Gateway hires police

GATEWAY -- City officials hired a police officer Jan. 13.

Mayor Frank Hackler Jr. said he hired Grant Hardin on Jan. 13 as city marshal but learned that "the people in Little Rock" don't want the term marshal used because marshals are federal officers.

"I've been working on this for about two years," the mayor said, explaining that he put the cost in the city budget regardless of whether the sales tax on the ballot passes.

"He's more than qualified for the job. He's also attending school at Northwest Arkansas Community College in the same area. We're very fortunate to have someone with his qualifications."

Hardin was constable in the district for six years, Hackler said.

Initially declining to tell the salary at which Hardin was hired, saying that was private, Hackler said it is "around $460 a week ... right at $14 an hour. Right now, he's working full time. We're trying to get all our ducks in a row, running all our errands, getting him qualified to use CENCON."

Hackler said he bought a 2009 Dodge Charger from Lowell for $3,000 and is getting the radios "changed over" so they can be used for Gateway. "We'll get him recertified and sworn in as a deputy so we can use him."

Hackler said there is only about 15 miles of roadway inside Gateway city limits and that includes U.S. Highway 62 and Arkansas Highway 47.

"We're on the tail end of the county and everybody knows Gateway and Garfield don't have a police officer. They know, they watch and see where the sheriff's officer is," Hackler said. "Look at the City Park. It was vandalized three times last year at a cost of thousands of dollars worth of damage."

"Now, he's patrolling, at least twice a day," Hackler said. Hardin lives outside the city limits, but fairly close and can be inside the city quickly. Hackler said that city residents often couldn't get a response from the Benton County Sheriff's Office when they reported a crime.

"I've had many, many, many phone calls from citizens thanking me. That's something we really need -- to have someone who will follow through. We've had thefts and we don't get a whole lot of help from the Sheriff's Office," Hackler said, adding that there have been a rash of drugs, thefts, vandalism and speeding up and down city roads.

Hackler said he's getting business cards printed for Hardin and plans to get a cell phone for him and will publish the phone number, but for now, city residents can contact CENCOM (Benton County Central Communications) to report a crime or contact Hardin.

"We just got him insured," the mayor said. "We're waiting for paper to come back from state. We can't issue a citation until the state gives us the right."

Gateway voters will decide whether the city will have a 1 percent sales tax.

A 1-cent sales tax will be the first for Gateway, which sits near the Missouri border, Hackler said.

"We're the only city in the county that doesn't have its own sales tax," Hackler said.

Businesses in Gateway include a couple of pawn or swap shops, a used car lot, an auto repair shop and a cabinet shop along with a sand plant and log yard, Hackler said. Voters rejected the question a couple years ago, but this time businesses are supporting the issue, he said.

"We're a small community with small needs, but every little bit helps," he said.

The city budget is funded by state sales tax, a portion of which is given to every municipality based on population. A $250,000 grant helped pay for paving a mile and a half of Clantonville Road last year, Hackler said.

People drive through Gateway to get to Eureka Springs, and Joplin and Branson, Mo., Hackler said

The city needs to expand its budget so it can attract more business, he said. Businesses ask him about fire protection, which is good with two Northeast Benton County Fire Department stations nearby, he said. They also ask about law enforcement, sewer and natural gas. It can take a half hour for a response from the Benton County Sheriff's Office on a theft call, he said.