Centerton’s Sewer Situation: What You Missed at the August 26th Special City Council Meeting

🛠️ One Issue. One Meeting. A Turning Point.

This recap took me an extra day to put together—and for good reason. The Special Centerton City Council Meeting on Tuesday, August 26 ran for 2 hours and 40 minutes. It was dense, technical, and layered with competing priorities, timelines, and concerns.

As someone who’s committed to both my community and clients, I took the time to watch, rewatch, and break it all down, so you can walk away with the facts that matter.

This wasn’t your average meeting. It was a high-stakes, future-focused discussion about Centerton’s sewer system, our partnership with Decatur, and how infrastructure decisions today will impact growth for decades.

In attendance were all council members except Justin Cowgur, the full Centerton Water & Sewer Commission, Mayor Bill Edwards, and Mayor Bob Tharp of Decatur—the city currently handling our wastewater treatment.

📑 The Decatur Agreement: Functional, but Outdated

For over a decade, Centerton has sent its wastewater to Decatur under a regional contract. At the time, it was progressive. But it hasn’t evolved with our city’s rapid growth.

There’s no volume cap, no clear cost-sharing structure, and no active capital improvement plan embedded in the agreement.

Mayor Bill Edwards set the tone from the start:

“We need transparency, clarity, and we need to be sure we’re planning—not guessing.”

Mayor Bob Tharp of Decatur owned the lack of oversight:

“I didn’t realize how fast you were growing. But we’re not asleep anymore.”

🏗️ Capacity Status: Expansion Underway—But Limited

The good news: Decatur is upgrading its wastewater plant from 3.8 to 5.36 million gallons per day (MGD). That expansion is on track to finish by the end of 2025, pending health department approvals.

That upgrade is expected to cover all currently approved Centerton development.

The catch? It won’t support new subdivisions until further capacity is built.

Councilmember Wendy Henson put it simply:

“We’re okay today, but what about five years from now?”

This gives Centerton temporary relief—but not a long-term solution.

💰 Decatur vs. NACA: The Financial Reality

One alternative raised was connecting to NACA, the Northwest Arkansas Conservation Authority. But it comes with heavy financial consequences:

Centerton would also have no say in NACA’s future rates, which are set based on regional decisions and capital needs across multiple cities.

Mayor Edwards summarized it clearly:

“Whatever route we take, the people of Centerton are going to be the ones paying for it.”

🧭 What Are the Options?

Three strategic paths were laid out:

1. Continue with Decatur

• Support the expansion now underway

• Negotiate a stronger contract with enforceable terms and cost-sharing

2. Connect to NACA

• Higher initial and ongoing costs

• Less control, unpredictable rate structure

3. Create a Regional Sewer Authority

• Collaborate with nearby cities (like Gentry, Gravette)

• Share control and costs

• No commitments yet from potential partners

Councilmember Joshua Hagan noted:

“We need to stop acting like just a customer. We need a voice in how this gets managed.”

🔍 What Went Wrong—And What’s (Hopefully) Next

City leaders didn’t shy away from the truth: planning hasn’t kept pace with Centerton’s growth.

• No annual planning reviews were held

• The capital improvement schedule was neglected

• Developers and the public were left out of the loop

The Water & Sewer Commission highlighted the need for a Preliminary Engineering Report (PER)—a technical analysis to evaluate long-term sewer infrastructure options and cost projections.

They acknowledged it’s essential for good decision-making. However, no official plan, budget, or timeline to start the PER was offered. Right now, it’s just an idea.

A commissioner summed it up:

“We’ve been putting out fires. Now it’s time to plan the next 30 years.”

But that planning hasn’t actually begun—not yet.

🛑 What About New Development?

Mayor Tharp confirmed that no new subdivisions will be approved in Decatur until the expansion is complete.

“You can buy land, but we’re not promising service unless it’s already on the books.”

Mayor Edwards made it clear that Centerton is adopting the same position. No capacity = no approvals.

💬 What This Means for You

• We’re not out of room yet—but we’re close.

• Rates are likely to rise due to state-required sewer rate studies.

• Short-term fixes are moving, but long-term strategy remains undefined.

• Better communication is happening—but accountability is what will matter.

🏡 My Take, As Your Local Expert

This meeting was a necessary wake-up call—and I’m grateful it happened.

But we need more than acknowledgment. We need follow-through.

Here are two thoughts I believe the city—and the community—should take seriously:

1. Centerton needs a dedicated project manager.
   With engineering reports, infrastructure upgrades, developer timelines, and public interest all in play, one central coordinator could keep everyone informed and aligned. Builders, staff, and residents need regular updates—not just emergency meetings. Transparency can make or break this effort.

2. A plan for a plan is not a plan.
   I’m encouraged to see the city extinguishing known fires, but that’s not enough. A forward-facing, comprehensive, and actionable infrastructure strategy is what Centerton needs to avoid this same situation in another five years.

As your Centerton expert, I’ll keep following this and updating you with the facts—not speculation. And if you’re a homeowner, landowner, or developer with questions about what this means for your plans—I’ve got you covered.

Allie Verdery
The Blue Haired Broker
Engel & Völkers Bentonville
Your Centerton Connection