Third ward discussion passed to committee

Pea Ridge may have man-made waterfalls and rain by next summer thanks to a new splash pad, but figurative rain fell at the City Council's July 17 meeting on council member Bob Cottingham's proposal to create a third ward and add two council members.

Cottingham said he based his proposal on Pea Ridge's population growth and his goal for citizens to have "adequate representation."

Records show a population in Pea Ridge of 4,794 based on the 2010 census. Jeff Hawkins, a Northwest Arkansas Regional Planning Commission member, said in an earlier meeting the current estimated population of Pea Ridge is 5,903.

A third ward would bring the total number of alderman representing citizens of Pea Ridge to six. At a Committee Meeting of the Whole held earlier in June, Hawkins provided a proposed ward map, available on the city's website, which shows three wards with a relatively even distribution of citizens in each: 1,961 persons in proposed Ward 1; 1,953 in Ward 2; and 1,979 in Ward 3.

Hawkins also provided a current ward map that shows Ward 1 includes 2,330 citizens, and Ward 2 includes 2,464.

Cottingham explained the two ward system was put into place when Pea Ridge had around 1,000 residents, which meant each of the four alderman served roughly 500 citizens. Now, each alderman serves roughly 1,200. He said he gets calls a 6 a.m. He said, "Every day, no matter where I go, people come up to me and ask about city concerns."

Cottingham, who is retired, is Ward 1 (Pos. 2) alderman, with Ray Easley serving position 1 of Ward 1. Ward 2 is represented by Steve Guthrie (Pos. 1) and Lance Sanders (Pos. 2).

After all the council members shared their thoughts, Pea Ridge resident Glen Swanson spoke to the Council in support of creating a third ward.

Swanson said the current City Council is "all closed up." He said he's talked with many Pea Ridge residents, and some have been "okay with the status quo," but he said he doesn't think the city is well represented as the council stands. He said he bases his stand upon his experiences as a citizen of Pea Ridge and on his experiences and training to become a Certified City Official from when he lived in Illinois, where he said he served as an alderman in a small municipality for seven years before moving to Pea Ridge in 1975.

After the meeting, alderman Sanders said people may serve on the council without being a Certified City Official. He said persons who serve in an elected city position may sign up and pay for any such training, but it's on their own time and money, which is standard practice in most cities, according to Sanders and Swanson.

During the meeting, Swanson said training is usually offered by a state's municipal league, and it's at those training sessions people learn what they can and can't do as elected officials, and they learn more about their roles, rights, and responsibilities as public servants.

Swanson asked if any of the current council members had attended any of these training sessions. Alderman Steve Guthrie raised his hand and said he'd attended a regional session once.

No other council member raised a hand, but earlier in the meeting, Mayor Jackie Crabtree told a story about an activity at a past Municipal League conference that highlighted one of the concerns about adding a ward: lack of participation in city government by a range of people, including those of the younger generation. Crabtree said everyone at the conference was asked to stand. Next, those who were 65 or older were asked to sit, then those who were between ages 50-64, and so on. He said when the age range got down to around 35 or 40, only one person was left standing.

Crabtree said this speaks to a concern that younger people don't have the time or, possibly, the interest to participate in public service.

Several alderman raised concerns about whether Pea Ridge residents of any age are interested in public service. Guthrie said he forgot to file for his position (Ward 2, Pos. 1) one election cycle, and no one else signed up to run for it, either. He said if he hadn't been allowed to file late, his position would have gone vacant. He said he would appreciate the extra aldermen because it would mean less guilt when he is unable to attend a City Council meeting.

Crabtree said several positions are vacant on city committees which he said some might see as a lack of interest or availability.

During his presentation, Swanson said, "You need to encourage people to be involved."

Earlier in the meeting, Crabtree said, "Maybe people need help understanding what a councilman does. Maybe we need to get that out somehow."

Guthrie said he didn't know council members were paid for their time (currently, roughly $3,000 per year per council member, according to Crabtree) until he was elected. Crabtree said a third ward would add that expense, around $6,000, to the city's financial obligations.

Guthrie said, "It's not a lot, but when we go into the hole every month, it is."

During his presentation later, Swanson said, "What's $6,000 when you might get more involvement and access to more grants?"

Crabtree, Guthrie and Sanders said adding another ward will mean more government.

Cottingham said, "I've heard (from city residents) the major is the final word on issues, and I've told them that, no, they need to go to their alderman."

Crabtree said, "People go to the department head, then mayor."

When Swanson spoke, he said he's had two situations in which he went to the department head, and "nothing was done" in either case.

Cottingham said, "Aldermen should be first in line." He said as an example that citizens who have a complaint with the police should come to their alderman first, that this would follow the correct chain of command.

During his presentation, Swanson said, "We need to make people feel welcome, like they're being heard. When I moved here, I told people 'I love Pea Ridge.' Help me get back to that."

Crabtree explained at the beginning of the Ward 3 discussion that if it becomes a reality, elections for those new aldermen positions wouldn't take place until 2020 at the earliest.

Cottingham said, "You really know how to knock the wind out of my sails," which drew chuckles from him and others. Cottingham then said he's "not wanting to push through an ordinance" but that "everyone he's talked to has been for it" and "it's our responsibility to think about this seriously and get it into motion."

Guthrie suggested this issue be taken up in another Committee of the Whole meeting along with other issues such as bonds becoming due and the possibility of raising the Pea Ridge sales tax. Committee of the Whole meetings include council members, department heads, the mayor, city attorney, city clerk and any other persons who have needed expertise and knowledge.

Crabtree agreed and said, "Everything must be ready in 120 days."

A date for the meeting was not set.

General News on 07/25/2018