Beard to attend the National League of Cities Congressional City Conference, as required by city code.
Vote: 5-2
Cost: No cost specified in the record.
Vendor / responsible: Director Phyllis Beard
Discussion level: Brief Brief presentation
Resident impact: No direct resident impact identified in the record.
What the Board said or did: City Clerk Harmony Morrissey presented the authorization. The record does not explain the basis for the two dissenting votes.
What remains unclear: The record does not explain why two directors voted against the authorization or identify the estimated travel cost.
Source: item:19

Public Hearing Set — Wastewater Development Impact Fees (R-26-39)

Item: Resolution setting a public hearing on a proposed ordinance to establish development impact fees for the city's wastewater system.
Vote: 7-0
Cost: No spending commitment at this step; this action schedules a public hearing.
Vendor / responsible: City Attorney Brian Albright
Discussion level: Brief Brief presentation
Resident impact: Developers and property owners connecting to the city's wastewater system could face new fees; the proposed fee amounts and effective date are not specified in the available record.
What the Board said or did: City Attorney Brian Albright explained the resolution. A public hearing date was set; the specific date is not identified in the available record.
What remains unclear: The proposed fee amounts, the scheduled public hearing date, and which types of development would be subject to the fees are not specified in the available record.
Source: item:20

Paid Parking Ordinance — Central Avenue, Fountain Street, Exchange Street Deck, Hill Wheatley Plaza (O-26-04)

Emergency / Ratification

Item: Ordinance O-26-04 amending the Hot Springs Paid Parking Program — sets $4/hour paid parking on Central Avenue and establishes paid parking on Fountain Street, the Exchange Street Parking Deck, and Hill Wheatley Plaza.
Vote: 5-2
Cost: No spending amount specified in the record; this is a rate-setting and location-designating ordinance.
Vendor / responsible: City of Hot Springs
Discussion level: Extended Significant debate, public comment, or multiple speakers
Resident impact: Drivers parking on Central Avenue, Fountain Street, at the Exchange Street Parking Deck, or at Hill Wheatley Plaza will now pay for parking; Central Avenue rate is set at $4/hour.
What the Board said or did: Deputy City Manager Lance Spicer presented program options. The Board voted on four sequential amendments: (1) adopted alternative option B; (2) a motion to create an advisory committee to make a recommendation failed 3-4; (3) a motion to retain paid parking on Central Avenue, Fountain Street, the Exchange Street Parking Deck, and Hill Wheatley Plaza passed 5-2; (4) a motion to reduce the Central Avenue rate from $5/hour to $4/hour passed 6-1. Three speakers from the public addressed the Board before or during discussion.
What remains unclear: The record does not specify which two directors voted against final passage, which director voted against the emergency clause, or what 'alternative option B' differed from in its original form. The record also does not specify enforcement start dates or hours of operation.
Source: item:17

Approved without separate discussion

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

Vehicle Purchase (R-26-30)

Vote: 7-0 · $1,210,991

item:10
Commercial Front-Load Collection Vehicle (R-26-36)

Vote: 7-0 · $413,896 · River City Hydraulics, Inc.

item:16
Residential Rear-Load Collection Vehicle (R-26-35)

Vote: 7-0 · $262,627 · River City Hydraulics, Inc.

item:15
Bobcat Compact Excavator (R-26-33)

Vote: 7-0 · $76,607 · Bobcat of Hot Springs

item:13
Gulpha Interceptor Bypass Pumping Change Order (R-26-34)

Vote: 7-0 · $280,000 · Coakley Company, Inc.

item:14
BUILD Grant Application — Multimodal Connectivity and Safety (R-26-28)

Vote: 7-0 · The record does not show a city spending commitment at this step. · U.S. Department of Transportation

item:8
Arkansas Division of Aeronautics Grant — Taxiway A Repairs (R-26-31)

Vote: 7-0 · The record does not show a city spending commitment at this step. · Arkansas Division of Aeronautics

item:11

Locations affected

Central Avenue (Downtown Hot Springs)

Downtown Hot Springs

Paid parking established at $4/hour

Status: Confirmed
Fountain Street (Downtown Hot Springs)

Downtown Hot Springs

Paid parking established

Status: Confirmed
Exchange Street Parking Deck

Downtown Hot Springs

Paid parking established

Status: Confirmed
Hill Wheatley Plaza

Downtown Hot Springs

Paid parking established

Status: Confirmed
Hot Springs Memorial Airport — Taxiway A

Grant application filed for taxiway repairs

Status: Planned
Hot Springs Memorial Airport — airport property

Lease and property rates updated per Consumer Price Index

Status: Confirmed
Gulpha Interceptor (wastewater)

Change Order No. 5 approved for additional bypass pumping, Phase 1

Status: Scheduled
Fire Station #6

Opening scheduled for May 2026

Status: Scheduled

Watch list

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

Vehicle Purchase Vendors and Recipients Unclear

Open

The Board did not identify which departments or vendors will receive the $1,210,991 in vehicles authorized under R-26-30.

Why it matters: Understanding where city vehicles are deployed and which vendors are contracted is important for tracking equipment investments and departmental budgets.
Next check: Review the purchasing documents on file with the city clerk or direct inquiry to the Purchasing Department for vendor and departmental recipient details.

BUILD Grant Application Status and Scope Unknown

Open

The BUILD grant application for multimodal connectivity and safety (R-26-28) has been filed; the grant amount sought, any local match requirement, and project scope have not been made public in the available record.

Why it matters: The scope and amount of a federal transportation grant can significantly impact city planning and budget projections if awarded.
Next check: Check U.S. DOT award announcements or ask the city's grants office for status and scope details on the 'Hot Springs: Safe and Connected' initiative.

Budget Revision Details Not Disclosed

Open

The budget revision for prior year expenditures (R-26-27) ratified spending already incurred without identifying the departments or dollar amounts involved.

Why it matters: Transparency on how and why a budget revision was needed helps residents understand fiscal management and prevents future overspending.
Next check: Review the budget amendment document on file with the Finance Department to clarify which departments and line items were covered by the ratification.

Dissenting Votes on Travel Authorization Unexplained

Open

The out-of-state travel authorization for Director Beard passed 5-2 with no explanation of the dissenting votes in the available record; the specific travel costs were also not disclosed.

Why it matters: Understanding the reasons for dissenting votes and transparency on travel costs support public accountability.
Next check: Request voting records from the city clerk or minutes notes that document the reasons the two dissenting directors cited.

Paid Parking Enforcement and Implementation Timeline Unclear

Open

The paid parking emergency clause means the ordinance takes effect immediately; the city has not yet published enforcement start dates or hours of operation in the available record.

Why it matters: Residents and businesses need clear information on when and where paid parking enforcement begins to budget appropriately.
Next check: Check city website or contact the Finance or Public Works Department for published enforcement start dates, hours of operation, and payment methods.

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: Meeting video recording
minutes: Meeting minutes
agenda: Meeting agenda

Confidence: High

Minutes, agenda, full video transcript, and 24 parsed agenda items all available. Public comments captured for major contested item.

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.