City Voters Face Special Election Questions

Editor's note

The office of Bella Vista city clerk is on the ballot for the Nov. 2 general election. The city council separated the positions of clerk and treasurer by ordinance, with the clerk to be elected and the treasurer appointed beginning Jan. 1, 2011. Information about what would be voted on concerning the position was incorrect in this article. It has now been updated.

AT A GLANCE

Ballot Information

Benton County voters can see their voter registration record and view sample ballots for the Nov. 2 general election online by going to www.voterview.org.

Voters can contact the Benton County Clerk’s offices for questions regarding voter registration: Bentonville office, 271-1013, Rogers office ,636-3727, or Siloam Springs office, 238-0120.

Source: Benton County Clerk’s Office

— Voters in three Benton County cities will have special election issues to consider when they vote in this year’s general election.

Special elections are being held in Bella Vista, Gravette and Elm Springs, according to information from the Benton County Clerk’s office.

Gravette voters will consider an annexation question that has drawn opposition from some residents of the areas proposed for annexation. Virgil Jasper, who lives in the annexation area, said most people who live outside the city chose to do so and don’t want to be brought inside the city limits.

“They’ve promised all kinds of services but Gravette has nothing to deliver services with,” Jasper said. “The county takes pretty good care of us out here.”

Jasper said residents of the areas proposed for annexation are unhappy with the process, claiming they were initially unaware of the proposal and that the notification process was flawed. He said the boundaries of the proposed annexation also divides some property, taking in part of the land but not owner’s homes, leaving them ineligible to vote. He said questions about the process remain, but opponents are focused on the election.

“We’re just working to get the people in the city to vote with us,” he said.

Mike von Ree, Gravette city recorder/treasurer and chairman of the city’s Planning Commission, acknowledged the opposition, but said the annexation would benefit both the city and residents of the annexed area. The annexation will allow the city to grow and expand its tax base without unduly burdening anyone, he said.

Von Ree said if a person owns property appraised at $100,000, the city’s 5 mills of property tax will cost that person $100 a year. Von Ree said the city will offer reduced rates for city water service to the annexed area, reduced trash pickup rates and city police protection.

“My position is that it’s good for the city and not a burden on them,” he said.

Bella Vista voters will have a pair of issues to consider when they vote, both dealing with the structure of city government.

Officials are asking voters to approve a proposal to divide the position of city clerk-treasurer into two separate posts. The clerk will be an elective office, with a four-year term. The treasurer will be appointed beginning Jan. 1, 2011.

The second issue for Bella Vista voters would change the terms of the city’s aldermen from two years to four years and stagger their terms so that one alderman is elected from each ward every two years.

Elm Springs voters will decide two tax-related questions, an annexation and a proposal to change the terms of aldermen. The first two issues would levy a 1 percent sales and define the term “single transaction.”

Under the terms of the third ballot question, aldermen would have their terms changed from two years to four years and election the aldermen would be staggered so that three run during each election cycle.

The fourth issue is an annexation question. A map showing the areas proposed for annexation is on display at Elm Springs City Hall.

However, a Tuesday meeting of the Springdale City Council may impact the Elm Springs election.

The council is set to consider an annexation of more than 1,000 acres, including the 439 acres Elm Springs officials have proposed annexing. Officials in both cities look at the land as an area for economic development.

Springdale officials believe their vote would trump Elm Springs should the town’s resident vote for the annexation.

“The first to complete their process will have precedence,” said Jeff Harper, Springdale city attorney, who quoted an opinion from the Arkansas Municipal League.

While Elm Springs has the largest number of issues on its special election, it will almost certainly have the lowest turnout of the three cities. Benton County Clerk Tena O’Brien said there are only 18 Elm Springs voters registered in the part of the city that is in Benton County.

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