Carroll County Quorum Court worked through a straightforward agenda Monday night, and the justices of the peace passed every agenda item unanimously.
County Judge Sam Barr was unable to attend, so JP Lamont Richie presided in his absence. Richie began by relaying a request from Barr asking for authorization to renew a lease for road graders. The lease payment will rise from $6,000 to $12,000 per month, but Barr’s figures pointed out that the $155,000 the county will pay on the lease next year will still be less than the $186,000 per year the county paid in 2008.
Barr’s message to the court noted that the low rate the county has been paying was a reduced rate, based on a promotion by Caterpillar. JPs approved the new lease, which will require a new appropriation ordinance later this year.
In other business:
- At the suggestion of JP Marty Johnson, the court voted to formally request an operating report from the hospital. Johnson said the court has received “nothing in nine years,” and Richie agreed that the lease required such reports.
- Space in the office of the county assessor will be converted for a conference room. The room will be used for meetings of the Equalization Board, as well as other county committee meetings.
- The county has been renting an excavator that can load trucks without damaging the sides. A request by Barr to buy the vehicle for $30,000 was approved.
- JPs passed a resolution to authorize a grant application by the Carroll County Fair Association. CCFA has raised $4,000 in cash and in-kind services, and the grant will seek matching funds from the Arkansas Rural Department Commission for restrooms and other improvements. Although the county will administer the grant, no county funds will be involved.
- Another resolution authorized pursuit of a grant for the Carroll County Historical Courthouse in Berryville, applied for by the Historical Society.
- To comply with state regulations, JPs passed a resolution to explicitly spell out the county’s choice of voting equipment. The county will not need new equipment; this formality keeps the county in compliance with regulations.
- A budget item for travel expenses in the Public Defender’s office had been withheld pending clarification. JPs approved the $3,550 for travel expenses after finding out that the funds would pay for training out of state.
- Because of increased valuation of some county property, and because some property had been underinsured, JPs approved an additional $57,000 for property insurance.
- An ordinance clarified the county’s policy on unused sick days. Employees can accrue up to 60 days of sick time, but any days accrued after that will be paid at $50 per day.
- Diana Sturtz was approved to represent the Green Forest Public Library on the county library board.