Fort Smith sewers, U.S. Marshall’s Museum and other conundrums.              July 16, 2009

A couple of decades ago the federal government issued an edict, I think it was the EPA, for Fort Smith to bring their sewers and directly related assets up to speed.  Apparently, this has not been accomplished since the Board asked the citizens to extend the sewer tax for another 12 yrs.  If the 12 yrs is correct, that adds up to 24 yrs and still no guarantee that the recognized deficiencies will be corrected, which prompts the question…have all the monies that have been generated from the sewer tax been directed to the sewers and related deficiencies, or have some of those monies been spent on needed or nebulous projects?

Is the sewer tax money deposited into a special account earmarked for sewers, or is it being deposited into the general fund?  What is the projected cost to finish the sewer projects, and how will the 2^nd funding deposits be handled? 

24 yrs to complete a project is not acceptable.  If I am wrong on the time frame, please correct me.

Now comes the Taj Mahal, a monument dedicated to politicians, bureaucrats, and other government types, commonly known as the U.S. Marshall’s Museum.  This architectural disaster, a $50 million, 50,000 sq. ft. enterprise being foisted on the citizens of the city and state in the throes of a depression is disgusting. (Driven by Whirlpool lately?)

Our benevolent leaders (easiest job in the world spending other peoples’ money) have given $3 million to this “feel-good” project which gives the appearance of another “civil rights” monument.  The city of Fort Smith dumped in $100 grand, Sebastian County $115 grand and Beebe & the state legislature $2 million, 200,000.  The ubiquitous Sandi Sanders,  over lording this project with her expensive taste for architects, fundraisers and consultants is demonstrated by paying some fellow named Russ Hodge from Ohio $2,000 per day for a “full days’” work…..Yeeehaa!!

My question to city leaders, is there a point in time, if & when this monstrosity (from my prospective) is completed, that the city will have to take over its maintenance?  The old library would have been a proper, sensible place for the museum and a place the citizens could embrace without all the add-on features being proposed and the price tag would have been miniscule. (Remember the $33 million bequeathed to the civic center by taxpayers?)

This project is being billed as a project funded by private donors, then why all the taxpayer money?  A lie from the get go?

Apparently someone has rattled Frankie Hamilton’s cage, backing off her $30,000 consultant scam and severing her relationship with Cranford Johnson, the consummate Arkansas Public Relations monopoly.

I remind each of you once again, we are in a depression, and priorities should be sewers, streets, water and flush these nonessential projects.  Jacking up downtown is not a proper function of government.

Kindest regards,

Joe McCutchen                                 Cc: citizens                  www.arkansasfreedom.com