9/15/2026 - Board of Directors Regular Meeting

The City of Fort Smith Board of Directors held a regular meeting on September 15, 2026, with several procurement and contracting matters discussed. Key procurement actions included the approval of a contract with Denali Water Solutions LLC for lagoon cleaning at the Lake Fort Smith Water Treatment Plant and Lee Creek Water Plant, valued at nearly $1 million. The board debated the limited competition for this contract, with public comments and board members expressing concerns about receiving only one bid and the vendor's past performance. The board ultimately approved the contract by a 4-2 vote. Another procurement item involved the purchase of two grit conveyors for the Mazard Water Reclamation Facility from Midwest Automation and Custom Fabrication for $78,822, which was approved unanimously. Additionally, the board approved a $300,000 land acquisition agreement with Union Pacific Railroad and an $871,000 partial payment to Forsrid Incorporated for sewer basin construction projects. The consent agenda included waiving competitive bidding for the purchase of hydrofluorosilicic acid and approving an agreement with HNA Junk Removal LLC for solid waste collection. Discussions also touched on procurement processes, competitive bidding challenges, and future capital improvement plans related to water treatment infrastructure. The meeting concluded with motions for study sessions on a water park audit and an executive session on key performance indicators for the city administrator's contract.