CITY OF BENTON

Community Development           PO Box 607

                                                          Benton, Arkansas 72018

 

 

 

FOR  IMMEDIATE RELEASE

 

CONTACT

 

Marsha Guffey

Director of Community Development

778-8058, mguffey@bentonar.org

 

 

Benton Refocuses Annexation Efforts

 

At an agenda meeting Monday night prior to the Benton City Council meeting, Mayor Rick Holland and Benton aldermen articulated the reasons they have reconsidered the August 12^th special election vote on annexation of areas north and west of Hurricane Lake Estates, which included the Salem community.  The annexation was originally proposed in response to Bryant’s breach of a 2005 agreement that defined the areas in which Benton and Bryant would grow.  “We felt we had to protect our interests in this area,” said Mayor Holland.  “We have put a number of infrastructure improvements in place to serve current and future residents—we cannot afford to let these improvements be wasted.” 

 

However, residents in the Salem Community, in particular, have been passionate that they do not want to be annexed.  So at the July 14^th Council meeting, the Benton Council acted in response to the wishes of residents in the area and passed an ordinance repealing the planned August 12^th election.  Holland added, “Even though we thought it would be beneficial to the residents of both areas, we care about what people in the Salem community think.  We would prefer not to force anyone to come into Benton.”

 

Historically Benton has grown through voluntary annexations. Holland pointed to the recent annexation of 500 acres at Interstate Exit 114 as an example, saying “We expect many other voluntary annexations to occur in the near future.  As a result of all the publicity over the Salem annexation, a landowner in the Scott-Salem Road area asked to annex 200 acres, saying that he did not want to be in Bryant.  We know that other people north and west of Benton value the benefits of living in our City--we will welcome them with open arms if they decide to seek annexation.  Even those land owners whose properties are not currently contiguous with the Benton city limits can be assisted with pre-annexation agreements.”

 

On a related but separate matter, the Benton City Council will meet on July 21^st in a special session.  The Council is expected to pass a new ordinance setting a special election on annexation of a smaller section in the North Lake Road area.  The area is exactly the same property Bryant proposes to annex at its September 9^th election. The Council believes this area to be vital to the interests of the City of Benton. The Council’s decision to focus only on the area also proposed for annexation by Bryant means that the issue will no longer be city versus county, but will instead be a question of whether residents will choose Benton over Bryant.

 

“We realize that some may have concerns over which school district their children will attend,” but Holland emphasized that annexation will have no effect on school district lines. “We are fortunate to have three fine school districts in Benton,” he said, adding that “while the majority of Benton residents attend Benton schools, many others attend Bryant or Bauxite schools.”

 

Holland echoed Alderman Brad Moore’s sentiments about the annexation, saying that people whose properties are annexed will likely see little change in their lifestyles or pocketbooks.  In many cases new Benton residents may actually gain a few hundred dollars a year.  While their property taxes may increase, they will no longer have to pay volunteer fire department dues and they may receive a decrease in homeowner’s insurance due to the low ISO rating of the Benton Fire Department.  

 

“Benton is 160 years old and counting,” said Holland.  “As the County seat and medical center for Saline County, we have a lot to offer besides the history and beauty of downtown.  We frequently hear people say that they moved to Benton because of its down-home feel.  This down-home feel is not usually ascribed to other communities in Saline County.  We think the decision to live in Benton is a quality lifestyle choice.  We hope the residents in the North Lake Road area will embrace Benton as their new hometown.”