Bentonville Council Fills Vacant Seats

Wednesday, June 25, 2014

BENTONVILLE -- City Council members appointed James Smith and John Skaggs at Tuesday's meeting to fill vacancies left by council members who recently moved out of their wards.

Smith was appointed to Ward 3, which became vacant when Leah Williams resigned June 13. Skaggs was appointed to Ward 1, which was left vacant when Chris Sooter resigned June 16.

At A Glance

Council Action

Bentonville’s City Council met Tuesday and approved:

• A property line adjustment at 306 N.W. C St.

• A lot split at 1001 N.W. A St. in Green Acres Subdivision.

• Rezoning 28 lots in Stone Meadow Subdivision to R-2 duplex and patio home residential.

• The final plat of White Oaks Trails on Southwest Second Street and Southwest White Oak Road.

• Reappointing Amanda Webb to the Advertising and Promotion Committee.

• A $1.5 million budget adjustment for furniture, fixtures and equipment for the Bentonville Community Recreation Center.

• A $19,930 budget adjustment for soccer field renovation at Memorial Park.

• An agreement with Sand Creek Engineering to design, administer bids and oversee construction for a parking lot at Elm Tree Ballfields.

• Three pieces of art to be placed on the North Bentonville Trail.

• A change order for Rosetta Construction for a $146,279 decrease and 20-day increase of contract time for the Bella Vista Bypass utility moving project.

• A waiver of the bid process to buy an in-line phosphorus analyzer for the wastewater treatment plant.

Source: Staff Report

Each ward received four applications. Candidates had three minutes each to tell the council why they would be best for the job. A council member then made a nomination, and four votes were required for appointment.

Shane Perry was absent, leaving five council members in attendance.

Smith is a certified financial planner, according to his resume. He served in the Army from 1989 to 1994.

He attended the Bentonville Police Academy a couple years ago, is involved in the YMCA and participated in Leadership Benton County, Smith told council members.

Smith ran against Bill Burckart, Ward 3 alderman, in the last election cycle.

"Running a campaign I think shows commitment to wanting to serve in this capacity," he said, adding he planned to run in the fall. "I want to be a part of improving this city and keep it moving forward."

Jim Grider, Ward 4 alderman, nominated Smith. It was approved 4-1 with Burckart voting no.

Other Ward 3 candidates included Rudy Upshaw, Dianna Lankford and Cephus Richard. Richard, who turned in his application three hours after the 9 a.m. deadline, was absent at the meeting.

John Skaggs served 26 years as a judge. He served five terms as municipal judge before being elected district judge in 2008. He retired in 2012.

Skaggs practices law part time in the city. He also serves as local treasurer and facilitator for the National Alliance on Mental Illness, is on the board for the Bentonville High School Alumni Association and serves as an historian for the Benton County Bar Association, according to his letter.

"I'm thrilled with the development I have seen within the last several years and want to do anything I can to further that," he told council members.

The other Ward 1 candidates included Michael Williams, Stephanie Orman and Joe Haynie.

Mary Baggett, Ward 1 alderwoman, nominated Haynie for appointment. Burton Head, Roger Thomas and Bill Burckart voted no.

Thomas then nominated Orman. Grider and Head voted no. Head nominated Skaggs, who received a 4-1 vote. Thomas voted no.

Burckart, Baggett and Grider said all the candidates were well-qualified and thanked them for applying.

The council also approved appointing Ron Sanders to the Planning Commission after Joe Thompson resigned after serving 20 years. Sanders' five-year term will end July 1, 2019.

Sanders was recommended by Mayor Bob McCaslin for appointment.

Sanders has lived in Bentonville for 26 years and works for Sanders Properties. He served on the Bentonville/Bella Vista Chamber of Commerce board from 1999 to 2003, the Bentonville Planning Commission from 1990 to 1995, the Bentonville Board of Adjustments from 1999 to 2004 and City Council from 2005 to 2008.

"I would like to take past experiences serving in the community and use those to help prepare Bentonville for the next 25 years," he wrote on why he would like to be considered for appointment.

The commission and city staff held a party for Thompson to recognize his years of service before the council meeting.

Thompson said it was an honor to serve with everyone he worked with during his tenure.

"Seeing the change in Bentonville and Northwest Arkansas over the last 20 years has just been unbelievable," he said.

NW News on 06/25/2014