Nicky Boyette – At its June 20 meeting, the Carroll County Quorum Court approved two resolutions, four appropriation ordinances, and another ordinance that amended a previous ordinance, before proceedings skidded to a halt on “an ordinance regulating unsanitary conditions on real property” sponsored by Justice of the Peace Lamont Richie.
Earlier in the year, Anna Strikers spoke to the court regarding a property on Greenwood Hollow Road just south of Eureka Springs. She and neighbors considered the property unsanitary, unsightly and hazardous. She said stray dogs foraged there because refuse was piled up, and it was not far from the elementary school. Strikers said the Health Department seemed to be restricted in how they might help, so she appealed to county government.
Richie’s proposed ordinance provided definitions for “garbage, rubbish, junk and unsanitary.” It would have given County Judge Sam Barr authority to take action, and have given the property owner a chance to rectify violations and be heard before any actions by the county.
JPs weighed in with Marty Johnson predicting this ordinance would set neighbor against neighbor, and a concept like this should be put to a vote of the citizens. Larry Swofford said he was against it because of the property owners’ rights.
Chuck Olson pointed out the ordinance focused on non-agricultural land, and any actions would be at the judge’s discretion, while Jack Deaton said there are properties in his vicinity so crammed with junk you could not get an ambulance or a fire truck in there. He agreed with the intent of Richie’s ordinance.
JP John Reeve said he got calls from citizens stating the ordinance was discriminatory in that it let farmers off the hook.
Richie told his peers Arkansas law is vague in these kinds of matters, so he employed what lawmakers have allowed, borrowing from a Benton County ordinance.
Swofford said he sympathized with the intent of the ordinance, and if it were worded right, he would support it.
Johnson still insisted the concept pitted neighbors against neighbors.
Strikers challenged JPs to drive down Greenwood Hollow road just past the elementary school to see what she has been describing. “Trash everywhere. It’s not getting better.” She said all she wants is for the property to be cleaned up and maintained.
Another citizen spoke up against the ordinance. He said, “This will cause lots of commotion.” He said folks in the county do not want laws crammed down their throats and he expected the court would get plenty of commentary about this.
Vote on the ordinance was 8-3 against, so the ordinance was denied. Richie, Deaton and Olson voted Yes.
In JP comments, three JPs spoke for the need for some kind of clean up ordinance. Deaton said the county needed to walk the fine line between property rights and cleaning up the county. Olson said there has been the same discussion in his part of the county, where there are individuals with a propensity to collect but not dispose. He argued that the issue could be an impediment to economic development. JP Don McNeely acknowledged he is on the side of property rights, but agreed there was a legitimate problem.
JPs did approve the seven following items:
- A resolution recommending Jerl Swofford to the Carroll County Equalization Board.
- A resolution authorizing Judge Sam Barr to apply for a grant for $4800 from the Arkansas Rural Development Commission for training for the Central Dispatch 911 system which Richie explained would provide for more accurate mapping for responders.
- An appropriation ordinance which sets aside $104,680 from the County Road Fund to match $334,680 from the State Highway and Transportation Department “to level and reseal State Highway 187 in the Starkey Use Area, a project which will include County Roads 99 and 90.”
- An appropriation ordinance which transfers $15,000 to the Head Community Center because it received a grant of that amount from the Arkansas Rural Development Commission.
- A supplemental appropriation ordinance which moved money from one budget line to another because Loretta Crenshaw completed her Masters of Library Science, has served for five years as director of the Carnegie Eureka Springs Library, and the Carroll County Library Board recommended a salary increase for her of $.84 per hour effective immediately.
- An ordinance which amended a previously amended ordinance, and which added a section specifying that Sheriff’s Department officers shall be paid additional amounts per quarter depending upon the law enforcement certificates they have received. The certificates are awarded by the Arkansas Commission on Law Enforcement Standards and Training.
- An appropriation ordinance adding possibly $16,000 for the remainder of the year to the Road Department for the county judge to hire RD staff to replace temporarily injured staff if necessary.
Next meeting will be Monday, July 18, at 5 p.m.