Quorum Court Meeting Thursday--1/21

by Mark Edwards, JP District 13

I wanted to pass along the agenda for this months Quorum Court meeting. Please note that we have several areas of importance that will be coming up that all of the county needs to be aware of. The first order of business is to pass an ordinance to allow the county judge to purchase the right of way from Larry Odom. This will dump traffic from HWY 67 South onto South Rockwood. This road is already a mess and not properly repaired and with heavy trucks exiting, I fear this road will get worse. This was never discussed or looked into by Larry Odom's traffic committee. It was discussed only by Larry and the county judge. The judge has offered to pay $60,000 for 1.59 acres of land which is roughly $40,000 per acre. The truck stop across the street just sold at a price of $25,000 per acre in November 2009. This seems too high a price to pay in my opinion for swamp land. Additionally, there is to be a clover leaf at this intersection in the future and spending the money now may be putting the kart before the horse. The Leg Audit reported that a person in the sheriff's office was responsible for tracking certain money and about $67,000 is not accounted for. We will be asking questions about this money and procedures. APERS and county retirement will be discussed as well. This will be Jerry Adams and Karol Depriest that you have all heard and read about in the news lately. This will likely go into executive session. It is our duty of the quorum court to ensure the office is being held constitutionally and if not to declare a vacancy. These 3 areas of business specifically should be paid very close attention to. There are sweetheart deals being made in the county and what appears to be outright corruption going on by both Democrats in large part fro our County Judge down as well as Larry Odom in our own party. Please help hold our local elected accountable as this is getting more and more widespread. Thank you all for caring.

AGENDA

LONOKE COUNTY QUORUM COURT

CALL TO ORDER: JANUARY 21, 2010

CSEPP EMERGENCY CONFERENCE ROOM

6:30 P.M.

OPENING PRAYER FOLLOWED BY PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE

ROLL CALL

MINUTES OF DECEMBER 2009

TREASURER’S REPORT

OFFICIALS’ REPORT (0%)

OLD BUSINESS:

- None

NEW BUSINESS:

- Ordinance to Authorize Judge to purchase right-away from Quorum Court Member

- Resolution for Right Away for Arkansas Highway Department

- Resolution for Larry and Sandra Odom

- Legislative Audit for 2009

- Health Insurance- Committee Chair

- Sheriff’s Department –Appropriation Ordinance for Seat Belt Safety Fund 01-5020

- Discussion- Apers Retirement for County Officials and Employees

- Appropriation Ordinance – New Cabot Health Department 171-171-87

- Appropriation Ordinance – Brownsville Branch Project 158-158-87

- Appropriation Ordinance – Justice Assistance Grant Fund 173-173-87

ANNOUNCEMENTS

PUBLIC INPUT

ADJOURN

LCRC January Meeting Report

On Monday January 11, the Lonoke County Republican Committee held its first monthly meeting of the new year. Those in attendance had the pleasure of hearing from several elected officials, including State Rep. Davy Carter, and two of the nine Republican candidates for US Senator, State Senators Kim Hendren and Gilbert Baker.

Several local issues were discussed by local officials present. District 12 Justice of the Peace Henry Lang discussed the "double dipping" that recently hit the news by two county officials, a recent audit report showing a county office lost $67, 000, and a deal to be discussed at the next Quorum Court meeting to purchase property from sitting District 3 JP Larry Odom. The potential land deal seemed shady to several members of the committee and will be addressed in a future article announcing the Quorum Court meeting.

District 13 JP Mark Edwards informed the committee the contract for a new county jail had been awarded to a local contractor, GAG Builders of Cabot. Oak Grove Township Constable Vince Scarlata reported that crime was down across Lonoke County last year and, for the first time he could remember, no arrests for DWI were made on New Year's Eve.

District 48 State Representative Davy Carter reported on the upcoming legislative session. He promised that, because Arkansas voters approved this as a budget session, he would vote against any non-budget resolutions that are brought to the floor. Carter stated it may appear that he's voting against some good bills, but worries that bringing non-budgetary bills to the floor will "open a can of worms" that voters in Arkansas did not approve when they voted to hold annual legislative sessions. Carter also informed the committee the Blue Ribbon Highway Commission will be seeking tax increases that he will not support.

Committee members had the privilege of hearing two of the nine announced Republican candidates for Arkansas' US Senate seat this year, State Senators Kim Hendren and Gilbert Baker.

Senator Hendren spoke first, describing his political career and why he believes he'll make the best US Senator of the announced candidates. He first remarked that he is not a skilled politician. Hendren credited this for his off-the-cuff remarks that sometimes cause him grief. He promised he would serve no more than two terms if elected and said "If you don't take care of business you ought to be fired." Hendren said he's always been conservative, and would carry the conservative colors to Washington.

Baker spoke next, promising to stand against the liberal agenda currently pressed in DC and stressing that he could raise the money to mount a successful campaign against Democrat Senator Blanche Lincoln this fall. He promised to stand against Card Check, Cap & Trade, and the health care bill. Without mentioning any names, Baker insinuated he is the best candidate because Jim Holt ran against Lincoln in 2004 and lost. He slipped in the fact that his campaign has raised $800,000 to promote himself as the most electable of the 9 candidates.

The Lonoke County Election Commission is looking for a place to set up about six machines to accommodate early voting in the county. Apparently, the City of Cabot is unwilling to provide city facilities for this purpose.

Quorum Court Meeting Thursday--12/17

AGENDA

LONOKE COUNTY QUORUM COURT

Date:	DECEMBER 17, 2009
Location:	CSEPP EMERGENCY CONFERENCE ROOM
Time:	6:30 P.M.

• OPENING PRAYER FOLLOWED BY PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE
• ROLL CALL
• MINUTES OF NOVEMBER 2009
• TREASURER’S REPORT
• OFFICIALS’ REPORT (8%)
• OLD BUSINESS:
  • None
• NEW BUSINESS:
  • Health Department – Grant for 01-2500-45
  • An Ordinance to Establish the Annual Operating Budget for 2010
  • Jail Committee / Judge – Update
  • Highway Project / Judge Troutman
• ANNOUNCEMENTS
• PUBLIC INPUT
• ADJOURN