Growth continued unabated in 2019

There were 19 new businesses opened in Pea Ridge in 2019, according to information from City Hall. That number includes home occupations as well as “brick and mortar” businesses, Mayor Jackie Crabtree said.

The estimated population of Pea Ridge is 6,045, about 4,300 more than when Crabtree first took office in 1995.

There were 95 new homes built in town this past year.

Growth — and all that involves — continues to affect Pea Ridge. City officials have discussed the possibility of seeking a one-cent sales tax increase to fund needed improvements in the city’s infrastructure.

The City Council recently approved the 2020 budget of $9,368,990.

Planning Commission members meet twice a month — once in a tech review and once for the regular Planning Commission meeting. The agenda regularly has rezoning requests as well as both preliminary and final plats for subdivisions. Conditional use permits are often requested from persons wishing to operate businesses from their residences.

The construction on both the new high school and the wastewater treatment plant continue.

The school football team will compete in 5A, according to athletic director Kevin Ramey. The opponents in the new league will include Harrison, Farmington, Alma, Clarksville, Morrilton, Greenbrier and Vilonia.

Other sports — volleyball, basketball, baseball, softball, track, golf, cross country — will continue in 4A with opponents Harrison, Farmington, Berryville, Gravette, Gentry, Prairie Grove, Shiloh and Huntsville, Ramey said.

The increased growth is often reflected in the headlines as evidenced from the headlines of 2019.