Huge crowd opposes annexation

Hiwasse Community may look into incorporation to prevent being swallowed up by Bella Vista

A standing room crowd of almost 200 people filled the Hiwasse Fire Station meeting room Monday night to hear Bella Vista Countil members discuss that city's proposed annexation of the Hiwasse Community. The hour-long meeting answered few questions acceptably to residents, who vocalized opposition and who will be affected if an election is held and voters approve the plan. The measure to finalize putting the question on a ballot requires two more readings, Bella Vista City Council members Doug Farner and J. D. Shrum told the group.
A standing room crowd of almost 200 people filled the Hiwasse Fire Station meeting room Monday night to hear Bella Vista Countil members discuss that city's proposed annexation of the Hiwasse Community. The hour-long meeting answered few questions acceptably to residents, who vocalized opposition and who will be affected if an election is held and voters approve the plan. The measure to finalize putting the question on a ballot requires two more readings, Bella Vista City Council members Doug Farner and J. D. Shrum told the group.

— What some estimated to be nearly 200 Hiwasse area residents were jammed into that community’s fire station meeting room Monday evening to voice their displeasure with Bella Vista.

The village, now a city of almost 30,000, is looking southward toward including all of Hiwasse and the Hiwasse by-pass, now under construction, as possible development land for the city’s future expansion.

Bella Vista is well along on the plan to call a special election to annex all of Hiwasse and areas involving three interchanges on what someday may be the long-sought Bella Vista bypass.

This report will not attempt to tell the entire story of the Monday night meeting, except to say that two Bella Vista council members, Doug Farner and J.D. Shrum, attempted to allay annexation fears and outlined the longterm benefits Hiwasse residents could receive by becoming a part of its big neighbor. “Long term” was repeatedly emphasized by Farner and Shrum.

Hiwasse residents were told they would have police and fire protection, trash pickup and road maintenance, points that residents repeatedly said they already have.

The two council members emphasized that what some are terming a “land grab” is for “economic development. It will be good for growth in the area, growth for Bella Vista,” Farner said.

Morris Jackson, a longtime resident, focused on the plan as being “a moral issue. It will create a hardship on families.” He closed by issuing “a plea to you gentlemen to reconsider.”

An unidentified woman said, “I moved out of Bella Vista into Hiwasse. I’ve lived in Bella Vista. I’ll tell you (if the annexation is approved) my house will be the first to be sold. I don’t want to live in Bella Vista.”

Other issues involving hunting and agricultural activities were raised and the council members said “nothing will change.” A man in the audience said a new council could change all that.

Numerous citizens in the crowd posed questions or offered comments, including: “Everything will be higher,” “Leave us alone,” “Why did you keep it (the plan) secret?”“There will be no benefits to Hiwasse.”

The council members assured those present they had followed Arkansas law and that council meetings had been publicized. They indicated they were acting at the request of Bella Vista residents. They said to call the special election will require approving an ordinance at two more meetings.

“We’re taking into consideration information from meetings like these,” Shrum said.

When pressed if they personally would vote for the ordinance in the future, only one council member present, Jim Wozniak, who has opposed the plan, stated an emphatic, “No.”

Near the close of the meeting, residents were asked if they favored becoming a part of Bella Vista. The room was filled with a resounding, “No.”

Following the hour-long session, a meeting of the residents was held to discuss possible plans of action to oppose the move.

The consensus developed that the best plan is for Hiwasse, itself, to incorporate into a city.

Another meeting will be held Dec. 15 at the Hiwasse Baptist Church on the subject.

News, Pages 2 on 11/30/2011