A Eureka Springs man narrowly avoided an ejection from the Jan. 20 quorum court meeting.
County Judge David Writer had ejected Eric Scheunemann from a quorum court meeting in November 2023. Scheunemann had appeared at the meeting with complaints about Spring Valley Road, saying his road lies on the eastern edge of Eureka Springs but outside city limits. The road lies between Passion Play and Mill Hollow Rds. At the November meeting, Scheunemann remained adamant even after justices of the peace supported Writer’s decision, and the judge asked him to leave the courtroom.
Last week, Scheunemann renewed his assertion that the county should maintain his road. Writer again suggested that Scheunemann call or visit his office, because the quorum court has no authority over county roads.
When Writer began to dismiss him, Scheunemann became argumentative. The Carroll County Sheriff’s Office provides security for quorum court meetings, and two deputies began moving in Scheunemann’s direction. He sat down before they reached him, however, and the deputies walked past him and resumed their stations.
The public comments period also featured a return visit from Robert Anderson, owner of R&R Towing in Green Forest. Anderson was removed from the rotating list of tow companies dispatched by the CCSO after an incident in 2020. His initial suspension came under Sheriff Jim Ross, but two subsequent sheriffs have continued that suspension. Independent records show that Anderson has made the same complaint at least 16 times in the past five years, and each time Writer has explained that the quorum court has no authority over an elected official.
In other business:
- State Senator Bryan King spoke during the miscellaneous portion of the meeting, during which speakers have 10 minutes. Public comments are limited to three minutes. King said he will work during upcoming budget sessions to increase the amount of turn-back dollars the state sends to the six counties he represents. King complained that special interests may work against fair treatment of county residents.
- A resolution confirmed the appointment of Steve Lisle as a commissioner to the Sylvan Shores Subordinate Service District.
- A resolution confirmed the appointments of Bill Schmidt and David Jones to the Inspiration Point Fire Protection District Board of Directors.
- JP Matt Phillips serves as liaison to the Carroll County Airport, and he explained that minor shortcomings in the airport’s legislative audit have been corrected.
- During public comments, a Holiday Island couple took turns at the microphone complaining about their property assessment.
- Writer ended the meeting by explaining that he does not “preside over the JPs, just their meetings.” Writer has been castigated for some quorum court decisions, and he reminded the public, “They are elected officials and do not answer to me.”
Writer also responded to recurring complaints about allowing Scout Clean Energy to use county roads in the process of constructing a wind turbine farm south of Green Forest. “I don’t get to say who drives on our county roads,” he said. “Before you blame me, learn the law.” Writer said permits for oversized or heavy loads are granted by the Arkansas Department of Transportation. “If you have a beef, call them,” he concluded.
I’m surprised that this story doesn’t discuss the threats leveled by Judge Writer against Mr. Schueneman after the meeting. The story leaves out the fact that Judge Writer signed a Road Use Agreement allowing Scout to reconfigure the roads to its liking, even though he was under no obligation to do so. By doing so, permitted Scout to use the roads for their private profit making business basically without any restrictions. Writer says he can’t control who uses the county roads, but he has, and had, the right to place reasonable weight limits on them. No one blames Writer for what the JPs do or don’t do—but we have the right to complain about what he has done—or hasn’t done—to protect Carroll County or its residents.