Letter to the Editor

Special thanks

I would like to give special thanks to the voters of Bella Vista who voted last week in favor of the millage increase for fire and police pensions.

Thanks also goes to my fellow members of CHIPS -- Citizens to Help Improve Public Safety. The committee members self-funded the effort to pass this measure by creating informational brochures and signs as well as speaking to numerous civic groups, businesses and other organizations to explain this effort.

Very special thanks to Fire Chief Steve Sims and Police Chief Ken Farmer and their designees for attending all these presentations to answer any technical questions that we could not answer.

This vote, which dedicates the new funds specifically to pensions as required by the state of Arkansas, will now open up general funds monies and allow the Fire Department to fully staff the new fire station to be built next year on Forest Hills Boulevard, and the Police Department to hire badly needed warrant and evidence officers.

This new station will greatly improve response times throughout the city and increase our public safety.

Please thank our police and fire officers for keeping Bella Vista such a wonderfully safe place to live. And please make their job easier by putting easily visible, preferably reflective house numbers on your house now.

Thanks again to all.

Kelly Dostart

CHIPS committee