City directors meet with Arkansas lawmakers and agencies to advocate for federal support

Fort Smith city leaders traveled to Washington, D. C. , to advocate for ongoing water and sewer projects and to address the financial impact of a consent decree on local residents. Mayor George McGill and directors met with Arkansas’s congressional delegation, including Senators John Boozman and Tom Cotton, to discuss regional infrastructure and future military missions for Ebbing Air National Guard Base. Director Lee Kemp highlighted the importance of conveying the needs of rural communities that rely on Fort Smith’s water lines.

Director Christina Catsavis stressed her goal of humanizing the consent decree’s financial burden, noting that previous communication primarily involved former city administrator Carl Geffken. The trip's effectiveness was hampered by the cancellation of a meeting with the Trump administration due to a federal government shutdown. Kemp expressed disappointment at missing the opportunity for broader advocacy but acknowledged productive discussions with congressional staff. Critics of the trip pointed to recent budget cuts in other departments, questioning the appropriateness of the travel. Despite this, Kemp defended the necessity of direct engagement with federal officials to address local concerns.