🟧 JP COGER’S WASHINGTON COUNTY UPDATE Week of December 7, 2025
- Beth Coger
- 1 minute ago
- 5 min read
📬 A NOTE FROM BETH: There will be a Special Meeting of the Washington County Quorum Court Monday, 12/22/2025, 6:00 PM, Washington County Courthouse. At this time, the special meeting is only to hear appeals of the Gulley Ranch Conditional Use Permit (CUP) and the O’Brien Ready Mix CUP.
You can read Judge Patrick Deakins’ response to my FOIA request about this meeting here. Here is Catherine Baker’s response to my FOIA.
📄 CRI & CAP November Reports Submitted to the Quorum Court: Nick Robbins of Returning Home, Inc.—the vendor that operates the Community Rebuilding Initiative (CRI) and the Community Alternative Program (CAP)—provided the Quorum Court with the November reports for both CRI and CAP.
📅 THIS WEEK IN WASHINGTON COUNTY, ARKANSAS:
🟠 Two meetings this week – Finance & Budget on Tuesday 12/9/25 and Election Commission on Thursday 12/11/25 – details in newsletter.
Washington County Quorum Court Finance & Budget Committee meets Tuesday, 12/9/25, 6:00 PM, Washington County Courthouse. The meeting will be livestreamed on the county’s YouTube Channel.
Read the Agenda here.
📑 Agenda Highlights
💼 Item 4.1: Treasurer’s Report (11/1/25–11/30/25)
General Fund: $13,323,630.53 → $18,472,485.23
ARPA Revenue Replacement Fund: $6,616,861.44 → $5,788,453.34
American Rescue Plan Act Fund: $4,913,657.87 → $1,256,856.17
Jail Maintenance & Operation Fund: $7,586,653.13 → $7,615,622.44
Law Library Fund: $317,629.23 (Revenue: $35,195.94; Expenditures: $34,273.58)
CRI Fund: $235,962.34 → $195,603.58 (Expenditures: $40,358.76)
📌 Property Taxes (November): $8,104,087.17 (YTD: $22,041,312.54)
📊 1¢ Sales Tax (November): $945,332.89 (+1.11% from Nov. 2024; YTD: $10,428,379.97)
📊 ¼¢ Jail Sales Tax (November): $1,453,232.11 (+2.05% from Nov. 2024; YTD: $16,002,625.13)
📘 Item 6.1: Comptroller’s Report
A review of year-to-date financial activity and departmental budget performance.
🚨 Item 7.1: Emergency Management Grant Fund Ordinance
An ordinance anticipating $542,102 in the Department of Emergency Management Grant Fund and appropriating that amount to various Homeland Security Budgets for 2025.
💲 Item 9.1: Employee Insurance Fund Appropriation
An ordinance appropriating $1,100,000 from General Fund reserves to the Employee Insurance Fund for 2025.
The county will pay $1,000 per employee per month for health insurance premiums (up from ~$800).
We are hoping to fully fund projected insurance costs at once rather than in incremental adjustments.
🏗️ Item 8.1: Amendment to Ordinance 2025-44 (Zoning Ordinance)
Clarifies that appellants—(in Conditional Use Permit appeals)—are responsible for notifying adjoining property owners of hearings and appeals.
This clarification follows notification issues raised in the Gulley Ranch CUP and O’Brien Ready Mix CUP cases.
🟠 The Washington County Election Commission meets 12/11/25 at 10:00 AM, 2721 S. Brink Drive, Fayetteville, Arkansas. This meeting is open to the public. Any person may join this meeting in-person or by teleconference using the information below.
Meeting ID: 833 5720 7649Passcode: 317997
Meetings are live-streamed on the County Election Commission’s YouTube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCpX-GrzfCvEF0PszfEr6V3Q
I appreciate the Election Commission making this meeting accessible via Zoom. That is a great example of transparency.
The agenda includes ballot approval, early vote sites and dates, election day sites, and notice of election absentee canvassing, election night meeting, ballot remake times, provisional ballot dates and certifications.
📌 HIGHLIGHTS FROM LAST WEEK:
The Washington County Planning Board met Thursday 12/4/25. You can watch the meeting on the county’s YouTube Channel here.
The planning staff presented eight (8) projects before the Zoning Board of Adjustment and the Planning Board on Thursday, 12/04/2025. Staff and the Board discussed two (2) CUPs, five (5) land developments, and one (1) variance project as shown below:
Project # | Project Name | Board Decision |
2025-356 | Medina Minor Subdivision | Approved |
2025-374 | Replat Tract 4 Wilderness Run Phase I Subdivision | Approved |
2025-403 | Replat Tract 1 Wilderness Run Phase I Subdivision | Approved |
2025-410 | The Harriet CUP | Approved |
2025-412 | Daugherty Minor Subdivision | Tabled by applicant |
2025-416 | Wellspring Retreat CUP | Approved |
2025-417 | Sonora Minor Subdivision | Approved |
2025-418 | Young-Cunningham Variance - Acreage | Approved |
All the “Approved” projects passed unanimously and all seven board members were present.
⚖️ Federal Court Settlement Conference – Eaglecrest Recovery CUP Appeal (12/5/25) During the settlement conference held on Friday, 12/5/25, from approximately 9:40 a.m. to just after 1:00 p.m., a majority of parties reached a tentative settlement. It will not become final unless and until it is approved in an open meeting of the Washington County Quorum Court (expected to be 12/18/25).
Attorney Brian Lester stated he would provide a draft ordinance to approve the proposed agreement and appropriate funds on Monday (12/8/25), and it is expected that this item will be added to the agenda at the beginning of Tuesday’s (12/9/25) Finance & Budget Committee meeting.
On Wednesday (12/3/25) Federal Judge Christi Comstock entered this Order Closing Settlement Conference to Public; I did not see this order or know about it until 12/7/25, when I reviewed the court’s online filing system. Under the tentative proposal, the county will pay Eaglecrest $500,000 and allow the facility to operate without a Conditional Use Permit, again, subject to final approval of the quorum court. If you would like a copy of the draft ordinance prepared for Tuesday’s meeting, you may email me at ejcoger@gmail.com and I will forward it when I receive it.
🔵 DETENTION CENTER SNAPSHOT
Incarcerated People as of 12/7/25 @ 3:15 PM: 688
Listed as “unsheltered”: 79 (12/7/25)
ADC Committed: 134 (12/7/25
Courtesy/Contract Hold: 79
Failure to Appear Charges: 127
Hold for Other Department: 187
Violation of Probation: 55
Here’s the link to the Detailed Charge Report: https://www.washingtoncountyar.gov/government/departments-f-z/sheriff/detention-information/detainee-charge-report
You can check the “Calls for Service” board here.
Here’s a list in alphabetical order to search for people.
Current County Bid Postings (as of 12/7/25)
Bid 2025-17 Software Maintenance & Technical Support System. Washington County Circuit Clerk is seeking bids to provide annual software maintenance and technical support services for its actRecord Land Records Management System. Due 4:00 PM 12/11/25. Bid Opening 12/12/25 9:00 am, Washington County Courthouse.
Bid 2025-18 GIS & Geospatial Consulting Services. Also for the Circuit Clerk’s Office for bids for professional GIS and geospatial consulting services. Due 4:00 PM 12/11/25. Bid Opening 12/12/25 9:30 am, Washington County Courthouse.
Bid 2025-19 Exterior Painting at 100 N. College - REBID. The Building & Grounds Department is seeking bids for exterior painting of 100 N. College Avenue, Fayetteville. (Formerly the women’s prison) Due 4:00 PM 12/11/25. Opening of proposals: 12/12/25 10:00 am, Washington County Courthouse.
Extensive renovations have already begun on the former women’s prison. Where is that money coming from?
You can view the closed bids here.
View all RFQs and bids [here].
Washington County Job Openings (as of 12/7/25).
Full Time | Open Until Filled | $21.91 / HR | |
Temporary | Open Until Filled | 14/Hr | |
Full Time | Open Until Filled | $21.25 - $23.42/hr | |
Full Time | Open Until Filled | $21.25 - $23.42/hr | |
Full Time | Open Until Filled | $23.71 - $26.13 | |
Full Time | Open Until Filled | $21.91 - $24.14 | |
Full Time | Open Until Filled | $18hr |
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.
🌟 Final Note
Transparency and community involvement are essential to good government, and Washington County is strongest when residents stay engaged, ask questions, and expect accountability from their elected officials. Thank you for continuing to play an active role in shaping a more transparent, responsive, and responsible Washington County government.
— Beth Coger Washington County Justice of the Peace, District 9 📧ejcoger@gmail.com| 💻 bethcoger.com