Monique Jones operates the nonprofit NWA CPR where she helps people in need connect with resources and services. Monique had a client Friday who was suffering a mental health crisis. The client went to the CSU and found it shuttered. Here's a quote from Monique about that experience:
"It's a painful reminder of the importance of access to resources and support for our community members. My heart goes out to the individual who was let down by the system. She needed immediate support from the CSU and only found it was closed. She just sat in the parking lot and cried alone in her car."
How many more will be "let down by the system" and be left without care due to the closing of the CSU? These are our most vulnerable community members. Where will they go for help?
In a letter to all Washington County JPs dated 3/28/24, Patrick Deakins, WC Judge informed us that he had received notice 3/27/24 that UAMS is "initiating the termination clause as the service provider for our CSU. This started a 90 [day] termination period, meaning that our CSU will wrap up its operations at the end of June."
So how is it that the CSU closed sometime in April, with two whole months plus to go on their contract? We had a contract through June and we had funding through June 2024.
These photos of the CSU facility and parking lot were taken 4/27/24 at 4:39:29PM
Read more here about the situation and what you can do.
COUNTY MEETINGS COMING THIS WEEK (4/28/24)
🌟 The County Services Committee of the WC Quorum Court meets Monday, 4/29/24, 6:00 PM, WC Courthouse. In person only. The meeting will be livestreamed on the county’s YouTube channel: https://www.youtube.com/user/washcoar AGENDA here.
Highlights:
WC 2024 Annual Report by Assessor Russell Hill (Item 6.1) This report shows WC’s Market Value is $40.6 BILLION = 58.94% increase over 2020!
A discussion of the proposed changes to our zoning rules and regulations in Washington County. Item 8.1 The entire proposal is included in the agenda.
If you have questions or concerns about the new zoning proposal, please give them to me and/or come speak at the meeting tomorrow night. There’s a twelve minute public comment time AFTER the meeting. The judge won’t answer your questions, but if you send them to me, I can ask them during the discussion and they will be on the record.
An ordinance to change the WC Employee Handbook dealing with “Drug-Free and Alcohol Free Workplace Safety. Item 9.1
🌟 The Washington County Zoning and Planning Board meets Thursday, 5/2/24, 5:00 PM, WC Courthouse. In person only. The agenda is here. The meeting will not be livestreamed on the county’s YouTube channel: https://www.youtube.com/user/washcoar
The agenda includes:
variance hearing for "Saddle Shop Property" located at 18664 Saddle Shop Lane, Springdale
Conditional Use Permit (CUP) Hearing for Nathan & Angela Croskrey Coffee Roaster at 5339 W Wheeler Road, Fayetteville
CUP for Topkick Trail Wedding Venue 470 Topkick Trail, Fayetteville
Gene George School Communication Tower 17868 Habberton Road, Springdale
Land Development Hearing (LDH) East Slope Addition Replat 17975 Krie Rd, WC 611, Lincoln
LDH Daugherty Minor Subdivision, 20241 Boys Home Road, WC 431, Morrow, AR
F.S. Properties LLC Minor Subdivision preliminary and final land development request
🌟 Here’s the link to the current Washington County Job Openings as posted on the HR website: https://www.washingtoncountyar.gov/government/departments-f-z/human-resources/job-postings
There you’ll be able to complete an online application, see salary ranges and more.
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THINGS TO KNOW AND THINGS TO DO:
→ I am working with Arkansas Citizens for Transparency (ACT) to get an initiated act and a constitutional amendment on the November ballot to strengthen and protect our Arkansas Freedom of Information Act (AFOIA)? I will be collecting signatures each Saturday from 10:00 am to 4:00 pm in the parking lot at 224 N East Avenue, St. Paul’s Episcopal Church, Fayetteville. IF YOU HAVE NOT YET SIGNED, PLEASE DO AND PLEASE TELL YOUR FRIENDS AND NEIGHBORS TO SIGN. Want to know more?
→ PLEASE go to YouTube and sign up for Washington County’s YouTube channel. Subscribe and be informed. You can do that here: https://www.youtube.com/@washcoar
Go back and watch meetings at your leisure and make notes. If you have questions, ask me.
We need to grow our audience.
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→ Today, 4/27/24, there are at least 756 (33 more than last week) people incarcerated in the WC Detention Center. There are 93 listed as “homeless.” Here’s a link to the WCDC Jail Roster: https://www.washingtoncountyar.gov/government/departments-f-z/sheriff/detention-information/detainee-roster-detailed
257 are listed as “hold for other departments.” 67 are listed as “courtesy/contract hold.”
239 are listed as “failure to appear.” There are many reasons why someone might miss a court date, maybe they don’t have transportation or child care, or they know they’ll be fired from their job if they miss work. Vera Institute of Justice recently issued a report on failure to appear charges and the dire circumstances that result. You can read that article here: https://www.vera.org/news/millions-of-people-in-the-u-s-miss-their-court-date-with-dire-consequences
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COUNTY BIDS/REQUESTS FOR PROPOSALS and COUNTY JOB OPENINGS
→ Bid for 3M Peltor ComTac V1 Headset for Emergency Management. Bidding closes 4/29/24 at 4:00 PM Bids will be opened 4/30/24 9:30 AM. Here’s the bid packet if you know anyone interested.
→ This Bid 2024-09 is for K9 Grass for our Animal Shelter. This was approved in our 2024 budget and it’s really needed at the shelter. If you know anyone or any business dealing with synthetic grass “Forever Lawn K9Grass Classic+” please let them know about this bid.
→ This RFP 2024-02 is for roofing services for the cooperative extension building located at 2536 N. McConnell Drive, Fayetteville, Arkansas. Proposals are due by 4:00 pm 5/6/24. Packets will be opened 5/7/24 9:00 AM, Fifth Floor Conference Room, WC Courthouse.
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 REMAIN OPEN 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 a great Court Support Volunteer.
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