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MOST RECENT LETTERS POSTED AND DATED AT THE TOP AS THEY ARE RECEIVED
Benton cannot afford this new sales tax right now
From Sherry Gilbert, Saline County
POSTED OCT. 8, 2009
I am not much for writing these kinds of letters but in the face of complete disregard for taxpayers, here goes.Benton is to hold a special election (Nov. 10) for a new sales tax. I also understand there is a lawsuit against the city for [alleged] misuse of sales tax funds. Everyone deserves a chance to have his case heard in court before judgment is passed, but let's wait on a tax until this is heard.Further, I have copy of the budget for the city for 2009 and find that 2008 travel expenditures were $12,593. In 2009, that number is $29,069. Of that sum, $11,000 went for the Mayor's Youth Advisory Council to go to Washington, D.C.With unemployment rising and senior citizens who can't buy medication, can we afford this tax?I say no we can't.Benton city leaders want legacy no matter what it costs
From Ron James, Benton
POSTED SEPT. 21, 2009
I would like to air a couple of things that have been bothering me for a while.I am in hopes that at least some of our Benton aldermen are monitoring this site; there are some pretty heavy hitters expressing themselves here.First off, I want to know just how beefed up our police and fire departments need to be? I remember when there were only three officers on the force -- my father was a Benton police officer for many years. When you figure what may happen, or what could happen, you would use the same equations now that they did then. The difference is the officers of yore were there to protect and serve. Today, (most )are there for the prestige and the money, which is about 25 times what they made back then.I believe this City Council, the mayor, department heads and officers don't know when enough is enough. An officer rigged out is $3,000 to $4,000. That is unreal and completely unnecessary. This is Benton, not some battle front.You want tax money for better communications and you have state-of-the-art radios at 911, you have a car full of communication devices (computers, GPS, radios, cell phones) -- fellows, it doesn't get any better than that.Think this one over because the public has: Why do we need new patrol cars so often? Why do we think every officer needs a car at home? You say, "What if there is an emergency?" That is a "what-if" and I have some "what-ifs" of my own: Why not sell those used vehicles and use that money to by more toys for the police department?The utility employees are the same way, most drive their city trucks home. Why do they all need BIG 4-wheel drive vehicles? It used to take one truck and a trailer to set a telephone pole and now it takes five trucks and a supervisor to set the same pole. Maybe today they just know more. (More to come on utility department.)The fire department needs more money. They need more fire houses. They have moved two station houses in the last couple years -- neither one was moved as much as a mile. The second one was placed where they could only turn right. They had to build a temporary street to be able to turn left. They had to build another street to be able to get to Heritage Farms subdivision.What I am saying is that our leaders want to leave a legacy, regardless what it costs the people. Get out and vote NO MORE TAX on the upcoming sales tax election.Delighted to find this Web site down in 'Bama land
From Paula Lee Sullivan, Alabama
POSTED SEPT. 21, 2009
I live on Dauphin Island, Ala., and I found your Web site by accident and I am thoroughly delighted.I grew up in Bauxite and my children and grandchildren live in Benton along with other family members. I love to read about what is happening around Saline County as I don't get home as often as I would like, and I see a lot of familiar names.I have always enjoyed reading the (Whit) Jones and (Ron) Meyer columns, and so glad you are back together again.I am still a Razorback at heart and find your Web site informative and a joy to read. Keep up the great work! Of course, I will have to pull for 'Bama this weekend!Thank you for this site.Urgent needs or just sour grapes after the election?
From Terry Benham, Benton
POSTED SEPT. 17, 2009
Every campaign season, there is always a candidate that claims the opponent cheated. I’ve been involved in political campaigns for 20 years and over those years, I have certainly seen some strong evidence of political wrongdoings. There was the time in Van Buren County when the ballot box didn’t come in until 4 a.m. when it was 20 miles from the courthouse. That late box won the election.There was the time in Phillips County when we had 300-plus voters in a precinct that had 180-plus registered voters. That one didn’t swing anything but it did cause a couple of people to get in pretty serious trouble.So, I guess all of the hullabaloo about wrongdoing in the Benton School Board election is a little humorous to me. Even more humorous is the reaction of some school board members. I laughed out loud when I saw how “urgent” it was to immediately address this issue and strengthen the election code. Seriously? Is that the biggest thing they need to immediately address and form a policy on? I would like to know how many of our board members think this is an immediate concern of the district. Can we get a show of hands?Are we seriously going to have a special meeting to discuss (and make policy) because someone that wanted to serve was hard working enough to hand out material in the football parking lot? Is the district going to publish the teachers' personal e-mail addresses so that no one will e-mail them the courtesy of asking for their vote? Really? These are the “urgent” needs of the district?I also find it interesting that the only time these monumental travesties (insert heavy sarcasm) were discussed or mentioned was after the votes had been counted and someone lost. Anyone smell something sour?Being someone that feeds off of competition, I appreciate that people don’t like to lose. I also appreciate the losing side taking it a little personal when their group has lost several times in a row. But before we go making policy changes, alerting the press, or calling the FBI, perhaps one might consider this as a reason they lost: They were outworked and the people that chose to go vote liked one candidate better than they liked the other.
But by all means, if they must forge ahead with knee-jerk policy shifts, I would encourage those pushing these policy changes to either include a provision about board members working behind the scenes to help their preferred candidate or focus on more important educational challenges facing our district, like cutting waste and putting more money into the classrooms.Pity that turnout so low for Benton school election
From Harland Goodner, Benton
POSTED SEPT. 17, 2009
What a pity so few Benton residents (8 percent) even voted in this School Board election.Doing good at presenting news in an enjoyable way
From Janet Spivey, Benton
POSTED SEPT. 17, 2009
I really, really like insidesaline.com! Not surprisingly, you guys are doing a fantastic job of getting some information about Saline County communicated in an enjoyably readable way. Having Ron Meyer and Whit Jones together again is super great.Hope insidesaline.com lives long and prospers!Why are sex offenders running free in Saline County?
From Larry Hacker, Shannon Hills
POSTED SEPT. 9, 2009
Saw the insidesaline.com article about SalineCountyShouldKnow.com (a Web site introduced by Prosecuting Attorney Ken Casady and Sheriff Bruce Pennington) and went to the site out of curiosity, browsed through the links and I am disturbed by the sexual offenders list and was surprised to see so many Level 3 (Yellow) and the one Level 4 offender listed.Sex Offender Risk Assessment Levels / Level 4 (Red) / Sexually Violent Predator
These are individuals with impaired judgment or control who have sexual or violent compulsions that they lack the ability to control. This may be due to pedophilia or other disorders or sexual attraction mental Illness or personality disorder that distorts thinking, Interferes with behavioral control and predisposes the person to acts of predatory sexual violence.Level 3 (Yellow) / High Risk
These individuals usually have histories of repeat sexual offending, and/or strong antisocial, violent or predatory personality characteristics. Sexual compulsions are likely to be present, but may be kept under control when relapse prevention plans are followed and treatment is continued. The offense patterns of these individuals reflect a high probability of re-offense and/or a risk of substantial injury to victims should re-offense occur.I am wondering why these people are free in Saline County and allowed to breathe our air!Good to know some alive and well here on Web site
From Renee Huddleston, Benton
POSTED AUG. 27, 2009
I was just introduced to this site by my boss, Jim Villines. I am so happy to know Ron Meyer and Whit Jones, among others, are alive and well HERE.
Thank you just doesn't seem to be enough to say but THANK YOU!I look forward to reading (the site) daily.Clarifying conflict city has with public access TV
From Greg White, Benton Alderman
POSTED AUG. 26, 2009
This letter is to clarify and simplify the conflict that exists in the city's handling of Channel 12. The simple part of the issue is that BCAA (Benton Community Access Association), along with the council, wants to move the public access side of the broadcast out of City Hall. But, in the move, BCAA is requesting that Channel 12 remains intact with public access TV. The city claims that they do not need to address that issue up front. Here are the facts:1. Only one channel exists now and if this is all that exists on Dec. 31, 2009, then public access TV is turned off and all that you will see on Channel 12 will be reruns of City Council meetings, period. This is all that the city owns and can broadcast as a government channel.2. The lack of a second broadcast channel will cause the churches that are currently broadcasting on Channel 12 to not have a video outlet. It will probably ignite a federal lawsuit in the fact that public access and freedom of speech is squelched by the local municipal government.3. No more live broadcasts, because BCAA is the only group that knows how to run the equipment and burn the DVDS. The DVD burner is their equipment. The city does not own nor have an employee that knows how to operate editing software. I assure you that this is not an easy process, I am learning right now.4. The city has had the advantage of having a three-man camera crew at all City Council meetings and a lot of committee meetings for an average of three hours per man for as little as $450 per month. Now they will have to hire an outside contract service or a full-time employee to do these services.5. All that can and will be broadcast on Channel 12 starting Jan. 1, 2010, will be these government meetings. federal law prevents any other type of programming on a government channel. Yes, they could produce other government broadcasts like the (Saline County) Quorum Court, Bauxite and Bryant council meetings, school board meetings, PUC (Public Utilities Commission) meetings, etc. However, I do not believe that we can afford all this programming at market costs. BCAA has provided this service for over five years at the asking.6. As for an educational channel, the school is currently building a new high school that will have a broadcast room available in two years. The broadcast journalism teacher is excited about his future classes, yet he agrees that the process will be slow. Operation of equipment and production classes will probably not be in full swing until fall of 2010. I am not sure that the school system has budgeted the equipment necessary for broadcasting.These questions have been reiterated over and over to the deaf ears of certain aldermen. So, now, hopefully with the formation of a subcommittee, we will get the answers to these questions and develop a transition plan that will continue to offer our citizens both access to an open government and the availability of watching their churches, children and local activities on two brand new channels. In the meantime, I personally am going to try to bring you new and interesting programming from all around Benton. Just look for HGW Productions on the air.You just don't raise taxes when we're in a recession
From Ralph D. Shelnutt, Benton
POSTED AUG. 25, 2009
As a powerless observer of Benton politics over these last four years or so, it can't help but occur to me that that somehow we have managed to assemble a remarkable collection of nitwits on the City Council. Its almost a miracle that this group of nincompoops could possibly be gathered in one locale and then fool the electorate collectively into electing them into "responsible" positions.To me, its almost like the miracle of the four most talented musicians of the 20th century cast into to a minor port of England called Liverpool and ending up meeting each other and forming a band called the Beatles.Sure, we need more cops. We've got pressure from gangs coming out of southwest Little Rock. Of course we need more firemen. More everything. But gentlemen, if you have not noticed, we are in the greatest recession (due primarily to liberal spending of taxpayer $$ such as this) since the 1930s. Would it not be possible to wait a few months to see when this storm is gonna pass?!As an employer I have had most every person who has done work for me in the last 30 years call at some point looking for work. You guys need to get out among the folks who pay your salaries/benefits and see what's going on. There are more good folks hurting, more good folks down than I've seen in my 60 years in this town. Whatever in this world are you guys thinking about?! You don't raise working folks' taxes during a rescission.Thanks, Aldermen Larry Wolf and Joe Lee Richards, for exercising common sense.Need councilmen who will give of time, not tongue
From Mack McManus, Benton
POSTED AUG. 24, 2009
In this day and time when we have numerous folks losing their jobs, prices soaring to offset declining sales, large corporations taking bankruptcy and the foreclosures soaring as well, it gets serious. We have our Public Utilities Commission that has jut laid a rate increase on us and now the City Council wants to add an additional tax (seems like a sales tax is always the target) on us. We have folks living on the edge as well as those that cannot even do that. The timing for an increase in a utility rate as well as the council stooges attempting to place another sales tax on us does not meet the common sense test. They, the City Council and PUC, need to learn to live within their means as we have to do. I do not have a money hole to go dip into whenever the bank account goes dry. I do not have a defenseless taxpayer to prod for more money to support my druthers. There is no question that some of these things we may need. There are a lot of things in my own household that I may need, but I repair what I have versus buying a new one or adding a new system that costs something beyond what my budget will support. There needs to be a close look at [Alderman Steve] Lee. He is, in my opinion, there simply to support the needs and wants of the fire department guys. I like him but believe that his votes are slanted to those who support and vote him into office. This entire program seems to be to ensure that these monies go to support the industry that spawned his tenure on the council. Candidly, we need some citizens that have the kabongers to step up and take on some of these folks. From experience, I know it is not an easy job. You don't just go to a council meeting two nights a month and that is it. There are many committee meetings and much more if one wants to cast an informed vote. We simply need more people that are willing to give of their time rather than their tongue.We can't vote in Benton but we can shop anywhere
From Larry Hacker, Shannon Hills
POSTED AUG. 24, 2009
Regarding the Benton election on a sales tax increase: The day of reckoning has already come for me! I have lived in Saline County since 1972 and back when gasoline was cheap, my wife and I would look forward to driving to Benton to shop and eat at Dizzy's restaurant. I reveled in NOT paying the higher tax rates that Little Rock and Pulaski County businesses charged. As time went by both Benton and Bryant got greedy and upped their tax rate higher than the Pulaski County and Little Rock rates combined. Now I find it beneficial to make the short trip to Harvest Foods in the unincorporated Saline County area on Chicot Road where there are no -- NONE -- county or city taxes. I can’t vote in Benton, I can shop anywhere.Thanks for a great Web site.Let's remember what this administration has cost us
From Arnold Wright, Benton
POSTED AUG. 24, 2009
Well, eight Benton City Council members voted to [hold a half-cent sales tax special election on Nov. 10]. These are the same council members who voted to build a $2.65 million city park across the Saline River on the [Mike] Duke property. [Alderman David] Sparks and [Mayor Rick Holland] were the ones pushing this. Sparks went on record that it would take only five feet of fill dirt on this 200 acres. Not one of the council members checked with FEMA (Federal Emergency Management Agency), which later informed the city that not one shovel full of fill dirt could be added to this floodplain. Only 18 acres of this 200 were out of the floodplain. But Duke got his
sewer line! How much did it cost the citizens to run the sewer line across the river?
Spark is now a salesman for the real estate company. My, my, how things do surface, don't they?To defeat this tax the citizens in Benton will need to be informed of what this administration has cost them. Private citizens needs to work to expose this tax as they did the park across the river. The citizens of Benton are being lied to by the City Council.Plan to fight against any increase in our local taxes
From Ron James, Benton
POSTED AUG. 24, 2009
I want it known that Whit Jones calls me an "aginner"and the side of me he sees would lead him or anyone else to think the same way,but the truth is I am not against anything,I am FOR the elderly, poor, disabled, the fixed income, the people who brought this city along and supported it and loved it, and still do.Think back to the Owasso workers, Curtis Mathis workers, all the city, county and even the state workers that eked out a meager living. A lot of these people still are here in Benton and make even less than they did then.I have a friend who works in a drug store and she hears the same story regularly: How much is my medicine? Well, just fill half of it, I will need some money for food.Now you know me and my mindset and my question is this: How can the City Council, the official governing body of Benton, keep coming back two and three times a year and asking people for more of their money when they can't afford to pay their bills now? You are the same people who raised their utility rates nearly 50 percent a couple of years ago. You are the same people who wanted them to buy you a swamp so you could get more of their money and accommodate the BIG builders and run utilities across the river at NO cost to them,which you did even though the voters told you not to. You are the same ones who allowed [Mayor Rick Holland] to enter into an agreement (contract,if you will) allowing the BIG builders to start developing without paying the same permit fees, utility fees, inspection fees or any fees the other builders on the east side of the river are paying. You are the ones who said the BIG builders won't have to pay any fees for seven YEARS.I am saying that you, the council, with no more than a couple of exceptions, could care less about the people in or under the poverty level. The members of the council and the members of the [Citizens Public Safety Committee] in most part have never experienced a need to survive. Most are either well off because you earned it or inherited it, or you know what is left -- you are selling yourself to the ones who need it the least. You know you can count on me to fight against ANY INCREASE IN TAXES in any way I can and aide anyone who would do the same.You say crime is on the increase and I agree but we need to pay heed to Benton's slow killer -- our own city organizations.Thank you for the efforts with insidesaline.com site
From Janie Wilmoth, Benton
POSTED AUG. 24, 2009
I grew up in Saline County all my life with the exception of the four years I went to college in Texas. Your new (venture) reminds me of the days of the weekly "Cooyer" that had things like "Bro. Ranton Rave preached a good sermon Sunday that we all needed to hear and after church we went to Uncle Zeke and Aunt Suzie's for dinner and had fried chicken and all the fixin's and Aunt Suzie's homemade rolls and fried pies."The Bauxite, Midway, Vimy Ridge, Paron, Bryant, etc., news that told of things people wanted to know about ... . That 's the feeling I get when I read insidesaline.com and I LOVE it!. I have been one of those "telling a friend, telling a friend telling, etc." Thanks for all your efforts!Proud of the 'No' votes from Richards and Wolf
From Paul Mansfield, Benton
POSTED AUG. 24, 2009
I am proud of the "No" votes cast by Aldermen Joe Lee Richards and Larry Wolfe on the 1/2 cent sales tax for the firemen and police department. At least two of you have some common sense to not add more burden to us retired "old folks."Higher utilities and property taxes going up makes this a bad time to offer more tax. We don't think it has a chance to pass.Keep up the good work with the Web site!Don't use Benton's past to punish the city's future
From Kevin W. Russell, Benton
POSTED NOV. 3, 2009
The public safety committee -- citizens, not politicians -- worked almost two long years before they came to the realization that a tax was the only way to properly fund public safety in Benton. Working tirelessly, they researched every possible alternative to a tax until all means were exhausted. They assisted the City Council with writing the tax language to guarantee the 100 percent dedication of revenue to public safety. It also guarantees by ordinance that at least 75 percent of the general fund will continue to be spent on public safety, which is a safeguard to keep it from being spent elsewhere. They took it one step further by placing a citizens oversight committee to assure the appropriate spending of the revenue.There seems to be a lot of attacking past and present administrations on various issues that are not related to this initiative. Whether people hold a grudge about politicians, the police or fire chiefs, or an individual city employee, they should look at the big picture and realize this will provide funding for the future of public safety in our city.The scariest fact is that both the police and fire departments are working with fewer personnel than they had in 2002, with a current population base almost 8,000 more than they had to protect then. Call loads for both departments have increased over 60 percent during this same time frame. It’s been suggested that the recent talk about deep budget cuts is just a scare tactic to make people vote for the public safety initiative. What some might call a scare tactic, I call a reality.Please don't hold the past against the public servants who are trying to do their job protecting the citizens they were sworn to protect. Instead, provide them with the funding and equipment necessary to keep you, your family and our great city safe by voting FOR the public safety tax.Benton should do road projects simultaneously
From Benton Alderman Brad Moore, Ward 4, Position 1
POSTED NOV. 4, 2009
It is my recommendation to Mayor Holland and the Benton City Council to proceed with both [road] projects simultaneously -- South Shady Lane at $1.2 million and lower Military Road at $18 million. The city should combine its existing cash balances dedicated for streets/drainage and its monthly sales tax revenues with the federal stimulus funds from Metroplan to pay for both projects. Both projects will be completed without putting the city’s financial well-being at risk.After these projects are under way, the city’s cash balances ebb and flow as the city remits funds for both projects and receives its 80 percent reimbursement for Military Road two to four weeks later. The lowest cash balance during this four-year time frame is $144,932 in July 2011. The ending cash balance on Dec. 31, 2012, is $1,084,350.The contractor for the Shady Lane project has reaffirmed its commitment to the city by extending its favorable bid price for 90 days. This extension was granted in spite of escalating unit costs for gravel, pavement and concrete. This local contractor realizes that cash flow is a difficult issue for everyone and their 90 day extension should be seen as a WIN-WIN for the citizens of Benton and the contractor's employees, many of which will spend their payroll in Saline County.Lower Military Road is an exciting opportunity. The city of Benton is working with a supportive partner, Metroplan, and Mayor Holland has been "front and center" to bring this project to fruition. Mayor Holland received a letter from Metroplan several weeks ago in which they offered their commitment to the city of Benton to "restore Military Road as the center of commerce for Saline County" -- sounds great to me!Eliminating the dangerous traffic flow and flooding issues (barricaded numerous times due to high water) on Shady Lane will bring a sigh of relief for 500-1,200 citizens that travel this .5-mile stretch of narrow pavement on a daily basis -- not to mention the Benton and Bauxite school buses that travel this road two times a day. In addition to the public safety issues, this project will result in an increase in property values and will spur real estate sales in the five subdivisions that are serviced by Shady Lane.We cannot discount the fact that the city has spent more the $300,000 on the Shady Lane project with the purchase of engineered plans and right-of-way acquisitions. Also, we should not lose sight of the value of the favorable bid price, which includes the elimination of the dangerous grade elevation at the intersection of Gattin Road and Shady Lane -- the exact location of a fatality accident approximately 12 years ago. An excellent bid price for a project (Shady Lane) that has been deemed a priority by the city for more than 10 years and from a highly reputable local contractor is an offer the city ca not afford to toss to the side.The city of Benton has the resources to do both projects simultaneously -- LET's GET TO WORK!Do you trust mayor, council to handle your money?
From Linda Ives, Benton
POSTED NOV. 6, 2009
The mayor and Benton City Council's actions to reduce the public's allotted time to address them at council meetings from a measly 5 minutes to 3 minutes proves they don't care what you think about issues. Clearly, they do not want to hear from you, but they do want your money.Aware of horrendous economic times, and the fact that the city is already being sued over misuse of tax money, the mayor and councilmen realized an already strapped public would not look favorably on any proposed new tax. So they hand-picked a citizens committee (fall guy) to do their dirty work. Your officials believe you are gullible enough to vote for this sales tax if someone besides them suggests it. Noting that citizens still weren't buying the goods (new tax) the city was trying to sell them, the city launched plan B -- threats that they would no longer take care of citizens if they don't approve this tax. Benton officials are seemingly clueless that good relationships between officials and citizens are built upon TRUST.Do you TRUST Mayor Rick Holland and a City Council who hired Kirk Lane, with all his baggage, as chief of police and claimed he the was the best candidate for the job?Do you TRUST Rick Holland and a City Council who, ADMITTEDLY, play shell games with your money?Do you really want to hand these folks an additional (millions) and hope they do what is right this time?You DO realize that in the very near future you will again be asked to open your wallets yet again for the new megamillion dollar fairplex they are planning to build -- for you, of course.If so, folks, get ready for more of the same.People of Benton get victory with sales tax vote
From Sherry Gilbert, Saline County
POSTED NOV. 11, 2009
I heard that the Benton city tax was defeated. The tea party worked hard to get this message to the voters.Because of the fear of manipulation of any money by the City Council and mayor, the people of Benton have won a victory! It doesn't help much either than on average 10 percent of our people are out of work. We stood with diverse groups of individuals throughout the city to say: WE HAVE NO MORE FUNDS TO GIVE!Tea party members attended more than one public forum. We helped concerned citizens distribute signs and even held a peaceful protest on Military Road.Don't get me wrong, the police and firemen deserve our respect. They put their lives on the line every day for us. We just think that those who decide how the money is to be spent could use a little help with this.Our agenda for the next few months will be to use our free speech rights to educate and inform the public about how to take our city back. Go to bentonteaparty.ning.com if you would like more information.Ledge should now put luxury tax on lottery sales
From Curtis E. Rickard, Benton
POSTED DEC. 1, 2009
We now have our “pie-in-the-sky lottery, which will solve all of our higher educational scholarship needs.” Over $100 million has been spent on lottery tickets. That simply means that $100 million has been taken out of the economy that would normally generate sales tax revenue many times over.We all know that a lottery ticket is a luxury item. No one has to buy one.I would suggest that the Legislature pass a luxury tax in the neighborhood of 5-10 percent on the sale of every lottery ticket to help make up for the loss in sales tax revenue. You might even be creative and designate this money for a per capita distribution to all the school districts in the state of Arkansas, which would in turn help all the students receive a better education.Appreciate balance, nostalgia and humor on Web site
From Jane Wilmoth, Benton
POSTED DEC. 1, 2009
I personally am thankful for your Web site. Of course, I am nobody in the limelight who gets written about when you tell the truth about them and they get angry, so I guess I would tend to like it a great deal!I think you all are doing a fantastic and well-balanced reporting job with a nice bit of nostalgia and humor thrown in plus letting us know as a county what we need to know.Thanks for your efforts!Thanks for informative, comprehensive Web site
From Ron Stailey Sr., Benton
POSTED NOV. 30, 2009
Just wanted to thank you for a very informative and comprehensive Saline County Web site.In fact, I check your site numerous times each and every day to "catch up."Keep up the great work!
for
Alderman challenges media to be source of change
From Alderman Greg White, Benton
POSTED DEC. 14, 2009
I am really pleased to say that I missed the last City Council meeting! Not that I would have been surprised by what I heard went on. But, at least I wasn’t the center of attention and lack of decorum took place without my persuasion. However, what impressed me the most was the outcry from the press for leadership visionaries to step forward and change the political landscape of our city. The best article is the one written by Brent Davis (on insidesaline.com). I, too, hope that visionary people of change will consider stepping forward to serve.Four years ago, I called myself doing so. I ran on a platform of having a vision for a Better Benton. My ideas included curbside recycling, reduction of utility rates, improved city development, and better cooperation between city government and the school district. Last election term I focused on recycling and becoming a green city. Just recently, I tried to move forward an agenda to take back one of our traditional freedoms, the use of fireworks. I have openly discussed the need to address drainage issues in the city, and we did move forward with a working ordinance, but no source of funding. I have openly been involved in trying to improve public access TV. Hopefully, this issue will evolve into a more progressive broadcast for our community.Yet, through everything that I have tried to do to promote change, all I hear is how “we cannot do that!” Even the aldermen that say that have no new ideas or come up with any compromise for change. It seems they are afraid of “public outcry." I have been criticized by the local press tremendously for trying to invoke change. So, now all we hear is how bad our system is and how bad of a job those guys do in running city government, and how we need change! Come on, when change has been offered up, the local press knocks it down!Let me challenge you, the local press. Maybe, you could be a source of change? Maybe, you could take an issue and develop ideas of how to make it better. Critics are a dime a dozen. Ideas are priceless!As for myself, I find it hard to even consider whether or not I want to seek another term. Change in Benton is so slow that I don’t know if a Civil War between Army and Navy can even move this city in a progressive direction!
WE HAVE 2009-10
BASKETBALL
SCHEDULES
READ RON
MEYER
PANTHERS HORNETS
MINERS CARDINALS
BEAVERS HOGS
EXCLUSIVELY ON
INSIDESALINE.COM
READ WHIT
JONES
EXCLUSIVELY ON
INSIDESALINE.COM
READ BRENT
DAVIS
ON INSIDESALINE.COM
DO WE HAVE
LINKS?
MORE THAN
200!
AND GROWING
Aldermanic poetry: 'The Council that Stole Christmas'
From Alderman David Sparks, Ward 4, Position 2, Benton
POSTED DEC. 17, 2009
The year started out as quiet as a mouse;Everything in order through out the House.The budget was racing just under control;Raises were out, the money was slow!Then came July let’s check it again;NO, you got to be kidding the dollars are thin!Let’s trust them, they keep us in mind;We did help elect them, I saw the sign?Now it’s September, can you believe the sight:Everyone is in a panic, city coffers are tight!Can you feel what you’re hearing about the funds?We must all cut the budget, It has the runs.Each Department Head take 10 percent off, and employees a $25 gift;This is a bold move and will stop the rift!Thank God it’s Christmas, the council has found the source!Now there is money for lock boxes ($159,573.46)And over half a million dollars carryover, enough to choke a horse!Now we can get back our $25 gift ($51,000) and look forward to 2010;What is that falling, a Greg White snow fall has just begun.“We don’t care about their money, Just cap the Insurance as low as can be done”;It has been the plan from day number one!On December 21, your Council will meet;Full of good cheer and Popcorn to eat.You need to be there, come watch and see;How 10 men vote, and start taking your benefits for free!Benton alderman says he has not solicited TV money
From Alderman Greg White, Benton
POSTED DEC. 23, 2009
It has been falsely stated by (Benton Community Access Association President) Johnny McMahan that I have solicited funding for YCAT (Your Community Access Television). This is not the truth.I have solicited funding for HGW Productions for underwriting of the Panther football games.At no time did I approach anyone for funding as Alderman White. I would have no reason to do that. I am a marketing salesperson by trade. My sales skills for soliciting advertising sales are sufficient enough to stand alone. Actually, with all the bad press on the Benton City Council, why would I want to jeopardize the potential success of raising the funds?With this said I am going to file an affidavit claiming that I will not solicit funding for this organization and therefore ask the city attorney if my voting rights concerning matters of public access TV can be granted back to me. It seems that a previous board member of BCAA has done this for over the past four years. That person was Alderman Joe Lee Richards, who has served as secretary for BCAA and openly voted on all council issues, including funding of that organization in the past.President of local TV group alleges 'smear campaign'
From Wes Buchanan, President, Your Community Access Television, Benton
POSTED DEC. 23, 2009
It appears that a smear campaign may have been perpetrated against YCAT (Your Community Access Television). At the heart of this issue is whether YCAT is prepared and capable of operating the local public access channel. It came as no surprise to us that BCAA (Benton Community Access Association) was granted an extension in order to prevent the public access channel from going dark on Jan. 1, 2010.The following information should put to rest any misconceptions concerning the viability of YCAT. Bill Russell, Danny Fletcher, Greg Middlebrooks and Ron Stailey all have previous experience filming and broadcasting City Council meetings. These individuals are charter members of YCAT and all but Fletcher are on our board of directors. Non-members who have offered equipment and technical support are Sam Stueart, Lew Short (cameraman and editor for Channel 4) and Bobby Edmondson. Both Middlebrooks and Fletcher have complete mobile film studios at our disposal.Financial support includes Malvern National Bank, Everett Buick Pontiac GMC, Dr. (Paul) Baxley, Lance Landers and many others who want to see a change to the image of public access television. Corporate monies were waiting for City Council approval of a contract with YCAT at the Dec. 21 City Council meeting and these corporations and businesses are still awaiting the approval by the City Council. YCAT has lease in hand from the Benton Courier waiting to be signed. Any delay could conceivably put our lease in jeopardy.YCAT is ready, willing and able to serve the citizens of Benton and Saline County. YCAT is incorporated in the state of Arkansas as a nonprofit and has a certificate from the secretary of state verifying this. We currently have an attorney completing the necessary paperwork to submit to the IRS for tax exempt status. We have experienced personnel who are technically trained to operate the equipment and who have done so in the past. We have pledges of monies from individuals and businesses in the community together with monies in hand. We have equipment. All this has been accomplished in less than a month. Our group of volunteers is committed to freedom of speech, public access television and a new image for public access and the city of Benton. Together, the city of Benton and YCAT can make this happen.Not possible to loan TV 95 equipment to either group
From Sam Stueart, Benton
POSTED DEC. 24, 2009
I am afraid that I am getting too much credit for assistance. I am certainly not wanting to get into the fray, nor do I want to take sides. However, I no longer own any of the TV 95 equipment. It is not possible for me to loan equipment to the city for public access TV, no matter who is chosen. The equipment is now owned by Benton School District in hopes of soon acquiring an education and government channel for our city and for the students to learn a valuable trade.As far as my technical knowledge, I have none. Bob Edmonson, who founded TV 95, was responsible for all the technical management of the station when it began. Greg Smith was later hired and assumed that role until the end. I handled business and when absolutely needed, appeared on the air. I do not even know how to use a camera.I just do not want to let your expectations down nor build them up. I am willing to share with anyone what I do know about TV. But the most valuable person I know in our area is Bob. He knows TV inside and out. I have not spoken to him, but he might be interested in a part-time job or a consulting role.Again, do not give me too much credit for expected assistance in public access TV. Without equipment and without technical knowledge, I would only be of very marginal assistance.First Baptist wants to muzzle McMahan, public access
From Linda Ives, Benton
POSTED DEC. 28, 2009
Certain Benton School District employees, who happen to be friends and fellow church members of several city officials, don't like the fact that Johnny McMahan (Benton Community Access Association president) plays depositions from his lawsuit against the Benton School District on public access TV. They have told Benton aldermen, in no uncertain terms, to get rid of McMahan and get those depositions off of Channel 12. They have been trying for quite some time, and it seems our illustrious councilmen are now poised to do just that.Their blatant use of their position to accomplish a personal vendetta should make every person in this city scream with outrage at the abuse of power. Amazingly, you don't seem to even notice, -- I assume because this is how things have always been done here. You simply look the other way as your elected officials pull one shenanigan after another. And, in my humble opinion, this is precisely why Benton has the unshakable reputation of sleazy politics.Arkansas Business once noted in an article that "Saline County serves up controversies the way Baskin Robbins dishes up ice cream -- the only question is what is the flavor of the day." Well, McMahan is the flavor of the day, and certain members of First Baptist Church say he has to go. What did he do to incur the wrath of all these Baptists? He exercised his right to free speech.I would urge everyone of you to tiptoe quietly when you pass by First Baptist Church lest you, too, do something to bring down the wrath of these Baptists on you.My point is not about Baptists, but about cronyism, which is wrong in any setting.Idea for new location for UALR-Benton Center
From Margaret Morehead, P.E., PMP, Benton
POSTED JAN. 30, 2010
The UALR-Benton Center has been a wonderful asset for the city of Benton and Saline County, providing quality, local, affordable education. However, the facility is aging, has limited parking and needs to be replaced in a location with more room for growth. An ideal location for a new and larger UALR Saline County campus would be the campus of the Arkansas Health Center on U.S. 67 in Haskell.The advantages of this would be that the property is already owned by the state of Arkansas, it has good highway access and there is adequate room for development of a campus. Ideally, a new UALR Saline County campus would include a four-year nursing program. It might also provide a long-term opportunity for the University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences to have a satellite campus for health related professions, since the campus in central Little Rock is constrained by space and high land costs. Co-locating the college campus at the health center campus would create an opportunity to integrate education with real-life work experiences for students.READ BRANDIE
JONES
EXCLUSIVELY ON
INSIDESALINE.COM
Proposed daytime curfew for Saline juveniles is wrong
From Randy Bridges, Benton
POSTED FEB. 4, 2010
So, “Big Brother” Bobby wants to give law enforcement officers in Saline County “probable cause” authority to pull over, detain and question anyone who looks (to them) under age 17 on weekdays between 9 a.m. and 2 p.m. on school days -- whether in a car, on a motorcycle or bicycle, walking or playing in their yard?Wrong!I highly respect Circuit Judge Bobby McCallister. I have known him for a long time, and consider him “friend." This “curfew” law might have a positive result on the lives of a few, but, citizens of the United States of America under age 17 have the same rights under our Constitution as adults to walk down the street and not be subject to unreasonable search or seizure. We should not, by local legislation, require law enforcement to take on additional responsibilities as truancy officers.Has the judge been reading Chairman Mao or Stalin lately? Maybe Hitler or Karl Marx? You can’t start imposing the will of the state on the citizens too early, you know.I do believe his heart and intentions are in the best interest of our children. Why not look at some of the old-fashioned methods, like the school calling the parents when a child doesn’t show up, asking why the student is absent that day? Do we still have truancy officers?To the members of the Saline County Quorum Court, I would say this matter needs time for input from your constituents, and do not invoke the emergency clause. Good legislation will survive the scrutiny of time; bad legislation is trademarked by “Hurry up!” and “Let’s get this done!” -- before anyone objects (can anyone say health-care bill?).I skipped school -- once. 'Twas on a beautiful spring day in my ninth-grade year. It was a well planned outing with several of my best buddies, all on our little Honda motorcycles and in cut-off blue jeans we changed into after we left home dressed for success and school. We actually met in the motorcycle/bicycle parking area of school, and then five minutes before the bell rang, roared (putted) off in a brazen exit that Hell’s Angels and Harley Davidson would be proud of.We were enjoying the swimming hole at Cecil Jones (Riverside Grocery now) and relishing a day of rest from the rigors of academic achievement -- until my mother pulled up in her car, marched me back to Eastside Junior High just before noon and into Principal Martin Dill’s office. I cannot recall exactly what was said, but I vividly remember going humbly to class and enduring numerous, embarrassing questions from my classmates, who were all aware of the great and daring adventure we had embarked on that morning. The other guys all got busted by their parents when they got home that day, and none of us ever skipped school again.How did Mom know where to find us? I still wonder.Saline Quorum Court needs to OK juvenile curfew
From Margaret Morehead, P.E., PMP, Benton
POSTED FEB. 9, 2010
This is in response to Randy Bridges' letter opposing the juvenile daytime curfew. Mr. Bridges and I agree that Circuit Judge Bobby McCallister’s heart and intentions are in the best interest of our (community’s) children. Judge McCallister has seen many times over how truancy leads to failures in education, and a subsequent deterioration in a young person’s long-term prospects for securing stable employment and staying out of trouble with the criminal justice system.Mr. Bridges' letter contained a charming story about how his indomitable mother put a swift end to his truancy. His story reflects the realities of a different era. In the decades since Mr. Bridges’ childhood, the proportion of children in single parent families has risen from 10 percent in 1965 to 27 percent in 2001 [1], and may well be higher now. Single parents, who must serve as both breadwinner and guardian, might not always be in a position to know the whereabouts of their children. This may also be the case for families with two working parents. Unsupervised adolescents are more likely to skip school, smoke cigarettes, drink alcohol, use drugs and engage in risky or delinquent behaviors.The proposed juvenile curfew provides assistance to all parents, and provides legal authority for action by the truancy officers suggested by Mr. Bridges.It is not an unreasonable search and seizure to apply a curfew to anyone 17 or younger between the hours of 9 a.m. and 2 p.m. on weekdays when public school is in session. With only a few special exceptions, persons age 17 and under have not reached the age of majority, at which time they are legally able to make their own decisions free from parental authority and control.In the interest of protecting our children and encouraging them to participate in their own educations, the Saline County Quorum Court should take action to implement the proposed curfew.References: [1] http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC1360943/ Socioeconomic Status and the Fates of Adolescents, Health Services Research, 2003 October; 38(5): 1229––1234. José J. Escarce, M.D., Ph.D., David Geffen School of Medicine at UCLA, Division of General Internal Medicine and Health Services Research, 911 Broxton Plaza, Room 204, Los Angeles, CA 90024.Alderman rallying support against an insurance cap
From Alderman David Sparks, Ward 4, Position 2, Benton
POSTED FEB. 16, 2010
To the employees of Benton: For the work and duties you perform each day, we thank you. Times seem tough, but I promise that in Benton’s 160 years of history, it has seen much worse. We have watched our city grow with much improvement thanks to you and those who call this city home.Employees, department heads and government have worked together to keep our city the operating machine it is today. We have cut budgets, worked with less and pulled together. Employees have lived with one across the board raise in the last few years. They are OK with that and believe that when things pick up, so will the raises.Now, a couple of aldermen want to “cap employee health benefits." No one is asking the city for more money, not one red cent. This is just another way to take away from our employees. A couple of years ago, employees gave additional funds on insurance deductibles to keep the cost of insurance from going up. We worked together. Let’s wait and fight our battles when and if they come. All city employees should band together and come to the next City Council meeting (7 p.m. Monday, Feb. 22) for this very important vote.To the people of Benton: Remember when Alcoa and Reynolds were our bread and butter and people worked hard for a good day’s pay? We lived and played in Benton and life was good. The majority of people still work outside of Benton. However, they still call Benton home. This is the place they raise and educate their families in. New schools, great parks and for generations families have relied on city employees to take care of their homes and city while they worked and played. On Monday night, we will have the third and final reading on a vote “to cap the costs of city employee insurance." The vote will be between 7 and 7:30 since it is the second piece of old business on the agenda. Please give 30 minutes of your time and let a few good aldermen know you care about your city and its employees. We will come together and vote against any cap on employee insurance.Benton leaders cannot keep ignoring drainage issues
From Richard Stipe, Benton
POSTED FEB. 17, 2010
Please accept these comments from a concerned Benton resident in response to the Feb. 17 article titled "Alderman defends hike in fees in advance of a public hearing."Alderman Doug Stracener was present at a public hearing on Aug. 6, 2009, when Alderman Greg White suggested the proposed utility stormwater fee increase as the most likely (perhaps only) solution for the city of Benton to gather the resources needed to address critical flooding problems in several areas around the city in anything less than the very long term. Although your article states that Alderman Stracener “said early on that he opposes a fee increase for all Benton Utilities customers to fund isolated drainage problems,” Mr. Stracener gave no indication of his opposition at that public hearing on Aug. 6, where all present were very positive in their outlook for progress. Should those present have assumed that a failure to voice support was an indication of opposition? Apparently so.Furthermore, let’s be clear that the phrase “isolated drainage problems” is not an adequate representation of the seriousness of the stormwater problems facing the city of Benton, which are resulting in routine flooding of Benton residents’ homes.In your article, you quoted former Mayor Lynn Moore as saying that the proposed fee increases "amount to another tax in disguise without a real purpose. Lord knows, there are numerous drainage situations all over town that need attention. However, many of the problems are localized and can be directly blamed on irresponsible property development or private property management." The purpose seems quite clear: To provide a source of funding to address flooding problems in the city. Just because flooding problems might be pinpointed as affecting particular subdivisions around the city does not necessarily make them “isolated” or “localized," nor does such criteria absolve the city of Benton from the responsibility to protect local citizens and their property from repeated damage due to inadequate city services, including stormwater management. While there may be “drainage situations all over town that need attention,” it does not seem unreasonable to categorize routine flooding of homes as a higher priority than just “fixing a few isolated drainage problems," regardless of the contributing or attributing factors.While it may or may not be true that property developers cut corners, or relied on the professional services of incompetent engineers, or otherwise failed to meet adequate standards in providing stormwater infrastructure, such attributions of complicity or culpability do NOT absolve Benton city leaders (past or present) of their responsibility to provide adequate safety and services for city residents and their property. Though the definition of “adequate” could be open to interpretation in some cases, surely no one would argue that routinely flooded homes could be indicative of adequate city stormwater services.Placing blame for past blunders (failure of city leaders to competently monitor and govern property developers) may be illuminating, but it does nothing to provide forward motion toward resolution of major city infrastructure problems that are NOT going to go away and are NOT going to get cheaper over time.Additionally, Mr. Moore is quoted as suggesting that the city "assess property owners an appropriate millage to fund the necessary remediation in each district ... a unilateral tax is absolutely and totally unfair. Why should all of the ... utility customers be taxed to improve the personal properties of a small group of customers? Let the property owners pay to make their own improvements and eliminate an unjustified utility tax." This is an outrageous proposition. The provision of adequate protection from routine stormwater flooding in established city subdivisions can hardly be construed as a “property improvement” for an individual city resident, nor even as the adding of value for any individual homeowner or neighborhood. This is a ridiculous notion.The elimination of the threat of future flooding may reduce the potential for declining property values, not only for flooded homes, but for adjacent properties as well. But it will not provide any increase in property value to affected homeowners or neighborhoods because adequate stormwater infrastructure is an assumption in support of real property’s basic appraised value. There is only one method whereby city residents pay for city services, whether remedial or otherwise, and that is through taxation and fees levied on all citizens according to law. To suggest that this present crisis merits differential treatment is absurd.
Taxes and fees are necessary for local governments to protect and provide for the citizens they serve. Regardless of how these flooding situations came to exist in the city of Benton, the fact is they do exist. The City Council has an obligation to respond when citizens are being inadequately protected, especially when some citizens, through no fault of their own, are not being protected or served at the same (minimum) level enjoyed by the rest of the local population.I have read Alderman Stracener’s detailed response explaining his opposition to this proposed utility stormwater fee increase, and he does make some valid points. Perhaps this specific fee increase is not the optimum way to address the present flooding problems in Benton. He is in a better position to make that determination than I am. However, something must be done. A present solution that may seem less than optimal is still a better choice than no solution at all in the foreseeable future. If our city leadership continues to ignore these critical matters and fails to aggressively seek solutions, the entire city of Benton will be the worse for it.Does ex-mayor have answer for this drainage problem?
From Carolyn Smart, Benton
POSTED FEB. 17, 2010
Thank you, Mr. Lynn Moore (sarcastically). I am a property owner whose front yard is an absolute lake every time it rains. I live a mere three blocks from the courthouse square in Benton. I am one property owner who cannot fix or improve the drainage on my property unless I could fix the city street (West Cross).Over the years, I guess because they didn’t want the street to hold water, they kept building the street up and up until it looks like a virtual rainbow shape. The street has been so built up that now the center of the street is higher than my yard.Since he seems to think he has all the answers, does the former mayor have any suggestions to that one?It's time to hold Benton's city leaders accountable
From Sherry Gilbert, Saline County Tea Party
POSTED FEB. 18, 2010
I attended the town hall meeting Wednesday night at Benton City Hall on proposed stormwater fee increases. I must say, after 20 minutes of this meeting, several things were glaringly clear. It seems that the city of Benton has issued permits to real estate developers for plans that have caused more than 20 drainage problems for the city. The city has a 1/4-cent sales tax to pay for streets and drainage that was enacted by the voters of the city.The drainage problems above include craters in some yards where the drainage culvert has disintegrated and left holes in its place. Other problems are undermining the house or building itself due to water running under them. The time for inspection and sending the problems back to the developers has passed. Now the residents want the city to pay for the structural damage with a fee on everyone's utility bill. Since some residents have lived in these areas more than five years, the likelihood of winning a court battle from the developer is unlikely.To add insult to injury, the City Council now has used the money from the street and drainage fund to pay for the lower military Road and Shady Lane road projects against the will of the voters. There is no money to fix the drainage because a lot of it is being spent on an $18 million project to widen and develop lower Military Road. The project cannot be scrapped because the city has spent $2 million of the street money and will have to pay it back if the lower Military Road project doesn't go forward.Folks, we have more problems now than just sending some kids [Mayor's Youth Advisory Council] on an expensive field trip to Washington. Isn't it time we changed leadership and hold those who have squandered our money accountable?
