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April 2003 Incorporation Article

Editor's note: The article below was originally published on page 3 of the April 2003 issue of The East Ender. Please note that some of the statistics, data and laws concerning incorporation cited may, or have, changed since that time. This article is being provided as a reference for those who may have questions regarding the history of the incorporation issue in East End.

Incorporation!
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A committee is being formed to officially begin the process of incorporating      East End. On Tuesday, April 29 (2003), the East End Community Prosecution Team voted to create a Committee to Incorporate East End and named a president, John Hern.

            This committee is having smaller meetings at various times this month, but will open their meetings to the public on June 10 at 7 p.m. at East End Elementary.

            “In my opinion, there’s no better way to improve the public safety of this community in all aspects from prevention to prosecution than by East End having its own police department,” said Prosecuting Attorney Robert Herzfeld. “You don’t get a police department in an unincorporated area.”

            “It’s important for us to take this on,” said Hern. “This is well overdue. The recent issues we’ve had with the quorum court and the substation caused me to feel the need to move this quickly if we can.”

            In March, the quorum court threatened to dismantle the Sheriff’s Department Substation in East End, claiming it was illegally funded. The money that was being used for the substation, by state law, was supposed to be used for communications facilities and equipment. In response to the quorum court’s concerns, Sheriff Phil Mask made some changes to the facility that allowed the substation to become a communications center for the department and therefore saved the facility.

Hern’s wife, Loyce, owner of The Gentle Shepherd and longtime resident of East End, said 10 years ago when the incorporation issue was brought up, the people who were for incorporation were supporting the idea because they didn’t want Little Rock to take in East End. “Now there are many more reasons to get incorporated,” said Loyce Hern.

            Justice of Peace Pat Bisbee was an active part of the committee 10 years ago and says he still is for incorporation. “We’ve had incredible growth in our area. All the new growth has been in 10 years or less. I think more people will be more willing to see the need,” said Bisbee. He pointed out that the East End Fire Department can no longer qualify for any grants because the area is too big for a rural grant, and does not qualify for money that would be given to a city fire department.

            He also says East End misses out on a lot of other funds. “We have to get the gas turn-back money,” said Bisbee.

            The East Ender researched the incorporation issue two years ago and discovered the area would be entitled to at least $258,658 annually from the state turn-back for road repair. East End would also be entitled to at least $101,214 per year for the state general fund turn-back. These numbers are based on the 2001 allotment for a city population of 5,623. The Committee to Incorporate East End will be researching the 2003 dollar amounts. Other revenue could be generated by creating occupational and privilege licenses fees, permit and inspection fees, sales and use tax, and franchise fees. Also, various federal and state grants may be available to the area if East End became a city.

            The committee will also research the legal actions required to incorporate. In The East Ender article in July 2001, it was reported that a new state law had just been enacted. It required 200 people or a majority of voters in the district, whichever is greater, to file a petition with the county court to incorporate. Ten years ago, when the issue was first discussed in East End, only 75 voters were required to sign the petition.

            According to the Municipal League, the proposed city must also get written permission from any city within five miles of the border. For East End, based on where proposed boundaries are established, that could mean Shannon Hills and Little Rock.

            Bisbee also pointed out at the meeting that if the area did become incorporated there would likely have to be a name change. There is a city in Arkansas already named East End. Possible names for the area could be “East End City,” to keep the East End designation, or “Springlake” since that is how area calls are designated on telephone bills. That decision would be made later by the committee.

            These issues and more will be looked into further and will be discussed in detail at the June 10 meeting.

            In the meantime, the committee is setting up three subcommittees, a committee to draw boundaries, a committee to organize a petition drive, and a campaign committee (a group to get the word out).

            “This area is growing so rapidly. I know from working a management position in a large company, it is easier to manage a change than it is to react to it after the fact,” said Hern.          

            “I live in Benton. I have nothing to gain from this,” said Herzfeld. “When I take on a project, the way I am, when I see a problem and an obvious solution, I work hard to get that solution. The solution for East End is incorporation.”