What's Happening?
Fort Smith City Director Jarred Rego, along with Directors Andre Good, Lee Kemp, and George Catsavis, has delayed a vote on a $2.474 million contract for federally ordered sewer work. The contract, intended to put an outside firm in charge of the next
phase of the city's wastewater consent decree program, was pulled from the October 5 regular meeting agenda and rescheduled for October 20. Director Neal Martin also concurred with the delay after the initial four votes were cast. The resolution would authorize an agreement with Arcadis U.S. Inc. for program management of Project No. 26-01-ES1, with the first-year fee not exceeding $2,474,000, to be paid from reallocated sales and use tax for utilities. The city could extend the agreement for three more years after a review and another board vote. The delay was initiated by Director Rego on October 1, citing Section 2-31(4) of the Fort Smith Municipal Code, which allows four directors to remove items from the agenda. No specific reason for the delay of this particular contract was provided by Rego, unlike another item he pulled due to ongoing negotiations and his absence.
Why It's Important?
This delay in approving the wastewater management contract is significant for Fort Smith as it pertains to a federal consent decree program estimated to cost nearly $800 million through 2038. The city entered this decree with the U.S. Department of Justice, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, and the Arkansas Division of Environmental Quality due to sanitary sewer overflows and system maintenance failures. The original 2014 order set a 12-year schedule ending in early 2027, which was deemed unrealistic. A federal judge approved a modification in July 2026, extending the completion deadline to June 30, 2038, while maintaining performance goals and annual sewer rate increases of 3.5 percent through 2030. The contract with Arcadis U.S. Inc. is crucial for managing the transition from assessment to construction, prioritization, and compliance tracking of this extensive program. The delay could impact the timeline for addressing critical infrastructure needs and potentially affect the city's ability to meet federal mandates efficiently, despite the extended deadline.
What's Next?
The resolution to authorize the agreement with Arcadis U.S. Inc. is now scheduled for the October 20 regular meeting. This means the decision will remain with the current board, although the terms of Mayor George McGill and three at-large directors (Christina Catsavis, Settle, and Martin) expire on December 31, 2026. Ward directors Rego, Good, Kemp, and George Catsavis have terms running through 2028. Until the board votes, the program-management slot for the wastewater consent decree remains vacant, potentially slowing the city's transition from the assessment phase to the construction years of the program. Arcadis has outlined a 90-day launch plan, including meeting staff, consultants, and regulators, producing a risk assessment, setting near-term priorities, and developing a program execution plan. The company expects to have a roadmap at the end of this period, with some staff residing in Fort Smith for the duration of the work, contingent on timely access to city data and personnel.
Beyond the Headlines
The delay in approving this critical contract highlights potential complexities and political dynamics within Fort Smith's city government, particularly concerning large-scale infrastructure projects under federal oversight. The lack of a stated reason for the delay by Director Rego, contrasting with his explanation for another pulled item, could suggest underlying disagreements or strategic maneuvering among city directors. The consent decree itself represents a significant long-term financial and operational commitment for Fort Smith, with funding expected from sales tax, sewer rates, and bond proceeds. The city has already spent approximately $136 million on consent decree work between 2015 and 2024, and voters approved a bond proposal in May 2025, leading to the issuance of $100 million in bonds in October 2025. The successful implementation of this program is not only about regulatory compliance but also about ensuring the long-term health and sustainability of the city's wastewater infrastructure, impacting public health and environmental quality for decades.
