Bella Vista votes to proceed with annexation measures

— The Bella Vista City Council passed three ordinances to put the issues of annexation on the May 22 primary ballot.

In a 4-0 vote, alderman decided to let residents decide whether three parcels of land become part of Bella Vista.

These parcels are areas around the city’s existing limits, a pocket south of the city along U.S. 71 to Benton County Road 40 and the area of Hiwasse.

Alderman Jim Wozniak was not at the meeting, and the seat of the late J.D. Shrum has yet to be filled. The council needed a majority vote of its members to pass the ordinance, four out of six.

Despite having filed a petition Friday with the County Clerk’s office to voluntarily annex themselves into the city of Gravette, Hiwasse residents again presented their arguments in front of the council.

Larry Kelly, chairman of the Hiwasse Community Association, said petitioning to move into Gravette wasn’t their first choice, but residents felt as though they were backed into a corner. The first choice remains incorporation.

Kelly said the council approached annexation of Hiwasse like a bully, and there were better ways to go about it.

“It’s too late to turn back the time now. We’ve done our homework ... our filing supersedes your ordinance,” he said.

Jens Nielson of Bella Vista called annexation a win-win situation for both communities, whether or not the people of Hiwasse understand that now.

In the end, the vote received the four “ayes” it required to pass.

Alderman Earl Berdinesaid he wishes things would have gone differently and that the council spoke with Hiwasse residents earlier.

“It appears to me things have gone too far to turn around and seek a different direction. I hope there might be a way to find a common ground that is more palatable to (the people of Hiwasse),” he said.

“It’s pretty simple. Bella Vista has allowed us to voluntarily annex into Gravette ... It was a missed opportunity to look for a compromise. We’re willing to listen,” Kelly said.

Alderman Doug Farner, one member of the two-man ad hoc committee assigned to annexation alongside Shrum, said he is sad Hiwasse residents chose to attempt to annex into Gravette, but it’s within their rights.

He said from now until the election in May, the council will be busy getting “a lot of information to the citizens.”

Tom A. Throne contributed to this report.

News, Pages 7 on 01/25/2012