Local Events
Wed., May 8 from 8:30 a.m. - 2 p.m. - Groundwork NWA presents Creating Home: A Summit Exploring Policies, Practices, and Promising Solutions - event will gather policymakers, community leaders and advocates to review existing housing policies and explore innovative solutions to increase sustainable housing options in Northwest Arkansas. Event will be held at the Heroncrest Event Center (1579 E. Lake Road, Elm Springs. Register HERE.
Sat., May 11 at 11 a.m. - Benton County Strong May Meeting at the Natural State Beer Company in Rogers; community members are welcome to join this group seeking to make walking-cycling more accessible in Benton County
Mon., May 13 at 6:30 p.m. - Democratic Party of Benton County Monthly Meeting in Downtown Bentonville (Arvest Conference Room directly behind the square) - Come meet and hear from the Democratic Candidates for state legislative seats representing Benton County
Tue., May 14 from 8 a.m. - 4 p.m. - Moms First Summit: First-ever summit on Motherhood; Join online alongside the community of over one million moms and supporters as moms transform corporate America, the policy arena, and the culture to enable moms to thrive. Register HERE.
Mon., May 20 from 11 a.m. - 1 p.m. - Senior Democrats Luncheon at the Golden Corral in Rogers (2605 W Pleasant Crossing Dr.) - special guest speaker will be State Representative candidate Kate Schaffer; lunch begins at 11, speakers start at noon
Community Involvement Opportunities
Become a Circle Ally
Complete the Ally volunteer application HERE. To learn more about the Circles model and what it means to be an Ally click HERE.
Get Involved with The Equality Crew
Join the Board! - Calling all community members who are ready to make a difference for LGBTQIA+ Youth! The Equality Crew is seeking board members with professional experience and a passion for positive impact. Apply HERE.
Volunteer! - With their exciting new Drop In Nights series and NWA Pride coming up, they would love to have you join! Sign up HERE.
Municipal Government Awareness
Bella Vista
Next Council Mtng: Monday, May 20 at 5:30 p.m. (2483 Forest Hills Blvd) - work session
Bentonville
Next Council Mtng: Tuesday, May 14 at 6 p.m. (305 SW A St.)
Items of Note:
Cave Springs
Next Council Mtng: Tuesday, May 14 at 6:30 p.m. (134 N. Main St.) - work session
Items of Note:
City-Wide Spring Cleanup will be May 10th & 11th from 9:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. for city residents only at 850 East Lowell Avenue - Items NOT accepted include paint, tires, computers/electronics, and hazardous waste
Centerton
Next Council Mtng: Tuesday, May 14 at 6 p.m. (210 Municipal Dr.)
Items of Note:
Planning Commission will meet Tuesday, May 7th at 6 p.m. at the Municipal Complex building (210 Municipal Dr)
Gravette
Next Council Mtng: Tuesday, May 14 at 5:30 p.m. (202 Main St. NE) - committee of the whole
Lowell
Next Council Mtng: Tuesday, May 21 at 6:30 p.m. (216 N. Lincoln St.)
Items of Note:
Planning Commission will meet Monday, May 6th at 6 p.m.
Mudtown Days will be on June 7th and 8th!
Pea Ridge
Next Council Mtng: Tuesday, May 14 at 5:30 p.m. (911 Weston St.) - committee of the whole
Items of Note:
The new Pea Ridge Hub Trail Counter is up and operational which was made possible by partnering with Trailblazers. The Numina sensor measures what, where, when, and how things move. Numina provides data without surveillance in open spaces; it is not a camera.
Rogers
Next Council Mtng: Tuesday, May 14 at 6 p.m. (301 W. Chestnut)
Items of Note:
The city will host a public hearing on the Rogers-Cave Springs land swap on Tuesday, May 14th at 6:30 p.m. at Rogers City Hall (301 W. Chestnut St.); read city provided FAQs HERE
City Council approved selling two pieces of city land to Habitat for Humanity of Benton County for a total of $33k. Habitat plans to use the land to build housing.
City Council voted to NOT fill the vacancy in the Ward 3 council position at this time. The seat will remain vacant until the general election at the end of the year.
Chris Latimer (current Republican Justice of the Peace for district 4) announced he will be running for mayor of Rogers - his website is HERE. 🧐
Siloam Springs
Next Council Mtng: Tuesday, May 7 at 6:30 p.m. (400 N. Broadway)
Items of Note:
The Planning Commission will meet on Tuesday, May 14th at 5:30 p.m. - they are expected to review the annexation plans and will likely forward the proposal to the city Board for their meeting on the 21st. Read more from Marc Hayot at NWA Dem Gazz HERE.
Springdale
Next Council Mtng: Tuesday, May 14 at 6 p.m. (201 Spring St.)
Items of Note:
Mayor Sprouse cast a deciding vote on two agenda items at the last city council meeting: voted Yes to approve a rezone of property to allow for a townhouse development in an area with single family houses; and voted Yes to a conditional use of a church in a commercial property (this vote was to reverse a unanimous Planning Commission decision to deny the permit) - read more from Tom Sissom’s reporting in the NWA Dem Gazz HERE
County Government Awareness
Rogers School Board
The Rogers School District is considering 4 rezoning options beginning in the 2024-25 school year. The rezoning was initiated by the upcoming closing of the Garfield Elementary School. The district will host a community input session on Thursday, May 9th at 5:30 p.m. at the Joye R. Kelley District Administration Office (500 W. Walnut St.). See presentation from April School Board meeting HERE. Read Al Gaspeny’s NWA Dem Gazz reporting HERE.
Beaver Water District
A public hearing will be had for the proposed Beaver Water District solar project at the Benton County Planning Board meeting on May 15th at 6 p.m. at the County Building in downtown Bentonville. The solar energy facility will be located on a property about two miles east of Lowell (northwest intersection of Nail Ave and Primrose Rd). Read more from Thomas Saccente with the NWA Dem Gazz HERE.
Benton County Quorum Court
Upcoming meetings
Development Review Committee - May 8th at 10 a.m.
Finance Committee Meeting - May 14th at 6 p.m.
Planning Board Meeting - May 15th at 6 p.m
Committee of the Whole - May 21st at 6 p.m.
State Government Awareness
94th General Legislative Assembly:
Catch up on the legislative session with Tess Vrbin at the Arkansas Advocate, “Arkansas lawmakers wrap fiscal session, send budget to governor’s desk - Game and Fish Commission appropriation only bill not approved by Legislature”
Read update on the legislature’s attempt to regulate cryto mining with Tess Vrbin at the Arkansas Advocate, “Proposed Arkansas crypto mining regulations head to governor’s desk - There are crypto mines in DeWitt and in the Bono community near Greenbrier, and an out-of-state entity has attempted to start a crypto mine near Harrison”
Governor Sarah Huckabee Sanders:
Read about the latest Executive Order meant to “protect” 🙄 with Antoinette Grajeda at the Arkansas Advocate, “Arkansas governor signs executive order prioritizing state law over new [federal] Title IX rule”
Election Information
Did you know that nearly 100 😶 nonpartisan elected positions will be up for election on November 5, 2024? No? Good news, the Democratic Party of Benton County has updated their website with all the information you need to find out more about these positions!
Political Training Opportunities
Join the Democratic National Committee Organizing Team virtually to learn more about relational strategies. Relational Organizing is a great way to talk to people within your personal network and make sure they are tapped into all the ways they can get involved before November.
Odds & Ends
Listen to this fantastic interview with Bentonville City Council member Gayatri Agnew on The Underview - HERE; while you’re at it, I highly recommend subscribing to this podcast
Read Kim Souza’s reporting in Talk Business & Politics, “Heartland Forward seeks to improve maternal health outcomes”