Council gives nod to moving city ward lines

PEA RIDGE — Despite a doubled population and several months of discussion about increasing the number of wards in the city for representation on the City Council, Pea Ridge will remain a city with two wards. The lines dividing those two wards will be moved to more evenly distribute the population.

At the regular City Council meeting, Tuesday, June 19, the council considered several maps provided by Northwest Arkansas Regional Planning showing different possibilities for ward boundaries.

At last month’s meeting, council members discussed possibly adding a third ward and increasing the number of council members to six. City attorney Howard Slinkard explained that there would always be an even number.

Council member Nadine Telgemeier said there was no point in increasing to three wards and six council members if there weren’t an odd number and if the mayor still had to break a tie.

At the June 19 meeting, Telgemeier said she was opposed to two wards and really wanted three wards.

“I’m partial to three now that I’ve seen them,” she said. “We weren’t presented all the data and I’ve had another month to think about it.”

Saying that remaining with two wards, but changing the lines, would create the least change,Mayor Jackie Crabtree said.

If three wards had been formed, the council members’ terms would have been rearranged and staggered.

After much discussion, with Telgemeier saying she wanted to seek opinions from the city’s residents, Slinkard said: “You really need to move on this. Time is fast approaching for filing for Council seats.”

“It’s easy to explain to the public,” Sandy Button, city recorder, said. “There’s an imaginary line all the way down Curtis. It’s moved just west of Curtis, but we can explain it easier.”

“I think plan one would be easier,” council member Steve Guthrie said.

“But, are you representing the people. Just because it would be easier internally ... we’re a lot more diverse,” Telgemeier said.

The new plan was adopted with council members Bob Cottingham, Ray Easley and Guthrie voting for it and Telgemeier voting against it.

The mayor said the new map will be placed on the city’s web site and Facebook page. Copies of the map will be available at City Hall.