Kandi Chitman Hughes

The board meeting addressed various agenda items including employee recognition for long-term service, financial reporting, and the approval of several operational contracts. Key actions involved approving construction contracts for water main installations, emergency repairs for critical equipment at Lake Maumelle, and software maintenance services for the customer information system. Furthermore, the board authorized the implementation of redundant internet access services to ensure operational continuity and discussed cybersecurity efforts. Updates were provided on historic preservation nominations, pollution reduction grants, and departmental reports concerning finance, customer service, and engineering activities.

The agenda for the meeting included several critical items for discussion and potential approval. Key financial matters involved receiving the Financial Report, reviewing the Consent Agenda which included approval for network cabling installation at the James T. Harvey (JTH) Administration Building, and addressing the Non-Consent Agenda. The Non-Consent Agenda featured a request for a resolution to proclaim March 2026 as "Procurement Month," consideration of a Change Order not to exceed $710,000 for a solar shade parking structure with a photovoltaic system at the JTH Administration Building, and updates on the Rate Stabilization Account and Watershed activities. Department reports were also scheduled for information sharing.

The agenda includes a ClearEsult-Entergy Arkansas check presentation, approval of the minutes from the November 13, 2025, regular meeting, and a public comment period. The financial report and chief executive's report are also on the agenda. Consent agenda items include annual contracts for asphalt and concrete surface repairs, fleet maintenance, 2-inch galvanized water main replacements in North Little Rock, and annual professional audit services. The non-consent agenda includes approval of the 2026 Financial Plan. An executive session is scheduled for the annual review of the General Counsel and CEO.

The Board of Commissioners meeting included discussion and approval considerations for several key items. These included the approval of minutes from the previous regular meeting, financial reports, information sharing on the Rate Stabilization Account and lessons learned from international experiences. The agenda also covered the Chief Executive's report and a consent agenda that featured an annual lease agreement for equipment, water main relocation, construction of a booster pump station, and the purchase of Structured Query Language Enterprise. Additionally, the non-consent agenda addressed construction contracts for the Jack H. Wilson Water Treatment Plant Renewal and Resiliency Project.

The Board of Commissioners discussed several key items, including a legislative update for 2025, an amendment to the bylaws of Central Arkansas Water concerning remote attendance at meetings, and galvanized water main replacements in North Little Rock. They also discussed participation to upsize a water main from JFK to Gravel Ridge, pavement improvements at the Lake Maumelle Pump Station, and the renewal of an annual software maintenance and support contract with Cayenta. Furthermore, the agenda included a memorandum of understanding for Project Boar, the reappointment of Jay Barth as a commissioner, the appointment of 2025-2026 officers, and resolutions authorizing the issuance of water revenue bonds for the Jack H. Wilson Renewal and Resiliency Project, as well as for capital costs of a new Lake Maumelle raw water line. Additional discussions covered the James T. Harvey Administration Building renovation and dam inspection services at Lake Maumelle, Lake Winona, and Jackson Reservoir.