City council approves land for fire training

The Bella Vista City Council voted unanimously in favor of leasing land from the POA for firefighter training and heard from seven people regarding the resignation of library director Roxie Wright during its Monday, Aug. 27, regular meeting.

Mayor Peter Christie explained that the 25-year lease of 10 acres near the intersection of Tudor Drive and Chelsea Road comes in at one dollar each year and provides adequate space for a full fire-training facility, including a tower and space for vehicle training.

The lack of a facility, he said, cost the city points during a recent Insurance Services Office rating survey, which dropped the city’s ISO rating to four.

“We are now setting ourselves on a good course to be able to move the ISO rating … down to a three,” he said.

A budget information session scheduled for Nov. 24 at 5 p.m. at the Bella Vista court facility will give officials a chance to discuss, among other things, how to proceed with this development.

“We will also look at the longer term,” he said.

Council member John Flynn said he appreciated the POA providing this land at a low cost. This is a good opportunity to show the POA and the city can work together, he said.

Council member Frank Anderson said that may not be an easy

plot of land to lease otherwise.

“It’s not prime land,” he said.

Before the council got to business, it opened up for public input.

Former library director Roxie Wright came in person to address the council.

“I am asking to be reinstated as the director of the Bella Vista Library,” she said. “Since I’ve been director of the library, circulation and patronage have increased dramatically.”

Wright said she has worked to build the library and feels that her removal from the position was unjustified. Additionally, she said, she believes library staff is behind her.

Audience members gathered in the first few rows applauded after she finished speaking.

Children’s librarian Ellen Farwell said she came to support Wright and said she has done a great job providing activities, materials and space needed by patrons.

Gail Cowden said she volunteers with the library one day each week. She moved to the city over 15 years ago, she said, and did not like the library at the time — though when she stopped back in a few years ago, she was pleasantly surprised and began volunteering in 2015.

“We need Roxie Wright reinstated,” she said.

The city council did not respond to these comments during the meeting.

The council also unanimously approved amendments to the city’s planning area map and amendments to a trail license agreement with the POA for additions to the trail systems in the city.