Bentonville annexes land sought by Rogers officials

BENTONVILLE — Thirty-nine property owners in Benton County will soon become residents of Bentonville instead of Rogers.

Members of the Bentonville City Council on Tuesday unanimously approved the annexation of the piece of land, which is 2 miles long and one-fourth of a mile wide at its narrowest point.

The piece of land cuts through land Rogers wants to annex through a special election on Nov. 14. Rogers is looking to obtain almost 5 square miles west of that city.

With Bentonville’s annexation, the western piece of the land Rogers wants no longer shares a border with Rogers, a requirement of state law for annexation by election.

“Bentonville’s short-sighted reaction to Rogers’s call for an annexation election to appease a few at the expense of many is disappointing,” Rogers Mayor Greg Hines said in a statement released Tuesday after the Bentonville City Council’s meeting.

The 39 property owners signed a petition asking to be annexed into Bentonville.

Three of those property owners spoke at Tuesday’s meeting in favor of the annexation into Bentonville.

The Rogers City Council “seemed almost hostile at times toward us,” Don Rone said. “We’re here this evening because we do believe we have a choice. Their position is we have no choice in the matter.”

Jerry Orr said he’d stay in an unincorporated area if he could, but because he can’t, he chooses to be part of Bentonville.

“We exercised our right as citizens of this country to volunteer to be annexed into the city of Bentonville,” he said.

Scott McMurtey said property owners never got a clear answer from Rogers officials on why Rogers wanted to annex the land.

“When you live in a growth area, you know you’re going to get sucked up at some point,” he said. “I’ve always thought it would be an annexation to Bentonville, and that it would be my choice.”

Council member Bill Burckart said children in the annexed area participate in Bentonville sports and attend Bentonville schools.

“You’re part of us,” he said. “I’m glad you’re here. I’m sorry you’ve had to go through this. I support you coming here.”

There have been 156 annexations into Bentonville since 2000, according to Mayor Bob McCaslin. All of them have been voluntary.

“I consider that a compliment to our city,” he said Tuesday afternoon.