Robert Anderson, owner of R & R Towing in Green Forest, had complained to the quorum court twice in 2020 about receiving a suspension from the county’s list of towing companies. This week, he returned to complain about another suspension.
Anderson gave few details at Monday’s meeting about his present suspension and attributed the problem to Sheriff Jim Ross’s “personal vendetta.” He said he has lost half his business because of the suspension, and still receives calls from the Arkansas State Police. The county dispatches for the cities of Berryville and Green Forest, so Anderson does not presently receive calls from the county or those cities.
Justice of the Peace Craig Hicks said the quorum court would not have authority to dictate to the sheriff. Anderson admitted that the sheriff has exclusive control over which companies he approves for the tow rotation, but continued to complain about rules and regulations he should follow.
Anderson offered similar arguments two years ago, after a sheriff’s deputy stopped him for speeding. He was in a pickup truck pulling a trailer, and was ticketed for driving 80 mph in a 60 mph zone. During the subsequent traffic stop, Anderson left his vehicle and refused the deputy’s commands to return to his vehicle. He initially refused to sign the speeding ticket but relented when he was informed that his other option involved arrest and a trip to jail. Anderson had another encounter later that day with another deputy, and body cam footage showed Anderson delivering a profanity-filled tirade against the department. He continued his provocative behavior with a call to a secretary at the Sheriff’s Office.
Following Anderson’s complaints in 2020, the Independent contacted Steven Rogers, the director of the Arkansas Towing and Recovery Board, who upheld Ross’s authority to determine which companies to list on the rotation. Rogers said Anderson had misunderstood the regulations he cited and described placement in the rotation as “a privilege.”
In other business:
- JPs eliminated the position of Major in the Sheriff’s Office. They improperly declared an executive session for the discussion, so none of their reasoning came out in open court. When the JPs declared the executive session, members of the media objected vigorously, because the quorum court can only use executive sessions for specific personnel reasons, including hiring or firing. In this case, the quorum court had no authority to fire a deputy, although eliminating the position will likely lead to a demotion for Jerry Williams, who currently holds that rank. In a further complication, JP Jack Deaton added this item to the agenda at the last minute and did not specify the contents of the ordinance when he asked to amend the agenda. County Judge Ronda Griffin vetoed the ordinance the following day based on concerns about the procedures.
- A location has been found on Arkansas Hwy. 23 South for the final tower needed for the county’s new radio system.
- JPs approved the second and third readings of an ordinance to increase the number of commissioners and their length of service in the Lake Forest Acres Subordinate Service District. Terry Tromberg was approved for a five-year term.
- JP Don McNeely announced that he will finish his term this year and run for mayor of Green Forest in the fall.
- Judge Griffin received authorization to accept a grant from the Arkansas Historic Preservation Program on behalf of the Carroll County Historical Society. The grant will provide $54,000 for exterior doors and tuck-pointing at the old courthouse in Berryville.