Residents of an area proposed for annexation had a second chance Tuesday night to express their opinions on Benton’s intentions to incorporate them into the city, and there was resounding opposition to the proposal.
However, the residents’ opinions didn’t appear to carry much weight with members of the Planning Commission during the public hearing. The residents indicated that they want their opinions to influence City Council members, who likely will vote on the proposed annexation at their next meeting on Monday, July 14.
Annexation of the Northshore Drive-Alcoa Road-Almatis plant area is being proposed as an island annexation, which by law gives municipalities the authority to annex land that is surrounded by incorporated areas. Bryant, Bauxite and Benton border the area, but Benton surrounds it on most sides.
In an island annexation, the city wanting to incorporate must notify property owners in the proposed area and call a public hearing to give them a chance to speak. A second hearing was called in this matter in response to complaints that some people didn’t receive notification of the city’s annexation proposal.
Carol Smith, who lives in the area proposed for annexation, thanked the City Council members who attended the hearing when she stood behind the podium to address the crowd at the Benton Municipal Complex. She said she is the one who sent a mass e-mail to aldermen requesting that they attend the hearing.
Smith said she just wanted to know if what she and other opponents have been arguing carries any weight on whether aldermen vote against the annexation.
Aldermen Jerry Ponder didn’t indicate how he plans to vote, but he said he has approached this issue with the same careful consideration as any other decision that comes before him. “I don’t take it lightly,” he said, adding that he has met with Smith and others to hear their concerns.
Other aldermen who attended the hearing include Charles Cunningham, Bill Donnor, Brad Moore, Joe Lee Richards and Greg White.
Marsha Guffey, director of community development for the city, presented a summary of the city’s reasons to annex. The city contends, as recommended by the Planning Commission, that the annexation would be a good thing for the county residents because they would receive city emergency services.
The possibility of tying onto the city’s wastewater system also is a possibility; however, that likely would be accomplished at the property owners’ expense.
Guffey said being under the city’s code enforcement laws is advantageous because it would foster being a good neighbor by having to keep yards and properties clean and orderly, for example. Another plus is building permits, Guffey said, which would help when buying or selling property.
Richards spoke immediately after Guffey. “I can’t support this issue,” he said, noting that Bryant may want to grab every piece of land it can but that doesn’t give Benton the right to take land “when people don’t have a choice.”
He said he may be accused of being against growth. But, Richards said, “We can’t maintain the streets we have now. How are we going to maintain a larger area?”
Richards also argued that there aren’t enough personnel to take care of the area.
“We need to stop growth because we don’t have enough to take care of what we have now,” he said. “We need to stop and think and cover what we have already.”
Bauxite Mayor Gary Duncan spoke against the annexation proposal, contending that some of the land has historic value to Bauxite because it’s where an old school and church once stood. He also said a $2 million sewer plant is being built in the area.
“We want to be a good neighbor, but we hate to see it annexed,” Duncan said.
Opponent Harold Smith, Carol Smith’s husband, called Guffey to the podium with him so she could answer his questions. He asked what benefits Benton would receive for annexing the island.
Guffey said the city needs that area to help attract commercial growth. The biggest thing, she said, is developing subdivisions so the neighborhoods could tie onto Benton sewer.
Harold Smith said it seems that “all of a sudden, there is so much annexation” going on between Benton and Bryant.
“Bryant is aggressive,” Guffey said, noting that Smith and other residents really won’t have a choice because eventually, one of the cities will incorporate the area.
Harold Smith said, “It seems like you’re making this a haven for developers to get rich.”
In addition, he said he talked to Bryant officials who said Bryant has no intention of annexing the area. Scott Hunter, who speaks frequently at city meetings, wondered how the city can compare the longtime residents to developers. He said if Benton can run utilities to these properties, the city should pay for it. The landowners should not have to pay, he said.
Hunter questioned why the city would want this land when it could grow west.
Roger Lee, commander of the local Veterans of Foreign Wars post on Sleepy Village Road, said the VFW would rather remain outside the city limits.
Joy Buchanan, who’s been leading the annexation fight, said she plans to work with state Sen. Shane Broadway, D-Bryant, “to get island annexation null and void.”
Buchanan pointed out the public safety report that should be released soon by the Citizens for Public Safety Committee. “I think you’ll see you need to take care of what you have now,” she said.
Interim Police Chief Roger Gaither said the police department currently is short eight officers right, but interviews are being conducted and money is budgeted to fill those positions.
Gaither said officers already drive by the proposed annexed areas, so it wouldn’t be out of their way to patrol those areas.
Fire Chief Ben Blankenship said the fire department also is staffed and equipped to serve the proposed annexed area.
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