City to host town halls for bond issue

The city has scheduled a trio of town hall meetings for early February to provide information about an upcoming pair of ballot items.

City council approved an ordinance calling a special election on the questions of issuing bonds backed by a 1% sales tax to cover the construction costs of a new police department, a raze and rebuild of Fire Station 3 and a fire training facility, expected to be on the ballot during the March 3 primary election.

Town hall meetings are scheduled for 6 p.m. Tuesday, Feb. 4 at Riordan Hall, at 3 p.m. Wednesday, Feb. 5 at Bella Vista District Court; and at 10 a.m. Thursday, Feb. 6 at Highlands United Methodist Church.

Communications manager Cassi Lapp said this is a chance to educate the general public and answer people's questions about the two ballot items, and she hopes people will show up.

"I think it's important that everyone is educated on what they're voting for or against," she said.

The police and fire chiefs will give short presentations about their department's respective projects, she explained, and there will be tables with information and visuals related to the proposed projects.

These three meetings are the only ones that have been planned, she said, but anyone who wants to call the police department at (479) 855-3771 can set up a time to speak with police chief James Graves about the current facility and the proposed new one.

Additional information is available on the city's website, bellavistaar.gov, she added.