SPRINGDALE -- Getting residential services to his soon-to-be constituents was his No. 1 job Wednesday, Mayor Doug Sprouse said.
On Tuesday, voters in Bethel Heights and Springdale approved the annexation of the smaller city into the larger Springdale. The measure passed 1,467-334.
The annexation will become official Aug. 21, when the Election Commissions in Benton and Washington counties certify the results.
Springdale will gain nearly 3,000 residents, and Sprouse wants to ensure that they have city services during the 10-day transition.
"But we need some information," Sprouse said.
On Wednesday morning, he hand-delivered to Bethel Heights City Hall a list of information needed to start the transition and make it smooth for Bethel Heights residents.
"We were not well received," he said.
Springdale officials hadn't received any of the requested information by Wednesday evening, Sprouse said.
"We'll be weighing other options tomorrow," he said.
Bethel Heights Mayor Cynthia Black fought the annexation effort, which was started in August 2019 by residents of both cities as a way to resolve Bethel Heights' wastewater treatment system problems.
The system was overloaded and spilled untreated wastewater on the ground at the city's two plants and into neighboring yards.
The Arkansas Division of Environmental Quality has had the two Bethel Heights plants and the city's former operator under investigation since May 2019. The city was ordered in October to shut down the system and find another way to treat its wastewater.
Weekly testing continually showed that the city was not adhering to the parameters listed on its license to operate the plant, according to division documents.
The city has fought annexation into Springdale for 51 years. Bethel Heights was incorporated in 1969 to block another annexation effort.
"Bethel Heights respects the democratic process and the people's vote and vows to help the transition go smoothly," attorney Robert Rhodes said Wednesday. Rhodes has represented the city in the state investigation.
Sprouse's list of requests included information about Bethel Heights bank accounts, building permits, street and land use plans, and property the city owns, he said.
Springdale's City Council on Tuesday night gave Sprouse permission to spend some of the city's budget to ensure that Bethel Heights residents continue to receive city services -- things such as sewer service, police protection and mowing of city property.
The measure was approved without a limit on money spent, Councilwoman Kathy Jaycox pointed out.
Sprouse said he and his staff were unsure when the Bethel Heights bank accounts would be transferred to Springdale. But, he said, the Springdale budget would be reimbursed from Bethel Heights' assets.
Sprouse said Wednesday that he received a report that the Bethel Heights Fire Department was closed at midnight Tuesday. Lowell Fire Chief Pete Melnicki received the same report.
"Nobody is without fire protection," he assured.
Bethel Heights had a contract with Lowell to provide fire protection at night. The Bethel Heights department worked only business hours, Melnicki said.
His said his department will extend its service around the clock until the transition is complete.
Also, Springdale technicians are working with their Benton County counterparts to get emergency calls from the Bethel Heights community transferred to Springdale Police Department dispatchers, said Springdale Police Chief Mike Peters. In the transition, the Benton County dispatch center will simply transfer calls to Springdale, which they already do, Peters said.
As for Bethel Heights' wastewater, in August 2019, the state told Bethel Heights that it must haul for treatment elsewhere 25% of its daily 80,000 gallons of wastewater -- or no less than 20,000 gallons a day until its wastewater stops surfacing on the ground.
Heath Ward, executive director of Springdale Water Utilities, on Wednesday morning told drivers for White River Environmental Services, which hauls that wastewater, that it was business as usual and to keep hauling.
During the week of July 13-19, Bethel Heights trucked 612,000 gallons of wastewater at a total cost of $54,834, according to invoices the city supplied to the state. The city sends its sewage to the Northwest Arkansas Conservation Authority's Bentonville plant and to the Huntsville treatment plant on weekends when the Bentonville plant is closed.
But starting this morning, the wastewater will go to the Springdale treatment plant, Ward said.
That will mean a shorter trip and faster turnaround for the trucks. Their haul will be 3.6 miles and 9 minutes to Springdale as opposed to 14 miles and 25 minutes.
And it will cost less, Ward said.
"We are happy, happy, happy," said Joetta Bowen. She and her husband's home for 42 years sits next-door to the Bethel Heights treatment plant on Lincoln Street. The state investigation was started after her husband, Lawrence, filed a complaint in May 2019 about untreated wastewater from the plant flooding his lawn.
"It's been a long battle, but we've got victory," she said.