I read an article recently in our sister publication, “The Bella Vista Weekly Vista,” which could or should be of interest to area residents. The headline on the story read: “City (Bella Vista) begins early annexation talks.”

The opening paragraph read: “Annexation of areas outside the city limits of Bella Vista is being scrutinized by city officials.”

The story continues by listing four potential areas: Areas around Cooper Elementary School; the area around U.S. 71 south to County Road 40; a third is the Hiwasse area and the Bella Vista bypass interchanges; and fourth, “to clean up the borders around the city.”

Alderman J.D. Shrum was quoted, “We don’t want to land grab, but that’s not cleaning up the border.”

Every city, no matter how large or small, cannot sit still. With the growth in our county, protecting nearby territory is a vital function ofa city and the residents in that area. Residents adjacent a city who are already tied to the city and its services must surely appreciate that.

Twice the city of Gravette has failed in an attempt to annex adjacent areas, the last just a few months ago.

Centerton is a great example of a city that has been proactive with the cooperation of property owners in building for the future. I don’t expect Gravette to be a Centerton, but doubling the population growth of that city has enabled it to provide better services for a large area and has built a community spirit for progress in other areas, such as business, cultural, social, religious and educational. Agricultural interests appear to have been protected.

Interestingly, county restrictions and requirements already equal or surpass most city codes, especially those of smaller entities.

I wish Bella Vista wellin its endeavors. I also hope Gravette and other small cities in the county can be more proactive in planning for their futures and that residents realize that the positives of being a decision-making part of their adjacent population, business and educational centers are there for them. Collectively, all benefit in the long-range scheme of coexistence.

Sadly, so often a town or city will sit dormant while its surrounding sister cities move forward; and by the time the inevitable wake-up happens, long-term damage is already done. A community cannot just sit still. It will either move forward toward a productive future or it will stagnate and begin an inevitable decline among its contemporaries.

The best way for progress is for property owners to join in areas for potential annexation. Then the term land-grabbing will cease to be heard. I hope that happens for Gravette and for the smaller towns in the area. Time will tell if this proves successful for their futures.

Dodie Evans is the editor emeritus of the Westside Eagle Observer and may be contacted by e-mail at [email protected].

Opinion, Pages 6 on 06/22/2011