City directors OK rezoning request
FORT SMITH — The city Board of Directors voted Tuesday to amend the city Land Use Plan and rezone 4.53 acres at 3900 Massard Road, as well as amend the city zoning map.
The move reclassifies the property from office research and light industrial to general commercial by extension on the Land Use Plan, and rezones the property from residential single family duplex low/medium density to commercial light.
Maggie Rice, city Development Services director, wrote in a memo the Planning Commission considered the proposed plan amendment and rezoning during a public hearing Nov. 10. The action was requested by firm Crafton Tull, agent for First Western Bank, and will allow development of a bank and other commercial uses compatible with a commercial light zone on the property.
“The applicant requested a development plan deferral,” Rice wrote. “The deferral was granted subject to Planning Commission approval of a development plan prior to the issuance of a building permit.”
The commission voted to recommend directors amend the zoning map, according to Rice.
Separation policy proposal tabled
FORT SMITH — City directors tabled an amendment to Human Resources policies for non-uniformed employees at its Dec. 8 study session.
The amendment outlines separation pay for full-time, non-uniformed exempt salaried, as well as hourly employees.
Rick Lolley, human resources director, said the city doesn’t have a formal policy concerning employee separations resulting from circumstances such as job elimination, office and facility closing, cutback, reorganization, revenue downturn, termination of employment without cause and outsourcing.
“A policy would provide a clear, consistent standard for this situation,” Lolley said. “Although it is not common for the city to have separations of this nature, it is prudent for the city to have a policy covering this topic should the need arise.”
Damaged traffic pole to be replaced
FORT SMITH — Directors signed off on a change order with Hot Springs-based All Service Electric for the city’s 2019 Traffic Signal Improvements project.
The move adds $22,345 to the contract for a total of $468,629, in addition to increasing the contract time 84 days.
Stan Snodgrass, Engineering Department director, said a vehicle accident Nov. 1 “severely damaged” the traffic signal pole at the southwest corner of Fresno Street and Wheeler Avenue. The damage created safety concerns the pole could break and collapse into the street.
“As such, the pole and mast arm were removed and four way stop signs were installed as temporary traffic control at this intersection,” Snodgrass wrote.
A price for a new pole was obtained from All Service Electric, who Snodgrass said is working on the improvement project. A similar-sized pole from the project not yet installed was used to replace the damaged pole.
Snodgrass said the pole will cost $22,345. Traffic signal poles and mast arms are also custom manufactured for each location, necessitating a typical minimum lead time of about 84 days.
“A claim is being filed with the city’s insurance coverage with the Arkansas Municipal League as it appears the responsible party for the motor vehicle accident has no insurance,” Snodgrass wrote.
Legal services contract OK’d
FORT SMITH — City directors approved an agreement with the law firm Daily & Woods for legal services for 2021.
The city solicited proposals earlier this year, Deputy City Administrator Jeff Dingman said. Daily & Woods has provided services to the city since 1968 and has been the designated city attorney since 1973. It was the only firm to submit a proposal.
The contract outlines the hourly rate at $160 per hour, which Dingman wrote is the same paid for 2019 and 2020. However, the hourly paralegal rate was increased from $54 to $55 per hour.