At the outset of Monday night’s Quorum Court meeting, Deputy Prosecuting Attorney Devon Still announced this would be her last meeting. Still has provided legal advice to the county for 13 years, for which justices of the peace thanked her warmly. Still complimented members of the current court for their professionalism, making a veiled reference to the highly partisan politics of previous courts.
At last month’s meeting, residents of Carroll Road 608 complained that their road serves as a cut-off between Cisco Rd. and Arkansas Hwy. 21. High traffic on the gravel road is causing severe dust problems.
Jim Kelley, with the Carroll County Road Department, told JPs they might have an answer, as county workers have applied calcium chloride to sections of CR 608 where houses are close to the road.
Kelley said the initial application costs $600 per tenth of a mile. Treated areas require follow-up treatments twice a year, at a cost of $200 per tenth of a mile. He compared those costs with chip-and-seal, which costs about $5,000 per tenth of a mile. Kelley said the calcium chloride treatment offers further savings because the county can apply it in spots, while chip-and-seal would have to be continuous.
Recent rains have made it difficult to assess the treatment, but Kelley said he expects to see large reductions in dust. He said the calcium chloride actually keeps the road material in place, helping prevent damage from rain washing across the road. “It stays in place even when we grade the road, and it will get harder with time,” he said.
JPs then moved quickly through their agenda with little argument.
Commissioners were approved for The Bluffs at Jackson Cove Subordinate Service District. JP Chuck Olson described the SSD as “a formal district to serve water needs and roads.” The initial commission will include Kathy Beahm, Robert Rokeby, C. Lewis Jones, Kevin Creedon, and Carol LaRose, who will serve staggered three-year terms.
JPs also approved a grant for the airport to upgrade approach lights, which have been a long-term problem. The Federal Aviation Agency Administration will contribute $122,000, and the Arkansas Department of Aeronautics will provide $13,500. The county will not bear any costs for the project.
The Carroll County Airport Commission also requested extension on a $15,000 line of credit. JPs agreed that current commissioners have worked hard to pay off various notes, thus approved a one-year extension. JP John Howerton drew a contrast with previous commissioners, and said, “They’re doing a better job of paying off their debts.”
JPs approved $4,500 for a telephone upgrade in the Eastern District courthouse annex. JP Jack Deaton said the system has had problems for years as it’s been patched together.
Voters in Carroll County will be able to vote at any of the polling places in the county. The county already offered this service during early voting, and it will now extend to Election Day. State law allows this voting method, stipulating that the county has systems in place to prevent people from voting more than once. The county will operate six polling sites in the future: Eureka Springs, Berryville, Green Forest, Holiday Island, Osage and Oak Grove.
JP Noreen Watson reported on attending a conference with the Association of Arkansas Counties earlier this month, and mentioned several topics of discussion, especially the opioid crisis, which she called “a national disaster.” Watson said 65,000 people died from overdoses last year in the United States, surpassing the number of fatalities in auto accidents for the first time. While Arkansas has some of the highest opioid addiction rates in the country, the state has also led the way in litigation focused on recovering money from manufacturers to help with the cost of detention centers, mental health facilities, and foster care.
The next Quorum Court meeting was scheduled for 5 p.m. on Monday, Sept. 17, but will be moved to Sept. 24 to accommodate some JP absences.