The ongoing discussion about what to do with certain Fort Smith-owned properties will be discussed further Tuesday (Aug. 12) during a Fort Smith Board of Directors’ study session. The board may also vote – finally – to hire an internal auditor.
Fort Smith City Clerk Sherri Gard prepared an extensive list of city-owned properties and properties that could be sold earlier this year. The board first reviewed the list on June 10 and asked city staff to further refine the list.
“The Board asked that staff work up summaries of properties that could be subject to sale,” Acting City Administrator Jeff Dingman noted in an Aug. 7 memo to the board. “Staff has identified eighteen such properties for discussion at the August 12, 2025 study session.”
Following is a summary included in Dingman’s memo and the board’s meeting packet about the 18 properties that could be sold.
There are five properties “most likely to sell.” Following are city staff notes on those properties.
• The former Bost building at 1801 S. 74th St. Dingman proposes the city convey the property to nearby Methodist Village “at nominal cost.”
“Methodist Village donated it to the city in 1966, and it was then conveyed to Bost a week later for use as a school. Methodist Village has expressed interest in using it to operate a daycare, which fits the current zoning,” Dingman noted.
• A former Bost building at 7700 Texas Road. City staff recommend deeding the 2.74-acre residential property to an adjacent landowner.
• 18 acres at 4401 Massard Road. City staff recommend selling the land which is part of the Massard Business Park.
• 1.53 acres at Harriet Avenue and Meyers Street. City staff recommend a land sale, but also noted a person is “interested in reusing for affordable housing.”
• 14.56 acres on Riverfront Drive. The vacant land, which includes utility easements, is recommended to be sold.
There also are four properties “identified as most valuable to an adjacent property owner,” and nine properties “that were acquired through the flooded residence buyout program, which could be offered for sale with deed restrictions prohibiting new structures,” according to Dingman’s memo.
The board also during the study session is expected to hear a presentation from Fort Smith Police Chief Danny Baker about using a fleet leasing program.
“This program would allow the Fort Smith Police Department to modernize and maintain its vehicle fleet with a predictable, cost-effective approach,” Baker noted in a memo to Dingman. “It will also improve officer morale and retention by providing officers with reliable vehicles. A representative from Enterprise will be present to answer questions and participate in the discussion.”
AUDITOR
The board is set to adjourn into an executive session on Tuesday to discuss hiring of the director of internal audit. The position has been vacant since April 1, 2024, when Tracey Shockley resigned after nine years with the city.
The director of internal audit is only one of two top city jobs directly hired by the board, with the other being the city administrator. The board in April was forced to reverse its decision to hire Rebecca Cowan as internal auditor when it was discovered she faced felony charges. The salary set for Cowan was $110,000.
A special meeting was held Aug. 7 in which four board members — Christina Catsavis, André Good, Lee Kemp, and Neal Martin — adjourned into executive session to interview auditor candidates James Carter and Amanda Strange.