SPRINGDALE -- Two local utilities have learned multiple properties in the Springdale Water Utilities service area are being served by Rogers Water Utilities.
Springdale aldermen at Monday's City Council committee meeting forwarded a resolution to the City Council for a memorandum of understanding between the two utilities. The agreement would allow about 12 properties to temporarily receive water from the Rogers utility.
Committee action
Springdale aldermen forwarded the following items to the City Council at Monday’s council committee meeting:
• Waiving competitive bidding for insurance for health and vision.
• Waiving competitive bidding for insurance for dental, life and long-term disability.
• Waiving competitive bidding for a consultant for employee benefits with a $25,000 annual fee.
• Amending the personnel and procedures manual for the city to add that tobacco products are not allowed in city buildings, city vehicles or where the public can see it being used. Another addition is employees can’t take extra breaks in addition to what they are allowed in order to use tobacco products.
Source: Staff report
The utilities learned that some properties in Springdale's service boundaries were being served by the Rogers utility when the Arkansas State Highway and Transportation Department was relocating some utilities, said Rick Pulvirenti, chief operating officer and director of engineering for the Springdale utility.
The properties contain homes and are located outside of the Springdale city borders, said Terry Phillips, chief financial officer and director of administration for the Springdale utility. The properties are near the intersection of North Old Wire Road and Jennifer Lane and the intersection of North Old Wire Road and Frisco Cemetery Road, Pulvirenti said.
The department is widening part of Arkansas 265, Pulvirenti said. Phillips said the department removed some wells while working on the widening. The department was looking at re-establishing water when they found the closest service was from Rogers and was already serving some nearby properties. Those properties are in the Springdale utility's service area.
The department spoke to the Rogers utility, and a discussion began between that utility and the Springdale utility, Phillips said. The Springdale utility found it would cost them about $180,000 to extend service to the properties, while it would cost the department $90,000 to connect the properties to service from the Rogers utility.
Another option was to move the service boundary, Phillips said. Alderman Eric Ford asked if it would be easier to do that. Pulvirenti responded by saying the Springdale utility wants to avoid losing service area.
The Springdale utility's service area covers portions of Washington and Benton counties, according to a geographic information system map that can be accessed from the utility's website.
Ford also asked about development that could occur in that area in the future. Pulvirenti said the Springdale utility would probably need to extend service at that time.
Service from the Rogers utility would be temporary until the Springdale utility decides to extend service to the area, Phillips said. There is no timeline yet for the Springdale utility to do so.
The Springdale Water and Sewer Commission approved the agreement in June, Phillips said. The Rogers City Council approved it in August.
NW News on 10/06/2015