Bella Vista moves closer to district court

BELLA VISTA — The City Council took additional steps to establish a district court branch during its meeting Monday.

The council authorized buying district court management software and product support for the rest of 2017 for $22,300.

Mayor Peter Christie said the software — Virtual Justice — is used by many municipalities in Arkansas, including Pea Ridge.

The council also approved renovating a court facility at 612 W. Lancashire Blvd. The city has already leased the space.

The bid, from Marion Company came in at $104,405 and the contract includes a 10 percent contingency to cover unforeseen circumstances, bringing the total cost of the renovation to $114,895.

The council amended the city budget to hire a full-time court clerk and cover start-up costs for the court.

Christie said while the start-up costs are high, totaling roughly $290,000, having the court in town is expected to save the city $30,000 annually.

The payback, he said, will take time, but it also offers less tangible benefits upfront, such as offering residents a shorter trip for their court dates and leaving officers in town when they need to appear for court.

“It’s convenient and it gives us an opportunity to serve our constituents better,” he said. “I do believe in my heart of hearts that this is the right thing to do.”

Council member Doug Fowler said he agreed it’s a good move for the city.

“I’m personally excited about it,” he said. “I think it’s one more step in the continuum of making Bella Vista a real city.”

The council also tabled a proposal to regulate outdoor lighting and approved money for construction of a northbound left turn lane at the intersection of Bella Vista Way and Mercy Way. The council also approved condemning a structure at 9276 Suits Us Drive.