The March meeting of the quorum court ended with a discussion of a sales tax to pay for a new countywide radio system. Justices of the peace continued that conversation Monday evening, establishing a committee to study the issue.
JP Jack Deaton has taken the lead, outlining the county’s options for its communications system. He said the county could continue applying “Band-Aids” until a full-blown emergency develops. The county could operate on an analog system, but mandates will require digital systems within two years. If the county converts to a digital system now, only some of the users would have radios.
With those unattractive options, Deaton suggested a sales tax to run four or five years. That tax would include new radios for all first responders in the county. He explained that the county has towers in place, but the equipment and software in place will need major overhauls.
He suggested working toward an election date in March 2020, when the county can place the issue on the primary ballot without incurring extra expense. Deaton said the county would otherwise have to spend as much as $30,000 on a special election. State statutes require placing a sales tax on the ballot within 120 days once the quorum court decides to hold an election. Deaton said that would mean delaying the quorum court’s vote until December.
Licenses to operate in the new 800-megahertz band are being bought up quickly, Deaton said, suggesting the county apply for a license now, then would have five years to put the license into operation.
JP Chuck Olsen said the existing communications equipment is failing, and the county can no longer find replacement parts. “It’s not a choice to stay where we are,” he said.
Former elected officials weighed in during the public comments, with Richard Williams, who served as county judge in 2007-08, saying the proposed sales tax “has been forced through with fear.” He objected to using the fear of a communications breakdown to pass a $6,000,000 tax, and said the county could find other avenues to raise money. Former JP Albena Link credited emergency responders with saving her life, and said, “I don’t want to see one life lost in this county because we didn’t want to improve equipment.”
JP Larry Swofford said the people mandating this upgrade are the same people who issued so many licenses and caused overcrowding. “If you don’t have the money to spend, they can’t make you do it,” he said. He supported the idea of a committee, and said the entire quorum court should consider the committee’s findings.
JP Craig Hicks, a Berryville police officer, has urged caution all along. He agreed with the need to involve major stakeholders such as cities and fire departments, and noted, “Just because we form a committee doesn’t mean we’ll have a sales tax.”
As the JPs argued over several points, JP John Howerton reminded the others that the ordinance on the table would create a committee to address those questions. All 11 JPs were in attendance, and all agreed with forming the committee. That group will include two representatives from law enforcement, three from fire departments, and two city or community managers. County Judge Sam Barr will appoint committee members.
During the budget committee meeting preceding the court meeting it was determined that major electrical work, such as extension cords being replaced with hard-wired outlets, would be implemented. The county judge is moving into a new office and the county clerk will have new flooring and walls’ overlay.
In other business:
- Mercy Hospital Administrator Vonda Moore said Harley Barnum will leave the hospital’s board of directors, and she will look for someone from the west side of the county to replace him. She also discussed the impending arrival of new doctors, including doctors in family practice and the emergency room. The Mercy Clinic in Green Forest, which closed because of the lack of a doctor, has reopened.
- The quorum court had passed an ordinance creating a catastrophic sick leave policy. That ordinance did not set the committee to approve requests. An ordinance passed Monday evening created the advisory panel, to include the County Clerk and at least three elected officials, appointed by the County Judge.
- During public comments, a resident of Carroll Road 905 called for more training for Road Department workers, saying her road has deteriorated in the past 20 years.