Contextualizing Carl Geffken’s impact on Fort Smith
Fort Smith has always been my home, a city I deeply care for and have dedicated years of my life to serving. As a former city director and planning commissioner, I’ve had a front-row seat to the evolution of our community.
In fact, I initially voted against hiring Carl Geffken when he interviewed for the city administrator position. The recent termination of Geffken, after an unfortunate and regrettable comment made in a private setting, has stirred considerable debate. While his words were unacceptable, it’s essential to view this incident within the larger context of his eight-and-a-half-year tenure and the progress Fort Smith achieved under his leadership.
Geffken’s arrival coincided with a period of transformation for our city. We were grappling with aging infrastructure, a stagnant downtown, and the daunting challenge of revitalizing the vast expanse of the Fort Chaffee Redevelopment Trust area. This former military base presented both immense potential and significant obstacles. Developing it required strategic planning, substantial investment in infrastructure, and a proactive approach to attracting businesses and residents.
Under Geffken’s guidance, Fort Smith made remarkable strides in addressing these challenges. Critical infrastructure improvements, including new roads, water lines, and sewer systems, were implemented to support the development of Chaffee Crossing. These investments laid the groundwork for the emergence of a vibrant new community, featuring residential neighborhoods, commercial centers, and educational institutions like the Arkansas Colleges of Health Education (ACHE). ACHE, in particular, has become a major economic engine, attracting students, faculty, and healthcare professionals to the area and generating significant economic activity.
Beyond Chaffee Crossing, Geffken’s administration prioritized city-wide infrastructure enhancements. Roads were repaved, sidewalks expanded, and our trail system grew, contributing to a more walkable and connected city. These improvements not only enhanced our quality of life but also made Fort Smith more attractive to businesses and investors. The Riverfront Drive project, a long-awaited revitalization effort, transformed our downtown area, creating a vibrant hub for recreation, entertainment, and commerce.
However, progress in Fort Smith hasn’t been without its challenges. We’ve been operating under a consent decree with the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and the Department of Justice (DOJ) to address deficiencies in our sewer system. This mandate has placed a significant financial burden on our city and has understandably led to frustration among citizens eager to see faster results. It’s important to acknowledge that complying with the consent decree is a complex, long-term undertaking, further complicated by the unprecedented challenges of the COVID-19 pandemic and record-high inflation. These factors have strained resources, disrupted supply chains, and impacted project timelines.
Despite these obstacles, Geffken’s administration worked to meet the requirements of the consent decree while continuing to invest in other critical infrastructure needs. This balancing act required difficult decisions and trade-offs, but it underscores the commitment to fulfilling our obligations while also pursuing a vision for a better Fort Smith.
It’s against this backdrop of progress and challenges that we must assess the events surrounding Geffken’s termination. His comment, captured on an open mic, was undoubtedly offensive and deserving of censure. However, I believe terminating his employment based on a single, albeit regrettable, lapse in judgment is an overreaction. It disregards the totality of his contributions to Fort Smith and sets a troubling precedent that prioritizes public condemnation over understanding and forgiveness.
This incident also raises concerns about the erosion of civil discourse and the growing influence of “cancel culture.” Social media has become a platform for swift judgment and condemnation, often devoid of nuance or context. While accountability is essential, we must be wary of allowing a single misstep to define a person’s entire career and legacy.
Carl Geffken is not without flaws, as none of us are. But his dedication to Fort Smith, his leadership during a period of significant transformation, and the tangible progress our city made under his guidance cannot be ignored. Let us not allow a single moment of poor judgment to erase years of dedicated service and overshadow the positive impact he had on our community.
In the spirit of civil discourse, I urge my fellow citizens to consider the full picture. Let’s acknowledge Geffken’s contributions, learn from this unfortunate incident, and move forward with a renewed commitment to constructive dialogue and understanding. Fort Smith deserves nothing less.
Editor’s note: Keith Lau is a Fort Smith businessman, former Fort Smith city director, and former member of the Fort Smith Planning Commission. The opinions expressed are those of the author.