BENTONVILLE — The city's street department will be relocated northwest of the Benton County jail and road department as the City Council approved $1.9 million to buy the land Tuesday night.
The council approved a resolution authorizing the city to enter into a contract with Phillip Lee Trust to buy 9.5 acres for $1.9 million plus an estimated $19,000 for closing costs. The land is located south of Southwest Eighth Street and west of Melissa Drive.
At A Glance
City Council
The Bentonville City Council met Tuesday and approved the following:
• Rezoning of 908 E. Central Ave. from single-family residential to downtown edge
• Budget adjustment of $71,367.50 for the survey and design of a multi-use trail on the west side of North Walton Boulevard
• Budget adjustment of $5,500 to the public library from the Northwest Arkansas Economic Development District for a General Improvement Grant
• An agreement with Ozark Tennis Academy for a tennis program provider at Memorial Park Tennis Complex
• A bid of $75,584 for construction of the pathways at Legacy Orchards at Orchards Park
• An agreement with Altec for $394,904 for three telescoping booms, or aerial trucks, for the electric department
Source: Staff Report
The vote was 5-2 with aldermen Roger Thomas and Bill Burckart voting against it. Council members Leah Williams and Shane Perry were absent. Mayor Bob McCaslin cast the fifth "yes" vote as city resolutions require five votes in favor to pass.
McCaslin said that was only the third time since being mayor where he has voted.
Last year the council was presented a master plan outlining the future plans for the municipal facilities. It had the water and sewer department taking over the current location of the street department. The street department would relocate to an unspecified location, Transportation Engineer Mike Churchwell explained in a memorandum to McCaslin.
The street department is located at 501 S.E. 3rd St., southeast of the downtown square.
Its new location is zoned industrial and is more centrally located within the city, Churchwell wrote in the memo.
Thomas and Burckart expressed concern that the land cost $200,000 an acre, and Burckart also said the amount of land many not be needed.
McCaslin said the amount of land will allow for growth and could be used for needs exceeding the street department such as a vehicle washing facility and centralized maintenance department.
The plans aren't laid out yet, but the council will take part in planning and developing the campus, he said.
Burckart said his understanding during conversations last year was that the department would relocate to the southwest corner where the growth is concentrated.
The central location of the land will prevent the street department from using as much fuel than if it were to relocate to the city's outskirts, said Brian Bahr, economic development manager.
The city has been looking for land for "a long time" and the need for space is great, Churchwell said.
"We're on top of each other," he said. "It almost becomes a safety issue."
Alderman Chris Sooter said the street department has been in need of space for years and didn't think the city would find any other option that wouldn't tie up viable commercial land or be too far.
"There's been a lot of big decisions that we've made as a group that are expensive," he said. "There's not anything we do that's cheap."
"I cannot justify the purchase for $200,000 an acre for a maintenance facility," Burckart said firmly with a head shake. "I just can't do it."
Thomas told Sooter they're both going to be asked why the city couldn't find land for $100,000 an acre, and rightly so, Thomas said.
"You couldn't find 10 acres for $100,000 an acre? That's a darn good question, and that's a question that's going to get asked," he said.
Burckart recommended that the resolution be tabled so the master plan could be discussed more, the numbers could be looked at again and other options could be evaluated.
Thomas agreed, saying he wanted more time to get this issue "in the public eye a bit more."
Thomas made a motion to table the resolution, but before a vote was taken City Attorney George Spence announced the contract could be withdrawn if not signed by Feb. 28. It could be extended, he added.
Burckart expressed displeasure that information wasn't given to council members until Feb. 21, which left limited time to discuss it.
McCaslin asked those who were and weren't in favor of tabling the resolution. Thomas and Burckart were the only two to raise their hands.
Alderwoman Mary Baggett motioned to approve the resolution, which Sooter seconded.
The council also approved 6-0 a $4.6 million budget adjustment to award Rosetta Construction the bid to relocate utilities associated with the Bella Vista Bypass project.
The money will come from wastewater funded depreciation, the electrical department fund and state reimbursement of $1.3 million.
The project is an unfunded mandate, McCaslin said.
NW News on 02/26/2014