Residents React to Cave Springs, Rogers Land Swap Approval
Both the Rogers City Council and Cave Springs City Council have officially voted in favor of a land swap that has left many residents in the affected areas with mixed emotions and concerns.
In this simultaneous annexation and detachment agreement, Cave Springs would gain control of land west of Arkansas 112, while Rogers would acquire 252 acres of land in the southwest portion of Cave Springs. Evening Star Elementary School would remain part of the Bentonville School District, unaffected by the exchange.
At a public hearing in Cave Springs, many residents of both cities expressed their opposition to the proposal. Several Rogers residents began their statements with apologies to the Cave Springs City Council for any harsh words or actions received. However, their concerns centered mainly around potential disruptions to emergency services and impacts on local infrastructure.
One Cave Springs resident, Joan Fos, who had annexed into Cave Springs in the late 1990s to avoid being part of Rogers, felt a deep sense of betrayal. Fos and others from Cave Springs requested that the council not force them to become part of Rogers. On the other hand, DeeDee Moore, owner of Faithful Friends Animal Clinic in Cave Springs, supported the annexation as it would allow her business to connect to sewer services, necessary for its growth.
Emergency response times were a significant issue, particularly for families with medically complex needs. Angie Zumwalt, a Rogers resident, highlighted the difference in response times between Rogers and Cave Springs. She explained that this could be a matter of life or death for her son, who experiences choking incidents and wanders off without supervision. She urged the council to consider the implications of the decision.
Despite the passage of the ordinance, residents from the Scissortail neighborhood in Rogers have vowed to take legal action to attempt to stop the land exchange. The city councils’ decisions have only intensified tensions and sparked more questions about the future of these communities.
As the process moves forward, it will be crucial for both cities to address the concerns of their residents and work together to ensure that this land swap does not come at the expense of essential services and community trust.
