If you know people who would like to be added to this newsletter’s mailing list, please let me know at: ejcoger@gmail.com or text me their email address at 479-306-9994. Thank you to all my subscribers!
UPCOMING MEETINGS WEEK 2/2/25
🌟WASHINGTON COUNTY QUORUM COURT COUNTY SERVICES COMMITTEE meets Monday 2/3/25 @ 6:00 PM, Washington County Courthouse. Here’s the agenda for that meeting. This is an in person meeting only. The meeting will be live-streamed on the county’s YouTube channel.
The new zoning ordinance and map are on the agenda for discussion and may be voted on.
An ordinance creating the “Community Rebuilding Initiative Grant Fund” and a request to appropriate $575,000 from the General Reserves (1001) to the Other Professional Services line item in the CRI Grant Fund Budget (35351461-3009) for 2025.
An Ordinance to require the online publication of minutes of meetings of the Washington County Quorum Court. I’m sponsoring this ordinance. Who could possibly have a problem with posting minutes of meetings online?
Washington County started its work on changing zoning rules and regulations while Judge Wood was still here. So this has been an ongoing process. Here’s the first page of a document entitled “Washington County Zoning and Subdivision Regulations” prepared by the NWA Regional Planning Commission that began the process.
Here’s a link to 33 documents from the NWA Planning Commission regarding preparation and suggestions for zoning ordinances and regulations in Washington County, Arkansas. There’s a lot of information here but it’s well worth your time.
Among those documents is a letter dated 9/27/24 from Tim Conklin of NWA Regional Planning to Sam Ata and others including this paragraph:
“NWARPC was originally involved in drafting only the zoning text and districts; however, Washington County in late 2023 informed NWARPC they no longer needed our assistance…and stated they would handle the drafting process moving forward.”
This raises a lot of questions and concerns, such as why the county wouldn’t want the guidance and expertise of the NWARPC with all their knowledge, training and assets in developing something as important as zoning regulations in Washington County?
ZONING ORDINANCE & MAP:
If you have specific questions you want asked at tomorrow night's meeting, please text me at 479-306-9994 or email ejcoger@gmail.com and I will attempt to ask the questions and get you answers. You can also call me, but it'd be easier for me if you write out your questions. Thank you!
🌟 DETENTION CENTER INFORMATION 2/2/25
As of 2/1/25, there are at least 775 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.
77 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!
_______________________________________________________________________
COUNTY BID POSTINGS 2/2/25
🌟 New bid listing for nineteen (19) new vehicles for the Washington County Sheriff. Bid 2025-01. Bidding closes 2/10/25 at 4:00 pm.
GENERAL SPECIFICATIONS & QUALIFICATIONS
The Washington County Sheriff’s Office is seeking bids for the procurement of nineteen (19) new vehicles to enhance its operational capabilities. The requested vehicles will support a range of law enforcement, administrative, and utility functions. Specifications for each vehicle type are detailed below:
A. Fifteen (15) 2025 Chevrolet Tahoe Police Pursuit Vehicles – Four-wheel-drive (4WD) SUVs rated for high-speed emergency operations.
B. Two (2) Non-Pursuit Rated 2025 Chevrolet Tahoe LS – 4WD models equipped with a 5.3L V8 engine.
C. One (1) 2025 Chevrolet Silverado 2500 – 4WD model with a tow package.
D. One (1) 2025 Ford Transit Cargo Van – Dual Rear Wheels (DRW), High Top, Extended Wheelbase (148.0”).
The respondent's vehicle pricing shall be accessible to all Washington County departments.
From Addendum 1:
1. Looking over the specs, the Cargo van is specific to Ford, are you willing to look at an Express Van? Yes, they are needing bids for the 2025 Ford Transit Cargo Van
2. On the LS Tahoe you are wanting 6 keys total, correct? Keyless entry system four additional key fobs included
3. On the 2500HD WT you are wanting 4 keys total, correct? Keyless entry system four additional key fobs included
4. There is not a description for 2wd or 4wd for this vehicle, which are you wanting? Should be 4x4, One (1) 2025 Chevrolet Silverado 2500‐4WD model with a tow package.
5. Is the FOB address 280 N College Ave STE 533, Fayetteville, AR 72701? 280 N. College Ave, Suite 530, Fayetteville, AR 72701
6. On the Bid pricing and item list, are you wanting vehicle price, total of 15 units price and then total cost of delivery for those 15 units separated on those lines? Yes, the delivery cost should be separated
Below is the link to current RFQs and bids:
_______________________________________________________________________
COUNTY JOB OPENINGS THIS WEEK (2/2/25)
I do not notice any new listings for jobs this date. However, 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.
_______________________________________________________________________
🌟 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!!