Two Cities To Decide Issues

SILOAM SPRINGS, BELLA VISTA BALLOTS INCLUDE QUESTIONS

— Voters in Bella Vista and Siloam Springs will have more on their ballots than a choice of candidates this month.

Bella Vista residents will have a pair of annexation questions to decide in the May 22 primary election. The city originally had advanced three annexation proposals, but Hiwasse residents forestalled one when they annexed into Gravette by petition instead.

What remains are the city’s “boundary cleanup area” proposal and the annexation of what is referred to as the “southern pocket area including Old Bella Vista.”

The boundary cleanup annexation does what the name suggests and brings into the city a handful of small pockets, many of them adjacent to the Missouri state line and otherwise surrounded by Bella Vista. The southern pocket area is along U.S. 71, between Bella Vista and Bentonville and north of McNelly Road, which is also Benton County 40. In discussions it has also been referred to as the area around the Walgreens store on U.S. 71.

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Voter Information

Sample ballots, polling locations, voter registration details and other voter information can be found on the Benton County website at www.co.benton.ar.us.

Bella Vista Mayor Frank Anderson said the city hasn’t heard much from residents of the areas being considered for annexation. He said only two people attended a recent city-sponsored forum on the annexation. They had a few questions, but voiced no objections.

In Siloam Springs, the city is asking voters to decide whether they want to city to pursue the development of a “broadband platform services network,” which would be akin to a city-owned utility that provide residents with cable television, Internet and telephone service. According to information from Art Farine, the city’s electrical director, the network is expected to generate enough revenue to cover operations and repay the cost of the project within 12 years. Any revenue above costs will be put toward other city projects, Farine said.

An opposition group, Arkansans for Limited Government, objected to the proposal saying the city should not compete with private businesses. Some members of the group opposing the ballot measure include Cox Communications, CenturyLink and the Arkansas Cable Telecommunications Association.

Benton County Clerk Tena O’Brien said early voting is set to begin today at the county clerk’s offices in Bentonville, Rogers and Siloam Springs. In those locations, early voting will last through May 21. Early voting hours are from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. Monday through Friday and from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturdays.

Early voting also will be available in Bella Vista, at Riordan Hall, and in Prairie Creek at 14438 E. Arkansas 12. Early voting will last from today through May 18 at those locations, with early voting hours being from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. Monday through Friday and from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturdays.

Another early voting site will be at Iberia Bank, 706 S. Walton Blvd. in Bentonville. Early voting at that location will last from today through May 18. Early voting hours at the bank will be from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Monday through Friday only.

O’Brien said voters interested in obtaining a copy of their sample ballot and verifying their polling place can do so through the Benton County website at www.co.benton.ar.us and clicking on the “Voter View” link on the home page.

“They can see what their own ballot will look like and where they will vote,” O’Brien said. “They can even print it out and bring it with them when they go to vote.”

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