Service, accomplishments are numerous

With more accomplishments than can be enumerated, Mayor Jackie Crabtree is walking out of his office for the final time at the end of this month after serving for 27 years.

Elected in 1994, Crabtree took office to the then part-time position Jan. 1, 1995. The position became full-time in 2004. He did not seek re-election.

Nathan See, Street Department superintendent, was elected without opposition and will take office Jan. 1, 2023.

During the 27 years at the helm, Crabtree has worked with 23 City Council members, multiple Planning Commission members, and numerous city employees.

More than 20 years ago, the mayor, with help from his wife, Freida, and former mayor Mary Durand, compiled a book entitled “Pea Ridge, 1850-2000, Anchored to the Past …. Rising to the Future.” Area residents were asked to submit stories about their families, the businesses, churches and other memories of the community.

“It was our goal to have this book ready for our Sesquicentennial celebration,” states the foreword. “We wanted to show how each family who lived here 150 years ago, as well as each family living here now, has helped make Pea Ridge what it is today.”

While serving as mayor, Crabtree served on several boards and commissions, including:

• Northwest Arkansas Regional Planning Commission in many capacities including vice-chairman, chairman;

• Northwest Arkansas Regional Mobility Board of Directors;

• Benton County Solid Waste District Board as both vice-chair and chairman;

• Benton County Historical Preservation Commission;

• Pea Ridge National Military Park Foundation Board including treasurer and chairman;

• Northwest Arkansas Economic Development District Board of Directors including treasurer;

• Heritage Trails Partners Board including vice-president and president;

• Advisory councils for the Arkansas Municipal League;

• Executive Committee, Arkansas Municipal League;

• Served as Vice-President, District 3, Arkansas Municipal League;

• Served as First Vice-President, Arkansas Municipal League, 2012-2013;

• Served as President, Arkansas Municipal League, 2013-2014;

• Past Presidents Advisory Council, Arkansas Municipal League;

• Southern Municipal Conference, including Executive Committee, Vice-Chairman and Chairman;

• Missouri Arkansas Partnership, chairman, during this time we were able to designate Benton County as a Arkansas Community of Excellence county, established the Multi-Basin Regional Water Council which included Arkansas, Kansas and Missouri;

• Northwest Arkansas Regional Chamber of Commerce, Ex-Officio Board Member; and

• Greater Bentonville Area Chamber of Commerce, Ex-Officio Board Member.

Accomplishments

Crabtree was asked to list the accomplishment in the city over the past 27 years. He demurred about taking credit for any of the accomplishments saying it is a team effort with city employees each contributing to the outcomes. The accomplishments include:

Sidewalks on Curtis from Pickens to Leetown/Slack;

Remodeled the old fire department into new court/ council room adding restrooms and mayor’s office;

Obtained the donation of the old Mercy Clinic on Curtis Avenue and remodeled it for the new library;

Obtained the old Harps Pharmacy building and remodeled for the Water Utilities office;

Obtained the current building at 187 Slack and remodeled it for the Police Department, moving them from the fire station. At one time the police department was upstairs at the 227 E. Pickens location downtown;

Built fire station 2 at the corner of Ark. Hwy. 94 and Hickman Drive;

City’s ISO rating improved from class 5 in 1993 to class 4 in 2015;

Obtained a ladder truck on permanent loan from the City of Rogers Fire Department;

Purchased a new ambulance;

City of Pea Ridge’s first full time mayor;

The ambulance service was upgraded to ALS (Advanced Life Support) from BLS (Basic Life Support);

Police Department developed from a three-person department to now 15;

Total number of city employees in 1995 was 10 or less, now there are 61;

Hired the first full time fire chief;

Hired the first full time paramedics/fire staff;

Completed an $8.5 million wastewater treatment plant; Completed new 18” water line from Bentonville and new water tower;

Rehabbed main wastewater lines from treatment plant to the south of town;

Upgraded park playground equipment at the City Park;

Received donation the Extension Homemaker (was also at one time Masonic Temple) building from the Pea Ridge Extension Homemaker group, remodeled it and now is the Pea Ridge Historical Museum;

Began Christmas Tree lighting and decorations downtown;

Weston Street from Slack to Pickens, improved to include sidewalks, turn lane to accommodate school traffic;

Passed ordinance detailing the street naming convention to be participants of the Battle of Pea Ridge, East/West Streets – Confederate, North/South – Union;

Added additional park areas, Givens, Baker Hayes;

Population has grown from 1,620 in 1990 to 6,559 in 2020, increase of 4,939;

The old downtown is on the National Historic Register;

Obtained ARDOT (AHTD at the time) grant to construct sidewalk on Hayden Road (Ark. Hwy. 265) near the city park to intersection of West Pickens (Ark. Hwy. 94);

Helped Dr. Parker, Hands-On Chiropractic establish her office in Pea Ridge;

Obtained grant from Arkansas Parks and Recreation to build a Splash Pad at the City Park;

Constructed walking trails at the City Park;

Extended Patton Street to connect to Weston Street;

Passed an additional 1-cent city sales tax to fund $5 million street project in addition to providing funds for the Street, Fire, Police and Parks departments;

Built new city administration building, combination building of city offices and Pea Ridge School District offices;

Upgraded all water meters to radio read water meters eliminating staff having to visually read all meters;

Updated city computer systems, permits software, business license software;

Added Police body cameras; New reporting system replacing RPS;

New billing system for ambulance;

Improved GPS and mapping system for water department to accurately define locations of water/ sewer lines;

Firing range for Police Department;

Organized lunches for visiting soldiers at Pea Ridge National Military Park. Cooperation between the city, local churches, citizens, and businesses;

Extended sewer lines on the west side of town; and

Extending sewer lines on the east side of town.

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Editor’s note: This is the third and final in a threepart series on Mayor Jackie Crabtree and his years of service.