WESTSIDE LETTER TO THE EDITOR

Wednesday, October 6, 2010

Editor,

I would like to respond to a letter to the editor published in the Sept. 29 Eagle Observer.

It seems that because I am the chairman of the Gravette Planning Commission and that I have answered questions concerning the annexation ballot issue at city council meetings that the project is somehow my project.

The issue of an annexation ballot has been discussed by both the city council and planning commission for several years. When the issue was brought before the planning commission, all members voted in favor of forwarding it to the city council. The city council, by unanimous vote, passed the ordinance calling for the annexation ballot.

The map and the ordinance were produced by the Arkansas Regional Planning Commission.

The notification letters were sent by the Benton County Clerk’s Office with addresses obtained from their own sources - the same source that anyoneconnected with government would use. If persons did not receive notification letters it is because the county has the wrong information in their records.

I have spoken to a representative of the county clerk’s office and they are trying to get updated addresses and send new notifications for those returned undeliverable.

If you object to the annexation, vote against it.

Mike von Ree, Gravette Planning Commission Chairman

Opinion, Pages 7 on 10/06/2010