HIWASSE — Calling it a “land grab,” Benton County’s justices of the peace unanimously approved a measure expressing their opposition to Bella Vista’s plan to annex the Hiwasse community and other areas adjacent to the city.
The justices of the peace, meeting as the Quorum Court’s Committee of 13, approved a motion opposing the annexation. Bella Vista’s council meets Jan. 23 to read the annexation ordinance for the third and final time so the justices of the peace settled for a verbal expression of their opposition, since the regular meeting of the Quorum Court is Jan. 26 and no resolution could be approved before that meeting.
Justice of the Peace Patrick Carr voted for the motion but wanted the county to take more concrete action.
“It seems like this is just a land grab and I want to know what we can do to assist Hiwasse in some kind of class-action lawsuit,” Carr said. “We are the county government. If we’re not willing to stand up for our citizens, why do we exist?”
The attraction for the city in the Hiwasse annexation is a planned bypass around the southern and western edges of Bella Vista. City officials have said they consider that area, once the bypass is built, as an area where the city could add to its business and economic base.
The Benton County Farm Bureau, through spokesman James Simpson, presented the Quorum Court with a formal request to add its opposition to the annexation of the Hiwasse area. Simpson said the area includes 6,000 acres devoted to agriculture, which could be lost if the city annexes the area and it becomes subject to city planning and zoning regulations. Even if a farmer maintains his agricultural use, Simpson said, the city’s permitting process would make it more expensive for farmers and homeowners. City ordinances would also prohibit home-based occupations, which Simpson said is common in the Hiwasse area.
Larry Kelly, chairman of the Hiwasse Community Association, said the group understands the county has no standing in the annexation issues, but said an expression of opposition will help.
“Where we need your support is for you to come out to these meetings and make your feelings known,” Kelly said. “It’s a land grab, just as the county judge said before. It’s ill-conceived and not well thought out.”
The justices of the peace asked for information about potential costs to the city, pointing out the county has provided road maintenance and the Hiwasse Volunteer Fire Department, which now serves the area, won’t be able to provide service to any area annexed into Bella Vista.
“There are no figures on their expenses,” Justice of the Peace Dan Douglas said. “Is that fair to the citizens of Bella Vista to put something on the ballot before they know what it’s going to cost them? That concerns me about their city government.”
Justice of the Peace Steve Curry said the city’s interest in the area isn’t the welfare of Hiwasse residents.
“We all know why they’re after this,” Curry said. “It’s that 2 1/2 mile bypass, which is probably not going to be completed in our lifetimes. It’s a land grab and it’s not right.”
Justice of the Peace Frank Winscott asked justices of the peace be provided with information about the time and location of the Bella Vista City Council meeting so they could attend.
Opinion, Pages 6 on 01/18/2012