Hot Springs Board of Directors Agenda Meeting

May 27, 2025 Civic Briefing

Hot Springs Board Approves $1,064K in Wastewater Change Orders, Accepts $40K Airport Grant, and Ratifies $1,281K Cost Reduction

At its May 27, 2025 agenda meeting, the Hot Springs Board of Directors approved $2,345,752 in identified spending adjustments across five items: a $1,281,266 cost-reduction change order for the Lower Gulf Interceptor project, a $414,500 engineering change order for Davidson Drive Wastewater Treatment Plant, a $249,294 change order for the Gulf Wet Weather Pump Station, a $248,942 construction change order for Davidson Drive Wastewater Treatment Plant, a $151,750 engineering change order for the Gulf Wet Weather Pump Station, and authorized acceptance of a state grant totaling $40,200 for airport hangar roof repairs.

Hot Springs Board of Directors Agenda Meeting Agenda Meeting May 27, 2025 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 approved a change order with Coakley Company that reduces the Lower Gulf Interceptor Phase 1 contract by $1,281,266 — savings from switching construction methods that will be returned to the city's wastewater bond fund.
Four change orders totaling $1,064,486 added costs to two ongoing wastewater construction projects at Davidson Drive and the Gulf Wet Weather Pump Station, funded by the 2025 wastewater bond fund.
A director asked specific questions about what work is included in the $414,500 Chris Engineers change order; staff described design changes related to transformer placement and an estimated 107 additional days of project delay.
The Board accepted an 80-20 state grant for $40,200 in airport hangar roof repairs, with the city's share of the match being $8,040.
The Board condemned a vacant residential structure at 214 Potter Street for demolition, with the property owner's written consent on file.

By the numbers

Total identified spending

$2,345,752

Votes taken

includes procedural votes

Unanimous votes

Largest single item

$1,281,266

Resolution R-25108: Lower Gulf Interceptor Phase 1 Cost Reduction Change Order

Emergency / ratification items

Resident questions unanswered

Money approved

Item	Amount	Vendor	Vote	Source
Lower Gulf Interceptor Phase 1 Cost Reduction Change Order (R-25108)	$-1,281,266	Coakley Company Inc.	Passed	`item:4`
Chris Engineers Change Order 3 — Davidson Drive Wastewater Treatment Plant (R-25110)	$414,500	Chris Engineers Inc.	Passed	`item:6`
Gulf Wet Weather Pump Station Change Order 2 — Max Foote (R-25111)	$249,294	Max Foote Construction Company LLC	Passed	`item:7`
Davidson Drive Wastewater Treatment Plant Change Order 2 — Max Foote (R-25109)	$248,942	Max Foote Construction Company LLC	Passed	`item:5`
Chris Engineers Change Order 2 — Gulf Wet Weather Pump Station (R-25112)	$151,750	Chris Engineers Inc.	Passed	`item:8`
Airport Hangar Roof Repair Grant Acceptance (R-25106)	$8,040	Arkansas Division of Aeronautics	Passed	`item:2`
Total identified spending	$-208,740

Major decisions

Airport Hangar Roof Repair Grant Acceptance (R-25106)

Item: Grant acceptance — the city accepted an 80-20 grant from the Arkansas Division of Aeronautics for hangar roof repairs at Hot Springs Memorial Field Airport, and approved a budget amendment for the city's 20% local match.
Vote: Passed
Cost: Total project cost $40,200; city local match $8,040
Vendor / responsible: Arkansas Division of Aeronautics
Discussion level: Brief Brief presentation
Resident impact: Repairs the roof on a hangar at Hot Springs Memorial Field Airport. The city's out-of-pocket share is $8,040, funded through a budget amendment.
What the Board said or did: Staff noted the airport originally anticipated a 50-50 grant but the state approved a more favorable 80-20 split on May 21, 2025.
What remains unclear: The record does not specify which hangar or the timeline for the repair work.
Source: item:2

Lower Gulf Interceptor Phase 1 Cost Reduction Change Order (R-25108)

Item: Change order approval — the Board approved a change order with Coakley Company Inc. that reduces the Phase 1 contract by $1,281,266 through a construction method change (switching from bore-and-casing to open-cut for the bypass and Gulf Creek crossing).
Vote: Passed
Cost: Cost reduction; savings return to the 2025 wastewater bond fund
Vendor / responsible: Coakley Company Inc.
Discussion level: Brief Brief presentation
Resident impact: Reduces the cost of a wastewater infrastructure project; savings are returned to the bond fund rather than distributed as a rebate to residents.
What the Board said or did: Staff explained the savings resulted from value engineering coordinated with RDOT. Approved without extended debate.
What remains unclear: The record does not show the original total contract value, what phase of construction is currently underway, or the project completion timeline.
Source: item:4

Davidson Drive Wastewater Treatment Plant Change Order 2 — Max Foote (R-25109)

Item: Change order approval — the Board approved $248,942 in additional construction work at the Davidson Drive Wastewater Treatment Plant, representing the net of fourteen individual changes (both additions and credits) against an approximately $35 million contract.
Vote: Passed
Cost: Funded from the 2025 wastewater bond fund
Vendor / responsible: Max Foote Construction Company LLC
Discussion level: Moderate Questions or explanation from board or staff
Resident impact: Adds cost to an ongoing wastewater treatment plant construction project. The net addition represents roughly 0.7% of the base contract value.
What the Board said or did: Director Webb asked whether Chris Engineers recommended the additional work and whether it was a planned change. The record does not show the specific answer given.
What remains unclear: The record does not show staff's complete answer to Director Webb's question, nor the individual breakdown of all fourteen changes beyond the examples cited (fiber optic cable, head box modification, pipe substitution credits).
Source: item:5

Chris Engineers Change Order 3 — Davidson Drive Wastewater Treatment Plant (R-25110)

Item: Change order approval — the Board approved $414,500 in additional construction administration and design services from Chris Engineers Inc. at the Davidson Drive Wastewater Treatment Plant, including an estimated 107 additional days of project oversight.
Vote: Passed
Cost: Funded from the 2025 wastewater bond fund
Vendor / responsible: Chris Engineers Inc.
Discussion level: Extended Significant debate, public comment, or multiple speakers
Resident impact: Adds cost to the wastewater treatment plant project and extends the project timeline by an estimated 107 days, largely due to delays waiting for transformer delivery.
What the Board said or did: Director Webb asked for specifics on what administration and design changes are included. A trustee noted the amount is significant for a complex project. Staff explained the delay is primarily caused by waiting for 3,000 kVA pad-mounted transformers from Energy, and that additional work includes design changes related to transformer placement and underground work modifications.
What remains unclear: The record does not show a specific expected transformer delivery date, a revised project completion date, or a complete itemized breakdown of the $414,500.
Source: item:6

Chris Engineers Change Order 2 — Gulf Wet Weather Pump Station (R-25112)

Item: Change order approval — the Board approved up to $151,750 (not-to-exceed) in additional construction administration and inspection services from Chris Engineers Inc. at the Gulf Wet Weather Pump Station, with delay attributed primarily to the delivery of a 3,000 kVA pad-mounted transformer.
Vote: Passed
Cost: Not-to-exceed; funded from the 2025 wastewater bond fund. Actual cost could be lower if the transformer arrives sooner than projected.
Vendor / responsible: Chris Engineers Inc.
Discussion level: Moderate Questions or explanation from board or staff
Resident impact: Adds oversight cost to the pump station project; the final amount depends on how long transformer delivery delays continue.
What the Board said or did: Director Webb asked whether the not-to-exceed price could be reduced if transformer installation finishes earlier than expected. Staff confirmed the amount is a not-to-exceed and actual costs could be lower.
What remains unclear: The record does not show a projected transformer delivery date or the current expected project completion date.
Source: item:8

Approved without separate discussion

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

Condemnation of Structure at 214 Potter Street (R-25107)

Vote: Passed · No cost specified in the record.

item:3
Gulf Wet Weather Pump Station Change Order 2 — Max Foote (R-25111)

Vote: Passed · $249,294 · Max Foote Construction Company LLC

item:7

Locations affected

Hot Springs Memorial Field Airport

Hangar roof repair project funded by 80-20 state grant ($40,200 total)

Status: Planned
214 Potter Street

214 Potter Street, Hot Springs, District 2

Vacant residential structure condemned for demolition with owner consent

Status: Scheduled
Lower Gulf Interceptor (Gulf Creek crossing area)

Phase 1 construction method changed from bore-and-casing to open-cut; $1,281,266 in savings approved

Status: Confirmed
Davidson Drive Wastewater Treatment Plant

Two change orders totaling $663,442 approved for additional construction and engineering work; project timeline extended an estimated 107 days

Status: Confirmed
Gulf Wet Weather Sewer Pump Station

Two change orders totaling $401,044 approved for additional construction and engineering work; delays tied to transformer delivery

Status: Confirmed

Watch list

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

Transformer delivery timelines

Open

Two change orders at Davidson Drive and the Gulf Wet Weather Pump Station cite delays waiting for 3,000 kVA pad-mounted transformers from Energy. Neither item shows a confirmed delivery date.

Why it matters: Transformer delays are driving project extension estimates of 107 days and associated cost overruns. Without a confirmed delivery date, completion timelines remain uncertain.
Next check: Verify whether transformer has been delivered and whether additional change orders have been filed

Davidson Drive project completion date

Open

The 107-day delay estimate for Chris Engineers' additional oversight has not been translated into a revised completion date in the available record.

Why it matters: Residents and stakeholders need a concrete completion target to plan for disruptions and service impacts.
Next check: Request revised project schedule with specific completion date

214 Potter Street demolition

Open

The record does not show a contractor, cost, or schedule for the demolition.

Why it matters: Public record should specify who will execute the demolition, the cost, and the timeline.
Next check: Follow up with staff on demolition contractor assignment and expected completion

Vote tallies

Open

The available record does not show individual vote counts for any of the seven votes. All items are recorded as passed, but specific vote breakdowns are not in the transcript.

Why it matters: Voters deserve to know how individual board members voted on substantive items to track their positions and accountability.
Next check: Request detailed vote tallies from meeting minutes when available

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 (May 27, 2025 Agenda Meeting)
agenda: Agenda Item 2: Airport Hangar Roof Repair Grant
agenda: Agenda Item 3: Condemnation of 214 Potter Street
agenda: Agenda Item 4: Lower Gulf Interceptor Phase 1 Cost Reduction
agenda: Agenda Item 5: Davidson Drive Change Order 2 (Max Foote)
agenda: Agenda Item 6: Chris Engineers Change Order 3 (Davidson Drive)
agenda: Agenda Item 7: Gulf Wet Weather Pump Station Change Order 2
agenda: Agenda Item 8: Chris Engineers Change Order 2 (Gulf Wet Weather)

Confidence: Medium

Transcript and parsed agenda items available with public comment capture. Vote totals recorded as passed but individual tally breakdowns not available in the record.

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.