In a brief meeting Jan. 21, Fort Smith city managers voted to approve the purchase of the building, which is already being used as city offices.
The building already housed several city service functions, including city clerk, engineering, human resources, citizen services (utilities), and administration.
The construction will cost $4 million and will be funded through the city's unrestricted year-end funds.
The Board also approved the resolution and regulation to advance the Military Facility Resilience Grant. The initial assessment will take up to 12 months. It takes another 12 months for grants to be approved for any projects that may be required.
The MIR was established to ensure that military bases remain operational for 14 days in the event of supplies being disrupted or non-operational.
The board approved the consent agenda, which includes providing funds for the design of mitigation ponds on the former ACME Brick property.
City managers expressed concerns about the condition of the ponds and whether they would remain dry or wet. It was stated that the designs would give them flexibility to transition from a dry pond to a wet pond, depending on the future development of the property.
Dry ponds are used to temporarily collect excess rainwater during heavy rains or floods. These ponds are typically shallow and bowl-shaped with gentle slopes to allow for easy water flow and drainage. Dry ponds are generally inexpensive and require little maintenance.
Wet ponds permanently store water and provide additional storage capacity for rainwater during heavy rainfall. Stagnant water helps improve water quality by trapping sediment and pollutants. These ponds are built deeper and at different depths to maintain a constant water level and accommodate additional rainwater. These ponds are well suited to areas with limited space where water filtration, habitat creation, or commercial value are a priority.
During the recent study session, Travis Brisbane of Halff and Associates explained that the ponds would reduce homes in the area from a 10-year flood zone to a 25-year flood zone. This would remove 39 homes from the 25-year floodplain and 11 from the 100-year floodplain.
In separate action, Neighborhood Services Director Shawn Gard said there are 43 buildings in Fort Smith that he will seek approval to demolish “due to the unsafe conditions created.”
Directors approved an ordinance to demolish the buildings at 3301 Neis St., 407 N. 17th St. and 920 N. 10th St. within 30 days.