D.C. trip important

Dear editor:

I must respond to Mr. Toth’s insulting accusation that members of the Hot Springs Board of Directors want to travel to Washington, D.C., primarily to see the cherry trees, see the sights and dine at taxpayer expense. This kind of negative attitude toward our elected city representatives, who volunteer their time at no pay, is very disappointing. It sounds like Mr. Toth has been attending too many GGGG meetings.

Mr. Toth failed to mention that the reason board members are considering going to Washington in March is to attend the National League of Cities Annual Congressional City Conference. This conference is attended by municipal officials from all over Arkansas, as well as the rest of the United States. At this conference, our board members hear from national leaders, network with leaders from other cities around the state and country, and attend workshops, as well as meeting with our senators, congressman and their staffs. They have a great opportunity to impress upon our elected officials the ongoing needs of the city of Hot Springs, especially as it relates to water supply. Sending an email does not have the same benefit as building a personal relationship with our representatives in Washington. Last year, our city staff and board members also met with representatives from the Corps of Engineers to encourage approval of water allotments from Lake Ouachita and DeGray Lake.

My husband, David Watkins, was a city manager for 35 years. He attended this conference almost every year, regardless of what city he worked in because he believed that it was beneficial to the taxpayers to learn from successes of other cities and meet with our elected representatives in Washington. The board members who want to attend this conference are hardworking volunteers who love Hot Springs and give up time away from their jobs and families to make Hot Springs a better place for all of us. It is unfair and incorrect to call three days of nonstop meetings, “a taxpayer funded junket.”

I often traveled with my husband to this conference, including last year (at my own expense). I can assure you that it was cold, rainy and the cherry trees were not in bloom. If Mr. Toth had done his research, he would know that the conference is March 5-9 and the cherry trees bloom in late March or early April. My husband did not see any sights other than what he could see on the way to the Capitol to attend meetings.

I do agree that the duty of our city directors is “public service, not self service” and that is exactly what our board member are doing when they go to this conference in Washington as our representatives. Kay Watkins Hot Springs