City Council talks water and taxes

Purchasing a portion of Centerton’s water system and establishing a tax to fund an advertising and promotion commission were discussed during Monday night’s City Council meeting.

The price of buying part of the water system: $243,855.49.

Assuming the city makes this purchase, Mayor Peter Christie said, it will be a cash purchase made with reserve funds.

“This in no way is an attempt by the city to get out there and take the POA’s water (system),” he said.

The intent is to be in control of portions of the water system near Arkansas 279 so the city can improve the lines, if necessary, to handle growth in that area, the mayor said. Further, he said, establishing a water department could help the city get water to areas that aren’t currently serviced by the Property Owners Association.

The area, he said, could see growth as traffic on Arkansas 279 increases, he said, which may result from the opening of part of the Bella Vista Bypass.

Larry Wilms, former head of the POA Water Department, has served as the city’s water consultant, Christie said.

Wilms said that a large portion of the purchase would supply water to Gravette, but it would also include portions around Arkansas 279 and near Rogers Road.

Controlling this, he said, can help the city control growth in that area.

“I think it’s essential for the

city and their future,” he said.

Christie said that the city could install pipes that are larger in diameter to supply more water to this area if it ever proves necessary, though current projections put that project at $2 million to $2.5 million. Doing this, he said, would likely require a loan, while grants may also be available to help.

Alderman James Wozniak said he was interested in knowing what sort of expense the city would be looking at beyond the purchase price.

“So we buy this, and all of a sudden we’re responsible for maintenance and upkeep,” he said. “So we would have to develop a water department.”

Wozniak asked if there was a customer base to support that department.

Alderwoman Lloyd seconded this concern.

“I’m concerned about us voting on the purchase without seeing any facts and figures,” she said.

Christie said that he’s asked Centerton officials for estimates on expenses, but has not received that information yet. He does not intend to proceed, he said, without that information.

Wilms said that he expected, initially, the city would see part-time staff involvement. A lot of work, he said, could be handled by the Street Department, time permitting. Because meters are read by radio, he said, and water lines don’t break terribly often, he doesn’t expect to see a huge difference in labor demands.

“I think you’re looking at a minimum of manpower involvement,” he said.

The main decision to be made right now, he said, is whether the city is willing to purchase that particular chunk of infrastructure.

Turning to a tax to fund an advertising and promotions commission, the proposed tax of 1 percent on prepared food and 2 percent on lodging services would be used to fund operations. The commission would operate independent of the city, economic development manager Travis Stephens said.

Making it independent, alderman Fowler said, is important, because this allows it to promote specific local businesses, something the city cannot do.

Stephens said that not having this commission is depriving the city of promotion opportunities.

In one case, he said, photos of Bella Vista’s Back 40 trail system were used in a presentation put on by another city’s advertising and promotion commission.

Another example, he said, is that an upcoming golf tournament is sponsored by a neighboring advertising and promotion commission. That commission, he said, is unlikely to be steering visitors toward Bella Vista lunch or lodging opportunities.

“The other community basically has first dibs on contact with these people from out of town,” he said.

Wozniak said that it’s important to consider the amount of income the city’s tax base can provide. It’s unlikely, he said, to be on the same level as neighboring cities.

The council also talked about amending sections of the municipal code regulating nuisances, opening bidding for a new police evidence building, a new firing range safety policy for the Police Department, purchasing 15 new Taser devices for the Police Department, filling vacancies on volunteer boards, changing Fire Department reporting software, hiring a firm to advertise the city and contracting for a pavement-condition survey.