Kingsland Mayor Says Water Dept. Will Need Partner

RISON - While the West Saline Water Users Association has yet to make a decision on a possible merger with the Kingsland and Outside Kingsland water systems, Kingsland Mayor Sharon Crosby said she feels the city will ultimately have to partner with another water provider in order to survive.Last week, the West Saline water board held a public hearing to discuss a possible merger with its two neighboring water systems, as well as consider the making the move from a private nonprofit association to a water authority. Many of those attending the hearing expressed their opposition to the merger.David Pipes, president of the West Saline board, said after the hearing that the board would consider those comments as the board makes a decision on the proposed merger. He said not final decisions have been made on either the merger or the move to a water authority.Crosby said in a phone interview Tuesday that she understands the concerns expressed at the hearing, and noted that West Saline is not obligated to merge with anyone. She said she did not attend the West Saline public hearing because she felt the meeting should have been for those members of the water association only.Regardless of what the West Saline board ultimately decides, Crosby said the City of Kingsland will eventually have to consolidate with another water provider in order to survive.Trey Foster of Civil Engineer Associations in Conway, who has put together water grant applications for both Kingsland and West Saline, said the latest state regulations requires a new water system to have at least 300 customers before it can form. Crosby said Kingsland currently has a little more than 200 customers. "They (the state) said nobody under 300 can sustain themselves," she said. In addition, Crosby said Foster believes the state could begin forcing smaller water providers to consolidate with larger systems by sometime in 2025.Should West Saline ultimately decide against a merger, Crosby said she believes the city…