HOT SPRINGS -- The requests to put the Lake DeGray Water Agreement to a November election vote were rejected today by the Hot Springs City Clerk’s office due to deficiencies identified in the filed petitions. It was determined that the petition is noncompliant with a significant provision of the Arkansas Constitution, and therefore insufficient to move forward to be placed on the ballot.
In a City Attorney’s opinion letter, the failure to include an enacting clause has resulted in a fatal defect in the submitted petitions. The lack of this constitutional requirement means the petition is not legally sufficient and should be rejected.
The City will continue their diligence in pursuing the alternate water source from Lake DeGray and obtaining an agreement with the Army Corp of Engineers for a long-term allotment from this source.
City Manager David Watkins stated, “It is very encouraging that our community has reached an agreement that will provide system users with water from two completely separate watersheds in order to secure a long-term supply and put this issue behind us.’