City officials in Walnut Ridge and College City in Lawrence County are in talks to merge the two municipalities.
Walnut Ridge Mayor Don House said the voters of each city would have to approve the move. He said last week that he hoped to get the question on a ballot by July 15.
If the merger is approved, the combined city would be called Walnut Ridge.
The move “will be a help to us to boost our population and our state turnback funds,” House said. “And on the same hand, we can provide additional services to them.”
College City has contracts with Walnut Ridge for services such as mosquito control and fire protection, House said.
“We have the infrastructure already in place to service that area,” House said.
House said he didn’t know how much more in revenue the merger would mean to Walnut Ridge.
The population of Walnut Ridge is about 4,900, while the population of College City is about 540.
House said the residents of College City, which is the home of the four-year Williams Baptist College, might be reluctant to go with the move because they fear that Walnut Ridge will turn its back on College City after the vote is approved.
House said that the College City section would be an important part of Walnut Ridge and wouldn’t be forgotten.
The mayor of College City, Paul Rhoads, couldn’t be reached for comment.
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