Chris' experience in Bryant started in 1978 when his parents were hired by the Bryant School District. Growing up in Bryant, Chris spent his summers swimming at Mills Park and playing ball at Ashley Park which began his love for our parks.
Chris and his wife Jana both attended the University of Central Arkansas and returned home after graduation to raise their four children - all of whom are graduates of Bryant High School.
As Director of Parks and Recreation for the City of Bryant, Chris has continued fostering his love for his hometown and our parks and dedicated himself and his department to unity, cooperation, and open communication with the community.
"I'll approach the mayor's office with the same 'we over me' approach that my dad emphasized all of those years ago during basketball. I promise a fresh and collaborative approach to leadership in Bryant with a focus on community involvement and positive change."
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I appreciate the inquiries about Bryant's utility bills. In line with my commitment to collaboration and communication, I want to thank those who reached out. I've taken the time to understand this issue and recognize the significance of addressing concerns about water and sewer costs. It's important to be upfront about the unavoidable challenges we face. I believe in confronting these realities head-on, actively working to shape our future instead of letting circumstances dictate it. Your engagement is valued, and together, we can make a positive impact for our community.
The two primary challenges we face are aging infrastructure and the strain on our systems due to ongoing growth realities.
Aging Infrastructure
The city has been increasing its investment in our infrastructure and you see this investment in your utility bills. We’ve seen that these bills often become political talking points. You deserve better from your elected officials. Especially during the replacement of the old water meters. The new water meter system is reporting fair and equitable usage as opposed to the old system that didn’t report or reported inaccurate usage. The fact remains, that we must invest in maintaining and upgrading our water and sewer systems.
Growth
Growth can be a two-edged sword, especially when elected officials offer empty promises instead of sound solutions. While our water district remains fixed, the sewer system bears the brunt of our expansion. Each new development adds pressure to a sewer system that is nearing capacity. We need to address sewer capacity immediately or growth in Bryant will come to a standstill.
Empty promises do not lower utility bills. The state legislature is already taking steps to regulate rates across cities. By 2026, every city must meet certain rate standards, and Bryant is on track to comply. We must focus on smart and forward-thinking development because growth for the sake of growth is not sustainable.
We need a comprehensive development plan that considers the economic impact without imposing excessive costs on residents. A long-term plan also opens avenues for alternative funding sources, reducing future financial burdens.
Improving communication is key. We must keep residents informed, ensuring transparency in decision-making. You should never be surprised by fees approved by the city council.
I commit to keeping you informed and seeking your feedback on decisions that affect your finances and family. No more misleading names for fees. I believe in clarity, and you deserve to know where your hard-earned money is going.
I'm committed to addressing these challenges head-on, working towards a sustainable and well-informed future for Bryant. Your concerns are my concerns and together we can build a thriving community. I was raised here and raised my family here. I'm running for mayor because I know Bryant, I serve Bryant and I love Bryant and ... I trust the people of Bryant.
Learn more about the infrastructure fee here (Video starts at 4:38).
