JP Coger's Washington County Newsletter 5/18/25
- Beth Coger
- 19 hours ago
- 4 min read
🗓️ Public Meeting Calendar Update (as of 5/17/25 at 6:00 PM) No public meetings are currently posted on Washington County’s official calendar for this week.
📌 Meeting Recap: Washington County Quorum Court
Regular Monthly Meeting — Thursday, May 15, 2025, 6:00 PM–8:20 PM Watch the full meeting video here.
Highlights:
Public Comment: We heard some wonderful public feedback during public comment time. Thank you to everyone who came and to those who watched online.
FOIA Violations Judgment Payment: An ordinance was passed to appropriate $9,735.00 to pay two judgments awarded to me in a lawsuit I filed due to Washington County’s violations of Arkansas Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) laws regarding public meetings.
Here's the clip, which starts at 39:18 in the video, where JP Lisa Ecke says that she’s tired of the Arkansas Justice Reform Coalition (I’m pretty sure she’s referring to me, too) suing the county over what she calls “...little technicalities…” My lawsuits and AJRC’s involve serious allegations of the county breaking the Arkansas Freedom of Information Act (confirmed in both the lower court and by the Arkansas Court of Appeals) and not following procurement laws, among other things. Those are not “little technicalities.”
[View the transcript of JP Ecke’s comments here.]
County Attorney Budget Amendment: Another ordinance passed to allocate $38,142.50 to the County Attorney’s Office to cover legal defense costs related to a recent lawsuit filed by AJRC (see last week's Newsletter for background)
Eaglecrest Recovery Facility: The proposal to allow Eaglecrest Recovery to operate without a Conditional Use Permit was referred to the Planning Board for what was labeled a “public hearing.”
This prompted the County Attorney to define what a public hearing is (you know it cannot be good when the county attorney feels inclined to teach the public about what a public hearing is):
Attorney Lester: “I want to 43:47 address what a public hearing is because I think there was some confusion around what a public hearing is a public 43:53 hearing is defined as a formal meeting held pursuant to the laws or regulations administered by a commission or 43:58 department for the purpose of receiving the on the record oral or written comments from the public on a permitting 44:04 decision or a rulemaking process that is all a public hearing is the law arkansas 44:12 law requires in these proceedings that when a quorum court initiates this that 44:17 it be sent to the planning board for a public hearing it is for public input just like what you have at your every 44:24 one of your core meetings it's not a question and answer it's not a back and forth it is just to receive on 44:30 the record public comment…”
Zoning Ordinance Referral: The zoning ordinance was also sent back to the Planning Board for a "public hearing," raising the same concerns about lack of true public interaction. This so called public hearing will be the same as the Eaglecrest - just a phantom "public meeting."
🧩 A Public Hearing Should Mean Real Engagement & Dialogue
JP Coger's Opinion: A genuine public meeting should provide opportunities for community members to ask questions and receive answers—not just deliver statements into the void. They should also include the option for people watching from home to engage in the conversation.
True public engagement depends on two-way communication. Allowing public questions and providing public answers promotes transparency, builds trust, and ensures our officials are accountable. It also helps clarify complex issues (certainly the zoning ordinance is complex, as is Eagle Crest), correct misinformation, and deepen community involvement in the decision-making process. This is what fosters and creates public support and buy-in. There's absolutely no reason why we cannot do that.
One of the big issues with the whole "new" zoning ordinance is that it never included the public in the decision making process. It was always just being pushed through. I don't know of anyone who asked for it.
Point of Order — Roberts Rules Violation: At 1:31:54, I made a Point of Order after being improperly interrupted by the county judge while holding the floor—a clear violation of Robert’s Rules of Order (42:18 and 42:19) and a serious breach of decorum.
The Judge ruled against me, and I appealed the decision and it was sustained.
🚨 Detention Center Snapshot — 5/17/25
Total Detainees: 714
Listed as “Homeless” or at 1832 S School St (Seven Hills): 68
Trustees (Act 309): 40
Awaiting ADC Transfer: 102
Held on Failure to Appear: 220
Hold for Other Departments: 247
📚 Must-Read: 2020 Criminal Justice Assessment Study by the National Center for State CourtsThis report explains why expanding our jail is not the solution to improving public safety, and it never will be.
I downloaded the WCDC information into a Google Spreadsheet. You can use this to create reports on all kinds of data from the jail.
🏗️ County Bid Postings (as of 5/17/25)
🔹 Pre-Procure Disaster/Weather Relief RFP
Posted: April 17, 2025
Clarification Deadline: May 12, 2025 at 2:00 PM
Due: May 28, 2025 at 4:00 PM
Opening: May 29, 2025 at 9:00 AM📄 Download Bid Packet
🔹 Property Insurance (Buildings & Content)
Reposted: Now due May 16, 2025 at 4:00 PM📄 View Updated Packet
💼 County Job Openings (as of 5/17/25)
Job Title | Type | Deadline | Pay |
Adult Detention Officer | Full Time | Open Until Filled | $21.91/hr |
Deputy First Class - Patrol | Full Time | Open Until Filled | $24.38–$26.86/hr |
Election Poll Worker | Temporary | Open Until Filled | $14/hr |
Juvenile Detention Officer | Full Time | Open Until Filled | $21.25–$23.42/hr |
Peer Recovery Specialist | Full Time | Open Until Filled | $17.05/hr |
Planning Technician | Full Time | Open Until Filled | $21.25–$22.31/hr |
Mechanic III (Road Dept.) | Full Time | Open Until Filled | $29.92–$32.98/hr |
Equipment Operator (EQ1–EQ4) | Full Time | Open Until Filled | $16.90–$31.10/hr |
📞 Road Department: 479-444-1610📞 Sheriff’s Office: 479-444-5700🔗 View All County Job Postings
📨 Stay Connected
If you’d like to receive regular updates, or know someone who would, feel free to contact me:
📞 479-306-9994📧 ejcoger@gmail.com
Let’s keep working toward greater transparency, accountability, and equity in Washington County. We can do that.