Minutes

Public Awareness Committee, Inc.

Fort Smith Public Library, Community Room, 1st Floor

December 4, 2003

 

Dick Gordon called the meeting to order.  The Colors were presented and Jack Arnold led the Pledge of Allegiance.  Dick Gordon called for a moment of silence in honor of those serving active duty in the military.  Dick Gordon presented the minutes from the March 2003 meeting.  The minutes were approved, as written, with a motion by Crawford County Judge Jerry Williams and seconded by Claude Legris. The Treasurer’s Report was presented and approved.  Beginning balance was $1,833.91.  Interest was $.92.  There were no expenses. Balance on hand is $1,834.83. 

 

Dick Gordon requested names of individuals returning from active duty, especially those that did not go with a troop, so that they could be recognized by the mayor.  Gordon also mentioned that Gary Campbell will begin putting the minutes on the internet.

 

Special recognition was given to distinguished guests Kathy Watson and Steven Stewart, Projects Director for Congressman John Boozman. (Congressman Boozman and Chief of Staff Steve Gray are in Southeast Asia.)  Stewart discussed several items such as the Appropriations Bill, Highway Bill, Medicare Bill, economy, Omnibus Report, Defense Authorization Bill, Healthy Forest Initiative Act, Energy Policy Act, and the situation with Whirlpool.

 

Special thanks were given to all the agencies, businesses, organizations, and individuals for displays.

 

The next scheduled meetings are:

 

The following are on file:

 

 

Short Reports are as follows: 

 

Adjutant General Morrow stated that since “9-11”, more troops have been mobilized than in WWII.  Fifty percent of the Army National Guard in Arkansas is mobilized.  Arkansas is the 3rd ranked state behind North Carolina and Oklahoma that has guardsmen deployed.  The 39th Infantry Brigade is at Ft. Hood in Texas for training and transition from light infantry brigade to mobile infantry.  After the holiday break, the troops will return to Ft. Hood for a month and then move to Ft. Polk in Louisiana for mission rehearsal exercises. They will deploy in-country for 12 months.  There will be a Transfer of Authority mid-March.  There are two units in Iraq (Transportation Company and Medical Company).  Move home date is early next year.  He discussed the Security Mission at Ft. Sims in Houston, Texas.  Morrow discussed the split guards unit between the Air Force Base in Little Rock and the Air National Guard Base in Ft. Smith.  There are two units in Cuba (PA Company and MP Company).  The 142nd from Ft. Smith was mobilized for awhile.  The 224th maintenance company is home.  The Air Traffic Control Company will deploy with the Headquarters Company.  A unit will be going to Kosovo and a unit to Bosnia.  Every unit in the Air National Guard has a few mobilized, mostly as individuals, to 47 different locations—18 were in foreign countries.

 

JoAnn Campbell, President of the Library Board, gave a general history of planning that went into the library system.  She recognized retiring Library Director Larry Larson.  Four books will be added to the library’s collection in honor of Larry.  He has served 18 ˝ years.  Campbell promoted the “The Perfect Gift”, a program that encourages the purchase of books for the library in honor of someone special.  Dick Gordon recognized Jennifer Goodson as the next library director.

 

Gary Campbell, Fort Smith City Director, discussed the last City Director’s meeting.  The budget is finished due to the excellent staff.  He discussed the Comprehensive Plan (20-30 master plan).  He gave the Lake Fort Smith project as an example.  The base of the dam is 900 foot thick and is expected to provide water for 40 years or more.   They are working with the Parks Department on getting the Marshall’s Museum in Ft. Smith.  He discussed improving the look on Garrison Avenue for 3 blocks, extending hours for the transit system, establishing an economic development department for the city, the Holiday Lighting at the park along with the trolley, and the effect of possible decisions concerning Whirlpool.

 

Dr. Chuck Larson reported on the Western Arkansas Nature Center Partners and welcomed the new director.  He mentioned an event at Wells Lake for December 20 and a potential ground breaking.  Larson reported on a display for the Nature Photo contest winners.

 

Col. Thomas Hunt, Arkansas National Guard, reported on the usage being down this year at Ft. Chaffee.  He discussed a Tennessee Unit will be new equipment fielding.  Hunt reported on improvements and construction plans to repair roof damage and to modernize buildings.  He also mentioned the plans to build a new ammunitions supply point.

 

Paul Martin, Director of the Fort Smith National Cemetery, gave an update on the different sections.  There are 1,874 sites available.  There will be an increase by 9 acres (Andrews ball field).  A road construction project will affect the main entrance to the cemetery, but should be completed by June.

 

Lynn Picumbe, US Department of Energy commented on the training facility at Ft. Chaffee.  The National Nuclear Security Administration transports material and they come to Ft. Chaffee to train agents to transport this material.  There is an 18-week beginner course on firearms, CDL, tactics.  Agents are housed in New Mexico, Texas, and Tennessee.  Agents are brought in annually to keep skills up.  This mission was born in 1975.  There are 219 federal agents.   There were 346 in the mid-90s.  There will be 23 graduates next week.  This is the “elite of the elite”, special response force (SWAT Team level agent).  In 2001, there was one fulltime employee at Ft. Chaffee, now there are 104 fulltime employees.

 

Kelley Mulvihill, Director of the Nature Center, reported on the “Trim a Tree” for Wildlife on December 20.  People will be able to make ornaments that wildlife can eat.

 

Steve Dunlap, Arkansas Game and Fish, discussed hunter education, disabled youth hunt, and Mt. Magazine.  He also stated that if you have an event or program that you need the Game and Fish for, then he is the person to contact.

 

US Forest Service Representative Joy Serrano introduced David Flugrad, the Superintendent at Mt. Magazine State Park.  Serrano talked about the long-term special use permit with the state concerning Mt. Magazine.  She reported that the next phase will be the 60-room lodge.  The groundbreaking should be in February or March and should take 18-24 months to complete.  Both the Ozark and the Ouachita National Forests are currently working on Plan revisions and are hosting several public meetings.  Serrano reported that the Forest Service dispatched about 50 20-person crews out of Fort Smith during this last fire season.  The bathhouse at Spring Lake is being renovated to make it accessible.

 

Lynn Hubbard, Area Agency on Aging, stated that they have offices that cover 11 counties for home nursing care provide transportation for 3 additional counties.  Several services are provided such as Skilled Care, Extended Care, Hospice, Personal Care, Non-skilled , ElderChoice, Supplemental, Tax Money, Private Pay Aide Services, Case Management, Client Representation, Nursing home advocacy, Senior Center Programs (750,000 meals per year), Elder Housing, Non-emergency transportation, Aide Training, and flu clinics.  Approximately 2,200 flu shots were given agency-wide.

 

Crawford County Judge Jerry Williams discussed the clock tower getting a facelift and that the courthouse is the oldest working courthouse west of the Mississippi.  Crawford County has a 6 million dollar budget.  Growth is increasing.  He mentioned the Sewer Project on Highway 64, only one outside of the metropolitan area.  Williams talked about the jail study and ongoing problems.  It will be the 7th year for the courthouse lighting.

 

Ray Caruthers, Barling City Administrator, reported that they are receiving applications for fulltime firefighters as a result of the election on September 9th for the one cent sales tax.  He discussed the sidewalks to the elementary school, and the ongoing water district and waste collection environmental document.

 

Dean Kruithof, Fort Smith City Deputy Administrator, stated that the Southwest Times Record building was donated to the city.  This will be the site of the new John Q. Hammons hotel.  There are plans for two electronic marquis for the convention center.  Some of the upcoming events are Amy Grant and Disney on Ice in 2005.  He discussed the need for a city hall (old Malco Theatre).  It needs to be restored and be a National Historic Site.

 

Dr. Kay Johnston, Greenwood School Superintendent, mentioned changing the school boundary with the Public Trust.

 

Bill Black, Fort Smith National Historic Site, reported that the Frisco Station was bought in April.  He mentioned railroad displays and a John Belle painting of the Frisco Station.  They want to convince the selection committee that Fort Smith is the right place for the US Marshall’s Museum and that the first floor of the Frisco Station would be an appropriate location. Park Rangers can earn A Historical Interpretive degree on site now.  Moffet wants to put in a park along the river to help protect the riverfront.   They want it declared a National Historical Trail named the Butterfield Trail.

 

Blake Benson, Chamber of Commerce, reported that Tom Mansky from east Texas became the new director in September.  The chamber will be having a facelift.  It will be called the Fort Smith Regional Chamber of Commerce.  A new logo will be unveiled.  There was an economic development conference at Kay Rodgers Park that sparked a renewed sense of cooperation.  The new website will be www.fortsmithchamber.com.  It will promote economic development in Fort Smith and will use GIS technology.  He touched on the Nights of Lights campaign. 

 

Claude Legris, Ft. Smith Convention and Visitors Bureau commented that visitor counts continue to show an increase for the fall over the previous year.  Through October, there have been 13,000 visitors, compared to 11,200 through the same period the previous year.  In October alone, there were 2,333 visitors at the center, the largest monthly total since the post tornado renovation.  Motor Coach groups to date is 97, 15 over the same period the previous year.  Hotel/motel collections are up but will probably fall short of the projected annual 2 percent increase with the closing of one Fort Smith hotel and the delayed opening of another.  Land has been cleared for construction of another downtown hotel adjacent to the Convention Center.  Groundbreaking should be in the spring.  Other groundbreakings include the renovation of the Tourist Information Center on I-40 and the Arkansas River Valley Nature Center.  Construction has started on the first downtown housing development in many years by ERC Company, West End Apartments.  “Does Eat Place” will locate in Wideman’s Brewery in January.  A&M Railroad is ready to announce weekly Sunday excursion service out of Fort Smith starting in April.  Downtown carriage rides are popular with Classic Carriage Tours on Garrison Avenue.  The same company is in discussion with Chaffee Crossing regarding the potential to offer Chuck Wagon Dinners and hay rides for the group tour market next year.  Last month KUAF and Fort Smith hosted the “What’ Da Ya Know” Show on NPR radio broadcast with wonderful exposure for Fort Smith.  The CVB had a series of national articles featuring Fort Smith in the fall.  Retail value of the space would have been $10,600.  Work is progressing on securing the US Marshall Service Museum for Fort Smith.  A promotional video “Fort Smith, Where the New South Meets the Old West” has been completed and may be shown on the City cable channel.  Creekmore Park had a successful opening of holiday lighting and the Historic Oak Cemetery Commission has completed a new 2004 calendar.  The Frisco Depot Centennial open house will be held at the Depot on December 9.

 

Jason Daughtery, Director of Nature Center for Girl Scouts, reported on school programs and nature therapy where treatment centers bring clients to the center.  The center is open to organizations and groups.

 

Col. McVay, American Legion Post 31, commented on the high school oratorical program, flag etiquette, and Boys and Girls State.

 

 

Meeting adjourned at 5:10 p.m.