Nevada County Picayune and Gurdon Times Newspaper Archive

Annexation Expands Prescott City Limits

To annex, or not to annex proved to be one of the top stories of the year for 1995.

Businesses had contacted former director of the Nevada County Economic Development Office Gene Monk about locating between exits 44 and 46 on Interstate 30, but needed access to water, sewer and electricity.

This meant the need to annex the area into the city limits so these, and other, services could be provided. It also meant about 32 more people would then reside inside the Prescottl city limits and would, therefore, expand the city's tax base somewhat.

Local attorney Gene Hale, however, opposed the annexation saying the public had not been properly informed on exactly what would occur and when it would happen. In addition, he said no one had said how moving the utilities out to the annexed area would be paid for, nor how much it would cost.

Monk stated the city had applied for, and later received, a grant from the U.S. Department of Commerce Economic Development Administration for the expansion of its water and sewer systems. It was estimated the expansion of the systems would cost about $985,925, with the EDA grant accounting for 70 percent, while the city would be responsible for 30 percent, or $295,777.

One of the businesses interested in locating at exit 44 is the recently announced Rip Griffin's Truck/Travel Center. This prospect had been in the works for more than a year and officially announced in late December.

The center will employ more than 100 people, with 95 percent to be hired locally.

Part of Hale's opposition to the annexation concerned property in the recently created Prairie DeAnn Battlefield National Historic Landmark area. Hale contended this area would be adversely affected if included in the annexation.

However, Monk said part of the application process with the EDA included getting a signed letter of clearance from the Arkansas Historical Preservation Program stating the area is not included in the annexation and that area to be annexed has little or no historic significance.

A hearing to determine whether or not to annex was held in the Nevada County courthouse with County Judge John Barham presiding.

The public hearing had all the trappings of a criminal trial as Hale, who represented those opoposed to the annexation, battled against the area being annexed. His legal foe was Glenn Vasser.

The hearing took more than three hours as both sides argued their points.

Vasser opened his comments by giving a rough description of the land to be annexed, along with a reminder to the court more than half the landowners in question were in favor of the annexation. By law, only 51 percent of those living in the area had to agree with the annexation.

He continued by stating the annexation would be good for the area's economy and make the two exits more accessible to business and industry. Vasser also said the property values in the region would most likely increase.

Hale told the court no one wanted to stop the community from growing, but there were questions which had not been asked. Those questions included the cost of annexing, the cost of moving the utilities, purchasing the power lines from Arkansas Power and Light Co., and who would pay.

One by one, Hale's questions were answered by the witnesses. And after more than three hours of testimony, Barham returned with his decision.

The decision was a relatively easy one as he opted in favor of the annexation. Barham's reasoning was simple, all legal obligations for the annexation had been met and there was no reason to deny it.

The opposition had 30 days to appeal, but the time came and went with no motions filed in court.

The city council passed a resolution to annex the property into the city limits in its meeting Dec. 18.