HOT SPRINGS -- Several areas of Garland County will become part of Hot Springs in the next few months through annexation, under an act passed by the Legislature earlier this year.
Hot Springs Planning and Development Director Kathy Sellman said Act 109 changed the language regarding annexation and enclaves to include areas that are surrounded on three sides by the city limits and on a fourth side by a river or lake.
She said the Hot Springs Board of Directors has identified about five areas that qualify as enclaves as defined by the act.
"We have many areas that, over the years, have been like that. If they had been surrounded on all sides by the city limits, they would have been eligible for annexation many, many years ago," Sellman said Friday.
She said the Hot Springs Board of Directors has determined that it is in the best interest of everyone to take those enclave areas, which are mostly south of the city limits, into the city.
One small enclave exists west of the city along Highway 270.
The first area that will be annexed is a 481-acre tract, with a population of about 985 residents, south of the city limits and west of Central Avenue.
"These people will see immediate changes in their utility [water] bills. Sanitation will change at the beginning of the next calendar year because the county contracts for that service and, in fairness to the contractors, they will continue to pick up through the end of the year," Sellman said.
Areas that are annexed after Jan. 1 will continue to have county sanitation service until Jan. 1, 2017, Sellman said.
In addition to lower water bills, the newly annexed areas will also benefit from the city's Insurance Service Office 2 rating, which will qualify homeowners for lower insurance rates, she said.
"There are only a couple of other places in the state with that rating, so we're very proud of that and people will have access to our excellent fire service," she said.
Sellman said the city is putting together a brochure that will provide more information and details about the annexation.
A public hearing will be held Oct. 20. By Oct. 5, the city will make a certified mailing that will include a schedule of annexation events, an area map, the brochure and a legal description of the area, which covers four double-sided pages.
She said having "squared-off" city limits on the south side will also help law enforcement and fire departments determine if a call for service is in the city or county.
Metro on 09/21/2015