Board levies no ad valorem taxes for 2023 collection

The Board passed three resolutions certifying that no real or personal property taxes will be levied for the Fire Pension Fund (R-22-162), the Police Pension Fund (R-22-162) or the General Fund (R22-164).

The Board followed staff recommendations to levy zero mills of ad valorem taxes on the real and personal property located within the City for the year 2022 to be collected in 2023.

Pursuant to the Arkansas Constitution, the Board must annually certify to the County Quorum Court the millage amounts for the Fire Pension Fund, the Police Pension Fund and to raise General Fund revenues.

Other Board actions

The Board passed Resolution R-22-161, appointing to the Hot Springs Arts Advisory Committee Karen Wiley (Position 2), Kenneth Blackwelder (Position 4) and Kara Gunter (Position 6) for 2-year terms. The Board interviewed candidates at a special meeting held on Oct. 11.

The Board passed Ordinance O-22-42, amending Flood Damage Prevention Ordinance numbers 5532, 5742 and 5941 by prohibiting camping on public property within flood zones. Historical flooding of downtown Hot Springs along Hot Springs Creek dates back to 1885. Although flood control improvements have been and continue to be made, flooding can still occur today as a result of rainfall and storm surge. To protect the health, safety, and welfare of residents and visitors of this City, the Board determined that camping on City-owned property within special flood hazard areas should be prohibited.

The Board passed Ordinance O-22-43, amending policies and regulations for the Parks and Trails Department to include hours of operation. With the exception of programs approved by the City, all facilities that are owned and operated by the City will be closed to the public from 30 minutes after sunset until 30 minutes before sunrise.

The Board passed Resolution R-22-159, approving a master agreement for professional engineering services for Hot Springs Memorial Field Airport with Garver, LLC, for federal, state and locally-funded projects from 2023 – 2027. The Airport solicited Statements of Qualifications (SOQ) and performance data for engineering services and design on a number of projects on an as-needed basis, including the following: taxiway pavement rehabilitation, design, extension and alternation; airfield lighting and signage rehabilitation, design and alternation; airport entrance drainage improvements; overlay, extension
and alternation of runways 5/23 and 13/31; Part 77 compliance (obstruction survey and mitigation); ARFF facility construction; land acquisition and release; construction of a multiple-hangar complex; main terminal upgrade; green energy projects (solar, wind, geothermal); self-services systems upgrade and installment; fuel farm upgrades; terminal parking lot improvements; new FBO hangar and terminal construction; land use improvements; perimeterroad and maintenance trail construction; large hangar rehabilitation or construction; perimeter fence rehabilitation and installation; T-hangar construction; and airspace evaluation. The City reserves the right to rate and rank individual projects or to solicit a separate SOQ if deemed in the City’s best interest.

Pursuant to Hot Springs Code §17-1-1 relating to building condemnation and removal, the Board approved to condemn the vacant structure at 1104 Park Avenue, which was deemed unsafe and a nuisance in its current state. The owner of the property will have 30 days to pull a permit and show substantial work to the structure. Should the City be forced to remove the structure, all costs will be billed to the owner and liens will be levied against the property

Coming Events

Pumpkin fundraiser

Pumpkin sale fundraiser for Park Avenue Community Garden, corner of Holly Street and Park Avenue, starting on Oct. 19 (Director Erin Holliday, Dist. 1)

Corvette Show

23rd Annual Corvette Show with parade through downtown at 4 p.m. on Oct. 20 and cars on display on Oct. 21 at Convention Center (Mayor Pat McCabe)

Know B4 You G

Garland County Library and Hot Springs Civitan Club invite the public to learn about the four issues appearing on the upcoming election ballot

5:30 p.m. on Oct. 20 at the library (Director Erin Holliday, Dist. 1)

Fish-O-Ween

Garland County Library’s Fishing Derby and Fall Festival at Family Park from 9 a.m. - noon on Oct. 22

Free and open to public; RSVP at GCLibrary.com

Fishing, alligator showand-tell, pumpkin patch, games, crafts, free hot dog lunch (Director Karen Garcia, Dist. 5)

Trick-or-Treating

6-8 p.m. on Oct. 31 at David F. Watkins Park (Director Erin Holliday, Dist. 1

The Board Report, capturing major elements of the latest regular meeting of the Hot Springs Board of Directors, is part of the City of  Hot Springs’ efforts to broaden its communications with the public. City Board meetings are open to the public, and agendas, minutes, and more information can be found at www.cityhs.net/Board or by contacting [email protected].