[{"_1":2,"_87":-5,"_88":-5},"loaderData",{"_3":4,"_26":27},"root",{"_5":6,"_17":10,"_18":19,"_20":21,"_22":10,"_23":-5,"_24":-5,"_25":10},"user",{"_7":8,"_9":10,"_11":10,"_12":-5,"_13":-5,"_14":15,"_16":-5},"roles",[],"isAuthenticated",false,"isPremium","planName","subscriptionStatus","featureFlags",{},"insightsBudget","isDevelopmentHost","userPreferences",{},"recaptchaSiteKey","6LcvOJcUAAAAAHsB-gPGfGktcRlKpH7OTIU_dMTD","isImpersonating","impersonation","affiliateStatus","isFreedomPortal","routes/v2/article/layout",{"_28":29,"_30":31},"notFound",true,"relatedArticles",[32,75],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":46,"_47":48,"_49":50,"_51":52,"_53":54,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":60,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":66,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},"mediaId",6110937,"mediaKeyId","2755461-59e8f12693600c0da12e58792e551bb9","parentId",2755461,"title","Votes at a glance: Bentonville council passes consent items; several easement and surplus resolutions approved; water-rate ordinance tabled","audioSeconds",158,"startMs",911100,"endMs",1069125,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=2755461-59e8f12693600c0da12e58792e551bb9&start=911&end=1069","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2755461-59e8f12693600c0da12e58792e551bb9/thumbnail_911100.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6110937/Bentonville/Benton-County/Arkansas/Votes-at-a-glance-Bentonville-council-passes-consent-items-several-easement-and-surplus-resolutions-approved-water-rate-ordinance-tabled","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6110937-14148f27b8532855ae563f9d47ad9121/orig.mp4?Expires=1771220070&Signature=NKJ3frGre1nusypEXzS3mJe8ZWLWL2xoZQxTsmIq8o3XMkkD~yW2~UUx-EUnOzfD5EejlATV3ahaUMTYj5z3xtYeRmQrDZ9FGEzACeC5js3wYYcHsy1jJ-GQxWklVzsaAByiwr8YtJWaYo6lye27zYE3~vSU2QB9mVS1RaK5SpvV4RdmSIkojp2Cuh-xtgewOjzFOaAVzEol3u3kDqwYSeGwZuZOApGTz6XLZv4qsF0q0DlewY~B~gB7R0qrMNY5hS30K8EpmR4p4Ua-ksKW4OFHWKQ~786dXaxDCyDai8VRW-J8ovj-PJUNkQUHeZP7sXTDdcAl6vRweyVOd98xaA__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","Bentonville","date","2025-02-25T00:00:00Z","article","The Bentonville City Council approved a batch of consent and procedural items and took action on several resolutions and ordinances during the meeting. Separately, the council voted to table a proposed ordinance that would amend water rates.

Key votes

- Suspension of three-reading rule: The council voted to suspend the rules requiring ordinances be read on three separate days and to allow ordinances and resolutions to be read by title only. The council adopted the suspension (the council later amended and voted on the full suspension motion and approved it by roll call).

- Consent agenda (utility board items 2–4): The council placed utility board items 2, 3 and 4 on the consent agenda and approved them unanimously. The items included:
• A resolution expressing the willingness of the City of Bentonville to accept financial assistance from the Arkansas Natural Resources Commission for improvements in the amount of $55,000,000 (utility board item 2).
• A resolution authorizing the mayor and city clerk to execute documents in connection with funding administered by the Arkansas Natural Resources Commission (utility board item 3).
• A resolution authorizing the mayor and city clerk to enter into Change Order No. 1 with Gulf Coast Underground LLC in an amount not to exceed $52,395 to address groundwater infiltration on the Southeast 14th Street CIPP sewer lining project (utility board item 4).

- Surplus property: A resolution declaring certain property of the Bentonville Police Department as surplus and authorizing disposal passed unanimously.

- Vacating easements and rights-of-way: The council opened and closed a public hearing for an ordinance vacating utility easements at Lot 18 of Crystal Bridges Museum addition (VAC25-0001) and adopted the ordinance by roll call. The council also approved resolutions to set public hearings for other utility easement vacations and for vacating an alley/right-of-way; those procedural resolutions passed unanimously.

- Airport advisory board appointment: The council appointed Hayes Wade to the Airport Advisory Board by unanimous voice vote.

- Water-rate ordinance (utility board item 1): The council voted to table the proposed ordinance amending Section 98-356 (water rates) to the next meeting after public comment and council discussion (see separate article). The motion to table passed on roll call.

What the votes mean

Most items approved at the meeting were procedural or consent matters that advance routine capital and permitting actions, including a large stated willingness to accept $55,000,000 in assistance from the Arkansas Natural Resources Commission for unspecified improvements (the resolution expresses willingness to accept funding; details of project allocations were not specified in the meeting discussion). The water-rate ordinance was not approved and will return for further staff and consultant briefings and public outreach.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","Bentonville City Council Meeting - February 25, 2025","oneSentenceSummary","The council approved multiple consent and land-use procedural items, declared surplus police property, set hearings for utility easement and alley vacations, and voted to table the proposed water-rate ordinance. Utility board consent items included a funding resolution and a change order.","taxTitle","Bentonville, Benton County, Arkansas","taxId",79589,"location","headline","","shortSummary",{"_33":76,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":77,"_41":78,"_43":79,"_45":80,"_47":81,"_49":82,"_51":83,"_53":84,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":85,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":86,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6110942,"Bentonville council tables proposed water-rate increase after public concern, directs more outreach",1193,1299865,2493830,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2755461-59e8f12693600c0da12e58792e551bb9&start=1299&end=2493","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2755461-59e8f12693600c0da12e58792e551bb9/thumbnail_1299865.jpg","/articles/6110942/Bentonville/Benton-County/Arkansas/Bentonville-council-tables-proposed-water-rate-increase-after-public-concern-directs-more-outreach","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6110942-edeeaa17cf99e31427bfb8acfdf75bd2/orig.mp4?Expires=1771220070&Signature=oekAhLjBc8udvq5PjgoUn1brcrw8glTc6swBgkAWKLEgAlvt2n0ELlFjxaphv1vFFSHVFdGUX64bS1bV03o5SOhAUO9GStq6jcwVaFD5JK0ehI8P0HD-o~HnbCX7LCJV8aH6EdGog9kYklZaB1WHQ80dQVqzmvlrKi5p1115~ceTEoE5WZHMFyYsuYnRyjfnlKxdaRWY4eAbon0Q0Fy3HLyBPy-QNHFaTK7qmzb6hGYBMvW8qjsfqn4w8l5WhYUwyd03lr9Z7hjkPeNVQR8k-xN4UEQE5hryxqvxA7g-QpVqmRBXFy2PAnv25mrLU1M3cMp8LYZovotAZRqRApgPMw__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The Bentonville City Council voted to table action on an ordinance that would amend Section 98-356 of the Bentonville Municipal Code to raise water rates, after residents and several council members said the proposal felt sudden and asked for more outreach and data.

The ordinance was the most contested item at the meeting. Council members heard five public comments and several council speakers press staff and consultants for clearer, publicly available data on the size of the proposed increase, how the revenue would be used, and alternatives to rate increases. After discussion the council voted to postpone the item to the next regular meeting and requested a public committee-of-the-whole presentation beforehand.

Why it matters: The ordinance would change both the fixed (meter/facility) charge and the volume (usage) charge. Council members and members of the public said the change would be substantial for some households and asked for clearer, accessible explanation of the city’s water-loss figures, project list and funding options.

Public comment and council concerns

Several residents told the council the proposal had reached them as a surprise and urged more outreach. “I almost feel like I’m in a fast food restaurant asking for doubles, but at the end of the day, only getting half of what I’m paying for,” said resident Bob DiChacma, who emphasized impacts on seniors and fixed-income households. Josh Barker, another resident, asked the council to publish a phased funding roadmap, stress-testing and modelling so future infrastructure needs are not handled as afterthoughts.

A member of the public, Mary Zettle, urged the city to prepare an FAQ and consistent public messaging before any further outreach. The council agreed that inconsistent answers sent to residents had increased confusion.

Council members asked for more technical follow-up. Council Member Burkhart (as identified in the meeting) said the emergency was driven by water-system losses and long-term underfunding, adding that the city had run operating deficits that required corrective action. “We’ve been allowing [the utility fund] to run on a deficit for too long,” Burkhart said. Council members pressed staff about alternatives discussed internally, including splitting increases, borrowing from the general fund, and applying for low-interest loans.

Technical details and clarifications

Staff described the proposed change as an increase applied to both the monthly base (meter/facility) charge and the usage charge. Staff said the current base for a typical 5/8-inch residential meter is $7.71 per month; under the consultant recommendation that base would rise proportionally with the proposed ordinance. Staff provided an example: a domestic user consuming 4,000 gallons monthly would see a bill rise from about $23 to roughly $46 under the proposed rates (this example excludes irrigation service). The council asked staff to produce clear fact sheets and the graphs referenced in the council briefing showing historical rate changes.

Next steps and direction to staff

The council voted to postpone consideration of the ordinance to the next regular meeting and directed staff to schedule a committee-of-the-whole briefing (committee on the tenth was discussed at the meeting) with the consultants to walk through the documents and to make consultants available to answer questions. Council members also asked staff to publish an FAQ, the graphing used in internal briefings, and a plain-language summary of projected revenue needs, candidate projects, and funding sources (including loans from the Arkansas Natural Resources Commission that staff referenced).

Votes and outcome

The motion to postpone the ordinance to the next meeting passed on roll call (recorded yes votes in the transcript include: Suter, Agnew, Harcourt, Hook, Sanchez, Patterson, Acree, Piava). The council directed staff to host a public committee-of-the-whole session and to prepare consistent public materials before the next council meeting.

Ending

Council members and staff said they expect more public engagement and clearer materials will be provided before the item returns. The council asked consultants to be available for the committee forum so members can ask detailed questions about projected capital projects, leak detection and the relationship between water and sewer planning.","The Bentonville City Council voted to postpone action on an ordinance to amend water rates after multiple public comments and council members asked for more public information and a committee briefing; staff and consultants will hold a committee-of-the-whole meeting to present data and answer questions before the next council meeting.","actionData","errors"]

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Votes at a glance: Bentonville council passes consent items; several easement and surplus resolutions approved; water-rate ordinance tabled

Bentonville council tables proposed water-rate increase after public concern, directs more outreach