BELLA VISTA -- The City Council will discuss tonight finding a replacement for Alderman Allen King, who is resigning.
King, one of two aldermen for Ward 3, delivered his resignation letter to the council earlier this month.
Web watch
To see a map of the city’s wards, visit www.bellavistaar.go…. Each ward has two aldermen.
Council meeting
The Bella Vista City Council will meet at 6:30 p.m. tonight at American Legion Post 341, 1889 Bella Vista Way.
Source: Staff report
"It has been a pleasure serving with each of you for the benefit of our citizens," King said in the letter. "I wish all of you the best in your future."
King said he and his wife have sold their home and plan to move to Bloomington, Ill., to be closer to family.
"It's been a really nice five-and-a-half-year vacation down here," King said. "I'm gonna miss this country."
Holding a special election isn't an option because King has less than one year left in his term, according to Arkansas Code 14-43-411.
The council instead will vote on a replacement, said Jason Kelley, staff attorney.
Interested candidates can contact Mayor Peter Christie at City Hall, 101 Town Center. The mayor can be reached by phone at 479-876-1255.
Candidates must live in Ward 3, which includes the Highlands and most of western Bella Vista.
Alderman John Flynn praised King for his service to the city.
"If we don't have people serve, democracy doesn't work very well," Flynn said.
Also on the agenda is a request to transfer one alderman's remaining salary to the Police Department to beef up security.
"I feel that it is better to allocate this money to the Police Department for protective gear, especially in light of the recent attacks on police nationwide and the bomb threat last week," said Alderman Larry Wilson.
The council will vote on a resolution to reduce Wilson's salary to $0 and transfer his remaining compensation beginning Aug. 1 through the end of the year.
State law allows aldermen to reduce their salary at their request, Kelley said.
Each alderman is paid $5,640 annually. A $691 raise approved earlier this year by the council won't go into effect until Jan. 1.
"It's very generous of Alderman Wilson to give his pay to the Police Department. His concern and support means more than the money," Police Chief Ken Farmer said Friday.
A partnership between the city and Property Owners Association that could help the association procure a grant for studying the benefits of revamping its RV park also will be discussed.
The Arkansas Department of Parks and Tourism is accepting applications for the Arkansas Tourism Attraction Feasibility Study Matching Grant Program, according to council documents.
The association is considering a feasibility study of its RV park at Blowing Springs to determine the impact of making it more attractive to nonassociation members, said Travis Stephens, economic development manager for Bella Vista. The grant is worth up to $20,000, Stephens said.
Grant applications must come from cities or counties, meaning the association can't apply. The city could serve as a intermediary for the money, Stephens said.
The council will have to act soon because the deadline to apply is Friday, Stephens said. Kelley is reviewing the legalities of the request.
Applying for the grant doesn't obligate the city to the study or any expenditure of money, according to council documents.
NW News on 07/25/2016