Voters in neighboring Lawrence County towns will decide Tuesday whether they want to merge and create a bigger town that proponents of the measure believe would have the potential to draw more industry.
Opponents of the merger fear that new restrictions would take away some of the freedoms of living in a smaller town.
If voters approve the measure Tuesday, College City and Walnut Ridge will become one city Jan. 1 and take Walnut Ridge's name. Early voting began May 2.
Three sides of College City, population 488, touch Walnut Ridge's city limits. Walnut Ridge, the Lawrence County seat, is home to 4,890. Williams Baptist College is in College City, along with the Walnut Ridge Municipal Airport, but Walnut Ridge maintains it.
College City Mayor Paul Rhodes said he favors the merger. His town has no businesses or tax revenue other than state turnback money. Many who live in the town are employees of Williams Baptist College, which provides homes for them.
"I think this will pass," he said of the proposed merger. "We just have to make sure we get people out to vote. The biggest concern is that people will think it's a shoo-in and they won't get out to vote."
Rhodes and others conducted a door-to-door campaign recently, leaving information about the merger and reminders to vote Tuesday.
Walnut Ridge Mayor Charles Snapp has said he favors the merger, as well.
Voters in both towns must approve the merger before it is enacted.
College City Alderman Blair Stowers opposes the merger, he said, because he fears it will force more restrictions on his town.
"I'm still dead set against it, but I think it will pass," he said. "It's not really merging. It's one town taking over another."
He said College City residents would be required to pay for dog registrations and building permits and lose such liberties as driving four-wheelers on roads.
"I'm against any bigger government," he said. "I think this merger would take away some of our freedoms."
Stowers said only 23 residents of College City own property and would be adversely affected by the merger.
Most of the town's residents live in the housing provided by Williams Baptist College.
"The rest don't have the stake in this that we do," he said.
Officials have discussed such a merger for more than three decades. In the past, aldermen in both towns talked of merging but voted down proposals. This time, Rhodes said, residents saw the need for a merger. Walnut Ridge already pays to maintain streets and sewer service in College City.
"We have a limited budget," he said. "Being a larger city will help."
State Desk on 05/09/2016