First Security Bank representatives have requested nearly 39 acres of bank-owned property in Tontitown be de-annexed, citing inadequate police and fire protection, and lack of water and sewer service.
The bank owns a 15.64-acre commercial tract at 1395 Henri De Tonti Blvd. and a 22.90-acre residential south and contiguous to the first tract. The tracts are also contiguous to Springdale.
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First Security representatives have talked to Doug Sprouse, Springdale mayor, about annexation.
"We aren't involved in the de-annexation request. We aren't siding with city or the bank on the question of de-annexation," Sprouse said Wednesday.
"First of all, Tontitown has to agree to de-annex the property before we would get involved. If Tontitown does agree to the de-annexation, we would consider annexing the property and providing the necessary services," Sprouse said.
Four messages were left Wednesday with First Security representatives requesting comment. There was no response by 5 p.m.
A certified letter dated Aug. 22 addressed to Jack Beckford, Tontitown mayor, stated the bank wants to develop the property to maximize its use and value. The letter was from the law firm of Millar Jiles in Conway. No one at the law firm would speak about the case Wednesday.
The letter gives the reasons for de-annexation as Tontitown inability to furnish certain municipal services:
• Adequate fire protection, including a lack of adequately trained, full-time firefighters and equipment to protect extensive damage to property.
• Adequate ambulance service.
• Water and sewer to the 22-acre tract
• The construction of a public road permitting access to the 22-acre tract.
A Freedom of Information Act request filed by bank representatives asked for the number of police officers, firefighters, equipment for both departments, training records and other documents related to the ability of the departments to respond to calls for assistance.
City officials prepared more than 15 documents outlining fire and police protection, training schedules, number of police and fire vehicles and other files to respond to the request.
"We are going to fight the de-annexation," Beckford said Wednesday. "There are water and sewer lines that run on Henri de Tonti Boulevard on the first property."
The city doesn't build water and sewer lines to vacant property such as the second tract of land, Beckford said.
"If they want to develop the property, they can put in the water and sewer lines to connect to our existing lines just like any other developer," Beckford said.
He also countered the bank's statement about the Police and Fire Departments.
"We have a paid police force and a paid Fire Department," Beckford said. "Ambulance service is provided by Springdale, and they have a fire station on the east edge of Tontitown."
Kristopher Arthur, Tontitown police and fire chief, said the departments are in good shape, as are their response times.
"We cover 18.1 square miles in Tontitown, and our response time averages from 2 minutes and 12 seconds to 2 minutes and 30 seconds. I don't see anything wrong with those response times," Arthur said.
The Police Department has six and one-half paid police officer positions and the Fire Department has six firefighters and 36 volunteer firefighters, Arthur said. The half-time police officer position is used to fill gaps in the rotation during vacations or to fill out a shift, he said.
"All of our police officers are also certified as volunteer firefighters," Arthur said.
Tontitown has five Tahoe police vehicles, three marked Ford Crown Victoria cars and one unmarked vehicle. The Fire Department has three pumpers and a brush truck, Arthur said.
"We haven't had a structure fire since we began our paid Fire Department, but I think we can handle most of the fires we might have in Tontitown. If there were a time when we needed more equipment or firefighters, then we have an agreement with Springdale to provide men and equipment," Arthur said.
NW News on 09/11/2014