JP Coger's Washington County UPdate 11/23/25
- Beth Coger
- Nov 23, 2025
- 7 min read
Your Weekly Look at County Government, Transparency & More
A Note From Beth
Thank you for taking a moment each week to stay informed about your county government. Transparency only works when the public is watching, asking questions, and expecting accountability — and I’m grateful to be doing that work alongside you.
I know this newsletter is longer than usual, and because of that I have omitted some of my regular information; however, a lot happened last week. These are things and issues that I think are very important to Washington County residents and I ask that you please take a little extra time for this week’s newsletter. I promise to make next week’s update shorter…Also, please share with your friends and neighbors. Anyone can email me at ejcoger@gmail.com and I will add their name to the mailing list.
🗓️ THERE ARE NO COUNTY MEETINGS THIS Week (Nov. 23-30, 2025)
At the time of publication, no county meetings are posted for this week. I will update you if that changes.
📌 Highlights From LAST Week’s Meetings
Washington County Quorum Court — Thursday, Nov. 20, 2025
CITIZEN COMMENTS SUMMARIES:
(3:28) David Baltz raised concerns about an alleged illegal business, “Stewart’s Family Christmas Lights.” He stressed the business is operating as an LLC with vendors, sales, paid staff, etc., but without the required Conditional Use Permit (CUP).
(6:42) Kenneth Lovett spoke about censorship in public meetings, stating that officials cannot censor speakers based on content or viewpoint in public forums – You know, First Amendment Rights and all.
(9:44) Sherry Main addressed the budget, questioning several significant increases in the 2026 budget such as the County Judge’s and County Attorney. Ms. Main had handouts with budget information, but the judge told her to allow Mr. Tad Sours to hand them out, and they got delivered to the desk but not to the JPs until I retrieved a copy after the meeting. (See below)
(13:03) Madalyn Farquhar with RES spoke about a wind farm project for North of Lincoln. She urged the court to reject a moratorium on wind energy, advocating for continued dialogue. (13:03-16:08)
Sarah Moore with Arkansas Justice Reform Coalition raised very valid concerns about the $18.8 Million Dollar jail expansion funded by American Rescue Plan Act Dollars. Ms. Moore pointed out substantial overspending on various components of the project, such as significant increases in bid packages for structural steel, earthwork, and more. (16:22-18:34)
LEGISLATIVE SUMMARIES:
Judge’s Report starts at (18:56). He also offered a prayer for the road crew given anticipated heavy rains (23:26)
Item 8.1: (28:31 - 31:15) An ordinance amending Ordinance 2019-04 was discussed and passed unanimously. This amendment changes the deadline for submitting ordinances and resolutions to the county counselor from five to seven days prior to a meeting, allowing more time for review and preparation of the agenda.
Item 10.1: (31:18 - 37:49) An ordinance ratifying a CUP for the Puptown Doggy Daycare project was passed 13-1.
Item 11.1: (37-52 - 41:18) A resolution in support of assistance via Act 9 Revenue Bonds to Ozark Electric Cooperative was debated and passed. Justice Massingill and Justice Coger spoke against the resolution. I specifically objected to a 65% tax abatement for 30 years and for a $20 - $40 Million Dollar office building in Springdale, viewing the measure as too generous for Ozark Electric and too detrimental to Washington County taxpayers and school districts. Justice Lyons supported the resolution, believing it will prevent rate increases for Ozark customers and support future growth in WC. (39:31 - 41:18)
Item 13.1: (47:42) An ordinance appropriating $121,138 from Unappropriated Reserves in the General Fund to the Children’s Safety Center of WC. Starting at (48:16) I spoke, stating that while I support the CSC, there are many nonprofits in our community that do valuable work and are also facing drastic funding cuts. I believe we need fairness, consistency and transparency in how we support community partners. It shouldn’t be that someone has the ear of the County Judge or a JP and they can get funding. At (48:33) I mention that since January 2023, the county has cut funding to the HIV Clinic, the entire Environmental Department and Ozark Regional Transit (there are several more). At (50:15) Judge Deakins comments that I am “...making him a little uncomfortable about the ‘germaneness’ of this conversation.” I suspect he did not want me to name other programs that have been cut under his administration, but you can ask him about that, and you should. He might have a different view point.
When you hear the County Judge say he’s cut $1.5 Million from the budget, ask him which programs he cut in order to do that.
Item 14.1: (52:34) This ordinance appropriates funds and accepts a grant for the Community Rebuilding Initiative Grant Fund and program. The ordinance appropriated:
$284,090.76 in additional grant revenue to the Community Rebuilding Initiative (CRI) fund, and $94,696.92 as the county’s 25% match for the RSAT program. The ordinance passed. (1:05:47) I voted “NO.” JPs Rivera Lopez and Washington Abstained. JPs Lyons, Ecke, Dennis, Highers, Rios Stafford, Leming, Ricker, Pond, Bruns, Wilson and Massingill voted “YES.”
Explanation of Matching Formula (I did not have this information when I wrote about this in last week’s newsletter) Total projected project cost: $378,787.68 Grant covers 75%: $284,090.76; County match is 25%: $94,696.92. (The match is 25% of the total cost - not 25% of the grant amount)
Here is a page from the RSAT application for this grant that was submitted to the Arkansas Department of Finance and Administration by Washington County which lists $524,720.00 + $55,357.96 in “mandated Benefits” for "Contractual Services."
At (54:44) I speak, stating:
I support treatment and recovery programs in general, but
RSAT has only been operating for seven months, which is not enough time to measure outcomes, reduction in jail population, or the impact on pretrial detainees (Are pretrial people actually staying in jail longer??) How do we know?
Continued expansion of RSAT delays true justice reform, especially Pretrial Services, which the 2020 Criminal Justice Assessment Study identified as essential.
The CJAS found that pretrial defendants are the number one driver of jail overcrowding.
I also referenced the national definition of Pretrial Services (support and oversight for defendants on pretrial release).
Point of Order Called (56:01) Justice Lyons raised a Point of Order, claiming my comments about broader justice reforms—specifically Pretrial Services—were not germane to the RSAT funding ordinance. The County Judge agreed with the Point of Order and instructed me to keep comments germane. I asked to reply to the Point of Order, but the Judge denied that opportunity and then I appealed the ruling of the chair. The quorum court sustained the ruling of the chair, meaning most (not all) members agreed with the Judge that I must limit my comments to what he deemed germane to the ordinance. The Judge then repeated that I must keep my comments germane. At (59:57) County Attorney Lester rules that I am not allowed to respond to a Point of Order Call. Personally, I can take being told “No,” what I do not like is being told to stay quiet. Under Robert’s Rules of Order 12th Ed., “Remarks are germane if they have a bearing on whether the immediate pending motion should be adopted.” My remarks were “germane.”
Community Member Sherry Main speaks at (1:04:48) stating that she has a copy of the 2023 Tax Return for Returning Home (the vendor who operates the CRI and RSAT) and that return shows $437,585 paid for wages in 2023 plus $33,855 in payroll taxes.
Item 15.1: (1:06:41) An Ordinance establishing the WC Annual Budget for 2026. JP Lyons introduces the proposed 2026 budget. During discussion of the 2026 county budget, Mr. Paul Sherman, the Comptroller, (1:07:52) explained the overall financial picture and key pressures driving the proposed $129.7 million budget—an 1.87% increase from the prior year. Major factors included rising health-care costs under the county’s self-funded plan, increased labor expenses (53.7% of the budget), and the need to maintain an adequate unappropriated reserve, currently $1.7 million. A motion was made to pass the budget.
Justice Bruns then proposed delaying the vote until next month to allow for transparency regarding the County Attorney’s and County Judge’s budgets, which had not yet been reviewed publicly. After the County Attorney ruled that such a delay is not a standard amendment and would instead occur naturally if the ordinance failed to receive 10 votes, I made a formal motion to postpone the vote until December. That motion failed.
Additional discussion followed regarding a separate amendment (1:13:58) by JP Rios Stafford to add a 2.9% cost-of-living adjustment (COLA), which was analyzed by the Comptroller. He warned this would significantly reduce unappropriated reserves and strain the health-insurance fund. After debate, JP Rios Stafford withdrew the COLA amendment. The court then returned to the main budget motion, with several justices stressing the importance of adopting the budget in November to allow HR staff adequate time to enter the data and implement changes. Public comment also included concerns about oversight of Returning Home and renewed calls for developing evidence-based pretrial services.
Voting to Approve the 2026 Budget: JPs Lyons, Ecke, Dennis, Highers, Rios-Stafford, Ricker, Pond, Wilson and Massingill.
Voting Against Approving the 2026 Budget: JPs Coger, Leming, Bruns, and Rivera-Lopez. JP Washington abstained.
I voted against the budget because of questions that were brought up during debate and public comment, huge items that had not been discussed publicly. Here is the list brought forward by Sherry Main in her public comments. These are great questions that deserve answers. If you agree, contact your JP and ask that they get answers for you.
The budget will now be on the 12/18/25 agenda at the December regular monthly Quorum Court meeting. On it's second reading.
📊 Data Corner
Detention Center Snapshot 11/21/25
Total People in Jail: 711
Homeless: 84
State Prisoners: 167
Federal Prisoners: 70
Year -to-Date Bookings: 9,488
Total Inmate Days in Jail: 118,409
Average Length of Stay: 166 days
People with Prior Jail History: 539
Here is the Detainee Summary and also the Inmate Population Analysis
📬 Closing
Thank you for reading and for staying engaged. Washington County works best when its residents are informed, involved, and unafraid to ask hard questions. I’ll continue to do that work on your behalf — and with your help.
— Beth
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