→ Early voting starts Monday, 10/21/24, 8:00 am at almost all early voting sites. Go here for more information: https://www.washingtoncountyar.gov/government/departments-a-e/election-commission/early-vote-sites-for-the-march-5-2024-preferential-primary-nonpartisan-judicial-general-election-annual-school-election-and-special-elections
→ To see a sample ballot, go here: https://www.washingtoncountyar.gov/government/departments-a-e/election-commission
→ Some ballot issues are confusing. For concise and unbiased information, go to: uaex.uada.edu/ballot
→ In these local elections like Mayor, City Council and, of course, Justice of the Peace, your vote could very well make the difference. Last election the Mayor's race in Danville, Yell County (my old stomping grounds), the race was won by ONE (1) vote. If you want to see change, vote it in. Election Coordinator Jennifer Price and her staff work really hard to make voting convenient and accessible here in Washington County.
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THIS NEWSLETTER CONTAINS IMPORTANT LINKS:
Proposed New Zoning Ordinance. Compare the old with the new.
Link to “Easy Read” STEP Plan. Budget Control Requests. Quorum Court Budget Discussion 9/10/24.
2025 Budget “Talking Points” as shared with all JPs.
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THERE ARE NO WASHINGTON COUNTY GOVERNMENTAL MEETINGS LISTED ON THE COUNTY WEBSITE AS OF 10/19/24 AT 11:33 AM FOR THIS WEEK OF 10/20/24. 10/21/24 is the regular date for JESAP, but it’s not posted.
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🌟 The Washington County Quorum Court met Thursday, 10/17/24, at 6:00 PM, Washington County Courthouse, for its regular monthly meeting. The meeting can be viewed here: https://www.youtube.com/live/3lBOIi-7yqU?si=8SQWVI2FKMyftjk-
THE COUNTY JUDGE AND THE PLANNING BOARD MEMBER - right to freedom of speech and due process:
Starting at 9:37 in the video Barbara Vassar Taylor, the attorney representing Washington County Planning Commission member Joe Mainard, addresses the court concerning allegations WC Judge Patrick Deakins has made against her client. Here’s a very rough draft of that transcript.
“County advisory or administrative boards.” Ark. Code 14-14-705(3)(E):
“A person may be removed from a county board for cause by the county judge with confirmation by resolution of the quorum court. Written notification stating the causes for removal shall be provided to the board member prior to the date established for quorum court consideration of removal, and the board member shall be afforded the opportunity to meet with the quorum court in their deliberation of removal.”
The day before the meeting all Justices of the Peace received this email from County Judge Deakins. This includes a string of back and forth between Deakins and Mainard, but that is not everything and it is not the whole story. Just what the judge provided to us.
Here’s a link to the 9/26/24 Planning Board meeting which Judge Deakins cites in his email to the court about removal of Mainard from the Planning Board. It is during that 9/26/24 meeting that the judge alleges Mr. Mainard made “misinformed statements” in his “public comments.” You can read here the transcript of the last part of the Planning Board meeting where discussion of the new zoning laws was brought to the board.
So the judge admits why he is wanting Mr. Mainard removed from the Planning Board and he is asking the quorum court to do that and he felt obligated to tell us because “...he [Mainard] no longer has my or staff’s confidence to continue service.” That’s crazy. Mr. Mainard did not give up his right to free speech and due process when he agreed to serve on the Planning Board. If the judge and the quorum court pursue this, it will result in another lawsuit that the county is going to spend thousands of dollars on and likely still lose and will set a terrible precedent. Disagree with the county judge's position. Get removed from a board or appointed position?
Mr. Mainard was appointed to the Planning Court. He was confirmed by the quorum court, though that’s a joke of a process. He should be allowed to speak to his concerns about the proposed zoning, or any county business, without being threatened with removal and subjected to public ridicule and embarrassment. The quorum court should not be involved in this, but this shows what happens when anyone dares to disagree with the judge or challenge, or even ask questions. You may become a target. Anyone who follows the quorum court knows this is true.
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🌟 NEW ZONING LAWS: The zoning ordinance should be on the agenda for Tuesday, 11/12/24 at 6:00 PM. I say “should,” because I won’t know for sure until the agenda comes out on the Friday before. That’s when we next meet in a combined County Services and Finance & Budget meeting. This is the most up-to-date copy I have.
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🌟 HERE ARE LINKS TO 2025 BUDGET DOCUMENTS:
Washington County’s 2025 Proposed Budget (with STEP Plan). Link to “Easy Read” STEP Plan. Budget Control Requests. Quorum Court Budget Discussion 9/10/24.
Item 6.6 is the 2025 Proposed Budget (without STEP Plan).
2025 Budget “Talking Points” as shared with all JPs.
There are links at the bottom of the spreadsheet with departmental budgets and other information. Please let me know if you have any questions or comments. The budget as proposed is a huge increase from 2024.
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🌟 DETENTION CENTER INFORMATION 10/18/24
As of 10/18/24, there are at least 739 people locked away in our Washington County Detention Center. Most of those are pretrial - meaning they’ve been arrested and/or charged, but have not been found guilty. 74 of those people are listed as being homeless or unsheltered. The unsheltered population consists mostly of young people in their 20s, 30s or 40s, up to 50.
Here’s the link to the Detailed Charge Report:
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 10/20/24
🌟 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 (10/20/24)
Here’s a link to the current job postings:
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🌟 WANT TO BECOME INVOLVED?🌟
YOU HAVE THE POWER TO DO THINGS...HARD THINGS.
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!!