The quorum court passed an emergency ordinance in an attempt to restrict data centers from operating in the unincorporated portions of the county.
At the June 16 meeting, the justices of the peace considered a hastily assembled ordinance modeled after ordinances passed by other Arkansas communities. The JPs amended some provisions of the ordinance to eliminate references to a permitting process that Carroll County does not have.
During the discussion, JPs noted that state regulations limit the ability of cities and counties to prohibit data centers. Those data centers can bring high noise levels, as well as depleting local water and electrical resources.
JP Jack Deaton described the “scary” threat of data centers, although he acknowledged that Carroll County’s water and electrical resources would probably not attract those users. Although the state restricts local prohibitions of data centers, cities like Little Rock and Fayetteville have recently passed ordinances to set some limits. Deaton said a committee might have to amend this emergency ordinance, but he urged the other JPs to take all possible steps “to head this thing off.”
Since the ordinance was passed on an emergency basis, County Clerk Connie Doss had to read the ordinance in its entirety, and that took 17 minutes. The subsequent discussion and unanimous vote only took 10 minutes. In addition to local media, a reporter from KY3 in Springfield, Mo. attended the meeting.
In other business:
- During public comments, Steffanie Gates returned to continue her concerns about the county’s lack of animal control standards. Gates had spoken to the quorum court last month regarding an incident from mid-April, when she was attacked by dogs while bicycling on a state highway. Gates told the JPs that a Florida woman was attacked and killed by a neighbor’s dogs on the night when she addressed the JPs. Gates said she has now been contacted by hikers, bikers, and package delivery people who shared their own experiences with aggressive dogs. Some were bitten, some escaped, but few of them reported an incident, because they believed nothing would happen. “Our animal control here is a joke,” Gates said. “I don’t know if we have a dog problem or a people problem.” She called for legislation with clear definitions and enforceable penalties, in an effort to prevent future attacks.
- Susan Baumert, a resident of Carroll Road 3027, had previously spoken during public comments to complain about the lack of maintenance on that road. She said county records show this as a county road, and previous county judges maintained the road. Baumer said a single line in a county road record lists the road as public, which gives the judge discretion on whether to maintain the road or not. Another resident of CR 3027 also spoke during public comments, noting that the road serves 11 families.
- Sheryl Willis said government should protect citizens from data centers, wind turbines, and solar arrays. She called for county zoning. Deaton said only two counties in Arkansas have zoning regulations, and many oppose such restrictions.
- Dianna Baird asked if the attorney general was contacted regarding the question of retention of JP emails.
- John Gentry and Steve Baird both asked to have public comments heard when the JPs consider each item, rather than at the start of the meeting.
- JPs heard an annual update from Chief Juvenile Officer Suzanne Villines. She began by noting that the number of young offenders fell from 68 to 51 over the course of the past year. Truancy remains as a significant concern, although truancy rates have fallen. Villines said her office focuses on students from 11 to 14 years of age, when intervention can make the greatest difference. She described after-school programs, as well as an alternative school for students who struggle in a traditional school setting. JP Craig Hicks is a Berryville Police Officer, and he said he has worked with juvenile probation for more than 20 years. He said Villines has gone “above and beyond” in finding new ways to serve at-risk youth. Villines also mentioned a conference scheduled for November on the downside of social media.
- A resolution confirmed the appointment of Charlie Charlton, Curt Creason, Kevin Creedon, and Lew Jones as commissioners to The Bluffs at Jackson Cove Subordinate Service District. Their terms will run until the end of June 2029. In addition, Jeff Mason will serve until the end of June 2028.
- A resolution authorized the sheriff and county judge to apply for a BJA FY25 Rural Law Enforcement Violent Crime Reduction Initiative Grant. That grant could be as much as $250,000.
- An ordinance appropriated funds for a new system to handle 911 calls. The total of $121,000 covered the initial cost of $105,000 and maintenance fees for the remainder of this calendar year. Hicks explained that the state will reimburse $35,000 of this amount to the county. He also noted that the money will come from a dedicated jail tax, not from county general.
- An ordinance confirmed the boundaries of the county’s nine fire districts. This ordinance clarifies and supersedes previous ordinances.
- An ordinance created and funded nine part-time positions within the office of the county coroner. Those positions will include one chief deputy coroner, six deputy coroners, and two clerical workers. The coroner’s deputies were previously paid as contract labor, and they will now be listed as county employees. Hicks said the budget and personnel committees had discussed this measure, which also awarded raises for those positions. Hicks said he could not remember the last time the county provided raises for those positions.