Rogers Lake Atalanta Road Issue Discussion Set for Tuesday

— What might be the final discussion on closing Lake Atalanta Road is scheduled for 5 p.m. Tuesday.

Meetings on every aspect of the Lake Atalanta renovation project have been held over several months. Closing the lake road was given special attention with two meetings.

MEETING INFORMATION

Council Agenda

The Rogers City Council will meet at 6:30 p.m. Tuesday in Council Chambers of City Hall, 301 W. Chestnut St. A public hearing on whether to close Lake Atalanta Road is scheduled for 5 p.m. Agenda items include:

• Adopting the 2012 International Building Code complete with appendices.

• A $1.2 million contract with Johnson Construction for left turn lanes at Oak Street and Olrich Street intersections with Dixieland Road.

• A $67,746 contract with Johnson Construction for striping Garrett Road.

• A $436,340 contract with Garver LLC to design 28th Place street between Pauline Whitaker Parkway and Bellview Road.

• Accepting the six lowest bids for towing service for the Police Department.

• A $60,000 contract with Joe Blackburn to buy 0.528 acres at 204 E. Cherry St. for a small parking lot and dog park.

• Rezoning 6028 Stoney Brook Road from agriculture to neighborhood commercial.

Follow John Gore as he live tweets from the Lake Atalanta Road public hearing, www.twitter.com/NWA….

The possibility the road may close has attracted attention from property owners around the lake and other residents. The majority of people who have spoken at meetings said they want to keep the road open. Fewer than five residents said they want the road closed.

"I am still very much in favor of keeping the road open," said Strad Will. The Will family has owned property and lived near Lake Atalanta for more than 70 years.

"My dad owned about 700 acres next to the lake. He developed a ranch on the property. We have an easement to our property signed by Mayor Bob Vogt in 1949 that's still in effect, as far as I know," Will said. "We got the easement because my dad provided the capital to buy the materials to build the road around the lake, and the city built the road."

"The road should remain open, not just for the people who live around the lake, but for senior citizens who can't walk around the lake, or the elderly fishermen who can't carry their equipment to their fishing spots if they had to walk," Will said.

Jim Elkins, a Rogers resident, said he wants to keep the road open because of tradition.

"Lake Atalanta is a beautiful place, and the road has always been open. It's a family place, it's part of Rogers and I think the road should stay open," Elkins said.

David Thrasher, a former city planning commissioner, said Friday he wants to see as much of the road as possible closed to traffic.

"I don't think it would be practical to close the entire road, but I would like to see the road on the west side of the lake closed," Thrasher said.

Thrasher said if vehicles share the road with walkers and bike riders, it'll impede walkers from going to the lake and park area.

"People will go to Crystal Bridges or to Bella Vista where they can use the trails without being bothered by cars. If we want Lake Atalanta park to be part of the 21st century, then changes have to be made. It's not the 1950s. The lake is beautiful. It should be a place where children and families can go to enjoy nature and feel safe on the trails," Thrasher said.

Mike Shupe of the Planning Commission agreed the road on the west side of the lake should be closed.

"It makes sense to me to close the road. It makes it safer for walkers and bike riders. I think most people would be able to access the park if the road were closed. Most of us can walk 40 or 50 yards to go fishing. Older people could still drive on the east side of the lake," Shupe said.

Some aldermen said they don't know how they will vote on the issue.

"I've given the lake road situation a great deal of thought, but I haven't made up my mind on how I will vote when it comes before the council," said Marge Wolf, alderwoman.

"We want to make sure we do this the right way," Wolf said.

"It is good to hear from residents so we get a feel for what people are thinking. We also have to remember we are there to represent all Rogers residents, not just the people who attend council meetings," Wolf said.

Gary Townzen, alderman, said he wants to keep the road open.

"It's always been open. I see no good reason to close the road," Townzen said.

Mayor Greg Hines said Friday he isn't sure if aldermen will vote on the road issue Tuesday.

"It's not up to me. The council will make the decision whether to keep the road open. The only way I will vote is if there is a tie, then I must vote to break the tie. As of now, I don't know how I would vote," Hines said Friday.

An ordinance calling for closing 1.19 miles of the road around Lake Atalanta is one of the documents listed on the Tuesday's council agenda. Aldermen could table the vote, which would move the issue to the next council meeting in April.

NW News on 03/24/2014

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