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JP Coger's Washington County News 1/12/25

Writer's picture: Beth CogerBeth Coger

Updated: Jan 12


I remind myself often of this quote from Judge Christi Beaumont.  This was sometime in 2023 before Judge Deakins suspended the Criminal Justice Coordinating Committee.
I remind myself often of this quote from Judge Christi Beaumont. This was sometime in 2023 before Judge Deakins suspended the Criminal Justice Coordinating Committee.


I’ve been getting a lot of new subscribers and that’s exciting.  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!


Why I write this newsletter:


My goal is to keep people informed and hopefully get more people paying attention and involved in their local government.  We need much more transparency and more community involvement.


While the national government addresses broad issues that affect the country as a whole, local government has a more immediate and tangible impact on citizens’ lives.  


I believe most elected officials read and are aware of letters that community members write to the local newspaper “Letters to the Editor.”   This is a cheap but powerful way for community members to engage with their communities and influence public discourse.   


These letters can stimulate conversation among residents and hold local leaders accountable.  I find that writing these letters fosters a sense of ownership over local issues.


The Northwest Arkansas Democrat Gazette allows you to write and publish (at their discretion) one letter every thirty days.  That would be a great exercise for anyone.  Letters are normally limited to 500 words.  Do you have an issue you’d like to write about, to draw attention to, to advocate for change?  You can send your letters to:    letters@nwadg.com



 



UPCOMING PUBLIC MEETINGS WEEK OF 1/12/25

(As of 1/11/25 @ 1:00 pm)


🌟  Regular Monthly Washington County Quorum Court, Thursday, 1/16/25, 6:00 PM, Washington County Courthouse.  In person meeting only.  Here’s the agenda.  


There will be three new JPs and this will be their first meeting after being sworn in.


This will be our organizational meeting where we adopt procedures and rules pursuant to A.C.A. §14-14-904 “...establish the date, time and location of meetings of the quorum court…the quorum court of each county shall determine at the first regular meeting its rules of procedure (my emphasis)…”


This is a very important meeting as it will set the rules of procedure for the next two years (unless amended and that almost never happens), so a huge community presence will be greatly appreciated.


There will be a fifteen (15) minute public comment time at the beginning of the meeting, just after we adopt the agenda AND there will be a twelve (12) minute public comment time before we vote on any ordinance or resolution.

Read the County Code here on public comments.


 

COUNTY MEETINGS FROM LAST WEEK


There was only one public meeting posted on the calendar for last week. The courthouse closed at 2:00 pm Thursday 1/9/25 and was closed all day 1/10/25 due to the snow storms.  I think this means the Planning and Zoning Board did not meet as scheduled (and detailed in last week’s newsletter) on 1/9/25.  There’s no YouTube video of the meeting.


There’s no new posting for a rescheduled meeting as of this time.



 

ARKANSAS ASSOCIATION OF COUNTIES:   www.arcounties.org


The above link has a lot of information on county government and how it.  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 1/11/25


 As of  1/10/25, there are at least 789 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.


73 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 1/11/25 


 🌟 There’s a bid for “Engineering Services for Road Department” RFQ 2024-02.  This was posted 12/23/24 and responses are due by 4:00 pm, 1/27/25 and will be opened 1/28/25 at 9:00 o’clock am.

Below is the link to current RFQs and bids:  

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COUNTY JOB OPENINGS THIS WEEK (1/11/25)



There’s a new posting for Youth Development Supervisor.

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. 


  • 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



Here’s how you can contact your county officials.  We need to hear from you!!

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