Texarkana · issues
Civic issues
Topics getting the most attention in Texarkana public meetings, ranked by how frequently they come up.
Dilapidated and burned houses in Ward 2 / Carmichael Hill area
Director Harris pressed staff about burned and dilapidated houses on Burton, Prospect, and House streets that neighbors say are being used as drug houses, and asked when the city will clear them. She also asked about pursuing federal housing repair funds (H.B. 2606) and whether the regional council of governments could apply on the city's behalf.
Agenda access for individual directors
Director Harris's ordinance would have let any director place items on the agenda without a second, workshop, or city-manager gatekeeping, restoring pre-July 2017 practice. It failed 3-4, leaving current rules in place.
Street repair schedule transparency
A board member asked whether the city's website posts a schedule of street bond repairs; the city manager said no but agreed to provide a proposed timeline that can then be posted publicly.
Proposed sale of Millwood Lake water rights to Texas via Heartland Water Partners
Resident Sandy Burton urged the Board not to sell water to a Texas buyer, warning that coming data centers and future droughts will strain local aquifers. The Board did not act on the comment.
Alleged police investigation misconduct and request for independent probe
A former police sergeant told the Board his termination followed an internal affairs investigation with missing evidence, unrecorded interviews, racial disparate treatment, and alleged pre-hearing contact between the police chief and the Civil Service Commission. He asked the Board to order an independent investigation; the Board took no action.
Mayoral Election
Texarkana, Arkansas, has a mayoral race with two candidates on the ballot, and the winner will help set city policy for years. Before you vote, it’s worth knowing who’s running and what they stand for.
North Texarkana Wastewater Treatment Plant expansion
The board signed off on a construction contract with Dixie Overland Construction to expand the North Texarkana wastewater treatment plant.
Liens on seven overgrown lots
The city's environmental department mowed 43 overgrown lots and is now placing liens to recover costs, which get collected ahead of property taxes.
Board member compensation clarification
Director Laney Harris used board commentary to publicly clarify that Texarkana board members serve unpaid under state law, after residents have been asking what directors earn.
Airport demolition of Lantz Lurry Juvenile Detention Center
The airport is tearing down the old juvenile detention center and clearing trees using a $60,000 low bid from Francis Excavating, paid by a state grant. Director Brewer also asked staff to see if the Lurry family wants the commemorative sign at the site.
Election Voter Guide
Texarkana Gazette has a 2026 voter guide for the Ward 4 seat on the Texarkana, Arkansas Board of Directors, showing who’s running for that local seat. It’s a basic election resource, not a policy change—so the main impact is helping Ward 4 voters know their choices before they cast a ballot.
Water Supply Agreement
Texarkana, Arkansas, is set to vote on an emergency ordinance that would let the city start negotiating with a Dallas pipeline company to pull water from Millwood Lake. It’s not a done deal, but it could shape where the city gets its water for years—and what residents pay for it.
Byrne JAG grant for police and Miller County
The police department gets $14,748 of a $22,122 federal grant for body armor; Miller County's sheriff's office gets $7,374 for radios.
Truck jake-brake noise on the interstate
A resident asked the city to consider an ordinance or signage banning loud truck engine brakes between Jefferson and Fairgrounds Park. Staff will look into what the city can do and contact the state highway district.
City Board Meeting
Director Harris again pushed to undo a 2017 rule requiring a second director's support via workshop before a denied item can reach the agenda. The city manager and attorney defended the current process as a legal safeguard, and the board tabled the ordinance 5-1 for reworking.
City Manager Appointment and Housing Ordinance
In board commentary, Director Brewer asked about pursuing housing grants like the $2 million the Texas side obtained, whether a housing study is truly required, and about a Union Pacific meeting on the Seba Street underpass and Ninth Street crossing.
Millwood Lake water sale to Texas
Texarkana holds about 150 million gallons per day in Millwood Lake water rights but only uses about 7 million. The city manager wants permission to apply to sell up to 110 million gallons a day to Texas buyers — potentially $16-20 million a year with no upfront city cost. Nothing is being sold yet; a special meeting around October 13 would only authorize the application.
Airport 2027 budgets
The airport's capital and operating budgets passed with Arkansas covering about $211,600 of capital deficits and $455,952 of operating deficits. Directors asked when the airport might stop needing a city subsidy — staff pointed to the MRO project bringing roughly 150 jobs by decade's end.
Park lighting and neighborhood complaints
A resident complained that a neighborhood park near Ferguson and Garfield has no lights at all, a dead Seba Street bridge, and a misaimed streetlight — and asked that it be folded into the budget. The city manager agreed to explore it.
Federal Discrimination Lawsuit
A recovery program is taking Texarkana to federal court, saying the city discriminated against it. If the suit moves forward, taxpayers could foot legal bills and the city may have to change policies.
Zoning Lawsuit
A women’s recovery home is taking Texarkana, Arkansas, to court over zoning rules that decide where it can operate. The case could change how the city treats similar facilities—and who gets to open where.
Federal housing funds and housing study
Roughly $200 million a year in new federal housing money may be available, and directors want the city to hire a housing coordinator and commission a housing study to compete for it.
Stray animal intake and abandonment citation policy
A resident was cited $1,000 for abandonment after trying to surrender a stray puppy he found, and directors openly questioned the shelter's handling. The city manager promised to investigate and respond.
Siba and Washington Street bridge closure
The bridge stays closed for years to come — the state recommends full demolition and reconstruction with letting around December 2027, and won't reimburse the city if it tears it out itself for a temporary crossing.
Railroad blockages on Seaby/Pioneer area streets
Director Harris pushed for the city to pursue available federal funding — reportedly $200-300 million — and a Union Pacific joint meeting to fix trains blocking Seaboard, Pinehurst and Oak Streets, but the city manager noted a costly study would be needed first.
Pumper firetruck financing
The airport is replacing a fire truck that's more than 20 years old and constantly needing repairs, plus outdated rescue tools and saws. The whole $1.1 million tab is covered by FAA and state grants — the city pays nothing.
Street parking ordinance concern
The board awarded a $3.09 million contract to Contech Contractors to rebuild four streets using the 2025 street bond. Most of Washington Street's concrete stays; bad panels and truck-turning areas get concrete, the straightaway gets asphalt.
Airport Runway 4/22 Overlay Strengthening
The board funded construction extending runway 4-22 and Taxiway Delta so the airport can handle wide-body aircraft — a big economic development play funded largely by federal and state grants.
Nix Creek Walking Trail Design
The board awarded an engineering contract to design a new stretch of the Nix Creek Walking Trail from Seibert Street to 500 feet past Pinehurst Street.
Downtown cleanliness, weeds and trash collection
A downtown resident showed photos of weeds, dead trees, and broken stumps in front of new Broad Street businesses, calling it a safety hazard and an embarrassment for a growing entertainment district. City Manager Tyler Richards said staff is stretched thin and an RFP for entertainment-district maintenance is awaiting his approval before going out for bid.
REDI Site Water & Sewer Extensions Change Order
The water/sewer project needs a new 2,393-foot access road to the lift station after an access deal with a property owner fell through, raising the project cost by about $189,000.
Local Election Announcement
T.J. Wall is running for the Ward 4 seat on Texarkana’s Arkansas Board of Directors, so voters in that ward will see a new name on the ballot. It’s an early sign of how the local election is shaping up, and the winner will help make city decisions that affect taxes, services, and neighborhood priorities.
Lindberg Street water main replacement
A $189,980 contract with Stone Construction, LLC will replace about 1,350 feet of aging six-inch water main, adopted on consent.
Demolished 110 East Broad Street — delinquent tax certification
The city tore down the long-troubled former dealership at 110 East Broad at a cost of $630,000, but state law caps the tax-book lien at $15,000. The rest will be pursued through invoicing.
Ward 4 constituent concerns raised by Director Brewer
Director Brewer aired a long list of unresolved Ward 4 issues — clogged ditches, flooding streets, missing park lights, housing needs, and a proposed grocery store incentive for College Hill — and said his ward's requests take too long to fix.
Funeral home rezoning at 1401 Dudley Street
The old dentist office goes commercial so buyer Gary Davis can open a funeral home office and conference space; he says embalming stays at his Texas-side facility and he hopes to open in about six months.
Alcohol tax disparity between the Arkansas and Texas sides
Director Harris and the applicant discussed how Arkansas-side bars pay roughly 29 cents on the dollar in taxes versus about 8.25% in Texas, putting local businesses at a disadvantage.
Proposed AI data center moratorium
Citizens urged the board to consider a moratorium or ban on the proposed 3,000-acre Benitus data center, citing Carrizo-Wilcox aquifer depletion, environmental harm in other cities, doubled utility bills, and a lack of NDAs transparency. The board took no action but encouraged the speakers to submit their materials.
Sunrise RV Park sewer billing dispute
Owner Jay Patel said a fixed $31-per-spot sewer charge on 114 spots tripled his water bill to about 18% of revenue. Staff said the ordinance requires the charge but an ordinance change may be pursued.
College Hill neighborhood convenience store
The Dudley Street rezoning will let the applicants open a convenience store in College Hill, which currently has no grocery or convenience store. Neighbors signed a petition in support.
Future of the A&P tourism tax
The A&P hospitality tax process is under fire after early funding went to the water park (via P23 Consulting) and a bass tournament without public notice, while longtime local events like Juneteenth and the Scholars youth program were told no 2026 funds existed. Directors and citizens are demanding bylaw fixes and a special meeting so local applicants can seek the funds freed up when the bond proposal failed.
Water Utility Policy
Texarkana Water Utilities' updated plan sets per-capita water use goals (164 gallons/person/day by 2030) and spells out drought triggers and response steps to protect water supply during shortages.
Tri-State industrial noise dispute
A resident says a nearby industrial operation runs loud equipment from 6 a.m. to midnight, ruining quality of life for elderly homeowners. City officials say past sound readings were under the ordinance limit and the city attorney warns that unilaterally changing the rules would likely lose in court and cost taxpayers.
Ward 2 service requests and A&P Commission tensions
Director Harris read a nine-item list: uncleaned creeks and ditches, Roundup spraying near waterways without protective gear, overgrown lots, park lighting requests dating back five years, a dirt pile at Hobo Park, and a Jones Creek mitigation plan. The city manager agreed to look into the water park reporting and committed staff to required safety gear.
Planning Commission Approvals
Texarkana’s Arkansas-side planning commission just approved a new subdivision and a convenience store in College Hill. That means more housing and a new place to grab snacks, but also more traffic and neighborhood change to watch. The source doesn’t include details like project size, timeline, or traffic fixes yet.
Bond Issue Approval
Texarkana’s Arkansas-side board approved a $29.4 million bond for street repairs and drainage improvements. The money is aimed at rough roads and flooding problems, but taxpayers will ultimately cover the debt.
Sourcewell cooperative purchasing transparency
Director Jewell questioned whether the city verifies that buyboard vendors actually offer the lowest price, using the Ingrahm Park shade structure as his example. Staff defended the process but agreed to send him vendor comparison information. Expect more scrutiny of no-bid purchases going forward.
Water park safety accountability
Director Harris, referencing a child's death at the water park last year, asked the city attorney whether an ordinance could require the private water park to file monthly safety reports on lifeguards, training and incidents. The city attorney said it's likely possible and agreed to research it.
Grocery Access Survey
Texarkana officials and the Chamber want College Hill residents to fill out a grocery-access survey. The results could shape how the city tackles food deserts and whether new grocery options or related fixes get prioritized. If you live in the area, this is a direct chance to say what’s missing.
Public Meeting Tensions Over Grocery Access and Grant Transparency
A Texarkana board meeting got heated over two pocketbook issues: neighborhoods without easy grocery access and how grant money is being tracked. The fight matters because grocery gaps affect daily costs and health, while grant transparency determines whether public dollars go where they’re supposed to.