Members of the quorum court budget committee met on Dec. 3 with an agenda including several items, but most of the meeting focused on the possibility of buying the Ducommun building. The building, formerly occupied by LaBarge, Inc., is in the Industrial Park on the west side of Berryville.
A committee has actively pursued the possibility of buying or building a new courtroom facility for the Eastern District, and most of the members of that committee also serve on the budget committee.
The committee has considered a variety of options, including building a courtroom facility near the Detention Center. That facility would only have included a courtroom and limited space for offices for the circuit judge and prosecuting attorneys. By comparison, 50,000 square feet in the Ducommun building would create space to relocate other county offices.
Justice of the Peace Craig Hicks described several Zoom meetings with Ducommun management. The building is appraised at $2.8 million, although Hicks said he thinks the owners would accept $2 million. Hicks explained that the county has $1.8 million on hand, and the remaining $200,000 could be financed over five years.
Hicks and JP John Howerton said the county should pursue this opportunity, but others expressed caution. JP Jack Deaton agreed that the building would be a valuable asset but pointed out additional funds the county would have to spend on remodeling the facility. “I’m nervous about it, because it would stretch us so tight it would be hard to do anything else for the next few years.”
Howerton agreed that a weather disaster would require the county to spend money that would later be reimbursed by state and federal agencies, but he said the county could arrange short-term loans for such an eventuality. “We’ll never have an opportunity like this,” he said, as he reminded everyone that “we’ve been kicking this down the road for twenty years.”
County Clerk Connie Doss and Treasurer Makita Williams both had reservations. Doss said she would rather see the county borrow more and keep more funds on hand. She suggested conferring with banks for their recommendations. Howerton said the county would lose the interest differential, and reiterated his contention that the county could find short-term loans in case of emergencies.
Williams took a strong stance in opposition. “I’m not for it,” she said, citing “too many unknowns.” She said county general funds are “the lowest I’ve ever seen.” Doss told the JPs, “You guys will make the decision, but Makita and I will have to make it happen.” Williams noted that the county cannot afford repairs on the Western District Courthouse in Eureka Springs, but some JPs pointed out that the Berryville courthouse has recurring maintenance problems.
A decision on the purchase would require a vote of the entire quorum court. The committee will continue to explore options, beginning with a meeting with bankers for their input.
Radio system
The county has also had a long-term effort to upgrade radio service for law enforcement and fire protective services. Deaton noted that he was one of only a few JPs who served on the quorum court in 2015, when the county began to tackle problems with areas of the county without radio service. The county had also received notice of a mandated conversion to digital technology.
Deaton gave a brief recap of the subsequent history of the radio system. The Covid pandemic slowed progress, but the new system should operate early next year. Testing is scheduled in February, when trees have no leaves. The testing will be repeated after trees renew their foliage.
Regular meeting
The regular quorum court meeting is scheduled for 5 p.m. on Tuesday, Dec. 18, at the Berryville courthouse. Because the Independent will not publish on Dec. 25 or Jan. 1, coverage of the quorum court meeting will appear in the Jan. 8 edition of the Independent.