Benton council approves improvement district, equipment purchases, liens and rezoning at September meeting

The Benton City Council approved a package of ordinances and resolutions at its September meeting, including the establishment of a municipal improvement district, purchases for public safety and public works, several certified tax-lien requests and a rezoning on Alcoa Road.

Ordinance 47 establishes Benton Municipal Property Owners Multi-Purpose Improvement District No. 141 (Rosemary Field Subdivision) and names three commissioners: Todd Havens, Jonathan Hope and Deon Hope. The ordinance sets a public hearing on the petition for Sept. 22, 2025, at 5:30 p.m. The council voted to adopt the ordinance; the clerk recorded that it "passes 8 to two." (The ordinance text cites the Arkansas property owners improvement district law.)

In a related set of routine actions, the council read and adopted Resolutions 73–77, each requesting that the Selen County Tax Collector place certified liens against specific properties for expenses incurred by the city. The affected addresses listed in the resolutions were: 211 East North Street, 301 Trout Avenue, 6606 Garvin Drive, 252 Gat Road and 803 Bar Circle. No representatives from those addresses appeared during the readings. Each resolution was adopted by voice vote.

On procurement, the council adopted Ordinance 48 to waive competitive bidding and authorize a radio upgrade for the Benton Police Department through Command Communications at a cost of $81,000; Captain Russell was present to answer questions. The ordinance states the funds are available in the police department's 2025 budget and authorizes payment to the vendor. The motion carried (recorded as 8 to two).

The council also adopted Resolution 79 to approve the purchase of a grapple truck from River City Hydraulics and amend the 2025 street and drainage budget to add $27,000, including tax. The presenter noted the city received two bids and that going out to bid saved approximately $30,000 compared with the state price for the truck: "we went out to bid and got two bids in and actually saved $30,000 over what the state ... price was on the truck," Council Member Brown said. Resolution 79 passed by recorded vote.

Resolution 78 accepted the Bureau of Legislative Audit's FY2024 audit; the council praised the business department for producing a clean audit. Resolution 80 declared a 2009 Dodge Charger (about 98,000 miles) as surplus property and authorized its sale at auction; that resolution also passed.

The council approved Ordinance 49 to rezone 6718 and 6720 Alcoa Road from R2 (single-family detached) to C2 (general commercial) after the planning commission's public hearing and recommendation. The ordinance passed the council vote.

During public comment, Benton resident Tom Hansen urged clearer rules on where utility responsibility begins and ends, asking the council to consider an ordinance that would clarify whether utilities or homeowners are responsible for service from easements to homes. "I appreciate that folks can come up here and talk," Hansen said, and he asked officials to consider codifying easement responsibilities to reduce costs that fall unexpectedly on homeowners.

Next steps: the improvement-district ordinance sets a public hearing on Sept. 22, 2025 at 5:30 p.m.; other approved items will proceed to implementation by the listed departments and vendors per the ordinances and resolutions adopted.

Votes at a glance: - Ordinance 47 (establish Improvement District No. 141, Rosemary Field Subdivision): Adopted, "passes 8 to two"; public hearing set Sept. 22, 2025 at 5:30 p.m.; commissioners appointed (Todd Havens; Jonathan Hope; Deon Hope). - Resolution 73 (211 East North Street, certified lien): Adopted (voice vote). - Resolution 74 (301 Trout Avenue, certified lien): Adopted (voice vote). - Resolution 75 (6606 Garvin Drive, certified lien): Adopted (voice vote). - Resolution 76 (252 Gat Road, certified lien): Adopted (voice vote). - Resolution 77 (803 Bar Circle, certified lien): Adopted (voice vote). - Ordinance 48 (waive bidding, police radio upgrade to Command Communications): Adopted, $81,000 authorized; Captain Russell on hand for questions. - Resolution 78 (accept FY2024 audit, Bureau of Legislative Audit): Adopted. - Resolution 79 (purchase grapple truck from River City Hydraulics; budget amendment $27,000): Adopted; presenter said competitive bidding produced savings of about $30,000. - Resolution 80 (declare 2009 Dodge Charger surplus; authorize auction): Adopted. - Ordinance 49 (rezoning 6718 & 6720 Alcoa Road from R2 to C2): Adopted.

Quotes (selected): "We went out to bid and got two bids in and actually saved $30,000 over what the state ... price was on the truck," Council Member Brown said during discussion of the grapple-truck purchase. "I appreciate that folks can come up here and talk," said public commenter Tom Hansen, who urged the city to clarify utility/easement responsibilities for homeowners.