Mercy Hospital played a large role in the Sept. 16 quorum court meeting. Mercy’s administrator reported on current and future plans of the hospital, and a staff member was honored for heroic response in a critical situation.
Josh Arnold, a nurse at Mercy Hospital, intervened in an incident in May. A sheriff’s deputy had brought a prisoner into the emergency room, and the prisoner was able to grab the deputy’s firearm. Arnold immediately held the prisoner’s arm down and removed the gun from his hand. The prisoner briefly escaped, but deputies later located him nearby.
Last week, Arnold received an ovation from justices of the peace, the public, and Arnold’s family members. The justices of the peace passed a resolution “recognizing the 2025-26 ‘Person of the Year,’ Josh Arnold, as an Outstanding Citizen of Carroll County.”
Mercy Hospital leases property from the county, and Administrator Tom Guhr updated JPs on “how we’re doing, what we’re doing, and where we’re going.” He said gross revenues have increased nine percent in the past year. Guhr said net operating income, which increased 130 percent, is a more important indicator.
Mercy saw 300 more inpatient days in the past year, and ER visits and outpatient services also increased. “We’re trending in the right direction, and using our resources well,” Guhr said. “We’re here for this community, and more people trust us with their care.” Through a collaboration with specialized departments, Mercy offers services not usually provided by small rural hospitals.
Guhr went into some detail in describing a physician recruitment program. Mercy was the first hospital in Arkansas to implement this program, which has now spread to two other hospitals. A blend of hospital and clinical experience gives doctors experience with the full range of rural medical services.
The hospital is placing more emphasis on orthopedics. Guhr said Mercy would like to do knee and hip replacements here to minimize disruption to patients and their families.
The hospital is also looking for space to grow. Guhr said the hospital currently has an MRI on a rotating basis with other hospitals, and 100 patients in August were able to have their tests here instead of traveling out of the area. A stationary MRI would cost four million dollars, and the hospital is working toward that goal with a combination of grants, contributions from the Auxiliary, and the Mercy Foundation.
“We’re growing our Auxiliary, and if you have a desire to serve, we have a spot for you,” Guhr said. Mercy is reviving the Volunteen program, which gives students some experience in working in the hospital or clinic.
In response to a question, Guhr said the hospital has not seen a significant increase in patients after the Eureka Springs Hospital eliminated inpatient services. Guhr said the two hospitals have “a good working relationship.” Another question from the table dealt with expected reductions in federal programs. “It’s still too early to tell how that will affect us,” Guhr said. “What’s not going to change is our mission to serve the community.”
In other business:
- JP Hunter Rivett asked to amend the agenda to include a review of the quorum court’s custodian of records. JP Harrie Farrow objected, saying no emergency existed that would justify this last-minute addition. She cited the public’s interest in knowing in advance what the quorum court would discuss. The other JPs voted to add the item to the agenda, but such agenda changes require unanimous consent of the JPs, and Farrow’s dissent meant that the topic would not be addressed at this meeting.
- Former County Judge Richard Williams has often spoken in opposition to a wind turbine development south of Green Forest. During public comments, he said Scout Clean Energy has caused illegal disruptions to traffic as components of the giant turbines are delivered to the site. He said state law only allows three minutes to halt traffic, but motorists have encountered delays as long as an hour. Williams called for stricter enforcement by local agencies. Carroll County Sheriff Daniel Klatt acknowledged the traffic problems, but said his limited staff could not keep a constant presence in the remote area. He also pointed out that all the oversize loads had permits. He pledged to work with the Arkansas Department of Transportation to deal with the traffic delays.
In other business:
- Arturo Calvillo, who has leased land for wind turbines, said he has been an oversized hauler for 25 years. He described the difficulties of moving large loads and credited the Green Forest Police for doing “a great job” with traffic control.
- Bobby Wilson has spoken on multiple occasions against the wind turbines. He raised questions about traffic problems from the transport of materials. He said a woman told him her daughter has to leave an hour early to travel to North Arkansas College. Wilson also said Scout Clean Energy had pledged they would announce when a buyer for the project’s electricity could be found, but the company now claims to have a buyer they will not name.
- JP Craig Hicks said the budget committee will begin work with a meeting on Oct. 6.
- Circuit Clerk Sara Huffman had received approval from the quorum court to hire a company to preserve some record books that had deteriorated. Last week, she showed some examples of preserved pages sealed in plastic envelopes.
- A resolution confirmed the resignation of Peggy Lodewyks from the Carroll Library Department Board of Trustees and the appointment of Erick Diaz to that board. Diaz will serve out the remainder of a term ending at the end of 2026.
- An ordinance acknowledged and appropriated a $300 donation received for Juvenile Probation Grant program, to be used to support public school students in need of replacement birth certificates.
* An ordinance was approved to alter the financial structure of the Sylvan Shores Subordinate Service District. The assessment on each lot will increase from $250 to $600 per year for road maintenance. The ordinance also established rates for the SSD’s water system.