Protesters No-Shows, QC as distraught as anybody on trash fee

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An anticipated protest at the Quorum Court failed to materialize Monday night. Property tax statements mailed in recent weeks included an annual $18 fee to pay off the debt owed on a landfill that formerly served a six-county area. A circuit judge added the fee to every residential or business property, and it will remain in place until the bonds are repaid.

Some taxpayers have taken out their outrage at offices of the assessor and tax collector, although a notice mailed with tax statements explained that the county had nothing to do with the judge’s ruling. Postings on local social media sites became heated in the past two weeks, but only one person took advantage of the public comments period to lodge a complaint.

Also during public comments, State Sen. Bryan King mentioned that he would hold a public meeting on this matter at 7 p.m. on Monday, March 26, at the Berryville Community Center.

“The imposition of this fee is a huge disappointment,” JP Lamont Richie said, but he explained why the judge acted as he did. Although the bonds issued to purchase the landfill were not secured by a tax, they still had a special status as investments in public funds. Richie also pointed out that the bondholders would not receive interest on the bonds.

Richie described some of the postings on social media as “inaccurate and incendiary,” but said some good information is also available. “I’m totally in sympathy with their anger,” he said.

In his closing remarks, County Judge Sam Barr commented briefly on the trash fee. “I don’t like it,” but added, “All the county judges and the mayors, we were all in it together.”

With that, JPs proceeded through the remaining agenda:

  • Tom and Ann Kavanaugh, who own the T&A Saloon in Busch, currently have a license to sell beer at their restaurant and are applying for a permit to sell liquor by the drink. The state Alcoholic Beverage Commission will decide on the application, but JPs all agreed they had no opposition to the application.
  • Improvements to the Eastern District courtroom are underway, including replacing the carpet with laminate flooring and painting the walls and trim. The Quorum Court had orally agreed last month to spend $10,000 on the project, and Monday’s unanimous vote made that official. Some additional woodworking repairs were necessary, but Circuit Judge Scott Jackson provided some funds from his budget, and the Carroll County Bar Association will provide new furniture. A large crack in the masonry on an exterior wall has allowed blowing rain to leak into the building, and it will also need to be repaired.
  • With warm weather approaching, the JPs voted unanimously to quickly replace an air-conditioning unit in the kitchen at the detention center. Jail Administrator Lt. Jerry Williams solicited quotes, with a low price of $18,000.
  • JPs set aside $250,000 in a fund for courthouse improvements, a move they had previously discussed. Recent repairs to both courthouses have depleted funds set aside for maintenance.
  • The state no longer provides funding to the Cooperative Extension Service for the 4-H program. JPs agreed to pay the 4-H coordinator through this year, although they said any further funding will go through the budget process at the end of the year.