FORT SMITH, Ark. — The Fort Smith Board of Directors once again tabled authorizing a lease agreement with Sebastian County, which would make the city responsible for Parrot Island Waterpark.
Directors originally tabled the lease agreement and a resolution to purchase $4.2 million water slides at a meeting on Aug. 6.
Although a resolution to purchase the slides was not on the agenda for the meeting on Aug. 20, several directors expressed concerns about the price tag.
"It seems outrageously high to me," Director Lavon Morton said.
City Administrator Carl Geffken said he sent a current version of the lease back for County Judge Steve Hotz to review, so the decision was tabled until the board's September meeting. So far, the county has not decided to move forward with the lease.
The City of Fort Smith and Sebastian County are split owners of Parrot Island Waterpark in Fort Smith. Fort Smith recently voted to approve the purchase of more waterslides for the expansion of the waterpark, but the Sebastian County Quorum Court voted against the purchase twice.
Although the city already voted to pay $2.1 million for the slides, they were waiting on the county's approval to move forward.
However, Hotz recently sent a drafted proposal to Geffken, suggesting a plan to lease the county's portion of Parrot Island Waterpark to the City of Fort Smith for $1 per year. This agreement would leave the responsibility of funding the new water slides to the city.
At the Aug. 6 meeting, the Board of Directors discussed two agenda items regarding the waterpark. The first item was a resolution to authorize the lease agreement with Sebastian County, making the City of Fort Smith solely responsible for the operation and maintenance of the park.
The second item was an ordinance waiving competitive bidding requirements to authorize the full $4.2 million purchase of the slides. The city would be required to pay 30% of the purchase price for a down payment, totaling $1.26 million. Once the slides are delivered, the city would pay another 30%. Finally, the city would pay the remaining 40% upon completion of installation.
Several residents expressed concerns over the purchase at the meeting on Aug. 6. One resident attending said several Fort Smith families probably can't afford to pay for waterpark tickets.
"We're a city where 73% of our public school students qualify for federal free or reduced lunches," one resident said. "That's a lot of families that probably don't have a ton of wiggle room in their budgets for water park tickets."
Directors said they are hoping to negotiate a good faith deposit at a lower price point for the slides.
Report from Aug. 6:
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