Mayor's Welcome

Welcome to Siloam Springs! Whether you live here, are visiting, attending school, or have been a part of the community your entire life, I am glad you are here. I truly love Siloam Springs, and hope you do too.  

We are a city with small town charm and great outdoor adventure. You can spend the morning shopping and eating along Sager Creek in our award-winning historical downtown district and in the afternoon enjoy the outdoors with mountain biking trails,  fishing, bird watching, trail running, and kayaking. The people of Siloam Springs are the greatest asset to the community. They continue to give back, volunteer, invest in, and believe in this great city.  While we are growing, Siloam Springs retains an inclusive community feel. We truly care about our neighbors; we are involved in each other’s lives in a supportive and encouraging way. Additionally, there is a dynamic church community in Siloam Springs. It’s been said that at one time, Siloam Springs held the record for the most churches per capita. I translate that to mean there’s a place for everyone to belong. A space where anyone can feel welcome and accepted. This is also a reflection of John Brown University being a central piece of the community.  

This community is an ideal place to raise a family. Siloam Springs has deliberately opted out of the rat-race pace of life, focusing instead on people and how to make life better. Our strong church community supports these ideals, and volunteering and giving back is a way of life. We come together to support each other's needs. We also have wonderful amenities including Memorial Park with the Chautauqua Amphitheater, the Siloam Springs Public Library, City Lake and Sager Creek Mountain Biking Trail, and the Siloam Springs Kayak Park. There are hundreds of free and low-cost activities that one can participate in throughout the year from Parks and Recreation’s summer camps, to the library’s young adult events, to Shakespeare and concerts in Memorial Park, to the Chamber of Commerce’s Dogwood Festival, to the Heritage League’s Christmas Parade- there's an option for everyone. The Siloam Springs Kayak Park is a unique amenity with 800 feet of engineered river featuring Class I rapids. The park is set on the Illinois River and features drops for both beginner and skilled kayakers and canoers. The City of Siloam Springs is a partner with the Grand River Dam Authority and Walton Family Foundation in a new, national-caliber whitewater adventure park, affectionately referred to as WOKA, positioned on the upper Illinois River. Currently under construction, WOKA will be a best-in-class whitewater park featuring a 1,200-foot long, 100-foot-wide side channel off the Illinois River with eight drop-features, perfect for whitewater enthusiasts of all levels.  

Siloam also has a wide variety of food and entertainment. There’s authentic Columbian, German, Thai, Vietnamese, Ozark Cuisine and much more. Karaoke and trivia are always popular gatherings, which can be found through Discover Siloam, the tourism website. 

 Siloam Springs works in a unique way to recruit and foster businesses, both large and small. The City has its own electric, water, wastewater, trash and recycling and street crews in house, allowing business incentives to be tailored to the needs of the business. We work closely with the Chamber of Commerce and Main Street Siloam Springs to assist with training, grant opportunities and more. The Board of Directors and City staff places the utmost importance on fiscal responsibility, running tight budgets, but allowing for spending where it’s needed most.   

The City is working toward a new comprehensive plan that will give us a blueprint for future growth and priorities. Our Streets and Infrastructure crew is in the midst of a complete rebuild of Kenwood Street (from Lincoln Street to Hwy 412). The Water Treatment Plan is about 85% into the design of a $31 million upgrade which will replace aging equipment, create backups for our water intake and create more effective processes. We continue to expand the Electric Department’s automated meters, which allows staff to read meters remotely rather than having to physically access meters. 

 I resolutely support our strong local government; a City Administrator form of government. This allows continuity over the years through a city administrator who serves as the CEO, while the Mayor facilitates meetings, leads ribbon cuttings and openings, and serves as the face for the city.  

 As the first female mayor, I want to encourage women to be involved, aware, and informed within our community. Push to be part of that decision-making process, to be in the room where it happens. You can start small and work your way up, but it’s important to start. There is always a need for strong leaders in our community, and having more women holding positions of authority would reflect our demographics.  I want to encourage girls and young women to set goals and pursue those goals fiercely. Don’t get discouraged, keep pushing.   

I am very humbled and thankful for the opportunity you have given me to serve as your Mayor. May God bless our city and our nation in the days to come.

Mayor Judy Nation