WHAT'S HAPPENING IN WASHINGTON COUNTY & LITTLE ROCK THIS WEEK?
Dear Neighbors,
This week brings three important public meetings in Washington County, and I need your help in opposing two bills that could weaken the Arkansas Freedom of Information Act (FOIA). Read here for full details!
🚨 Victory for Transparency!
I am pleased to share that I have won my second Arkansas FOIA lawsuit against the county. However, it's unfortunate that the case had to escalate to this level and cost taxpayer dollars. You can read the opinion from the Arkansas Court of Appeals [here].
This lawsuit challenged the county's decision to conduct meetings of the Washington County Criminal Justice Coordinating Committee without allowing the public to attend, even though we asked several times. While I won the case, Judge Deakins subsequently "disbanded" the committee on 10/12/23. When I recently asked about reinstating the committee, he simply said, “No.” I will be requesting that the court award me attorney fees and costs for the appeal.
At Tuesday's County Services Committee I am sponsoring A RESOLUTION BY THE QUORUM COURT OF WASHINGTON COUNTY, ARKANSAS, DECLARING WASHINGTON COUNTY AS A WELCOMING AND INCLUSIVE COMMUNITY FOR ALL.
The City of Fayetteville recently passed a similar resolution and I was asked by some immigrant rights groups and supporters to do the same for the county and quorum court. Support from the community will be instrumental in getting this resolution passed out of committee. Here's a link to contact information for elected officials if you'd like to contact them and ask them to support this. More information below.
📢 CALL TO ACTION: PROTECT THE ARKANSAS FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT
I am deeply concerned about HB1667 and SB227, which, if passed, will weaken our Arkansas FOIA. Decisions by governing bodies should be made transparently, collectively, and in public. Read more about these bills and how you can take action [here].
I do not know when HB1667 will be heard, but SB227 is on the agenda for Tuesday 3/11/25, 10:00 o'clock am, in the Old Supreme Court Room at State Capitol.
📅 Upcoming Public Meetings
Meeting #1: County Services Committee
📍 Location: Washington County Courthouse (280 N. College, Fayetteville, AR)
🕕 Date & Time: Tuesday, 3/11/25 at 6:00 PM
Agenda Highlights:
✅ Election of County Services Committee Chair & Vice-Chair (following the resignation of JP Wilson). These positions are crucial for committee leadership. ✅ Update on Upskill Funding ✅ Discussion & potential vote on a new planning and zoning law & map for rural Washington County. This is not ready for a vote! Read Attorney Steve Zega's [legal opinion] and Steve Green's [letter to JPs]. ✅ Resolution: I am sponsoring a resolution declaring Washington County as a welcoming and inclusive community for all. ✅ Public Comment: There will be two public comment periods — one before voting and another at the end of the meeting.
Meeting #2: Finance & Budget Committee
📍 Location: Washington County Courthouse (280 N. College, Fayetteville, AR)
🕕 Date & Time: Tuesday, 3/11/25 (immediately following County Services Committee adjournment)
Agenda Highlights:
✅ Treasurer’s Report: One-cent sales tax revenue (Feb 2025) totaled $1,052,380.90; quarter-cent sales tax (Jail) revenue was $1,602,881.43. ✅ Comptroller’s Report (Pages 13-21) ✅ Ordinance: Appropriating $200,000 from General Reserves to "Other Professional Services Line Item EOC Construction Project." ✅ Resolution: Utilizing federal aid funds for the Wheeler Road/Clabber Creek Bridge Project.
Meeting #3: Washington County Library System Board
📍 Location: Prairie Grove Public Library (881 W. Buchanan St., Prairie Grove, AR)
🕕 Date & Time: Thursday, 3/13/25, 4:00 PM
(Agenda not yet posted; no meeting link available.)
🚔 Detention Center Update (3/8/25)
725 individuals are currently detained at the Washington County Detention Center.
80-100 additional detainees are unlisted due to "restrictive bookings."
66 detainees list their addresses as "homeless" or "1832 S School Street" (Seven Hills Homeless Shelter).
For your convenience, and if you want to study our jail population further, I’ve downloaded an Excel Spreadsheet here where you can play around and gather all kinds of information, from the amount of bonds to time spent in jail, and by clicking on each individual, the number of prior arrests. There’s much more. Check it out.
🔎 Explore the Data:
2020 Criminal Justice Assessment Study
📌 Why this matters: The 2020 Criminal Justice Assessment Study, prepared by the National Center for State Courts, explains why we do not need to spend millions on jail expansions to ensure public safety.
📢 County Bid Postings (as of 3/8/25)
📝 New Bid: 30 Cisco C9300L-48P-4X H-A Switches📅 Posted: 2/28/25📌 Bids Due: 3/17/25 (by 4:00 PM)📌 Bid Opening: 3/18/25 (9:00 AM)🔗 View all current RFQs & bids here
💼 County Job Openings (as of 3/8/25)
Part-Time Law Clerk Positions (Prosecutor’s Office & Public Defender’s Office)💰 Salary: $16/hr📌 Must be a law student
The Road Department & Sheriff's Office are hiring consistently.📞 Road Department: 479-444-1610📞 Sheriff’s Office: 479-444-5700🔗 View all job openings here
📬 Stay Informed & Engaged!
More updates coming soon! If you know anyone who would like to receive my newsletter, please let me know.📞 479-306-9994📧 ejcoger@gmail.com
_______________________________________________________________________
Comments