Hot Springs Board of Directors Agenda Meeting

August 27, 2024 Civic Briefing

Hot Springs Board Reviews $32K Airport Hangar Repair Ratification, Runway Rehabilitation Grant, and Six Additional Resolutions

The Board of Directors' August 27 agenda meeting covered eight resolutions, with the single identified spending action being a $32,000 budget transfer from the airport fund to cover emergency hangar door repair costs; the remaining items included a paratransit van purchase, a playground replacement, a salt dome procurement, a flood-warning system extension, a federal community development plan, and an FAA runway rehabilitation grant application.

Hot Springs Board of Directors Agenda Meeting Agenda Meeting August 27, 2024 Confidence: Medium 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 reviewed a $32,000 budget transfer from airport fund reserves to cover emergency repairs and associated costs after three of six cables on a large bifold hangar door snapped on June 6.
The Board considered authorizing a grant application to the FAA and Arkansas Department of Aeronautics for a two-phase rehabilitation of the main runway at Hot Springs Memorial Airport; the grant covers 95% of costs and the record does not show a city spending commitment at this step.
A new ADA-accessible paratransit van is proposed to replace a 2023 model with 148,000 miles, funded 80% with federal transit dollars and 20% with a local match totaling $100,938.
The Board reviewed procurement of new playground equipment for Kimmery Park from an approved cooperative vendor, replacing equipment installed in 2008 with an ADA-accessible system designed for ages 2 to 12.
The Board also considered a five-year Community Development Block Grant consolidated plan — the city's application to HUD for annual CDBG funding — which went through two public hearings before reaching the Board.

By the numbers

Total identified spending

$32,000

Votes taken

includes procedural votes

Unanimous votes

Largest single item

$32,000

Resolution R-24157: Airport Hangar Door Repair Budget Transfer

Emergency / ratification items

Resident questions unanswered

Money approved

Item	Amount	Vendor	Vote	Source
Airport Hangar Door Repair Budget Transfer (R-24157) emergency budget transfer	$32,000	United Rental / repair vendor	Not recorded	`item:7`
Total identified spending	$32,000

Major decisions

School Resource Officer Agreement with Hot Springs School District

Item: Authorization of a memorandum of agreement for continued placement of one police officer at the school district; the school pays 75% of the officer's salary and benefits for nine months, and the city covers the remainder.
Vote: Not recorded
Cost: School district reimburses the city $52,667; no net additional fiscal impact to the city is specified in the record.
Vendor / responsible: Hot Springs Police Department and Hot Springs School District
Discussion level: Brief Brief presentation
Resident impact: One police officer will continue to be stationed at the school district, maintaining a campus security presence that has been in place for roughly two decades.
What the Board said or did: The police chief explained the two-decade history of the partnership and noted this is the final position under a memorandum of agreement, as the school district has built its own police department for other schools.
What remains unclear: The record does not show which specific school or campus this officer is assigned to.
Source: item:1

Purchase of ADA Paratransit Van

Item: Authorization to purchase a 2024 Ford Transit van with wheelchair lift using Federal Transit Administration Section 5339 grant funds; 80% federal, 20% local match.
Vote: Not recorded
Cost: $100,938 total — $80,750 in federal funds and $20,188 in local match.
Vendor / responsible: Not specified in available record
Discussion level: Brief Brief presentation
Resident impact: Paratransit riders who rely on ADA-accessible vehicles would see continued service; the replacement van would retire a 2023 model with 148,000 miles.
What the Board said or did: Deputy City Manager Plaster reported that required amendments to the Transportation Improvement Program and Statewide Transportation Improvement Program had already been approved by RDOT and Tri-Lakes NPO.
What remains unclear: The specific vendor for the van purchase is not identified in the available record.
Source: item:2

Kimmery Park Playground Replacement

Item: Procurement of a new playground system and turf safety surfacing from Bayer Commercial Playgrounds, Inc. through the Interlocal Purchasing System cooperative; replaces equipment installed in 2008.
Vote: Not recorded
Cost: Dollar amount not specified in the available record.
Vendor / responsible: Bayer Commercial Playgrounds, Inc.
Discussion level: Brief Brief presentation
Resident impact: Families using Kimmery Park would see new playground equipment designed for children ages 2 to 12, with ADA accessibility and two shade structures.
What the Board said or did: Staff explained that the new system includes two kite-tent shade structures, four slides, a rock wall climber, and additional components, and that it exceeds the ADA minimum of 7 elevated pieces by providing 12.
What remains unclear: The total purchase price is not specified in the available record.
Source: item:3

Salt Dome Storage Structure at Leawood Facility

Item: Procurement of a fabric salt dome storage structure from ClearSpan Fabric International, Inc. through the Sourcewell Cooperative Purchasing Program, to be installed at the city's facility at 436 Leawood.
Vote: Not recorded
Cost: Dollar amount not specified in the available record.
Vendor / responsible: ClearSpan Fabric International, Inc.
Discussion level: Brief Brief presentation
Resident impact: Additional road salt storage capacity could support faster snow and ice response for city streets during winter weather.
What the Board said or did: Public Works Director Ron Sebrite noted the city already has a similar structure installed in 2016 and may need to replace that one in the coming years; the new dome adds buffer storage capacity.
What remains unclear: The purchase price is not specified in the available record.
Source: item:4

USGS Flood Warning System Agreement Extension

Item: Extension of a three-year joint funding agreement with the U.S. Geological Survey Lower Mississippi Gulf Water Science Center for the city's flood warning monitoring system.
Vote: Not recorded
Cost: $86,000 in year one, with reduced costs in subsequent years based on a narrowed monitoring scope; exact amounts for years two and three are not specified in the available record.
Vendor / responsible: U.S. Geological Survey
Discussion level: Brief Brief presentation
Resident impact: The city's flood early-warning system would continue operating under a federally supported monitoring agreement.
What the Board said or did: Ron Sebrite explained that the city worked with USGS to reduce the scope of some monitoring items in the outlying years to lower overall costs.
What remains unclear: The year-two and year-three costs are not specified in the available record.
Source: item:5

2024–2028 Community Development Block Grant Consolidated Plan

Item: Adoption of the city's five-year CDBG Consolidated Plan, which also serves as the annual application to HUD for federal community development funds.
Vote: Not recorded
Cost: The record does not show a city spending commitment at this step.
Vendor / responsible: City of Hot Springs; administered through HUD
Discussion level: Brief Brief presentation
Resident impact: The plan guides how the city will use federal CDBG funds over the next five years for community development needs; the specific projects and neighborhoods to benefit are outlined in the plan but not detailed in the available record.
What the Board said or did: Deputy City Manager Plaster noted that the plan underwent public notice and comment, with hearings on August 1 and August 15, presentations at SWAP meetings, and outreach to nonprofits and community associations. The Community Development Advisory Committee approved it unanimously.
What remains unclear: The specific projects and dollar allocations within the five-year plan are not detailed in the available record.
Source: item:6

Airport Hangar Door Repair — Emergency Budget Transfer

Emergency / Ratification

Item: Budget transfer ratifying emergency repair work and covering ongoing repair costs; $32,000 moved from airport fund reserves after a bifold hangar door failed on June 6, 2024.
Vote: Not recorded
Cost: $32,000 — approximately $5,000 for emergency response and equipment rental (United Rental and vendor fees) already incurred; $20,284 estimated repair cost; the remainder is buffer within the transfer.
Vendor / responsible: United Rental (emergency response); repair vendor not named in the available record
Discussion level: Brief Brief presentation
Resident impact: The airport's hangar door would be restored to safe operation; Municipal League Insurance does not cover the damage because it was classified as normal usage rather than a listed peril.
What the Board said or did: Airport Director Don Rollett reported that three of six metal cables snapped on the multi-thousand-pound door, causing the door frame and hinges to break, and that insurance coverage was not available for this incident.
What remains unclear: The specific repair vendor and the final repair timeline are not identified in the available record.
Source: item:7

FAA and State Runway Rehabilitation Grant Application

Item: Authorization to file and accept a grant from the FAA and Arkansas Department of Aeronautics for two-phase rehabilitation of Runway 5-23, the main runway at Hot Springs Memorial Airport.
Vote: Not recorded
Cost: The record does not show a city spending commitment at this step; staff stated there is no cost to the city, and that FAA and the state cover 95% of costs, with a 5% share noted — but the total project value and any local dollar figure are not specified in the available record.
Vendor / responsible: Federal Aviation Administration and Arkansas Department of Aeronautics
Discussion level: Brief Brief presentation
Resident impact: Runway 5-23, which has developed significant cracking over time, would be resurfaced in two phases; no specific timeline is provided in the available record.
What the Board said or did: Airport Director Rollett explained that the runway's cracks have been sealed repeatedly over time and the project would remove existing material and clean and repair the surface.
What remains unclear: The total project cost, the city's 5% share in dollar terms, and the project schedule are not specified in the available record.
Source: item:8

Locations affected

Hot Springs Memorial Airport

Emergency bifold hangar door repair and budget transfer ($32,000); runway 5-23 rehabilitation grant application.

Status: Planned
Kimmery Park

New playground equipment and safety surfacing replacement.

Status: Planned
436 Leawood

436 Leawood

New salt dome storage structure to be installed at Public Works facility.

Status: Planned

Watch list

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

FAA/State Runway Rehabilitation Grant — Total Cost and City Share

Open

The total project cost and the city's 5% share of the FAA/state runway rehabilitation grant have not been specified.

Why it matters: The dollar exposure will become clearer when grant documents are filed or accepted.
Next check: Review grant documents when filed or accepted.

Kimmery Park Playground Purchase Price

Open

The purchase price for the Kimmery Park playground system was not disclosed at the agenda meeting.

Why it matters: The amount should appear in the procurement resolution when it comes to a vote.
Next check: Review procurement resolution at regular Board meeting.

Salt Dome at 436 Leawood — Purchase Price

Open

The purchase price for the salt dome at 436 Leawood was not disclosed.

Why it matters: The amount should appear when the resolution is voted on.
Next check: Review resolution at regular Board meeting.

USGS Flood Warning Agreement — Years 2 and 3 Costs

Open

Years two and three costs under the USGS flood warning agreement were not specified.

Why it matters: Reviewing the final signed agreement with the city clerk's office would show the full cost schedule.
Next check: Request final signed agreement from city clerk.

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
agenda: Agenda Items 1–8

Confidence: Medium

Transcript and 8 parsed agenda items available; no recorded votes identified in the available record, limiting certainty on final outcomes.

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.