LAKE OUACHITA WATER SUPPLY PROJECT City of Hot Springs Engineering Department CITY OF HOT SPRINGS Dec. 12, 2023 During November, MICHELS Trenchless successfully sank a 42" raw water transmission main across 410 feet of Lake Hamilton. After sinking the main, it was welded onto the already-placed shoreline mains. Afterward, the sedimentation curtains were removed from the main channel and are currently placed along the east and west shorelines until the project is completed. However, the floating illuminated caution buoys remain. This project is scheduled, depending on the weather, to be completed in late December 2023. The 60” tunnel, at the Big Mazarn Creek Crossing, was completed on Oct. 31 and has been sealed with grout. The 42” steel connector pipes to the raw water main are being installed at both Secant Shafts (North Moore Road and Timberlake Drive). The tunnel pipe is scheduled for hydrostatic testing and substantial completion is expected on or before Dec. 9. Afterward, site restoration will take a few weeks as MICHELS has to remove 846 wooden mats (used due to the soft soil conditions) and the pasture regraded and seeded. On Nov. 7, members of the Hot Springs Board of Directors participated in a tour of the new Water Treatment Plant vicinity , located at 125 Randall Road, as a part of the Lake Ouachita Water Supply Project. Pictured at top left: Prepping the new water transmission main. Pictured at bottom left: Matt Dunn, President of Crist Engineers, Inc., standing in front of South Portal of the Intake Tunnel.
On Nov. 2, members of the Hot Springs Board of Directors as well as members of various advisory commissions and committees attended the 2023 City of Hot Springs' Advisory Commissions and Committees Volunteer Appreciation Banquet at the Chittum Venue at Forest Lakes. Snapshot Page 2 APPRECIATION AND AWARDS Thanks to the quick reactions of Hot Springs Intracity Transit Driver Michelle Ramon, a woman’s life was spared on the afternoon of Oct. 21. An unidentified motorcycle driver, with a passenger, failed to notice a line of vehicles stopped in the roadway ahead when the motorcycle driver suddenly veered into the outside traffic lane. This led to the passenger on the motorcycle falling from the bike and landing directly into the path of the oncoming city bus. The unidentified motorcycle passenger was inches away from a tragedy if not for the swift actions of the bus driver, Mrs. Michelle Ramon. She was able to safely stop the bus and radio for medical assistance. The passenger was taken to CHI St. Vincent Hospital for medical care and later discharged. City Manager Bill Burrough commended Mrs. Ramon for her decisive actions, stating, “You put your safety training into action, which led to the safety of our riders but also the motorcycle passenger”. Mrs. Michelle Ramon has been with the City of Hot Springs Intracity Transit since Feb.2021 and has mentioned that this was the first time something like this has happened to her while driving a bus. On Tuesday, Nov. 21, Ramon was given a HERO award at the Hot Springs Board of Directors meeting. This award is given to a City employee in honor of their above and beyond service to our community, either in a specific incident or for continued efforts. Pictured: Planning Commission members and Planning and Development Dir. Kathy Sellman and Planner Dawn Sweet-Dobbs. Pictured: Javier and Michelle Ramon, Mayor Pat McCabe and Intracity Transit Resident Advisory Keith Jones.
On Sept. 30, the Hot Springs Fire Department promoted two firefighters, Allen Goines and David Koller. Goines was promoted to Lieutenant and Koller was promoted to Driver. Both promotions are welldeserved, and we know they will continue to excel in these new roles. Congratulations! LAW ENFORCEMENT DAY Hot Springs Police Department Snapshot Page 3 FIRE SAFETY Hot Springs Fire Department In early November, Jeremy Nixon and Corey McGhee, with Fire Streams of Arkansas, spent a day with the Hot Springs Fire Department testing and certifying the department's pumps. This annual pump testing helps the fire department maintain its ISO rating and ensures that the fire apparatus are performing as intended. This procedure is an integral and vital part of apparatus safety and maintenance. The youth and adult classes for Leadership Hot Springs Class XXXVI (36) each spent a day with various law enforcement agencies that serve and protect Hot Springs. In these classes, participants got to see a SWAT and K9 demonstration, as well as hear from the Hot Springs Police Department, Garland County Sheriff's Office, Arkansas State Troopers, Garland County District Court, Garland County Detention Center and several others.
DRUG TAKE BACK Hot Springs Police Department Snapshot Page 4 BOO WITH A BADGE Hot Springs Police Department On Oct. 28, the Hot Springs Police Dept. (HSPD) and the Probation and Parole Office held an event, in honor of National Drug Take Back Day, and collected unwanted/expired medications from citizens at the Hot Springs Police Department, 641 Malvern Ave. From April to October 2023, HSPD collected 549.5 pounds of medication. For those who were unable to attend, the HSPD offers a Drug Take Back Drop-Off box that can be accessed 8 a.m. - 5 p.m., Monday - Friday in the HSPD lobby. For more information, visit www.cityhs.net/drugtakeback. On Oct. 31, the Hot Springs Police Dept. (HSPD) and several other organizations gathered at the Hot Springs Junior Academy to distribute candy to approximately 5,000 attendees.
Snapshot Page 5 RED RIBBON WEEK Hot Springs Police Department The Hot Springs Police Department was invited to speak with the students at Lakeside High School during Red Ribbon Week. Carrie Montgomery, Peer Recovery Specialist, shared her experience with addiction and how she overcame it. Montgomery also discussed how she and her partner respond to overdoses, including providing information on NARCAN and how HSPD offers free NARCAN trainings. In addition, Sgt. Cantrell and Ofc. Stockwell shared information about the HSPD's Community Police Response Team, which is a grant-based program that allows a small group of officers to work in high-crime areas to assist in investigations, surveillance and narcotics. For more information on Peer Recovery Support, visit www.cityhs.net/peer-recovery. On Oct. 27, representatives from the HR Department and Stormwater Division met with over 300 Jessieville high school students at a career fair so they could have an insight to some career options after high school. Alisha Gruszka said, "although it was pouring rain, we had a great turnout! Many of the students showed an interest in staying local to work." Fore information on available careers, visit www.cityhs.net/careers. JESSIEVILLE CAREER FAIR City of Hot Springs Human Resources Pictured L-R: HR Assistant Alisha Gruszka and Stormwater Coordinator Rachel Keeling. Pictured L-R: Ofc. Eric Stockwell, Peer Recovery Specialist Carrie Montgomery and Sgt. Jarret Cantrell
STATEWIDE WORKSHOP Snapshot Page 6 City of Hot Springs Clerk's Office The Parks and Trails staff have been working diligently on putting up more than a million holiday lights in preparation for the annual Downtown Christmas lights display, which began the evening of Nov. 20 at the end of the Tom Daniel’s Chili Cookoff event. In addition to the lights, there are new holiday features at Henry Glover Park and along Malvern Avenue. The lights will be displayed until Jan. 2, 2024. The City of Hot Springs (CHS) Clerk’s Office hosted the Municipal Clerks Institute Regional District 4 Workshop on Oct. 13 which covered program topics such as Municipal Law, 2024 Eclipse Planning, Emotional Intelligence and Budget Building Basics. There were 30 clerks registered from across the state. The workshop speakers consisted of CHS Attorney Brian Albright, CHS HR Director Brooke Gilbert, CHS Finance Director Karen Scott, Visit Hot Springs Director of Marketing Bill Solleder, Hot Springs Fire Department Chief Ed Davis, Fire Marshal Tom Braughton, Hot Springs Police Department Chief Billy Hrvatin, CHS Deputy City Managers Lance Spicer and Denny McPhate. LIGHTING UP DOWNTOWN... City of Hot Springs Parks and Trails Department Pictured: CHS HR Dir. Brooke Gilbert workshops with attendees.
Snapshot Page 7 Snapshot highlights some of the recent projects from the various City of Hot Springs departments and is part of the City’s efforts to broaden its communications with the public. [email protected] • City of Hot Springs Public Information Department • 501-321-6806 www.cityhs.net The Parks and Trails Department hosted its Annual Christmas Memories event on Dec. 1, at the Kenneth Adair Memorial Park, 358 Central Avenue. The public was invited to bring an ornament or use one that will be provided to hang on the (4) Memorial Trees in memory of loved ones who have passed or in honor of loved ones on active military duty. In addition to the animated Christmas light displays Parks and Trails staff were on hand passing out candy canes and hot chocolate. CHRISTMAS MEMORIES City of Hot Springs Parks and Trails Department