City board OKs committee, commission appointments

The Hot Springs Board of Directors approved appointments and reappointments to six citizen committees and commissions last month, recognizing incumbents and new participants at its July 16 business meeting.

Alexandra Stafford was appointed to the Arts Advisory Committee, which influences the placement of public art projects and organizes city sponsored art exhibits. She told the city board she moved to Hot Springs from Houston a few years ago, and that she serves on the board of the Hot Springs Children’s Dance Theatre Company and teaches etiquette classes at Ouachita Children’s Center.

Carole Lee Katchen, June Simmons, Kenneth Blackwelder, Shun Ying Chen and Nan Cameron were all reappointed. The city board adopted a resolution last month reducing the number of committee members from nine to seven to make it easier to get a quorum. Angela Finley Rose is the other committee member. Many of the committee are artists or active in the city’s arts community.

LeDante Walker was appointed to the planning commission after serving on the city’s Transportation Advisory Committee. He is joined by Emmily Tiampati, the study director for the area’s transportation planning agency. She will serve as an alternate along with Karie Lynn Hobby, whom the city board reappointed.

Hilarie Dzianott was reappointed as the commission’s unincorporated area representative, and Wayne Thomason was reappointed to a third term.

Darrin Clark and Michael Abram were appointed to the Airport Advisory Committee, with the former telling the committee that he is a recreational pilot.

“I have a vested interest in seeing our airport strong and vibrant,” Clark, who served previously on the committee, told the board.

Former City Director Rick Ramick was newly appointed to the Board of Zoning Adjustment, which hears appeals related to the city’s

application of its zoning code. Ramick previously served on the planning commission. Harold Hardwick was reappointed to the BZA.

Kelly Thomason was reappointed to an at large position on the Community Development Advisory Committee, which recommends how the city’s Community Development Block Grant gets spent.

Former City Director Larry Williams and Robert Owen Reddish were appointed to fill two vacancies on the Parks and Trails Advisory Committee, joining incumbents Rick Dwyer and Dudley Webb.