Hot Springs Board of Directors

March 3, 2026 Civic Briefing

Hot Springs Board Approves $1.506M in Equipment and Infrastructure Spending, Tables Impact Fee and Parking Ordinances

The Board of Directors approved $1,506,166.21 in spending — covering utility relocation work for the Warwick Road Bridge replacement ($309,667.00), two solid-waste transfer trailers ($271,518.00), Lakeside Pump Station engineering services ($198,000.00), a Caterpillar wheel loader ($224,075.00), a Mack day cab tractor ($165,570.77), a dump truck ($136,318.00), a Caterpillar mini excavator ($132,795.00), and Motorola portable radios ($68,222.44) — then tabled ordinances on wastewater and water development impact fees and a Church Street parking lot policy change after public comment on each.

Hot Springs Board of Directors Regular Meeting March 3, 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 unanimously approved $1,506,166.21 in spending across eight items, all on the consent agenda, covering heavy equipment purchases, utility infrastructure work, and professional engineering services.
The largest single item was $309,667.00 for utility relocation and roadway work tied to the Warwick Road Bridge replacement, authorized under a term contract with Coakley Company, Inc.
The Board unanimously tabled an ordinance establishing new wastewater development impact fees, and a companion ordinance on water system impact fees, to allow further consideration following public comment and presentations from city staff and a consultant.
An ordinance that would have removed the Church Street Parking Lot from the city's short-term facility use policy was tabled 7-0 after seven speakers addressed the Board and the deputy city manager presented the proposal.
The Board declared the structure at 605 South Street a nuisance and condemned it under city code, following testimony from eight public speakers and a presentation by the Neighborhood Services Manager.

By the numbers

Total identified spending

$1,506,166

Votes taken

includes procedural votes

Unanimous votes

Largest single item

$309,667

Warwick Road Bridge — utility relocation and roadway work

Emergency / ratification items

Resident questions unanswered

Money approved

Item	Amount	Vendor	Vote	Source
Warwick Road Bridge — utility relocation and roadway work	$309,667	Coakley Company, Inc.	7-0	`item:17`
Two solid-waste transfer trailers	$271,518	Spector Manufacturing, Inc.	7-0	`item:16`
Caterpillar wheel loader	$224,075	J.A. Riggs Tractor Company	7-0	`item:11`
Lakeside Pump Station improvements — engineering services	$198,000	Garver, LLC	7-0	`item:14`
Mack day cab tractor	$165,571	Tri-State Truck Center	7-0	`item:15`
Dump truck	$136,318	Dobbs Peterbilt	7-0	`item:12`
Caterpillar mini excavator	$132,795	J.A. Riggs Tractor Company	7-0	`item:13`
Motorola portable radio equipment and services	$68,222	Motorola Solutions, Inc.	7-0	`item:9`
Total identified spending	$1,506,166

Major decisions

Nuisance property condemnation — 605 South Street

Item: Resolution declaring the structure at 605 South Street a nuisance and condemning it under Title 17 of the Hot Springs Code.
Vote: 7-0
Cost: No cost specified in the record.
Vendor / responsible: n/a
Discussion level: Extended Significant debate, public comment, or multiple speakers
Resident impact: The structure at 605 South Street has been officially condemned. The record does not state a demolition timeline or next steps for the property.
What the Board said or did: Neighborhood Services Manager James Hardage presented information supporting the condemnation. Eight residents spoke on the matter before the vote.
What remains unclear: The record does not show what the specific conditions at the property are, what remediation or demolition steps follow condemnation, or the timeline for those steps.
Source: item:19

Wastewater development impact fees ordinance (tabled)

Item: Ordinance O-26-07 would adopt new development impact fees for the city's wastewater system, amending Ordinance No. 5275. The Board voted to table it for further consideration.
Vote: 7-0 to table
Cost: No cost specified in the record.
Vendor / responsible: n/a
Discussion level: Moderate Questions or explanation from board or staff
Resident impact: Development impact fees are one-time charges assessed on new development to offset the cost of expanding city infrastructure. If adopted, these fees would apply to new construction connecting to the wastewater system. The record does not show the proposed fee amounts.
What the Board said or did: City Attorney Brian Albright and consultant Dan Jackson from Willdan presented the proposal. Two members of the public spoke. The Board tabled the ordinance without adopting it.
What remains unclear: The record does not show the specific fee amounts proposed, why the ordinance was tabled rather than advanced, or when it will return to the Board.
Source: item:20

Water development impact fees ordinance (tabled)

Item: Ordinance O-26-09 would adopt new development impact fees for the city's water system. The Board voted to table it for further consideration.
Vote: 7-0 to table
Cost: No cost specified in the record.
Vendor / responsible: n/a
Discussion level: Brief Brief presentation
Resident impact: If adopted, these fees would apply to new construction connecting to the city water system. The record does not show the proposed fee amounts.
What the Board said or did: City Attorney Brian Albright presented the ordinance. The Board tabled it without adopting it.
What remains unclear: The record does not show the specific fee amounts proposed or when the ordinance will return.
Source: item:21

Church Street Parking Lot — short-term facility use policy (tabled)

Item: Ordinance O-26-10 would have removed the Church Street Parking Lot from the city's Short-Term Facility Use Policy by repealing Ordinance No. 6520. The Board tabled it to allow time for stakeholder consultation.
Vote: 7-0 to table
Cost: No cost specified in the record.
Vendor / responsible: n/a
Discussion level: Extended Significant debate, public comment, or multiple speakers
Resident impact: The Church Street Parking Lot is currently available for short-term permitted use under city policy. The proposed ordinance would have ended that availability; tabling the item means no change to current policy at this time.
What the Board said or did: Deputy City Manager Lance Spicer presented the proposal. Seven members of the public spoke on the matter. The Board tabled the ordinance to allow further stakeholder consultation.
What remains unclear: The record does not explain the reason the city proposed removing the lot from the policy, which stakeholders are to be consulted, or when the item will return.
Source: item:22

Approved without separate discussion

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

Warwick Road Bridge — utility relocation and roadway work

Vote: 7-0 · $309,667 · Coakley Company, Inc.

item:17
Solid-waste transfer trailers (bid award)

Vote: 7-0 · $271,518 · Spector Manufacturing, Inc.

item:16
Caterpillar wheel loader purchase

Vote: 7-0 · $224,075 · J.A. Riggs Tractor Company

item:11
Lakeside Pump Station improvements — professional services agreement

Vote: 7-0 · $198,000 · Garver, LLC

item:14
Mack day cab tractor purchase

Vote: 7-0 · $165,571 · Tri-State Truck Center

item:15
Dump truck purchase

Vote: 7-0 · $136,318 · Dobbs Peterbilt

item:12
Caterpillar mini excavator purchase

Vote: 7-0 · $132,795 · J.A. Riggs Tractor Company

item:13
Motorola portable radio equipment purchase

Vote: 7-0 · $68,222 · Motorola Solutions, Inc.

item:9

Locations affected

Warwick Road (bridge site)

Utility relocation and roadway improvement work for the Warwick Road Bridge replacement

Status: Authorized
Lakeside Pump Station

Professional engineering services for station improvements

Status: Authorized
605 South Street

605 South Street

Structure declared a nuisance and condemned under city code

Status: Confirmed
Church Street Parking Lot

Proposed removal from short-term facility use policy tabled; no change to current use

Status: Pending

Watch list

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

Wastewater development impact fees (Ordinance O-26-07)

Open

Ordinance to adopt new development impact fees for the city's wastewater system, amending Ordinance No. 5275. Tabled without a return date.

Why it matters: Development impact fees directly affect the cost of new construction and housing development. The specific fee amounts have not been disclosed in available records.
Next check: Monitor for when the Board reschedules this item and what fee amounts are proposed.

Water development impact fees (Ordinance O-26-09)

Open

Ordinance to adopt new development impact fees for the city's water system. Tabled without a return date.

Why it matters: Development impact fees directly affect the cost of new construction and housing development. The specific fee amounts have not been disclosed in available records.
Next check: Monitor for when the Board reschedules this item and what fee amounts are proposed.

Church Street Parking Lot facility use policy (Ordinance O-26-10)

Open

Ordinance would have removed the Church Street Parking Lot from the city's Short-Term Facility Use Policy. Tabled for stakeholder consultation without a timeline.

Why it matters: The Church Street Parking Lot is a public facility; proposed changes to its use policy affect residents and organizations that rely on it.
Next check: Monitor for announcement of stakeholder consultation timeline and when item returns to Board.

605 South Street nuisance property — demolition timeline

Open

Structure at 605 South Street declared a nuisance and condemned under Title 17 of Hot Springs Code. No demolition or remediation timeline disclosed in available record.

Why it matters: Condemned properties affect neighborhood conditions and public safety. Residents need clarity on next steps and timing.
Next check: Monitor for announcement of demolition timeline and remediation plan for the condemned structure.

New fire station equipment and furnishing fund (R-26-41)

Open

Disbursement of restricted general funds for equipping and furnishing the new fire station was authorized without a cost figure disclosed in available records.

Why it matters: Major capital projects require public transparency on spending amounts and plans. The dollar amount and detailed spending plan have not been made available.
Next check: Monitor for disclosure of total equipment and furnishing budget and itemized spending plan for new fire station.

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

Complete record available including minutes, agenda, transcript, and public comment capture across 24 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.