Representatives of the Eureka Springs Community Center picked a good night to visit the quorum court. With a light agenda, justices of the peace had plenty of attention to devote to the topic at the meeting Monday night.
Sally Gorrell and Debbie Davis appeared on behalf of the ESCC. Gorrell explained the constant search for funds to operate the center and make physical improvements. She noted that the Berryville Community Center has support from sales taxes, which everyone pays when they shop in Berryville. By comparison, Gorrell said, “We don’t have a penny for the things we need to do next.”
The ESCC has 500 members, and the center offers exercise classes and pickleball, among other activities. Gorrell also noted that the ESCC serves more than just Eureka Springs, with members from Holiday Island or the Beaver Lake area. The community commitment has been wonderful, but Gorrell asked the quorum court to look for ways to help financially.
Election prepping
JPs have asked department heads to provide regular updates on their operations. This month, County Clerk Connie Doss explained the workings of her office. In addition to the bookkeeping duties for county offices, the county clerk is the recorder for county documents, including the proceedings of quorum court.
The county clerk also manages elections, and Doss said her biggest need is more space for election-related activities. Some election equipment is stored off-site, and testing that equipment presents additional problems. The office only has space to test about half the election equipment at one time. With the increased popularity of early voting, Doss said the office would not have space for voting. Early voting will be conducted at the Carroll County Airport and at St. Elizabeth’s on Passion Play Road in Eureka Springs.
Doss explained security issues that eliminated most possible sites for early voting. She said multiple polling sites will be open on election day, May 24, and people can vote at any site in the county.
Other business
- Bobby Engles, an investigator for the Carroll County Sheriff’s Office, gave a quarterly update for the department. Dispatch calls in 2020 totaled 34,000, and that number rose to 39,000 in 2021. He mentioned amounts of methamphetamine confiscated so far this year, and JP Harrie Farrow asked if future reports would include more of a breakdown on that information. Engles listed statistics for various categories of crime, and also listed the warrants served and citations written.
- Mike McKelvey, who recently took over as head of the Office of Emergency Management, explained some of his duties. He said the first responders from SORT and the Mennonite rescue team are working well together. McKelvey said he is visiting rural fire departments to introduce himself and “let them know we’re here.”
- JP John Howerton, who serves as liaison with the Carroll County Airport Commission, said commissioners hope to acquire additional property and are hiring a contractor to manage that process.
- JP Craig Hicks said the committee members investigating a judicial building for the eastern part of the county have heard from architects.