Rogers moves to tweak Bentonville water link for Mount Hebron interconnection
Rogers — The City Council is set to authorize changes to its 2020 water-system interconnection agreement with Bentonville to streamline work on the planned Mount Hebron Interconnection—letting Rogers Water Utilities (RWU) contract directly with engineers and contractors and seek reimbursements from Bentonville.
Under the draft ordinance, the mayor and city clerk would be empowered to sign an amendment to the existing interconnection agreement once the Rogers Waterworks & Sewer Commission and RWU leadership sign off on the terms.
The change is narrowly tailored to the Mount Hebron project. City documents say varying certain 2020 contract terms will make it “advantageous” for the Commission and/or RWU to contract directly with professional service firms and other contractors—and to receive certain reimbursements from Bentonville tied to the interconnection work.
The Commission has already backed the move via Resolution No. 25-25, authorizing an amendment and giving RWU management negotiating authority to finalize the amendment’s form and content.
An emergency clause in the ordinance would make the authorization effective immediately upon passage “to protect the public peace, health, safety and welfare.”
What’s changing
Direct contracting: RWU (and/or the Commission) could hire engineers and contractors itself for the Mount Hebron tie-in, rather than using joint contracting procedures in the 2020 agreement.
Cost-sharing flexibility: The amendment would allow RWU to obtain reimbursements from Bentonville for applicable project costs.
Local sign-offs: Final terms must be approved by the Commission chair and RWU superintendent, with the mayor and city clerk executing the amendment.
Why it matters
Interconnections are typically built to boost reliability, add redundancy during outages or peak demand, and provide operational flexibility across neighboring systems. While the ordinance doesn’t list a construction timeline or total cost, the new authority suggests Rogers wants fewer procedural steps and clearer cost recovery as Mount Hebron work advances. (Reporter’s note: this paragraph is analysis; the cited ordinance outlines process, not impacts.)
What to watch next
Final amendment language: RWU management will negotiate the details under the Commission’s resolution.
