If you know people who would like to be added to this newsletter’s listserv, please let me know at: ejcoger@gmail.com or text me their email address at 479-306-9994. Thank you to all my subscribers!
Monday, 12/2/24, last day of early voting for runoff elections. Election day is 12/3/24. Here's a link to voting locations and times.
Because of the smaller voter turnout typically seen in run offs, each vote carries more weight. A few votes may very well determine the outcome.
I'm originally from Danville in Yell County. The Danville Mayor's race was won last time by one vote. Bill Gilkey beat Phil Moudy by one vote! Molly and Monique are friends and we will appreciate your vote.
City of Fayetteville | ||
Mayor | Mayor Lioneld Jordan | 2 |
| Molly Rawn | 1 |
| ||
City Council Member | Todd Hertzberg | 1 |
Ward 4 Pos. 2 | Monique Jones | 2 |
| ||
City of Prairie Grove | ||
City Council Member | Brian Hawkins | 1 |
Ward 1 Pos. 2 | Audrey B. Wetzel | 2 |
UPCOMING PUBLIC MEETINGS WEEK OF 12/1/24
🌟 Washington County Quorum Court County Services Committee meets Monday 12/2/24 at 6:00 PM, Washington County Courthouse. This is an in person meeting only. The meeting will be livestreamed here.
The proposed new zoning ordinance (rules and regulations for Washington County property) and the zoning map are on for discussion at this meeting. Hopefully, just discussion, but could be for vote. Read the complete agenda here.
If you have concerns about the new zoning laws and map, please write the quorum court, Judge Deakins, and the Planning Department. Ask us questions. Tell us your thoughts. We need to hear from you because you are the ones who will be impacted by whatever decisions we make.
Since this is a committee meeting “of the whole,” the public comment period is at the conclusion of the meeting, just before we adjourn, and after all agenda items have been voted on or settled. However, there will also be twelve minutes of public comment time before we vote on any ordinance or resolution. These public comment periods may be extended upon motion and vote of ⅔ majority. It’s good, if you plan to speak, to go ahead and get in line as soon as the judge calls for public comment.
🌟 The Washington County Planning Board meets Thursday 12/5/4 at 5:00 PM, Quorum Court Room, Washington County Courthouse. Here’s the agenda for that meeting. This is also an in person only meeting. You can watch the meeting here. If you’re able, I urge you to attend this meeting. The county judge has recently increased the size of the board (I’ve lost count).
The agenda includes one Conditional Use Permit (CUP) request: “Anytime Hauling Storage Parking CUP.” Located 22304 North Road WC 678, Summers, Arkansas 72769. Applicant Kevin Smith. JP District 13. Proposed Use: Commercial - RV Storage.
Two land development hearings are listed for Thursday:
Jenny Waters Minor Subdivision, 12760 Patton Road, WC 1159, West Fork, Arkansas 72774. Approximately 4.15 acres/two parcels. Proposed Use: Single-Family Residential JP District 13.
Replat Lot 13A Tony Mountain Subdivision (Greenland Planning Area), 10264 Smokey Lane, WC 2070, Fayetteville, Arkansas 72701. Approximately two aces/2 parcels. Proposed Use: Single-Family Residential.
Other business:
Discussion of current development and planning department activities
Reminder of upcoming Planning Board meetings: 1/9/25 and 2/13/25
➽ The regular November meeting of the Washington County Quorum Court was held Thursday 11/21/24. You can watch the meeting here.
The 2025 budget is around $127 Million Dollars. This year (2024) our budget was $114 Million Dollars. We’ve increased spending by over $13 Million Dollars and have not included the taxpayers and community members of Washington County in our discussions. We basically rubber-stamped $127M of spending of taxpayer dollars.
We should never be spending taxpayer dollars in private. Here are a few things that were passed in the 2025 budget without any public participation:
FROM LAST WEEK:
The entire Environmental Department was wiped out completely. $0 funding. No longer exists.
Information Technology increased 31.36%
includes $438,600 for software support maintenance agreements
includes $724,810 for storage, memory, and firewalls for South Campus
includes $466,622 for computers and IT equipment
JPs received a raise of $100 per meeting, making our per meeting pay $300
Road Department decreased $50K
includes concrete for construction of Cincinnati bridge.
includes $373,305 for a new excavator plus another $300K to replace a 1996 asphalt dist for asphalt/chip seal operations.
Justification letter states that these items will be purchased with proceeds from an auction. If auction funds do not cover the cost of all items, they will not be purchased.
ADDITIONAL BUDGET ITEMS THIS WEEK - NOT DISCUSSED IN PUBLIC MEETING:
Election Commission:
budget down 57.27%
due to non election year
requesting reimbursement for poll worker pay; fuel/truck rental/cell phones/wifi mileage and advertising
Planning Department increased 11.37%
very bare bone budget for Planning - best justification letter I have ever read
Information Technology increased 31.36%
includes $438,600 for software support maintenance agreements
includes $724,810 for storage, memory, and firewalls for South Campus
includes $466,622 for computers and IT equipment
Emergency Management combined with IT increased 13.29%
increases GIS Analyst salary from $48K to $59.8K
Grant Management up 22.35%
includes $39K for grant management software subscription
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🌟 DETENTION CENTER INFORMATION 11/30/24
Last week Washington County Judge Patrick Deakins was a guest writer for an article in the NWA Democrat Gazette. He spoke about the need for justice reform, which I very much agree with and was happy to see.
Here’s my response to that article. Our jail overcrowding is at a crisis level and we need action. Judge Deakins suspended the Criminal Justice Coordinating Committee in October of 2023, just after they voted to move forward with a robust pretrial services program. He has the power to appoint members and get that committee operating. I’m just asking that his words and actions align.
As of 11/30/24, there are at least 798 people locked away in our Washington County Detention Center. This is from information on the public facing dashboard. There are likely more than this considering that the sheriff’s office does not post so-called “restrictive bookings” online. Those such postings have been estimated to be 80 - 100 at any time.
89 of the detainees list addresses as either “homeless” or “1832 S School Street - the address of Seven Hills Homeless Shelter.
152 of these individuals have bonds from $350.00 to $8,500.00 Here’s a Google Spreadsheet where you can play around and sort the data in any column as you like.
Here’s the link to the Detailed Charge Report:
You can check the “Calls for Service” board here.
Here’s a list in alphabetical order to search for people.
READ AND STUDY THE 2020 CRIMINAL JUSTICE ASSESSMENT STUDY PREPARED BY THE NATIONAL CENTER FOR STATE COURTS HERE. READ AND LEARN WHY WE DO NOT NEED TO SPEND MILLIONS OF DOLLARS ON JAIL EXPANSIONS TO KEEP OUR COMMUNITIES SAFE!
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COUNTY BID POSTINGS 11/24/24
🌟 No new bid/RFP postings this week. Here’s the link to current RFQs and bids:
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COUNTY JOB OPENINGS THIS WEEK (12/1/24)
This week’s job openings include a Law Clerk - Division V
Type:Full Time
Salary/Pay Rate:$68,161.6 - $75,129.6
Posted Date:11/25/2024
Applications accepted from: ALL PERSONS INTERESTED
Position Title: Law Clerk - Division V - This position will be for the 2025 budget
Department: Circuit Court Division V
Salary: $68,161.6 - $75,129.6
Pay Grade: 19
Purchasing Coordinator/Buyer
Type:Full Time
Salary/Pay Rate:$19.27-$21.24
Posted Date:11/27/2024 7:00 AM
Applications accepted from: ALL PERSONS INTERESTED
This position will not be filled until January 2025
Position Title: Purchasing Coordinator/Buyer
Department: Purchasing
Salary: $19.27-$21.24
Pay Grade:6
Deputy Public Defender.
Salary/Pay Rate:$72,477.95 - $81,537.70
Posted Date:11/20/2024
Applications accepted from: ALL PERSONS INTERESTED
Position Title: Deputy Public Defender
Department: Public Defender
Salary: $72,477.95 - $81,537.70
Pay Grade: 24
Here’s a link to the other current job postings:
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🌟 WANT TO BECOME INVOLVED?🌟
ATTEND AS MANY MEETINGS OF THE QUORUM COURT AND ITS SUBCOMMITTEES AS YOU CAN. CHECK MY WEBSITE WWW.BETHCOGER.COM FOR DATES AND TIMES.
CONTACT JUDGE DEAKINS AND TELL HIM YOU WANT OUR CRISIS STABILIZATION UNIT TO REOPEN AND ASK HIM TO GET TO WORK ON FINDING ANOTHER VENDOR BECAUSE WE CAN DO HARD THINGS.
Continue to ask Judge Deakins to appoint members to the Criminal Justice Coordinating Committee and get that group up and running! This is too important. If you haven’t called, please do so, or send email, or go by the courthouse and speak to the judge in person. WHAT’S NEXT? WHY WON’T JUDGE DEAKINS APPOINT MEMBERS AND ACTIVATE THIS COMMITTEE AND LET IT GET TO WORK? ASK HIM.
Contact your JP and set up a time to meet them for coffee or just to get together. Become a regular voice in their ear and urge them to support criminal justice reform and be good stewards of taxpayer dollars. That’s how I got started advocating to the court back in 2019. CAN YOU TAKE AN HOUR OR TWO AND MEET WITH YOUR JP AND SHARE YOUR CONCERNS OR COMMENTS, OR WHATEVER YOUR THOUGHTS ARE.
Share this Newsletter with your friends and neighbors!
Write letters to the editor. letters@nwadg.com
Do you have a court date in Benton or Washington County? Arkansas Justice Reform Coalition (AJRC) has a program to train volunteers to offer practical, procedural, and emotional support during your court hearing. From a reassuring check-in before your court date, to standing by your side on the day of court. Everyone deserves to be heard, supported, and understood.
To request a Court Support Volunteer, please fill out the Courtside Support Request Form. Questions? Concerns? Reach out to us at arkansasjusticereform@gmail.org.
To become a volunteer, contact AJRC at 479-345-1150 or the above email. They provide training that will help make you become a great Court Support Volunteer.
Here’s how you can contact your county officials. We need to hear from you!!
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