Residents of a portion of Washington County chose Elm Springs over Tontitown on Tuesday.
Both cities claimed the area in separate annexation elections during the last two months. That left residents of the area, which consists almost entirely of the Churchill Downs subdivision off Brush Creek Road, to decide which city to join.
In Tuesday’s election, 20 residents (77 percent) voted to join Elm Springs, while six residents (23 percent) voted for Tontitown. Forty-nine people were registered and eligible to vote in the election. The turnout rate was 53 percent.
The election came less than a week after Tommy Granata resigned as Tontitown’s mayor. Granata said his resignation came out of frustration with obstacles to conducting city business created by opponents.
Alan Stewart, a member of the Churchill Downs Property Owners Association board, said the association recommended to residents they vote to join Elm Springs.
“We tend to feel more a part of the Elm Springs community, since most of us travel through there to work or school,” Stewart said.
Also, he said, Elm Springs Mayor Ben Wall and police chief Jason Hiatt both wrote letters to residents encouraging them to join Elm Springs. No one from Tontitown contacted the subdivision on the matter, Stewart said.
The instability of Tontitown government also played a part in the association’s recommendation.
“We just felt Churchill issues would probably not get much attention in Tontitown given the issues they have,” Stewart said.
The contested area covers 88 acres and includes 23 address points. Jennifer Price, Washington County election coordinator, said the election probably would cost no more than $2,500. Elm Springs and Tontitown will split the cost of the election.