Hot Springs Board of Directors

April 21, 2026 Civic Briefing

Hot Springs Board Awards $883K Water Line Contract, Ratifies $662K Central Avenue Drain Repair

The Board of Directors approved $1,629,944 in total spending — a $882,766 contract to Coakley Company Inc. for the 2026 Water Line Improvements Project, a $661,628 budget transfer ratifying emergency stormwater drain repairs at 3545 Central Avenue, and $85,550 for Valley Street Skate Park updates — all by unanimous 6-0 votes.

Hot Springs Board of Directors Regular Meeting April 21, 2026 Confidence: High Independent — not affiliated with the City of Hot Springs

Published: May 16, 2026 · Last updated: May 17, 2026

View source notes Watch meeting ↗

The short version

The Board awarded a $882,766 contract to Coakley Company Inc. to replace or improve water lines across the city in 2026; the specific locations were not described in the available record.
The Board ratified emergency repairs already completed on a failed stormwater drainage system at 3545 Central Avenue and approved a $661,628 budget transfer to cover those costs; competitive bidding was waived because of the emergency.
The Board approved $85,550 to upgrade the Valley Street Skate Park through American Ramp Company using a cooperative purchasing program.
The Board authorized the city to apply for a state Transportation Alternatives Program grant for the Hollywood Railroad Spur Trail Project; no city spending commitment appears in the record at this step.
City Manager Bill Burrough announced that Chief of Police Billy Hrvatin will leave May 15 and that Chris Chapmond has been selected as the incoming Chief of Police.

By the numbers

Total identified spending

$1,629,944

Votes taken

includes procedural votes

Unanimous votes

Largest single item

$882,766

2026 Water Line Improvements Project bid award

Emergency / ratification items

Resident questions unanswered

Money approved

Item	Amount	Vendor	Vote	Source
2026 Water Line Improvements Project	$882,766	Coakley Company Inc.	6-0	`item:11`
Emergency Stormwater Drainage Repair, 3545 Central Ave. emergency budget transfer	$661,628	Coakley Company Inc.	6-0	`item:12`
Valley Street Skate Park Updates	$85,550	American Ramp Company	6-0	`item:9`
Total identified spending	$1,629,944

Major decisions

Emergency Stormwater Drainage Repair at 3545 Central Avenue — ratification and budget transfer

Emergency / Ratification

Item: Ordinance ratifying emergency actions already taken by the City Manager to repair a failed stormwater drainage system, waiving competitive bidding, and approving a $661,628 budget transfer to cover the costs.
Vote: 6-0
Cost: $661,628 (budget transfer)
Vendor / responsible: Coakley Company Inc.
Discussion level: Brief Brief presentation
Resident impact: Emergency repairs were made to the drainage system serving or adjacent to 3545 Central Avenue; the work was completed before the Board voted to authorize it, consistent with emergency procedures.
What the Board said or did: Deputy City Manager Denny McPhate presented the item. Director Webb and Mayor McCabe discussed it; the substance of that discussion is not detailed in the available record.
What remains unclear: The nature or extent of the drainage failure, the timeline of the emergency work, and the source account for the budget transfer are not described in the available record.
Source: item:12

Approved without separate discussion

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

2026 Water Line Improvements Project — bid award

Vote: 6-0 · $882,766 · Coakley Company Inc.

item:11
Valley Street Skate Park Updates

Vote: 6-0 · $85,550 · American Ramp Company

item:9
Hollywood Railroad Spur Trail Project — TAP grant application

Vote: 6-0 · The record does not show a city spending commitment at this step.

item:7
Amendments to DEQ Consent Administrative Orders

Vote: 6-0 · No cost specified in the record. · Arkansas Department of Energy & Environment, Division of Environmental Quality

item:8
Term Contract for Mowing and Landscape Services

Vote: 6-0 · No cost specified in the record. · C&C Lawn Services, LLC (primary); Tus Nua Lawn and Landscape LLC (secondary)

item:10

Resident questions not answered

Is the Gulpha Creek sewage overflow at Lake Catherine still ongoing?

Addressed at meeting: No

What the record shows: The Board approved amendments to consent administrative orders with the state DEQ (item 8), which relate to environmental compliance, but the meeting record does not specify which systems or bodies of water those orders cover.
What the record does not show: Whether the Gulpha Creek overflow issue is resolved, ongoing, or covered by the DEQ orders; no water quality information for Lake Catherine appears in the available record.
Follow-up needed: Contact the Hot Springs Public Works or Utilities department to ask whether the DEQ consent orders relate to Gulpha Creek and for the current status of water quality monitoring at Lake Catherine.
Related agenda item: Amendments to DEQ Consent Administrative Orders
Source: https://www.reddit.com/r/HotSprings/comments/1t8md2z/lake_catherine/

Is $20/hour with overtime a livable wage for a family of four in Hot Springs?

Addressed at meeting: No

What the record shows: The meeting did not address wages, cost of living, or housing affordability.
What the record does not show: Any city action or data relevant to this question; it falls outside the scope of what municipal boards typically decide at regular meetings.
Follow-up needed: This question is not addressed through city board action. Regional cost-of-living data from sources such as the Arkansas Department of Workforce Services or MIT's Living Wage Calculator would be more useful references.
Source: https://www.reddit.com/r/HotSprings/comments/1sy6a64/cost_of_living/

Does Hot Springs have a mountain bike park project in the works?

Addressed at meeting: No

What the record shows: The Board approved a $85,550 skate park upgrade at Valley Street (item:9) and authorized a TAP grant application for the Hollywood Railroad Spur Trail (item:7). Director Webb also mentioned an upcoming work session on a sports plan and complex (item:6). None of these items involved a mountain bike park.
What the record does not show: Any city plan, proposal, or funding request for a mountain bike park.
Follow-up needed: The upcoming work session on the sports complex referenced by Director Webb could be relevant; reviewing the agenda for that session or asking the Parks and Recreation department directly would be the most efficient path.
Related agenda item: Valley Street Skate Park Updates
Source: https://www.reddit.com/r/HotSprings/comments/1so3hwa/phase_one_construction_begins_on_mena_mountain/

Locations affected

3545 Central Avenue

3545 Central Avenue, Hot Springs, AR

Emergency stormwater drainage system repair completed and ratified.

Status: Completed
Valley Street Skate Park

Upgrades approved; work not yet begun.

Status: Planned
Hollywood Railroad Spur corridor

TAP grant application authorized for trail project.

Status: Planned
Park Avenue, Whittington Avenue, Albert Pike Road, Hobson Avenue, and Malvern Avenue

Installation of 96 MMA crosswalks begun April 20.

Status: Scheduled
443 Leawood Street

443 Leawood Street, Hot Springs, AR

Asphalt regrind/millings available for public pickup April 27 through May 8.

Status: Scheduled
Water line improvement project locations

Specific streets or service areas not identified in the available record.

Status: Confirmed

Watch list

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

2026 Water Line Improvements Project scope not disclosed

Open

The specific streets and service areas included in the 2026 Water Line Improvements Project have not been disclosed publicly; the city has not committed to a date for releasing that information.

Why it matters: Residents cannot assess whether their neighborhoods are affected by the $882,766 project without knowing the scope.
Next check: Monitor city website or contact Public Works for release of project scope and location details.

Hollywood Railroad Spur Trail TAP grant status pending

Open

The scope, local match requirement, and status of the Hollywood Railroad Spur Trail TAP grant application will not be known until the state acts on the submission.

Why it matters: Grant award decisions determine whether the trail project will be funded and when construction might begin.
Next check: Contact Parks and Recreation or check state TAP grant program announcements for award decisions.

DEQ consent order amendments not explained publicly

Open

The DEQ consent administrative order amendments were approved without any public explanation of what changed or what environmental issues they govern; the city has not indicated when or whether that information will be made public.

Why it matters: Residents cannot understand the city's environmental compliance obligations or what underlying issues are being addressed.
Next check: Request from City Manager's office or Utilities/Public Works for details on the amendments and affected environmental systems.

Mowing and landscape services contract terms not disclosed

Open

The mowing and landscape services term contract was approved without a disclosed dollar value or duration; those details have not been committed to a public release date.

Why it matters: Budget transparency requires disclosure of contract costs and terms for public accountability.
Next check: Request contract details from Procurement or Parks and Recreation department.

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: Full video transcript
social: Reddit resident question - Gulpha Creek sewage overflow
social: Reddit resident question - Livable wage
social: Reddit resident question - Mountain bike park

Confidence: High

Minutes, agenda, and full video transcript available. All 14 agenda items parsed with specific vote counts and action details documented.

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.