The Carroll County Quorum Court took a stand against renewable energy last week, with the third reading of an ordinance preventing new solar or wind energy installations.
The ordinance calls for a “temporary moratorium,” which will last until five years after the completion of a wind turbine project south of Green Forest by Scout Clean Energy. The ordinance specifically exempts the Scout project. Several justices of the peace had opposed any attempt to restrict the Scout project because the county could have legal exposure for interfering with signed contracts.
The ordinance exempts wind or solar projects for private use. Although wind turbines have been discussed thoroughly for two years, none of the justices of the peace offered a reason for including restrictions against solar energy.
In other business:
- Ray Warren spoke on behalf of the Kings River Watershed Partnership. He described the organization as “a cooperative effort to protect the health, viability, and purity of the Kings River now and for future generations.” The KRWP formed in 2001, after a sewage spill at the Berryville treatment plant. Warren outlined the growth of KRWP into a 501(c)(3) nonprofit.
Warren said the KRWP invites all stakeholders. “Even a polluter could have a seat at the table,” he said. The organization’s major areas of concern are agriculture, real estate, recreation, development, and educating the community. Carroll County has many unimproved roads, and they add to the problem of total dissolved solids in the water. KRWP monitors water quality and organizes regular clean-up efforts. As a result, the river has the highest water quality in the state, Warren said.
- A resolution confirmed the reappointment of Melissa Casey to the Mercy Hospital Board of Directors for a three-year term.
- A resolution approved the appointment of Leslie Scroggins as a member of the Carroll County Board of Equalization for a three-year term as a representative of the quorum court.
* An ordinance appropriated funds to the county treasurer’s automation fund for purposes of updating primary accounting functions for the treasurer and county clerk. The money will not come out of county general funds.
- A grant of $6,000 received for juvenile probation was acknowledged and appropriated. The grant came through the Administrative Office of the Courts.
- The state reimbursed the county for money spent on a security evaluation for elections.
- An ordinance created a new position for a deputy prosecuting attorney. JP Craig Hicks said the budget committee had reviewed this question. The position will be part-time and will only cost the county $13,000.
- Circuit Clerk Sara Huffman received approval for a plan to preserve some county records. Huffman said some books have aged badly, but the county has to maintain those records forever. The cost will come out of a court fund, not county general. Huffman said the four books will be treated with preservatives, and the county will also have a digital copy.
- A replacement has not been announced for District 1 JP Jack Deaton, who resigned after moving out of his district.
- JP Hunter Rivett reported on representing the county at a meeting of the Association of Arkansas Counties. He provided packets for the other JPs with information from that meeting.