8/11/2026 Board of Directors - Study Session

The City of Fort Smith Board of Directors held a study session on August 11, 2026, focusing heavily on water utility management and financial oversight. Key procurement-related discussions included a detailed review of the city's 2026 budget, highlighting improved financial conditions and plans to appropriate approximately $8.5 million from water and sewer fund reserves to capital improvement projects. The board discussed capital projects such as repainting and repairing major water tanks and replacing outdated galvanized pipes, supported by federal earmarks totaling several million dollars. Additionally, the board considered implementing coin-operated systems at bulk water filling stations to improve revenue collection and discussed transitioning water billing units from CCF to gallons, which would require replacing nearly 40,000 water meters. The session also addressed regulatory considerations for potential data center developments, including zoning amendments, water usage agreements, and possible surcharges on water rates for large industrial users. Motions were made to place several of these procurement and policy items on future agendas for formal consideration.