Carl Geffken removed as Fort Smith city administrator following controversial comment

The Fort Smith City Board of Directors voted unanimously to fire City Administrator Carl Geffken after an executive session on Dec. 10 at the Blue Lion.

“This decision was not one I came to hastily or lightly,” said City Director Jared Rego (Ward 4). “During nearly nine years, Carl was a principal architect for numerous successes that have improved Fort Smith. From better budgeting and financial management practices to hiring first-rate department heads, to helping attract hundreds of millions of dollars in grants, economic development, and new construction, to making sure the city received more time to complete the consent decree, and for devoting countless hours of leadership to help secure the F-35 training mission. Carl was a driving force for so many good things in our community.

“But I felt it was a decision that had to be made to ensure that Fort Smith continues to prosper, thrive and grow.”

The board met for more than 1.5 hours before announcing its decision. Geffken wasn’t present at the meeting. He was in Little Rock seeking an extension to the city's consent decree.

“This is a sad day for me, and I think it’s a sad day for the city of Fort Smith,” said City Director Lavon Morton (Ward 3). “Carl came to the city in very difficult circumstances. We were just handed a consent decree with impossible terms. Ultimately, I believe that his efforts will prove successful and will be at a point where we can do this without imposing an impossible burden on the citizens.”

There was a planned study session for the evening. Neal Martin and Lavon Morton called for an executive session following a hot-mic moment when Geffken had a disparaging remark after Kimberly Fodge spoke during the public comments at the Dec. 3 regular meeting.

After Fodge made her comment and returned to her seat, Geffken is alledged to have said, "These people are stupid." While there has been no official statement from Geffken, many of the board directors apologized to Fodge and the citizens of Fort Smith for the comment.

“It takes a lot for people to speak out and get involved,” said City Director George Catsavis (Ward 1). “We want you to come talk to us, but for something like that to happen to you… I apologize again and promise it won’t happen again.”

“I did not put myself in this chair to do nothing,” said City Director Christina Catsavis (at-large). “I spoke with [Fodge] privately, but I’d like to apologize to you pubically, on behalf of all of us, as women. We are not stupid, and our opinions are certainly welcomed here.”

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Kevin Settle (at-large) stated it was time for the board and the city to move forward. The city will still face challenges, but Fort Smith is on the verge “of something special. It’s time to get along and tone down the rhetoric.”

Mayor George McGill added that after Geffken arrived in Fort Smith, the city and the area were hit by a devastating flood.

“We showed the world we know how to survive and to rise together,” McGill said. “Rest assured, we will work diligently to find a replacement. We will get through this change. I thank you for your continued support and dedication to this community.”

Martin said the comment alone wasn’t enough to remove Geffken from his position.

“We needed to have this discussion,” Martin said after adjourning the meeting. “We discussed the comments and everything associated with it and decided it was time for us to change. People need to know when they step up to the podium, they will be heard. We might not always agree, but we’ll listen to them and consider what they say.”

The board also unanimously appointed deputy city administrator Jeff Dingman as interim city administrator.

“Everything will keep going as normal,” Dingman said. “I got a 9 a.m. staff meeting in the morning, and we still have a city to run.”

Martin said there was no timetable to hire a new administrator.

“We got really strong people in place today,” Martin said. “From deputy city administrators to department heads, they’re great. We want them to keep doing what they’re doing.”

This article originally appeared on Fort Smith Times Record: Fort Smith City Board makes leadership change, dismisses Geffken