City manager details new hires, warming-shelter activations and community programs

City Manager Burrell reported several staffing changes and a promotion, and updated the Board on community services and winter operations.

Burrell listed new police dispatch and public-works hires and announced that Ross Niche was promoted to driver in the Hot Springs Fire Department. He noted the upcoming Martin Luther King Jr. holiday on Jan. 19 and said city offices (except public safety, the airport and the Community Resource Center) will be closed that day; solid-waste residential routes will run one day behind for the week following the holiday.

On winter services, Burrell said the Community Resource Center has implemented emergency warming-shelter operations “for both days and evenings” and that the shelters “will open when the temperatures drop below 30 degrees.” He reported recent activations sheltered about 38–40 people overnight and that the day center is serving about 100 meals per day. Burrell credited the peer recovery specialist Carrie Montgomery and partners including Ouachita Behavioral Health for the expanded Wellness Day program, which launched Jan. 5 and will operate Monday–Friday from 08:30 to 15:30.

Burrell also described recent community events supported by city staff: an animal-services adoption event on Dec. 20 (five dogs and three cats adopted) and a “shop with a cop” event that served more than 75 students. He encouraged volunteers and donations to support ongoing CRC operations and provided contact information for the peer recovery specialist.