Carroll County Quorum Court approved a long-awaited revision to the county employee manual at Monday’s meeting after Justice of the Peace Noreen Watson described the project as “the culmination of work during the last six months.” She credited department heads and elected officials who provided input.
The new manual will exist primarily in digital form to allow for future changes, but department heads will also receive a hard copy in a binder. Employees will sign a form acknowledging they have read the new manual.
In an interview before the meeting, Watson said the new manual incorporates recommendations of the Association of Arkansas Counties Risk Management Fund. “This gives the county more protection,” she said. The new manual includes topics such as use of social media in the workplace.
Airport asks for hangar help
Sandy Martin, representing the Carroll County Airport Commission, reported on the status of the airport saying.
“We’re trying to make the airport self-sustaining, but we’re painfully tight right now.” She asked JPs to consider increasing county funds for the airport to repair runway curbing and pay for maintenance to hangars.
Martin said the airport would increase rent on hangars as their leases come up for renewal, with four long-term leases expiring in 2020. Provisions in other leases also allow for price increases during the term of the leases. Martin said the airport also hopes to add more hangars, since demand exceeds supply. Even with a five percent increase, the hangar rental cost will remain competitive with other nearby airports.
The airport will submit a request for a federal grant, and Martin assured JPs that any audit costs the county incurs would be included, an expense the county has sustained in the past for airport grants. She also explained that the airport will have to develop a new Master Plan in 2019, and commissioners invite input from the court. “This is a good asset for the county, and it’s growing,” she said.
JP Lamont Richie said the court had passed a series of ordinances 15 years ago to establish rental rates for hangars, and those rates included cost-of-living adjustments. He asked for a history of each lease since 2002.
Addressing Martin’s request for additional funds, JP Jack Deaton pointed out that the airport receives the same county funding as Meals on Wheels and the County Health Unit. Martin responded by describing the airport as “a good economic development asset.”
911’s radio tower coming soon
A new 911/Central Dispatch system will be complete within the next two months. Deaton said a new radio tower should be completed in July and the full system should be operable in August. JPs approved $100,000 for a special capital fund for upgrades. The money will pay for the new radio tower under construction, as well as other support systems. The new system will run together with the old during testing.
In other business:
JP Larry Swofford presided over the meeting in the absence of County Judge Sam Barr, who suffered a broken arm and dislocated shoulder in a fall.
The court approved $13,000 to pay for two new air-conditioner units for the detention center, work JPs authorized last month on an emergency basis.
In JP comments, Watson relayed reports of drug activity in the county. She said her constituents have reported recent spikes in traffic coming and going at suspected locations. On a related note, Deaton reported “a rash of break-ins at Holiday Island.”
Suellyn Fry was approved to replace Rick Wheatley on the Board of Commissioners for the Eastern Carroll County Ambulance District. Her term will run through 2022.
Anita Engert will join the Carroll County Library Department Board of Trustees, completing the term of Marjorie Boggs.
The ordinance establishing The Bluffs at Jackson Cove Subordinate Service District was amended to include staggered terms for board members. The SSD will help residents within that area generate funds for public services like water and roads.
During public comments, Ferguson Stewart complained of low pay for city and county employees. “These people and their families depend on you,” he said.
The Budget and Finance committees have operated separately for the last three years. The two committees will combine into one five-member committee known as County Budget Committee
This meeting was originally scheduled for June 18, but was postponed because of JP conflicts. The next meeting is set for 5 p.m. on Monday, July 16.