Unaltered '18 audit viewed at meeting
FORT SMITH -- City Finance Director Andrew Richards and Deana Infield, civilian appointee on the Audit Advisory Committee, presented the 2018 audit to the Board of Directors during its regular meeting Tuesday.
The auditors, BKD, issued an unmodified, or clean, opinion on the city's financial statements in 2018, as well as the federal grant programs, according to Richards. They also issued an unmodified report on the city's compliance with certain state laws.
Richards also said the financial position, or net equity, for the city overall increased by $32.7 million in 2018. The 2019 audit has yet to be initiated.
Richards said the audit took several months to complete.
City Administrator Carl Geffken wrote in a memo that, despite testing, issues "always" appear that were unknown during the planning process when municipalities transition to a new enterprise resource planning software suite. The city had to confront additional issues during the audit because of the transition and having limited resources and funds to devote to the project when it started.
"Overall, the audit needed an additional 12 months to complete, 10 additional month[s] due to the amount of work needed to close the books, and the valuation of the 'other post-employment benefits' needed to be reviewed and corrected by the actuary, and that took two months," Geffken wrote.
Lease agreement on mini golf OK'd
FORT SMITH -- The Board of Directors approved a resolution Tuesday authorizing the mayor to execute a lease agreement with Mark and Barbara Hare for the operation of a miniature golf course and concession at Creekmore Park throughout the year.
Mark and Barbara Hare are the owners of the Grand Slam Fun Center, and they, subject to certain requirements, will have the option to renew the lease for annual terms in 2021, 2022 and 2023, according to the agreement.
Doug Reinert, director of the Parks and Recreation Department, wrote in a memo that the department advertised and accepted proposals from interested parties to operate the miniature golf course and concession. They were required to include a business plan, copy of their city business license, a Police Department background check, and professional and personal references. The Hares' proposal was the one that the parks department received by the deadline.
The Parks and Recreation Commission recommended to the board to execute a lease agreement with the Hares after a review and discussion of the business proposal at its July 8 meeting, Reinert said.
Officer program for schools is a go
FORT SMITH -- A resolution authorizing the execution of a memorandum of understanding between the Police Department and the school district received the city board's approval. This memorandum provides "terms, conditions, and mutual understandings" regarding the school resource officer program.
In a memo, Deputy Police Chief Waymon Parker II said that the department wants to continue the officer program throughout the 2020-21 academic year. The department will provide four Arkansas-certified officers through the memorandum to "augment and satisfy" security needs of the district's recently formed police department.
The city and the school district will each pay half of the officers' salaries, with the city also paying benefits, according to Parker. The memorandum concerns only the current school year and terminates all previous memorandums regarding the program.
Garbage-hauling permit authorized
FORT SMITH -- City directors approved a resolution authorizing the mayor to execute a nonresidential solid-waste collection and disposal permit and agreement with MSG Waste & Refuse for the period between Aug. 1 and July 31, 2022.
"This is a normal renewal with the city of Fort Smith in order to comply with the city of Fort Smith municipal code and allows MSG Waste & Refuse LLC to continue hauling non-residential solid waste within Fort Smith city limits," sanitation director Kyle Foreman said in a memo.
$50,782 put toward repairing firetrucks
FORT SMITH -- The city board approved an ordinance authorizing the appropriation of $50,782 in insurance proceeds for the Fire Department.
Fire Chief Phil Christensen explained in a memo that Pumper-6, a 2018 Pierce Velocity pumper, was damaged on Feb. 19. An Arkansas Municipal League insurance adjuster estimated the damages at $34,991, with a $33,991 check issued on June 11. Ladder-4, a 2013 Pierce aerial apparatus, was damaged on Feb. 20. Damage this time was estimated at $17,791. A $16,791 check was issued on May 2.
Ladder-4 has been repaired and is back in service while Pumper-6 remains in the repair shop, according to Christensen.