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While some Arkansas Cities are experiencing positive change and sustainable <br /> growth, other Cities are experiencing decline and decay. <br /> One of the jobs of City Government is to discuss what constitutes positive growth <br /> and how to make it happen. Zoning, building and fire codes, traffic, parking, signage <br /> standards, market strategies, financial formulas, and economic development strategies <br /> etc. tend to encourage or to prevent the right things from happening depending on how <br /> they are handled. <br /> A city must recognize the critical economic role of industry and know how to <br /> nourish it and provide jobs for the citizens or join the ranks of the cities in decline and <br /> wonder why retail and manufacturing left, how to bring them back, and why others do <br /> not come. <br /> A city provides the necessary infrastructure to support growth and development <br /> (i.e. water and management for the Pfeiffer Water System is furnished by the City of <br /> Batesville) and this is a major factor considered by industry. <br /> What is done in the present points to what the future may hold. The annexation <br /> proposal was the result of the hard work of a dedicated committee. They talked to <br /> many; many people over a 4-year span. <br /> Annexation proposal opponents were well organized and sought numerous <br /> guarantees, many of which are not available to the present residents of the city. <br /> Residents favoring annexation were not organized and none spoke in favor of the <br /> proposal at the May 25 meeting. <br /> Annexation proceedings are highly technical legal proceedings. Should the <br /> voters approve annexation proposal on October 12, 1999 there would still be a shadow <br />