Still No Infrastructure Meeting But Some JPs Discuss Cybermining, ARP, & Animal Shelter
For the fourth month in a row, the Quorum Court’s Infrastructure Committee laid out, but the Budget Committee met for five minutes on April 11 while the Courts & Public Safety Committee held an informational meeting with no votes taken.
Budget Committee
JPs took about five minutes to approve Ordinance 23-11, the monthly appropriations Ordinance, after County Treasurer Scott Sanson presented the March financials:
Sanson remarked that revenue is running 9.34% higher than March 2022, which is 3.96% higher than 2022 year-to-date.
During the Courts & Public Safety Committee meeting, JPs discussed several items but took no votes.
Talking Cryptomining
Chair JP Maree Coats (R, Dist. 2) introduced three individuals who explained some basics dealing with two cryptomining facilities being constructed in Faulkner County; the location near Wooster is set to go online within just a few weeks.
Some residents asked a few questions; the speakers touched on concerns about excess sound, water usage, and demand on the electricity grid.
From the audience, JP Jonny Tyler (R, Dist. 5) asked the project representatives to consider holding a public meeting; JP Sam Strain (R, Dist. 4) asked about low-frequency sound but the representatives did not have answers.
The individuals are scheduled to attend next week’s Quorum Court meeting to discuss the project further, although Coats stated there are no County Ordinances, rules or prohibitions against this type of facility in Faulkner County.
Dodson’s Plans for ARP Funds
Judge Allen Dodson gave a high-level summary of County projects he intends to discuss at next week’s Quorum Court meeting that he’d like to be funded with ARP money, including the animal shelter, “detention facilities,” 911 PSAP consolidation, “facilities” (includes courthouse and Justice Building concerns), and levee improvements.
(See minute 50:13 in video below.)
Animal Shelter Plans
Coats detailed several actions on the animal shelter project, including a missed opportunity to purchase an existing almost-ready-to-go facility at auction. She said the Springhill flea market building plans had originally been estimated to cost $4-5 million but plans have been “scaled back” and now constructing a “bare-bones” facilities would cost around $1.4 million.
Coats said they’d like to see the project built with ARP funds, leaving the animal shelter fund available to pay for operational expenses “for the first few years.”
(See minute 1:04:15 in video below.)
Full Courts & Public Safety Committee meeting:
Videos edited from original video on Faulkner County’s YouTube channel.)
Visit Faulkner County Reports on YouTube for more videos and video excerpts from this and other County meetings and events.
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