BENTONVILLE — It’s been 26 years since Ed Austin took his seat on the City Council in the old City Hall building on West Central Avenue. Few things about the city are the same as they were when he stepped behind that table.
At A Glance
What Others Say
-Mayor Bob McCaslin: “In my four years on the City Council and now six years in the mayor’s office, I have developed great respect for Eddie’s knowledge of Bentonville. Eddie will be missed and will be remembered by many for his service to our community.”
-Alderwoman Mary Baggett: “Ed Austin will be greatly missed. He has been a great member of the council, but knowing Ed, he loves this city and will always be ready to help us in any way needed.”
-Alderman Chris Sooter: “It has been a pleasure to serve on the City Council with Ed Austin for the past 10 years. Ed Austin is one of the finest people I have ever had the privilege to know and work with.”
Source: Staff Report
The one constant, though, has been Austin’s presence. Most every council meeting started with Austin rattling off a motion for a speedy reading and passage of all ordinances. He knew the loquacious motion by heart. On the rare occasion Austin’s seat was empty, the city attorney would rifle through papers until finding the motion and reading it aloud.
All that will change Jan. 8. Austin will no longer be on the council. He was defeated by Leah Williams in the Nov. 6 election.
Austin was the first to speak up if Robert’s Rules of Order weren’t being followed during a meeting and knows immediately if a motion should be for a resolution instead of an ordinance. His leadership and experience will be missed, according to those who worked with him on the council in recent years.
Chris Sooter served alongside Austin for 10 years.
“Ed is very knowledgeable on all aspects of city government, especially our water and sewer utilities,” Sooter said. “I always appreciated Ed’s perspective on issues that came to our council for decision. He has a perspective on how decisions made by the City Council have a long term impact on our city. That perspective and experience will likely never be matched.”
Austin worked with five mayors during his years on the council and saw the city change from a one-stoplight town to a booming business and cultural center. He remembers the days before the city’s parks system blanketed the town with blooming natural havens and sports fields.
“We had one park area when I started,” Austin said. “There was one Little League field, a Babe Ruth field and a girls’ softball field. I remember the coaches and umpires would have to get there early to work on getting the fields ready before a game.”
Austin volunteered as an umpire for years — chalking fields, making calls and cleaning up home plate. He learned a lesson in his years as an umpire that he carried with him through his political career.
“Keep in mind what is fair. Tomorrow when you’re shaving, if you can look at yourself in the mirror and be comfortable with the man you see, then you’ve done your best,” he said.
Austin said the expansion of the city parks system is one of his proudest accomplishments while on the council. He believes giving children a place to play and work off energy in a healthy way will keep them off the streets and out of mischief.
Other accomplishments during his service include building a new police station on Southeast 14th Street, modernizing departments and equipment and providing high-quality utility service.
“I’ve been very glad to help get all of our utilities in line,” Austin said. “People don’t realize how important that is until it doesn’t work.”
The city has grown from a town of about 10,000 people when Austin took office to a city of 35,000 today. Austin said the biggest change has come in adapting thinking to accommodate growth.
“We had to quit thinking like a small town with just a few mom and pop stores,” he said. “We had to start thinking long term and how to protect our city.”
Austin presided as chairman of the Street and Utilities committees when the council still had them and was chairman of the city’s Committee of the Whole that replaced smaller committees. His last council meeting was Dec. 11, where he said his farewells.
Alderman Jim Grider told Austin he would miss his experience.
“I want to say how much all of you, especially you, Ed, have made my job easier because of your knowledge base and your history with the city,” Grider said. “I hope you don’t mind if I call you.”
Austin said he plans to continue to work to make Bentonville the best city it can be. A new city park now bears his name — the Austin-Baggett park — on Southeast D Street. Mayor Bob McCaslin proclaimed Dec. 21 as Ed Austin Day.
“I’ll miss it,” Austin said. “But it’s time to fade into the sunset. Twenty-six years is a long time.”