Emergency response center OK’d

Cooperative’s proposal subject of public hearing

BENTONVILLE — A new emergency response station near Lowell will improve service to Carroll Electric Cooperative customers during inclement weather.

Benton County’s Planning Board reviewed the cooperative’s proposal at the Technical Advisory Committee portion of its meeting Wednesday. The project will be the subject of a public hearing before the board Sept. 16.

According to information provided to the county, the utility plans to build an 18,500-square-foot building with some outdoor storage on the property at 700 Arkansas 265. The facility will have two or three employees on staff from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. but will not accept utility payments.

The emergency response center will have administrative offices, indoor truck storage and outdoor storage areas for power poles and other electrical service supplies. The center is meant to provide quicker emergency response to Carroll Electric customers.

Also Wednesday, the board rejected a plan for a trucking company/repair facility at 5475 Colvin Place near Lowell. The operation was brought to the attention of the county after several environmental complaints were filed. It was found the business required Planning Board review and a “stop work” order was issued.

The board voted unanimously to deny the request after a lengthy public hearing at which several neighbors

The facility will have two or three employees on staff from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. but will not accept utility payments.

complained about heavy truck traffic, noise from the trucks and the repair work, dust and trash blowing from the site and concerns about possible contamination of water wells.

The board also noted the scope of the business was larger than just a repair shop.

“If you’re dispatching trucks to and from other locations that’s not part of fleet maintenance,” board member Rick Williams said.

Williams made a motion to deny, which board member Ashley Tucker seconded. Tucker also noted the nature of the business exceeded the plan as presented.

“This has become a larger project,” Tucker said. “The hours are longer. The intensity is greater and the activities are greater. This is a trucking firm that’s also offering demolition services and excavation services. What the heck are we doing here?”

Winston May, representing WC and Associates, the trucking company, emphasized the hauling, demolition and excavation work done by the company was done at other locations. The dump

trucks and other equipment is sent to those work sites and brought back to the Colvin Place location at the end of the work day.

“We provide dump truck services, excavation services and demolition services to a myriad of companies around the area,” he said.

Kevin Gambrill, planning director, told the board if the proposal were denied, the property could be used for residential or agricultural uses but not the commercial operation.