County Clerk Connie Doss had asked the quorum court to purchase the old AP&L building on U.S. Hwy. 62, on the east side of Berryville. She said the location would allow the county a place to store election equipment, and voters would have a better place to vote. The county did not buy the building, and Doss spoke more on the subject at Monday night’s quorum court meeting.
The tight quarters in the present clerk’s office make it difficult to train election workers. Doss said a report singled out the county’s storage system, with equipment staggered between several sites. She said security could be improved, with additions like bars on the windows, and better security cameras would also help. The report also suggested adding vehicle barriers at voting sites.
Doss also reported on a breach in the Apprentice Information System, initiated by a Russian group. She said the county’s computers were shut down before incurring any significant damage. The elections were on a different server, and not affected.
In other business:
- JPs will allow Road Department Foreman David Writer to receive pay instead of taking two weeks of vacation. Writer currently has some major projects underway and will be sworn in as county judge in January. The county considers such requests for employees with more than 10 years of service.
- The county will receive a grant from the Federal Emergency Management Agency to replace a bridge on Carroll Road 818. The grant, part of the Disaster Mitigation Act, will pay $300,000 of the total cost of $400,000.
- JPs approved a budget for 2023.
- The walk-in freezer at the Detention Center failed, and was replaced on an emergency basis. JPs approved $19,000 to replace the freezer.
- JPs annually pass an ordinance to set the salaries of elected officials. JP John Howerton said the rates in Carroll County fall “in the middle of counties our size.” The county judge will make $62,000, the sheriff will make $60,000, and other elected officials will make $55,000.
- New legislation will allow the collection of dues for volunteer fire departments on real property tax statements. The JPs approved an ordinance to establish the collection procedure here, and a separate ordinance established dues collection for the Grassy Knob Rural Fire Association.
- JPs approved a payment of $1,440 to the Northwest Arkansas Economic Development District. The NWAEDD assists the county with grant applications.
- JP Jack Deaton gave an update on the county’s new radio system. He said a new tower in Holiday Island is waiting for soil testing, and another site has been located on Arkansas Hwy. 23 South.
- County Judge Ronda Griffin said the annual legislative audit has been completed, and Carroll County had no significant shortcomings.
- Robert Anderson, owner of R&R Towing in Green Forest, returned to the comments section of the meeting. He has complained to the quorum court about his removal from the list of tow companies the Sheriff’s Office will call. Monday night, he alleged that deputies have told some people that they could not call Anderson’s company, even if a motorist requests that company.
- Circuit clerk’s offices typically have large amounts of uncollected fines, fees, and court costs on their books. JPs approved an arrangement with the Association of Arkansas Counties, which will allow the recovery of some money through state income tax returns.
- JP Don McNeely will leave at the end of the year, and no one filed for his District 8 position. A vacancy has been declared, and the governor will appoint someone to fill the position.