FORT SMITH, Ark. — The Fort Smith Board of Directors voted 4-3 to purchase $4.2 million water slides for Parrot Island Waterpark at a meeting on Sept. 3. The purchase of the water slides has been a drawn-out discussion between the board for almost two months.
Before the nearly split decision was made, several directors and residents spoke out against the purchase.
"I feel like this is really irresponsible," Director Christina Catsavis said. "I’m really surprised we’re even considering it."
Catsavis said she was against the purchase when the price was at $2.1 million, and she was under the impression that the city would move on from the matter after the county disagreed with moving forward with their portion.
Director André Good, who was among the majority, said the purchase is an investment in the city.
"I don’t believe that we’re being irresponsible at all," he said.
However, many residents who spoke at the meeting said the board's priorities do not match the city's needs.
"I think we should prioritize fixing our water problems first before adding anything to our waterpark," resident Terri Hargrove said. "We should prioritize putting this money toward something that everyone benefits from."
Resident Lakesha Frazier said she'd experienced the city's sewer issue firsthand at a previous rental.
"There was poop that would come out from in the shower," Frazier said. "Yeah, it was pretty bad, but just another example of why that [money] should have been used for maybe the sewer lines."
City Administrator Carl E. Geffken explained that the funding for the slides would come from the city's general fund and not the enterprise fund, which is for the utilities department. He said the waterpark expansion will be an economic driver for the region.
"When somebody comes from Kansas City, they purchase things, pay sales tax, they stay in a hotel, they pay a tax that goes towards our A&P commission to attract more people," Geffken said. "They also pay sales tax, which comes back and pays for our police, our fire departments, and our consent decree."
Laura Frie, who is a parent of two, said she is excited for the expansion.
"I think that the water slides are great," Frie said. "I think that'll bring revenue, and I think that the kids will love it. It gives [us] something to do."
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 $2.1 million purchase of more slides 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 in early July, they were waiting on the county's approval to move forward with the full purchase. Instead, the county proposed to lease its portion of the waterpark to the city for $1 a year.
At the Sept. 3 meeting, the Board of Directors discussed two agenda items regarding the waterpark. The first item was an ordinance waiving competitive bidding requirements to authorize the full $4.2 million purchase of the slides.
Since the board approved the purchase, the city will now be required to pay 30% of the purchase price for a down payment, totaling $1.26 million. Once the slides are delivered, the city will pay another 30%. Finally, the city will pay the remaining 40% upon completion of installation.
The board said the next step will be getting the slides shipped to the city.
The second item the board discussed 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. This item was tabled at Tuesday's meeting.
With the approved purchase and the lease agreement still in limbo, the board said Sebastian County will still be responsible for the waterpark's maintenance. However, the county said it has no plans to contribute to the cost of the new slides, including putting money toward the maintenance.
This all could change if the board authorizes the lease agreement in the future.
Sebastian County Judge Steve Hotz released the following statement to 5NEWS on Wednesday:
"With regard to the City of Fort Smith moving forward to purchase the 5 slides for the water park, we will have to meet with the City to determine what will be expected from the County. The current agreement states that the City and County will proceed with projects of mutual interest, and the County has stated twice that the timing is not right to invest in this project. The County has not agreed to this project, which means the County has no plans to contribute to the cost of the project, whether that be to purchase, install, operate or maintain the five slides. Of course, the County could decide to appropriate funds once we have an understanding of the City’s intent. As you know, the County has offered to lease the facility to the City so they can expand and operate the water park as they wish, but that proposal was tabled at last night’s meeting."
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