City in Progress Summer 2011

City in Progress
cityhs.net
Summer 2011
All aboard the
M ountain X press p.2
Greenway Trail p. 3
Water Update p. 4
Newsbytes p. 7
Construction D.I.R.T. p. 12
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All aboard
the
Free transportation? Yes, you read correctly! What a great way to cool off, enjoy the scenery and
leave the driving to Intracity Transit on the fare-free, environmentally friendly Mountain Xpress.
In its second year of operation, the Mountain Xpress offers free transportation for those who’d
like to sightsee Hot Springs in air conditioned comfort, including the downtown historic and
arts district, Mountain Tower, Gulpha Gorge and other portions of Hot
Springs National Park, and even Magic Springs and Crystal Falls
amusement/water park.
Buses run at 30-minute intervals between 10 a.m. and 6 p.m. on Saturdays,
Sundays and holidays all summer long until September 5. They travel up
Hot Springs Mountain to the Mountain Tower, back through downtown
Hot Springs, out to Magic Springs, into Gulpha Gorge Campground and
back to downtown. The entire loop takes one hour. Friendly drivers relate
interesting facts as the tour proceeds.
The National Park Service, Hot Springs Intracity Transit and Visit Hot Springs
have partnered to repeat the free service for the second year. The buses
are comfortable, air conditioned and fully disabled accessible. Bike racks
enable bikers to travel a portion of the route by bike, and the rest by bus.
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Weekend
June 18-19
Ridership
649
Same time
Last year
265
Difference
+145%
Visitors can park and ride for free at three downtown locations (click here www.cityhs.net/pdfs/transit/rack%20card.pdf). Mountain Xpress boarding signs are located
along Bathhouse Row and in the central business area where the buses will stop to pick up
passengers. Hotels with pickup stops include the Austin Hotel & Convention Center, Embassy
Suites Hot Springs, Arlington Resort Hotel & Spa, Park Hotel, Hot Springs Hotel, Travelier Inn,
Grand Comfort Inn and the Red Roof Inn.
Rider comments have been enthusiastic, and ridership numbers are much higher than the first
year. It’s a great experience for tourists, families and friends. Even long-term residents and
frequent visitors learn something new during the scenic ride. For more information, call
Intracity Transit, 321-2020. t
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rom pre-dawn until dusk, many residents can be found traveling some portion of the
Hot Springs Creek Greenway Trail, on foot, bicycle, skate, stroller or skateboard. They
will soon have another stretch to explore, as the Valley Street Creekwalk, Phase II, nears
completion. This 800-foot section extends from Belding Street, adjacent to Sanders
Plumbing, to the Hot Springs Sanitation Department at Valley and Runyon streets. A land
donation from the Sanders Family Trust, combined with other easement and right-of-way
agreements, made possible the construction of this section of the creekwalk.
The greenway, now more than halfway complete, will eventually stretch from the north
trailhead at the Transportation Depot all the way to Lake Hamilton, where a boardwalk
is planned that will pass over federally protected wetlands. The length of the entire trail
will be 4.2 miles, most of which is shared-use, 12-foot wide asphalt trail.
Any form of non-motorized transportation is welcome along the greenway. Trails
Coordinator Ken Freeman of the city’s Parks & Recreation Department, who rides it to
work daily on his bike, said, “We want to connect neighborhoods physically and socially
to each other and to downtown.”
The trail has been funded through
grants, private donations, civic organization fund raisers, the City of Hot Springs
and Friends of the Parks, a non-profit
organization that has focused its
resources in recent years on developing
the greenway trail. Their fund raising
activities include the annual “Du for the
Parks,” an Arkansas State Championship
duathlon, held each Memorial Day. This
year’s event raised about $7400, according to Friends president Ned Skoog.
More good news for greenway development arrived recently in a letter from the
Arkansas State Highway Commission, announcing the approval of federal funding in the
amount of $152,000 for Phase V of the trail. Pending approval by the Hot Springs Board
of Directors, scheduled for early July, Phase V involves the construction of a 1500 linear foot section along the north, east and south boundaries of the city’s Utility Service
Center on Adams Street, resulting in a completed total of nearly 2.5 miles of connecting
trails.
For information on Friends of the Parks or the development of the Hot Springs Creek
Greenway Trail, contact Parks & Recreation, 321-6871. t
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Water Facilities Update
Recent extreme weather events have presented challenges that citizens may not realize,
including their effect on the city’s water systems. In May, Hot Springs was in the middle of what
was categorized as an “extreme” drought. The lack of rain resulted in a very low water level in
Lake Ricks, which supplies water to the Lakeside Water Treatment Plant, the smaller of the city’s
two water treatment facilities. Prior to the recent storm events, the water level was reported as
being 18-19 feet down, or about half of the reservoir’s capacity. This caused concern, as the city
was about to enter its peak demand season. Due to heavy rainfall events in late May, the
reservoir has now recovered to only about 7’ down. This should relieve any concerns at the
Lakeside Water Treatment Plant going into the summer months, unless we experience another
severe stretch of dry weather.
While the rains were very much needed, the volume and intensity created problems of another
sort for the Ouachita Water Treatment Plant, the larger of the two treatment facilities. The
attached picture, taken at the Ouachita Water Plant during the flooding events, shows the
muddy water that often occurs during times of heavy rainfall. The water turbidity increased with
this event, but not to the extreme range that city staff
has seen before. The city was able to slow
production of water during this time, and remain
online until the Corps of Engineers released water and
pushed the muddy water downstream, after which
normal production rates resumed. Following that
event, the Corps of Engineers released water through
the flood tunnel, which was a higher temperature and
turbidity than the water they release through power
generation, but city water treatment staff reported no
treatment issues during that time.
Currently, the city is operating at the higher end of its rated capacity. On June 24, the Ouachita
Plant produced 19.77 MGD and the Lakeside Plant produced 2.38 MGD, for a combined
production total of 22.0. Again, the city’s production capacity is approximately 23.5. The city
continues to make repairs to the water distribution system per the leak survey reports, in efforts
to reduce unaccounted for water and restore some capacity. The city’s water treatment staff are
to be commended for their dedication to providing quality drinking water in the Hot Springs area.
Should extreme water usage or other unforeseen emergencies arise, citizens will be asked to
implement water conservation measures as directed by the city’s water conservation plan. At
present, residents are encouraged to adopt the voluntary water conservation measures listed on
the next page. t
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Water Conservation
Good for you… good for our community
Water is one of our most valuable resources and is vital to our existence.
What can an individual or family do to help conserve water?
By implementing the following water conservation tips, you may also help reduce
your monthly water utility bill:
Check faucets for leaks. A slow drip can waste 15 to 20 gallons
of water per day.
Put a bit of food coloring in each toilet tank and watch for a few
minutes. Color in the bowl would indicate a toilet leak, which in
turn could cause a loss of up to 100 gallons per day.
Keep showers to a reasonable length. Five minutes for showering
and five inches in the tub are good guidelines to follow.
Water your lawn early or late in the day, rather than in the midday
heat. After 10 a.m., evaporation robs the soil of moisture.
Therefore, watering after this time does not get absorbed
efficiently.
Use a broom instead of a hose to clean driveways, walks, and
patios.
Wash your car on your lawn instead of your driveway.
Saving water saves all of us money
A message from the City of Hot Springs Utilities Department
111 Opera Street, Hot Springs, AR 71901 · 321-6999
Spread the Word!
YOU DON’T HAVE TO THROW
YOUR OLD PHONE BOOK AWAY!
When your new phone book arrives, recycle the old one.
Place it with your recyclables at the curb on your regularly
scheduled collection day. Here are other ways to help:
 Encourage your friends and neighbors that don’t
recycle to start now.
 Offer to be a neighborhood collection point.
 Bring old phone books from work and recycle them too!
PHONE BOOK RECYCLING DROP-OFF LOCATIONS
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Hot Springs Sanitation Department, 218 Runyon (off Valley) - 24 hours
Hot Springs/Garland County Beautification Commission, 500 Mid-America Blvd.
Greater Hot Springs Chamber of Commerce, Grand and Ouachita
Garland County Library, 1427 Malvern Avenue
Hot Springs Memorial Field, 525 Airport Road
Hwy. 7 North and 70 West county transfer stations
Hot Springs Village Recycling Center
Garland County Landfill, 1040 Cedar Glades Road
Recycled phone books can be turned into roofing material, home insulation and recycled
paper products. Remember...recycling helps conserve natural resources and ensures a
healthy environment for generations to come. And just think of all the landfill space that won’t
be taken up by phone books!
RECYCLING DRIVE SPONSORS
Hot Springs Sanitation Department
Hot Springs / Garland County Beautification Commission
Garland County Solid Waste Department
Garland County Library
Greater Hot Springs Chamber of Commerce
Hot Springs Memorial Field
Phone Book Recycling Drive
July 11 - August 31, 2011
For more information, call the Hot Springs Sanitation Department, 321-6911
Printed on recycled paper
6
Newsbytes
Calling all neighborhoods
Neighborhoods throughout the city are making plans to
celebrate “National Night Out” on Tuesday, August 2 along
with thousands of communities nationwide. In its 28th
year, National Night Out is designed to heighten awareness
of drug and crime prevention; generate support for local
anti-crime efforts; strengthen neighborhoods and
police-community partnerships; and let criminals know
that neighborhoods are organized and fighting back.
From 7 to 10 p.m., residents throughout Hot Springs are
asked to turn on their lights, lock their doors and spend an
evening outside with neighbors and police. Neighborhoods
will host block parties, cookouts, flashlight walks and youth
activities. HSPD officers will stop by neighborhood
gatherings to personally meet residents. If your
neighborhood is hosting an event, please contact Cpl. McCrary Means or Officer
Courtney Kizer at 321-6789, ext. 6740 or 6734 so they can add it to their list. t
adds Dallas route
Beginning July 15, SeaPort Airlines will offer service from Hot Springs
Memorial Field to Dallas Love Field. SeaPort also offers flights to El
Dorado, Harrison, Memphis, Jonesboro and Kansas City. Book your
next flight online from the Airport page on the city’s Web site, cityhs.net. Visit SeaPort’s Web site with your smart phone by scanning
the QR code on the same page. t
Deputy city clerk retires
Deputy City Clerk Janet Heath completed 44 years of service to the City of
Hot Springs, retiring on June 30. She served under nine mayors, and all four
city managers.
Over the years, Heath adapted to changes in city leadership, personnel and
technology, and was known for her kindness and generosity. Her retirement
plans include travel and enjoying her grandchildren. t
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Newsbytes, continued
8
Putting the squeeze on plastic
Hot Springs/Garland County Beautification Commission Director Adam
Roberts, District 3 Director Cynthia Keheley and Parks & Recreation
Director Jean Wallace were among the first to place recyclable plastic
bottles in Arkansas’ first solar-powered recycling compactor, located in
Hill Wheatley Plaza in downtown Hot Springs. The compactor uses the
latest technology to hold up to five times as much Type 1 plastic as a
conventional recycling unit, thereby reducing fuel costs, wear and tear
and carbon emissions. The compactor was made possible through a
partnership between the Beautification Commission and the Hot
Springs Giving Circle. t
Have a pet-riotic summer
Made in the shade
Pets can get dehydrated quickly, so give them plenty of fresh, clean water when it’s hot outdoors.
Make sure your pets have a shady place to get out of the sun, be careful to not over-exercise
them, and keep them indoors when it’s extremely hot.
Know the warning signs
Symptoms of overheating in pets include excessive panting or difficulty breathing, increased
heart and respiratory rate, drooling, mild weakness, stupor or even collapse. They can also
include seizures, bloody diarrhea and vomit along with an elevated body temperature of over
104 degrees. Animals with flat faces, like Pugs and Persian cats, are more susceptible to heat
stroke since they cannot pant as effectively. These pets, along with the elderly, the overweight,
and those with heart or lung diseases, should be kept cool in air-conditioned rooms as much as
possible.
No parking!
Never leave your animals alone in a parked vehicle. On a hot day, a parked car can become a
furnace in no time -- even with the windows open-which could lead to fatal heat stroke.
Also, leaving pets unattended in cars in extreme weather is illegal in several states.
Fireworks aren’t very pet-riotic
Please leave pets at home when you head out to Independence Daycelebrations, and never use
fireworks around pets. Exposure to lit fireworks can potentially result in severe burns or trauma
to curious pets. Even unused fireworks can be hazardous. Many types of fireworks contain
potentially toxic substances such as potassium nitrate, copper, chlorates, arsenic and other
heavy metals.
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Meet City Engineer
Gary Carnahan
Carnahan is a registered
professional engineer with a
master’s degree in civil engineering. A former certified floodplain
manager and licensed wastewater
operator, he served as city engineer
for the City of Lowell, Arkansas.
Carnahan’s leadership experience
includes membership on the
Washington County Quorum Court
and the Arkansas Natural and
Cultural Resources Council. He and
his wife Melinda have four adult
children and six grandchildren.
One word that describes you: Persistent.
A major accomplishment to date:
My wife, Lin, and I will be
celebrating our 40th wedding
anniversary this summer. This
should be seen as more of an
accomplishment (hurdle) for her
than for me because she is a real
darlin’.
What is No. 1 on your bucket list:
To watch the 4th of July fireworks
on a boat in New York Harbor in
front of the Statue of Liberty.
Someone whom you most admire,
and why:
My son-in Law Sam Sellers for his
military service in Iraq and
Afghanistan and for my daughter
Holly for the added responsibility
at home with the boys and the
families of the men in Sam’s unit.
Carnahan’s new duties include the review, coordination and
inspection of local development projects and city projects.
His office is located in the east wing of the ground floor at
City Hall.
A little known fact about you:
I teach Bible Studies for the men in
the County Detention Center.
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Meet Utilities Director
Richard Penn
Penn has a bachelor’s degree in
agricultural engineering and a
masters degree in engineering
from the University of Arkansas at
Fayetteville. He holds professional
certifications in floodplain
management and stormwater
quality. His engineering experience
in the private sector included work
with North American Marine Jet;
Jack Tyler Engineering of Arkansas;
Orbit Valve Company; Falcon Jet
Corporation; and Halliburton.
Penn and his wife of 30 years,
Janet, have three children and two
grandchildren.
One word that describes you: Calm.
A major accomplishment to date:
I am happy and honored to be
Utilities Director for the City of Hot
Springs!
What is No. 1 on your bucket list:
I want to return to Niagara Falls
with my wife, Janet. We each have
been there before, but not together.
Someone whom you most admire,
and why:
My dad. He’s my pastor, advisor,
mentor, and close friend.
Penn is in charge of water and wastewater treatment and
operations. His office is located in the Utilities Service
Center, 780 Adams.
A little known fact about you:
I’ve worked in Research &
Development designing pumps, in
Field Engineering selling pumps,
and now at a public utility that
operates a large number and
variety of pumps. Seems like I can’t
get away from pumps!
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by Mike Scott,
Chief Building Official
The mission of The Construction D.I.R.T. is to highlight new Development important to our
community, identify staff and discuss Inspection problems, Report construction activity, and
provide Training to help our citizens and contractors through the construction process.
The Construction D.I.R.T. is a short newsletter to keep you informed of the activities around our
community and in the Building Safety Division.
Development
1. The new Student Residential Building at ASMSA is well underway. This multi-story residential
building will contain 125 student rooms and 10 mentoring rooms.
2. The Velda Rose Hotel has begun renovation, beginning with the ground floor and reopening its
restaurant.
3. Home Goods will open soon at 436 Cornerstone, the old Goody’s location.
4. Rick Williams, the owner of The Atrium, an assisted living complex, has purchased the condos
next door and will be renovating them to be an addition to The Atrium.
5. Eldercare is building a new office building at 105 Sawtooth Oak.
6. Hot Springs High School is getting a new look which will really dress up the entrance to the
building.
7. More storage buildings are being built on Golf Links Road, in addition to those located across
the street.
There are many smaller projects underway in our community, as well as discussion of other
proposed projects.
Inspection
and
Staff
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Aaron Shaw, City’s Mechanical Inspector, has a Class A license. Aaron is a lifelong resident
of the area, working in the Heating and Air trade most of his life. With the continuous
advancements in the mechanical industry, Aaron stays busy training and staying current with
all the new technology as well as performing inspections. We are fortunate to have someone
with his drive and knowledge on our staff. If you have any questions for Aaron, call him at
802-1517.
Reporting
For the first five months of this year, 1,374 permits have been pulled with a valuation of
$14,091,199. This compares to last year, with 1,664 permits pulled and an evaluation of
$40,514,405.
We will be replacing some of the street light bulbs with more efficient ones to reduce the cost
of street lighting. The new bulbs are funded from the rebate money we received from
Entergy on other energy-saving lighting projects completed by the city.
The 2010 Arkansas Mechanical Code has been adopted by the Hot Springs Board of Directors
and is now the City of Hot Springs Mechanical Code.
Training
When applying for a permit, several documents are often required. Many of these
documents are required by the State of Arkansas, the Architecture and Engineering Boards,
the State Health Department, and by the State Fire Marshal’s Office. It is our job to insure
these documents have been submitted on commercial projects and they meet the minimum
requirements adopted by the state. This is to help ensure this building will be safe for the
employees of the building as well as the public.
Through our review of these plans, we often identify items that do not meet these minimum
requirements. New documents are then submitted with the corrections before a permit is issued.
By reviewing the plans and inspecting through the building process, we reduce the number of
hazards in a building and make it possible for all occupants to exit quickly, should there ever be an
incident at the building. t
These cards can help save an average of 20% off the regular
retail price of prescription drugs not covered by insurance.
Registering for the card takes only a quick toll-free phone
call, and the savings extend to an entire family. There are no
limits on how many times the card can be used.
All major pharmacy chains nationwide participate in the
program, which is offered through the National League of
Cities in collaboration with the City of Hot Springs. Savings
will vary by drug and by pharmacy. The drug card also
offers higher discounts on select medications.
A recent NLC report indicates that 133 card users in Hot
Springs have saved approximately $3,000 in prescription
drug costs since February 2010, when cards were first made
available locally. Those users realized an average savings of
29.5% off of retail cost. For more information, call 321-6805. t
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INDEPENDENCE DAY
FIREWORKS DISPLAYS
July 1 - Spa Blast
Oaklawn Park
Mark Your Calendar
The City of Hot Springs
reminds residents that
prescription drug
discount cards are
available free of charge
from the city’s Municipal
Utilities Customer
Service counter in the
Bill Edwards Center, 517
Airport Road, and from
the city clerk’s office at City Hall, 133 Convention Boulevard.
July 2 - Brady Mountain
Resort
Lake Ouachita
July 2 - South Highway
7 Bridge
Lake Hamilton
July 3 - Magic Springs and
Crystal Falls
July 4 - Mountain Harbor
Resort
Lake Ouachita
July 4 – Independence Day
City offices closed
Super Soaker Saturday
Sat, July 16, 1-3 pm
Family Park, 215 Family Park
Lane
National Night Out
Tue, Aug 2, 7-10 pm
Neighborhoods citywide
Sept 5 - Labor Day
City offices closed
Keep in touch with your city
Action Line 321-6808
To submit a question, suggestion or concern
about city services
Crime Stoppers 321-6742
To confidentially report on a crime
Traffic Obstruction Hotline 321-6861
To report traffic visibility problems
Compost Hotline 321-6869
For a recorded message on daily availability
Street Light Hotline
1-800-ENTERGY (1-800-368-3749)
Choose option 3 to report pole number
and street address
City Web Site
www.cityhs.net
Government Access Cable TV Channel
HSTV-15
Broadcast schedule at
www.cityhs.net/hstv.html
City Guide
Board of Directors
Mayor Ruth Carney
276-1038
District 1, Peggy Maruthur
624-1965
District 2, Elaine Jones
321-1839
District 3, Cynthia Keheley
620-9791
District 4, Pat McCabe
760-3322
District 5, Karen Garcia
318-9046
District 6, Tom Daniel
525-2261
City Services
Airport
321-6750
Animal Services
262-2091
City Attorney
623-4023
City Clerk
321-6815
City Manager
321-6811
Neighborhood Services
321-6857
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Government at your Service
Community Development
321-6879
Compost
321-6869
District Court
321-6765
Fire 321-6971
Human Resources
321-6841
Intracity Transit
321 2020
Occupation Tax
321-6826
Parks & Recreation
321-6871
Planning & Development
321-6850
Police 321-6789
Public Information
321-6806
Public Works
321-6861
Sanitation
321-6911
Utilities
321-6999
Utilities Customer Service
321-6880
Frequently called numbers
Car tags/Driver’s license
624-4472
Garland County Library
623-4161
Housing Authority
624-4404
Main Post Office
525-0558
Social Security
525-6927
State Employment Office
525-3450
Veteran Services
622-3795
City in Progress
is published by the
City of Hot Springs, Arkansas
Jeff Fields, Layout
Terry Payne, Editor
Please send questions or
comments to:
H.S. Public Information
Department
501.321.6806
[email protected]