Let us read it for you. Listen now.

Your browser does not support the audio element.

FORT SMITH — Mayor George McGill announced he would not be seeking a third term during his annual State of the City address on Thursday.

“When I first ran for mayor of Fort Smith, I made a promise to the citizens of our city, I said then that if elected, I would serve no more than two terms,” McGill said during the address. “Today, I am honoring that.”

McGill said the past several years have been filled with both challenges and progress. The city has made progress in it’s infrastructure, grown it’s economic development, expanded inclusivity in public parks, and shown support for public health, McGill said.

“I am deeply proud of what we have accomplished, not as an individual, but as a community,” McGill said.

The decision not to seek reelection is not about stepping away from public service, McGill said, but rather about honoring the promise he made.

“I remain fully committed to serving with force and determination the remainder of my term, ensuring the momentum that we have will continue strong in the future,” McGill said. “It has been an honor and a privilege to serve.”

After his speech, McGill said he doesn’t plan to relax after leaving office.

“I’m not prone to just kick back, there’s many, many things to do, I’m glad to do some of those things,” McGill said. “Serving is a way of staying young.”

As for the next mayor, McGill offered some words of advice.

“Listen to the public, just have a mindset that every part of our community is important, from one end to the other,” McGill said.

During his address, McGill attributed the progress the city has made to the people of Fort Smith.

“Progress does not happen by accident,” McGill said. “It happens because of people — the citizens, business leaders, educators, healthcare professionals, first responders and public servants who choose every day to invest their time, talent and energy to making Fort Smith strong.”

The state of the city is strong and getting stronger, McGill said. New business are opening, and regional partners are recognizing the advantages offered in the city, he said. Building permits in 2025 included 3,156 permits, valued at more than $250 million, he said, with another $40 million in January and February of 2026.

McGill also spoke about the city’s progress regarding the consent decree with the Justice Department, the Environmental Protection Agency, and the Arkansas Division of Environmental Quality. McGill said while the city is committed to meeting required obligations, staff has worked diligently to ensure the requirements are reasonable for the taxpayers.

“Over the past year, our city has worked closely with federal requirements to pursue a modification to the consent decree,” McGill said. “This modification recognized the progress we’ve made and allows Fort Smith to pursue a path forward that continues the environmental protection while providing greater flexibility for our community.”

Fort Smith entered into the consent decree with the Justice Department, the EPA and the Arkansas Division of Environmental Quality in 2015. The city agreed to repair and upgrade its sewer system after decades of sewage runoff into local waterways, including the Arkansas River.

The city agreed to spend more than $200 million over 12 years to upgrade its sewer collection and treatment. The original decree deadline was Jan. 2, 2027. The EPA said in 2020 the city had demonstrated a need for an extension to 2032, though nothing was put in writing. The city is currently seeking a formal extension to 2036.

The EPA requires Fort Smith to annually submit an up-to-date financial management plan for consent decree work.

Another major development for the Fort Smith area, McGill said, is the Foreign Military Sales training program.

“Fort Smith is now hosting military pilots from around the world who are training in advanced aircraft operations,” McGill said. “These pilots, instructors and support personnel are living in our community, attending our local events, shopping in our stores, and contributing to our economy. This initiative represents millions of dollars in our local economy.”

McGill said the work ahead will include continuing to attract new businesses, investing in infrastructure, and supporting public safety and education.

“Fort Smith’s story is still being written, and the chapters are here, filled with opportunity,” Mcgill said. “Together, we will continue to build a better city that honors it’s history, serves it’s people, and embraces the future with confidence.”

The State of the City address was held at the University of Arkansas at Fort Smith. The University of Arkansas at Fort Smith Democracy Project was a sponsor of the event.

“Fort Smith has always been a place that’s defined by it’s resilience, it’s innovation and it’s collaboration. Those same values are reflected on this campus,” Teresa Riley, University of Arkansas at Fort Smith Chancellor said ahead of McGill’s address.

Riley said the university was grateful to have McGill on campus for his address.

“Events like today’s State of the City remind us that progress happens when people come together with a shared vision,” Riley said.

It is always an honor for the campus to host a major civic event, Williams Yamkam, professor of political science and chair of the University of Arkansas at Fort Smith Democracy Project, said in a March 5 email.

What a great and solemn opportunity for the public in general and for UAFS students in particular to directly hear from Mayor George McGill about the state of our city. We very much appreciate Mayor McGill’s recognition of the vital role that UAFS, under the leadership of Chancellor Teresa Riley, plays in fostering civic engagement on campus and in our community,” Yamkam said.

 

— — — — — — — — — — —

VIDEO ONLINE

Unpacking the Issue: Understanding the Fort Smith consent decree.

rivervalleydemocratgazette.com/consentdecreevideo/

————————

On the Web

More consent decree coverage

rivervalleydemocratgazette.com/consentdecree/

Williams Yamkam, professor of political science and chair of the University of Arkansas of Arkansas at Fort Smith Democracy Project speaks ahead of the 2026 state of the city address on Thursday, March 12, 2026.
(River Valley Democrat-Gazette/Ashley Torres)Fort Smith Mayor George McGill announced he would not be seeking a third term during the 2026 state of the city address at the University of Arkansas at Fort Smith on Thursday, March 12, 2026. (River Valley Democrat-Gazette/Ashley Torres)Fort Smith Mayor George McGill announced he would not be seeking a third term during the 2026 state of the city address at the University of Arkansas at Fort Smith on Thursday, March 12, 2026. (River Valley Democrat-Gazette/Ashley Torres)Fort Smith Mayor George McGill announced he would not be seeking a third term during the 2026 state of the city address at the University of Arkansas at Fort Smith on Thursday, March 12, 2026. (River Valley Democrat-Gazette/Ashley Torres)Fort Smith Mayor George McGill speaks with press after the annual state of the city address on Thursday, March 12, 2026 at the University of Arkansas at Fort Smith.
McGill announced he would not be seeking a third term during the speech.
(River Valley Democrat-Gazette/Ashley Torres)