Court OKs Ordinances & Resolutions and Revives Voluntary Tax
Faulkner County’s Quorum Court revived the voluntary tax for the Soil Conservation District along with approving three ordinances and two resolutions at its February 18 meeting — the Court’s shortest meeting in quite some time.
The longest conversation centered around the voluntary 1-mill tax for the Soil Conservation District, how it was abolished in December, 2018, and what the loss of funding would mean for Faulkner County.
February’s Quorum Court meeting began, as always, with reports from County officers and various Quorum Court committees, as well as the formality of approving the January Journal (Quorum Court minutes).
Reports from County Officers
Treasurer Scott Sanson reported January account totals for:
County General: $2,741,081
County Road: $4,637,687
County Road Sales Tax: $2,173,198
Criminal Justice Sales Tax: $684,108
As he told the Budget & Finance Committee last week, Sanson said that at $786,437, November’s sales tax total is “up 5.39% over last year.”
County Clerk Margaret Darter said her “report is in the book.”
Sheriff Tim Ryals reported the following January statistics for the Sheriff’s Department:
Average head count, Unit 1: 128 (capacity is 118)
Average head count (male), Unit 2: 123 (capacity is 218)
Average head count (female), Unit 2: 51 (capacity is 88)
Average head count (juvenile): 8 (capacity is 16)
Inmate intakes: 495
Inmate releases: 517
Total dispatch calls: 2,389
Total calls to Sheriff’s Office: 1,857
Average calls for service per deputy: 71
Number of deputies: 26
Violent crimes/domestic: 66
Thefts/criminal mischief: 69
Animal calls: 88
All other calls: 1,634
Criminal investigations opened: 68
Criminal investigations closed: 60
Number of Investigators: 11
Transport:
72 trips, 6,648 miles, cost $6,067
JP Kris Kendrick (R, Dist. 9) asked about the status of the “per diem collections that were supposed to start the first of January.”
Ryals reported the jail fines increase “did occur,” adding:
There was one municipality that was lagging behind. We’re in the process of getting them caught up…. I would have to know from Angie (Wooley, Fiscal Officer) what that status is. I do know it’s in effect….
Responding to a question from JP Zach Cates (R, Dist. 13), Ryals also said animal calls “were pretty spread out across the County.”
Committee Reports
Chair JP Randy Higgins (R, Dist. 2) of Courts & Public Safety and JP John Pickett (D, Dist. 11) of the Budget & Finance Committee meeting updated the Court on last week’s meetings.
Higgins, citing a “time-sensitive situation that has arisen in working with the Sheriff,” called a special Courts & Public Safety Committee meeting for next Tuesday.
Higgins also asked that Pickett set a Budget & Finance Committee meeting following the Courts & Public Safety Committee meeting on Tuesday, February 25. Pickett also reported that the Committee had approved the ordinances on the Court’s February agenda.
The Infrastructure and Personnel Committees had no report.
Ordinance 20-04
The Quorum Court unanimously approved this 2019 “clean-up” appropriation ordinance with no discussion.
Ordinance 20-05
Also with no discussion, the Court unanimously approved this routine appropriation Ordinance dealing with jail and court funds.
Resolution 20-03:
Lower Ridge Water Project
The first of two resolutions on the agenda generated discussion about the underlying water extension project proposed for the Lower Ridge Road area.
Passed unanimously by voice vote, Resolution 20-03 designates the Central Arkansas Planning and Development District as project administrator on the County’s behalf.
Resolutions 20-03 and 20-04 are required for a state Community Development grant that’s expected to pay for the proposed project.
County Judge Jim Baker explained that the County had completed a similar project “off Rocky Gap Road, southwest in the County, we received an $800,000-plus grant to hook those folks up on water.”
He added there are “about 70” County residents in the County (together with “about 45 to 50” in Conway) who “have wells … that are contaminated with E. coli” and so would benefit from the proposed project.
Baker said no cost estimate was available yet.
Resolution 20-04:
Lower Ridge Water Project
Another required part of the proposed Lower Ridge water project, this Resolution authorizes the County Judge “to submit an application to the State of Arkansas for grant funds, under the Community Development provisions of the Arkansas Community and Economic Development Program.”
That application (and any grant funds, plus spending those funds) would be administered by the Central Arkansas Planning and Development District, as per Resolution 20-03.
Resolution 20-04 passed unanimously by voice vote.
JP Steve Goode (R, Dist. 3) asked Baker, “Since we don’t know the amount, would you please bring that back to the Court?”
Baker agreed and then said, “Chances are there will be some matching (funds) requirement of some sort.” Goode responded, “If it’s matching then from the County, you’ll have to come back to the Court for that, OK.”
Baker explained the Conway and County residents in the Lower Ridge area would create an improvement district with its own Board to handle the project.
When asked if the residents were ready to go forward, Baker replied,
That’s a good question. They asked the same…’What’s it going to cost?’ That’s what everybody’s waiting…. They’ve got to try to figure out what the cost is.
Conway Corp Estimate: $1.5 Million
He then explained “We have heard, for the whole project, a million and half dollars as an estimate from Conway Corporation, that would be doing the work. But that’s for the whole project,” and he emphasized repeatedly the County project would include only the 70 residents outside Conway city limits.
Ordinance 20-06:
Voluntary Soil Conservation Tax
Ordinance 20-06, which revives the voluntary Soil Conservation tax, took up the most time at the meeting. Newer JPs asked questions and longer-serving JPs commented on how the tax got abolished during budget deliberations in December, 2018.
Baker explained the action in December, 2018 was driven by a concern that “County General was supporting the Extension Service” so “we should include a voluntary tax” to lessen the budgetary impact on the County General fund.
At one point the discussion became animated, with several JPs talking at once. Baker waved his arms, saying
I’ll take full responsibility right here tonight! It went away because of me. I mean, I’ll take full responsibility; I’d like to see it rectified and put back on there!
The Court voted 12 to 1 to pass Ordinance 20-06 with Kendrick (R, Dist. 9) voting “no.”
FCR reports on the full discussion here.
Extension Service
The Extension Service gave a quick report on its activities since August, 2019; Baker recognized several 4H members who attended the meeting.
Announcements
Goode reminded people, “Go vote, go vote, go vote.”
Donna Clawson reported the animal welfare community had collected $6,400 recently at a fundraiser, and an audience member recognized the contribution of “women to the Court” as part of Womens History Month for March.
Baker reminded the group about the upcoming census and how it affects turn-back money for our County. He added that 2,500 new jobs for our County and Conway have been announced over the last few months.
Baker announced that Arkansas Mission of Mercy will be permanently located in Conway — this year on April 24-25 at the Expo Center — to provide free dental and medical services “for anyone who shows up.” He said the group needs 900 volunteers to put on the event, and helpers can sign up online.
https://www.arkansasmissionofmercy.org/
The roughly hour-long meeting then adjourned.
(Edited from full video on Faulkner County Arkansas Facebook page.)
