Council Approves Chamber Contract

— With little discussion, the Bella Vista City Council approved a renewal contract with the Bentonville-Bella Vista Chamber of Commerce at its regular meeting Monday night.

Alderwoman Becky Morgan asked for accurate accounting of services the chamber provides to the city. Mayor Frank Anderson said guidelines for that are spelled out in the city’s contract with the organization.

Morgan and Alderman Jerry Snow will accompany Anderson to chamber board meetings in the future.

The group also agreed to lower building permit fees within the city. Planning Director Chris Suneson designed a fee schedule to more closely compete with area cities. He said the change will cause a decline in revenue at first, but in turn should attract builders and homeowners to the city.

Alderman Dick Rooney said he hopes the change encourages homeowners to obtain permits as required by city code for additions such as deck expansions. He said the permit process ensures the project is done safely and up to code, and that the city has a code in place for a reason.

Council members voted unanimously to change the name of a portion of Dartmoor Road. From U.S. 71 east to the intersection with Lambeth Road, the stretch will now be named Mercy Way. A new Mercy Health facility is set to open along the new Mercy Way this fall.

The change will cost the city the price of three street signs, and no addresses will be affected.

There is work to be done still on the act of the city taking the Bella Vista Library under its wing. The ad hoc committee set up to study the possibility, chaired by Alderman Jim Wozniak, recommended the city take over operations beginning in 2014.

The resolution passed at Monday’s meeting stated only that the city will continue to make plans in that direction, and Anderson said he hopes to finalize the takeover before budget talks begin later this year.

Though talks of a millage increase have been broached, no such increase would be sought until at least 2017, Wozniak said, after fundraising for the expansion of the library is complete.

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