Monday night’s Quorum Court meeting included a lesson on the importance of bees and other pollinators, and Ken Trimble, who lives in the Black Bass area of Eureka Springs, complained about broadcast application of herbicides on some state highway rights-of-way.
Trimble said he has kept bees for 10 years, and has learned a lot about native plants in that time. “I’m speaking on behalf of future generations,” he said, as he described the threat of broadcasting herbicides. Active and inert ingredients of those sprays seep into streams and groundwater.
In addition to the damage caused to pollinators, Trimble said the application of herbicides leaves brown areas along the road, hardly in keeping with the image of “The Natural State.” He also described alternatives, including the popular wildflower program, which Trimble said reduces long-term maintenance costs.
Although the county does not broadcast herbicides, Trimble asked the court to endorse the wildflower program and adopt policies to continue restricting the widespread use of herbicides.
911 mapping payment approved
The court considered an invoice for $50,000 for 911 mapping software for 911/central dispatch. The invoice dates back to February 2017. During discussion, JPs learned that the software has not been used. County Judge Sam Barr said he signed a quote from the contractor, but thought the money was coming out of the budget for the Carroll County Sheriff’s Office.
JPs still had questions about whether the county had actually authorized the purchase. Since the invoice has been delinquent for so long, they approved payment with the provision that the county make one final investigation to see that the software was included in the original quote.
Road needs paving
Lonnie Robbins of County Road 608 complained of severe dust caused by heavy traffic. Robbins said he bought his house 22 years ago, and the road was scheduled to be paved. In 2002, he gathered signatures to promote the paving project, but the county started on the other end and stopped halfway.
Since then, more people have built houses on that road, and many more use it as a shortcut between Cisco Road and Hwy. 221 North. “This has become a health issue,” Robbins said, as he shared pictures of his air filter after 14 days.
He mentioned other blacktopped county roads with fewer residents and less traffic. “The county has had plenty of time to complete this,” he said. Some residents had already donated property to the county to allow for a wider right-of-way, he added.
Barr said he has placed the three miles of unpaved road on the list for state aid projects for next year. He also pointed out that paving gravel roads takes “a lot of work and a lot of money.”
In other business
- A resolution passed Monday night will clarify the deadline for submitting agenda items for court meetings. The resolution also creates an opening in the meeting agenda to consider changes to the agenda. JP Lamont Richie said agendas presently do not include a convenient mechanism for proposing changes to the agenda. JPs retained the provision that changes to the agenda at the table require a unanimous vote.
- Jim Hughes, Connie Deaton, Alvin Selleck were appointed to terms on the West Carroll County Ambulance District.
• At the June meeting, Richie pointed out that the county had established lease rates for hangars at the Carroll County Airport 15 years ago. He had asked for figures from the Carroll County Airport Commission to see if the fees charged matched the county’s schedule. On Monday he reported that state law supersedes county law, and the county cannot require the commission to set specific rates. - JPs agreed to pay a $1,700 membership fee to the Northwest Arkansas Economic Development District. Although changes at the state legislature have significantly reduced grant funds administered by the NWAEDD, that agency helped with the grant to move the 911 office from the Berryville courthouse to the detention center.
- JPs passed the second and third readings of an ordinance to combine the court’s budget and finance committees into one five-member group.
- JPs passed the second and third readings of an ordinance adopting a new manual for county employees.
• Alex Brown, Carroll County Veterans Service Officer, reported on his efforts to arrange transport for veterans traveling to Branson or Fayetteville for medical appointments. He is seeking individuals or church groups to volunteer, and said the number of veterans needing transportation is growing. - The agenda included a resolution to appoint commissioners to the new Bluffs at Jackson Cove Subordinate Service District. JP Chuck Olson asked to postpone this resolution, because 30 days had not elapsed since passage of the ordinance creating the district.