12:52 p.m. UPDATE:
U.S. Sen. Tom Cotton, R-Ark., Tweeted the following message regarding the death of City Manager David Watkins: "Today, I join all Arkansans in mourning the death of Hot Springs City Manager David Watkins. My thoughts & prayers are with his family."
11:20 a.m. UPDATE:
U.S. Rep. Bruce Westerman, R-District 4, issued the following statement regarding the death of Hot Springs City Manager David Watkins:
“Hot Springs City Manager David Watkins was a tireless advocate for the city of Hot Springs. He came to Hot Springs in April 2012 and brought with him a wide range of experience and a passion for his adopted city. I join in prayer for his family and the city staff who worked with him each day.”
11 a.m. UPDATE:
County Judge Rick Davis has issued an additional statement on the death of City Manager David Watkins, on behalf of all of the employees of Garland County:
"The employees of Garland County were shocked and saddened to hear of the death of Hot Springs City Manager David Watkins. On behalf of myself, the employees of Garland County and the residents of Garland County, we want to extend our sympathy and prayers of comfort to Kay and the entire Watkins family. The death of someone who has been important in your life always creates a painful absence and void. We are so sorry for your loss. While words are never adequate in moments like these, we want the City of Hot Springs and the Watkins family to know that we are keeping them in our thoughts and prayers as they move through this time of mourning and bereavement."
10 a.m. UPDATE:
County Judge Rick Davis issued the following statement on his Facebook page regarding the death of City Manager David Watkins:
"Denice and I were saddened to hear of the death of Hot Springs City Manager David Watkins. On behalf of Denice, myself and the residents of Garland County, I want to extend our sympathy and prayers of comfort to Kay and the entire Watkins family. The death of someone who has been important in your life always creates a painful absence and void. We are so sorry for your loss. Words are never adequate in moments like these, but we want the City of Hot Springs and the Watkins family to know that we are keeping them in our thoughts and prayers as they move through this time of mourning and bereavement."
9:36 a.m. UPDATE:
The city has released the following statement regarding the death of City Manager David Watkins:
"With heavy hearts, the city of Hot Springs family shares the news that City Manager David Watkins, after sustaining injuries from a fall on Saturday, passed away earlier this morning at University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences (UAMS) in Little Rock, Arkansas.
"Mr. Watkins’ family would appreciate the thoughts and prayers of the community and asks for privacy at this time."
9:15 a.m. UPDATE:
Visit Hot Springs CEO Steve Arrison told The Sentinel-Record on Monday that a meeting with Market & Feasibility Advisors LLC of Austin would still be held at 1 p.m. regarding a feasibility study on a performing arts center/outdoor amphitheater.
Arrison said he was unsure of whether or not the company was planning to meet with the Hot Springs Board of Directors, but that any meeting would be postponed due to the death of City Manager David Watkins.
"We'll still meet with them," he said. "I'm not sure if they were meeting with the city at all, but obviously that will be postponed if they were.
"This is just hard to believe - I'm stunned. You never know. There are no guarantees."
In July, the Hot Springs Board of Directors approved a resolution authorizing the city to apply for and accept the grant through the Arkansas Department of Parks and Tourism's Tourism Attraction Feasibility Study Matching Grant Program. The Hot Springs Advertising and Promotion Commission asked the city to apply for the grant, because it was ineligible to do so.
The study is not site-specific, but the grant application specifically referenced the Majestic Hotel property. Watkins played an integral role in the acquisition of the property.
ORIGINAL POST:
City Manager David Watkins, who was injured in a fall early Saturday at his home and was placed in the intensive care unit of the University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences in Little Rock, has died, City Attorney Brian Albright said Monday.
Watkins was injured in an accidental fall on the back stairs of his home Saturday and was at UAMS with serious injuries.
One city official told The Sentinel-Record that Watkins was scheduled for surgery on Tuesday.
The officials said Watkins broke his hip near the pelvis and at least one rib, which punctured a lung that collapsed.
Watkins was hired as city manager in April 2012, and began work in June of that year, after serving as city manager of Bryan, Texas.
Watkins was one of 40-plus initial applicants for the position in Hot Springs and served as the city manager in Bryan from October 2006 to October 2010.
In addition, he has served as city manager for Auburn, Ala., and Ottawa, Kan., city administrator for Lenexa, Kan., and assistant to the city manager in Ottawa.