“I think the meeting went very well,” said Ross.  “It’s been decades since these businesses saw a rate increase, and the goal was not to forego the increases altogether, but to postpone the increases until these businesses can better prepare for the additional expense in the coming budget year.” 

Ross continued, “I am merely facilitating a meeting between federal agency officials and local businesses that are in disagreement, and I am happy a compromise was reached that both parties can live with.  We must now put the events of the past month behind us and begin working together to help Hot Springs National Park thrive to its greatest potential.” 

As a result of the meeting, implementation of the new thermal water rate will be postponed until January 1, 2005 to accommodate bathhouse operators’ budget cycles.  In addition, funding will be requested from the National Park Service’s regional office to initiate a study of the water system to project future rate hikes so operators can prepare their business plans accordingly.