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THERE ARE NO UPCOMING PUBLIC MEETINGS LISTED FOR THIS WEEK 1/19/25
(As of 1/19/25 @ 2:00 pm)
🌟 The Washington County Courthouse in Fayetteville is closed Monday 1/20/25 in observance of Dr. King’s birthday.
🌟 COUNTY MEETINGS FROM LAST WEEK
→ (1) The Washington County Quorum Court met for its first meeting this year last Thursday 1/16/25. We welcomed new JPs Brad Bruns, District 1; Robert Massingill, District 3; and Vladimir Lopez, District 4. You can watch the meeting here.
Beginning at 3:30 in the video, I tried to make a motion to amend the agenda to add an item “Nomination and Selection of Individuals to Chair the County Services and Finance & Budget Committees.” Judge Patrick Deakins ruled that my motion was “not in order.” I did not appeal because I wasn’t sure that I was right (at the time). If any of my readers are familiar with Robert's Rules of Order, please chime in as I'm sure this will arise again in the future.
→ (2) Also on 1/16/25, at 4:30 pm, the quorum court, other elected officials and staff from the county judge’s office met in the former Crisis Stabilization Unit (CSU) building to hear about the “Community Rebuilding Initiative (CRI).” Unfortunately, this spells the end of the CSU. At least in that facility…
Here’s more on that. Washington County received a “Residential Substance Abuse Treatment JAIL BASED” from the Arkansas Department of Finance & Administration - Intergovernmental Services (GS) to support, develop and implement a residential substance abuse treatment for pre-trial detainees in our local jail and detention facilities. I don’t remember the exact amount, but it’s around $335,000+. Learn more here.
This is a nine month project 1/1/25 to 9/30/25 and requires a match requirement of 25%, but that can be cash or in kind (utilities, etc.)
This is an effort to reduce our jail overcrowding and recidivism. We need substance abuse programs. This one is for men only, unfortunately. I will be supporting this grant on the quorum court and want it to be successful; however, we also need a plan in place (like pretrial services) so that we don’t just continue to fill those beds and lock up more people.
Additionally, I am not sure how we will staff the program as far as detainee officers. Still, I am hopeful we can work it out.
ARKANSAS ASSOCIATION OF COUNTIES: www.arcounties.org
I’m still sharing this link that has a lot of information on county government and how it works. You can go to the “Publication Library” and find guides, surveys, reports and handbooks. They cite Arkansas Statutes and summarize the state laws that apply to our county government.
ZONING ORDINANCE & MAP:
You can read the most recent version of the zoning ordinance here. The latest zoning map is here. The County Services Committee will take this important matter up at its February meeting scheduled for Monday, February 3, 2025, 6:00 PM, Washington County Courthouse.
If you have questions or want to suggest amendments to the ordinance and/or map, please let me know.
🌟 DETENTION CENTER INFORMATION 1/18/25
As of 1/10/25, there are at least 759 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. That’s one of the highest numbers I can remember.
69 of the detainees list addresses as either “homeless” or “1832 S School Street - the address of Seven Hills Homeless Shelter.
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 1/19/25
🌟 There’s a new bid for “Remodel for Election Commission” RFQ 2025-01. This has been posted since last week. The start date is listed as 1/28/25 and the close date as 1/29/25 at 9:00 am. The Election Commission offices are located inside the Washington County Road Department at 2721 S. Brink Drive, Fayetteville, Arkansas. You can read the remodel information and more at the link below. If you know anyone who might be interested, please share.
Below is the link to current RFQs and bids:
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COUNTY JOB OPENINGS THIS WEEK (1/19/25)
Here are some of the jobs listed.
Position Title: Youth Development Supervisor
Department: Juvenile Detention Center
Salary: $21.91 - $24.14/hr
Pay Grade: 10
Workday & Hours: 40 hours a week 10 hour days (Day & Night shifts)
The Planner and Planner Technician positions from last week are still posted.
Planner:
Type:Full Time
Salary/Pay Rate:$21.91 - $24.14
Posted Date:12/30/2024
Applications accepted from: ALL PERSONS INTERESTED
Position Title: Planner
Department: Planning
Salary: $21.91 - $24.14
Pay Grade: 10
Workday & Hours: Monday- Friday 8am-4:30pm
Also a new posting for “Planning Technician.”
Type:Full Time
Salary/Pay Rate:$21.25 - $22.31
Posted Date:12/30/2024
Applications accepted from: ALL PERSONS INTERESTED
Position Title: Planning Technician
Department: Planning
Salary: $21.25 - $22.31
Pay Grade: 9
Workday & Hours: Monday- Friday 8am-4:30pm
Below is the link for all posted job openings in Washington County. The road department and sheriff’s offices are almost always hiring. The road department is 479-444-1610. The sheriff’s office is 479-444-5700.
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🌟 HOW TO BECOME INVOLVED IN COUNTY GOVERNMENT🌟
ATTEND AS MANY MEETINGS OF THE QUORUM COURT AND ITS SUBCOMMITTEES AS YOU CAN. CHECK MY WEEKLY NEWSLETTERS FOR DATES AND TIMES.
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
Here’s how you can contact your county officials. (New JP contacts are now available) We need to hear from you!!
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