BELLA VISTA — The proposed annexation of three areas of land into Bella Vista city limits is moving forward, after the first of three required readings at Monday’s city council meeting.
The Channel 222 television station studio was not big enough to accommodate all the residents of Hiwasse who attended the meeting to protest the annexation. Residents said they read of the annexation for the first time in Monday’s edition of the Benton County Daily Record.
At least four articles concerning annexation have run in the Weekly Vista since July 2011. The Westside Eagle Observer also ran an article on the proposed annexation last week.
The three areas to be annexed include Hiwasse southwest of the city, a parcel of land to the south of the city along U.S. 71 and parcels along the city’s border to straighten city limit lines.
The Hiwasse residents at the meeting said they would be concerned about fire protection, street maintenance, water expense, property taxes and city planning and zoning codes.
“This is more like communism,” said Jeff Brewer, a Hiwasse business owner, during the citizen input portion of the meeting.
“Stay in your own town.If we want you, we’ll ask for you,” Steven Moore said.
“This seems like a hostile takeover that will be met by a hostile response,” Larry Kelly said.
Eleven additional Hiwasse residents addressed the council and said the annexation would destroy a way of life and asked what benefit Hiwasse residents could receive if this happens.
The area considered “boundary cleanup” was determined by the committee, made up of aldermen J.D. Shrum and Doug Farner, as some parts of the city have “one side of the street in city limits and one side out,” said Mayor Frank Anderson.
The ordinance concerning the area south along U.S. 71 did not receive any audible objections when broached.
Addressing the area of Hiwasse, Alderman Doug Farner said the idea of this addition of land to the city was “to plan for the future.” He said there is no land available in current city limits for growth.
Farner said no annexed landowner would be put into the Bella Vista Property Owners Association; they would need to ask to join. He said the water rates would not change, because the source of the water they are receiving would remain the same.
Farner said Bella Vista police and fire departments already respond to most of the area and annexation “won’t do anything but increase police and fire protection.”
He said current agricultural operations would be grandfathered in with annexation.
Alderman Jim Wozniak said he doesn’t believe the benefits the committee predicts would happen nearly as quickly as they expect.
“I don’t know if we can provide everything (to the people of Hiwasse),” Wozniak said. “We’ve got enough to chew on down here (in Bella Vista).”
“These people have issues (we need to deal with), I would like the opportunity to speak with them on their own ground. I’d like to come out and meet with you, hear more, if you would be so kind to invite me to speak,” Shrum said.
After receiving a note from the public, Shrum said he had been invited to speak at the Hiwasse Fire Department at 7 p.m. Monday.
The council agreed to set the date for election to May 22 during the primary election.
The ordinances have two more required readings before they can be passed.
The next council meeting is set for 6:30 p.m. Dec. 19 at Highlands Crossing.
Hiwasse meeting called
A meeting for Hiwasse residents has been called for 7 p.m., Monday, Nov. 28, at the Hiwasse Fire Station, to discuss the proposed annexation. At least one Bella Vista councilman is expected to attend.
News, Pages 11 on 11/23/2011