BELLA VISTA — The City Council voted against increasing retirement benefits for five Fire Department employees, despite two appeals, at Monday’s meeting.

The firefighters/EMTs cited a total of 175 years of work for the safety of Bella Vista residents.

Nay votes were cast by four City Council members - Aldermen Doug Farner, Earl Berdine, Dick Rooney and Pat Cox. Aldermen George Holmes and Arline Hutchinson voted for the increase.

“I think we owe it to these men,” Hutchinson said.

Rooney said the study showed it would cost about $1.2 million over the life of the plan, 27 to 28 years.

“I don’t think this is in our taxpayers’ best interest. I feel bad about doing it, but don’t think I can vote for it,” he said.

The exact amount the pension fund would have cost the city is not easily determined. The last actuarial study cited the first year’s payment at $63,000, but Mayor Frank Anderson said that was the worst-case scenario of how much the plan could cost.

There would be a savings as the older firefighters retired and younger personnel were brought in - their salaries would be at a much lower rate than an 18-year veteran.

“It should have come from their former employers, the Property Owners Association, but we haven’t heard from them,” Farner said,

The determination had to be made before Oct. 31, as that is when the current study expires.

The millage rate for real and personal property taxes was unanimously approved.

The 1.5-mill assessment will remain the same as last year.

In other business:

◊The permit, inspection and planning-review fees were approved for commercial and residential properties. Copies of the fees are available at City Hall in Town Center.

◊The separation of the elected office of city clerk and the appointed office of city treasurer was unanimously approved. The change will begin in January 2011.

◊The city will purchase a new digital voice recorder system for the police/fire dispatch. The system was included in the 2009 budget.

◊The proposed Zoning Code had its first reading, and 10 amendments to the document were unanimously approved.Anderson said the council will most likely suspend the rules and vote on the ordinance in November. Copies are available at City Hall.

Corrections

In an article published Oct. 21 in The Weekly Vista, it was incorrectly stated that Benton County charges a 6 percent sales tax. Benton County charges a 1 percent tax. It is the state of Arkansas that levies a 6 percent sales tax.

The sales-tax vote in Bella Vista will be Dec. 8, not Dec. 6, as previously published.

The Bella Vista Animal Hospital will donate free exams, vaccinations, and flea and heart worm medication, as well as discounted Royal Canin dog food, when the Bella Vista Police Department establishes a K-9 unit, not the Bella Vista Animal Shelter as stated in an earlier article in this newspaper.

News, Pages 12 on 10/28/2009

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