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Voters to decide on annex issue |
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Tuesday, 10 June 2008 |
Benton voters will be going to the polls Aug. 12 to decide whether to annex land south of Northlake Road, an area previously designated for annexation into Benton according to a 2005 agreement between the Benton and Bryant planning commissions.
The decision for a special election was made during Monday night’s Benton City Council meeting.
Benton officials recently learned that Bryant is now attempting to annex the area designated for Benton.
A May 2005 map supporting Benton’s position bears the signatures of the chairs of both planning commissions.
Before attending the council meeting, aldermen and Mayor Rick Holland attended a public hearing in Bryant regarding the annexation issue. They reported in the Benton meeting that “75-80 residents of the area” attended the session to object to being annexed, noting that they stated they prefer to live in an unincorporated area.
“Benton has several subdivisions in this general area, with several others planned,” Holland said.
“Operating on the basis of the May 2005 agreement, plans for infrastructure have been made in order to better serve the Benton residents in this area,” he said. “Of particular importance is a water tower planned to provide fire flow to the residents of Hurricane Lake Estates and Quail Valley.”
The aldermen expressed concern that their decision to hold the election is being made without first holding a public hearing, but the mayor and City Attorney Brent Houston explained that the ordinance must be approved right away in order to meet the requirements necessary for holding the election before the general election in November.
An informational public hearing still will take place before the election, the aldermen determined, but Aldermen Steve Lee and Bill Donnor said they regret not receiving citizen input before the action is being taken.
In response to a question from Alderman Brad Moore, Marsha Guffey, director of community development for the city of Benton, said the annexation plan coincides with the 2005 agreement.
Alderman Charles Cunningham said the city of Benton “needs to be proactive” regarding this issue and should move ahead with the election.
Houston was asked what would happen if Benton voters approve the annexation and Bryant voters hold a similar election in which voters there also would approve annexing the same area.
“Then there would be a third election [to determine who gets the area], presuming Bryant does not back off,” Houston said.
Hollan pointed out that a water tower is already planned for the area and “is essential to provide fire flow to Hurricane Meadows and Quail Valley.”
Lee said he is “not against growth,” but has concerns about further taxing the police and fire departments which have fewer employees now than they did several years ago.
Responding to a statement that the city has been “shortsighted” regarding annexing this area, Guffey said she disagrees. “I think we’ve been responsible ... . We’ve just had our hand called [by Bryant].”
“We have planned very responsibly,” Guffey said. “Some things happen that you don’t plan for.”
Fire Chief Ben Blankenship indicated he supports the annexation, saying this area is near where a new fire station is needed.
“‘We need a station at Gregory and Pebble Lake roads,” he said.”Right now we’re serving that area much of the time and we need to provide service to the people already annexed. This would be a logical area to annex.
“A lot of the times in the daytime we’re covering Salem because we’re the only full-time department there” and volunteer firefighters aren’t always available, he said.
Cunningham said annexing the area is “in the best interests of the citizens of Benton.”
Kitty Smith, a Parks Department employee, encouraged the aldermen to vote for the annexation plan now, noting that the council previously included this area in the city’s comprehensive planning process.
Jill Jones, executive director of the Benton Advertising and Promotion Commission, also spoke in favor of the annexation, but emphasized that she was speaking as a private citizen who lives in Ward 5, adjacent to the area.
“Bryant is ill prepared to serve this area,” Jones said.
Benton’s annexation of the area would be “looking after my best interests,’ she said. “Benton has been planning to serve this area.
“Benton has 500 homeowners who want city services in the area,” she added. “I chose to live in Benton, and I don’t want to be served by Bryant.”
Scott Hunter, who says he will seek a city council position in the next municipal election, criticized the Benton aldermen for being lax in the matter.
He said the aldermen should “start playing hard ball” with Bryant officials. “You should send them a certified letter and tell them to back off,” he said.
The mayor told Hunter that Benton has cooperated with Bryant on this matter. “Scott, we’ve honored our agreement ... they haven’t,” Holland said.
The mayor said the two cities are currently involved in litigation over another violation of a planning agreement between the two cities.
“In order for the utility improvements to this area to be cost-effective, the city of Benton needs to be able to annex the territory in question,” Holland said.
Holland outlined this situation in a letter to Bryant Mayor Larry Mitchell. In that epistle, he said:
“We ... strongly object to Bryant annexing the unincorporated territory in Sections 7, 8, 17 and 18 of Township 1 South, Range 14 West. We would like to meet with you and the Bryant City Council as soon as possible to discuss a resolution to our concerns.”
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Razorbacks
