JP COGER'S WASHINGTON COUNTY UPDATE 2/9/25
- Beth Coger
- Feb 9
- 8 min read
Updated: Feb 9
WHAT IS GOING ON?
COUNTY SERVICES COMMITTEE WILL NO LONGER ALLOW PUBLIC COMMENT BEFORE WE VOTE ON AN ORDINANCE OR RESOLUTION - DOES THIS VIOLATE STATE STATUTE AND COUNTY CODE? I THINK IT DOES!
Here’s how you can contact your county officials. (New JP contacts are now available) We need to hear from you!!
Here’s the link to watch last week’s County Services meeting.
At last Monday’s County Services meeting, JP David Wilson was elected as Chair and JP Butch Pond was elected Vice Chair (I nominated JP Shawndra Wilson to be Vice Chair). We should have a JP as chair of our committees, not the county judge, and in past meetings, JP Wilson has shown that he is a fair and impartial chair who maintains decorum (which we need).
We had two items on the agenda which required votes from the committee to send on to the full quorum court. JP Wilson did not allow public comment time before either vote. I called “Point of Order” the second time it happened and he said we would only be having public comments before we are “voting on ordinances and resolutions during "...regular quorum court meetings.” Meaning not in committee meetings. You can watch video of the meeting here.
I called JP Wilson the following day to be sure I had heard him correctly. (There was a lot going on and several people speaking so I wasn’t sure I heard correctly). However, he confirmed he will not allow public comment before we vote on ordinances or resolutions in committee meetings, “...on advice of counsel.”
I then called Washington County Attorney Brian Lester who said he “...did not recall discussing public comment (or that issue) with JP Wilson.” However, attorney Lester told me in his opinion it was up to the chair whether or not to call and allow public comments before we vote on an ordinance or resolution in committee. I then sent the following letter to attorney Lester asking that he instruct all chairs to follow the law.
See email exchange below for more information.
Both county ordinance and state law explicitly require public comment before votes on ordinances and resolutions, even at the committee level. Washington County Code Sec. 2-32(g) states:
"There shall (my emphasis) be a twelve-minute public comment period before a vote on any proposed resolution or ordinance during any regular or special meeting of a committee of the Quorum Court. (again, my emphasis) This shall follow the discussions by the committee members, Quorum Court members not on the committee, and other County officials or employees involved. No individual may speak longer than three (3) minutes."
Additionally, A.C.A. § 14-14-109 mandates:
“(2)(b) In any meeting required to be open to the public, the county quorum court, committee, (my emphasis) board, or other entity shall (my emphasis) adopt rules for conducting the meeting which afford citizens a reasonable opportunity to participate prior to the final decision.” (my emphasis)
Here is attorney Lester’s response in which he agrees (...”I can all but guarantee…”) that the lack of public comment influenced the outcome of the votes.
Elected officials should always encourage public and community participation in government. We need to listen and let the peoples’ voices be heard. This is how we learn about issues that our community members are experiencing and learn (from those being impacted) how we can help make things better by passing laws, appropriating money, or whatever needs to be done.
We’ve been having a great turnout at our committee and full quorum court meetings. People come to our meetings who work hard. They attend our meetings after great effort. They have jobs and families and their time is valuable. The very least we can do on the Washington County Quorum Court is allow them to speak. Let them speak to us. Why is that even an issue? If people are serving and don’t want to hear from their constituents, then they should not run for office.
CALL TO ACTION: Using the link above, you can find email addresses, and most phone numbers, for all JPs, the County Judge and County Attorney. The community must speak up and put pressure on to allow public comment before a vote on any ordinance or resolution, whether in committee or the regular quorum court. Please call, write letters, share on social media, and also letters to the editor.
IF WE DON'T STAND UP FOR THIS RIGHT TO BE HEARD, WE WILL LOSE IT!
At this same meeting I sponsored an ordinance to require online publication of recorded minutes of all Washington County Quorum Court meetings. Unfortunately, I did not have the votes to get the law passed, but I will try again. It’s ridiculous that in 2025 our minutes are not posted online after they are signed and filed.
JPs had various opinions on sharing our minutes online. JP Ecke said they were already online. They are not. She and others also expressed concern about whether the quorum court could direct the county clerk to do something. Of course we can! Furthermore, the County Clerk had already agreed to do this.
Under A.C.A. § 14-14-902(a), and unless the quorum court provides otherwise, the county clerk must “[p]erform all administrative and recordkeeping duties” required under the county government code and “[p]erform all other duties” that the quorum court sets “through county ordinance.” Therefore, the quorum court has express authority to require a county clerk to perform certain duties, which encompasses publishing ordinances, resolutions, and contracts online. See also, Arkansas Attorney General Opinion 2023-079. I am unable to attach the link, but if you go to: https://arkansasag.gov/divisions/opinions-foia/attorney-general-opinions-search and search for the 2023-079 opinion number, it will come up. No charge.
The following JPs voted AGAINST online publication of recorded minutes of the Washington County Quorum Court:
JP Robert Dennis
JP Willie Leming
JP Gary Ricker
JP Butch Pond
JP Brad Bruns
JP David Wilson
JP Lisa Ecke
JP Charles Dean
The following JPs voted FOR online publication of recorded minutes of the Washington County Quorum Court:
JP Suki Highers
JP Robert Massingill
JP Vladimir Lopez
JP Shawndra Washington
JP Beth Coger
UPCOMING MEETINGS WEEK 2/8/25
🌟WASHINGTON COUNTY QUORUM COURT FINANCE & BUDGET COMMITTEE meets Tuesday 2/11/25 @ 6:00 PM, Washington County Courthouse. Here’s the agenda for that meeting. This is an in person meeting only. The meeting will be live-streamed on the county’s YouTube channel.
AGENDA HIGHLIGHTS PER JP BETH COGER:
Treasurer’s Report.
Ending balance of American Rescue Plan Act Fund $13,339,519.60 as of 1/31/25
One cent sales tax income $966,857.64 YTD
Quarter Cent sales tax income (Jail) $1,472,620.95 YTD
Comptroller Report.
County Road Dept. used 18.4% of budget YTD with a balance of $13,676,240.00
Jail Operations & Maintenance used $2,032,469.00 YTD and has encumbrances of $5,319,316.00 with a balance of $21,019,164.00
Sheriff used $1,126,196.00 YTD with encumbrances of $763,561.00 with balance of $12,716,510.00
Prosecuting Attorney YTD $138,456.00
Public Defender YTD $70,001.00
Unappropriated Reserve Balance 1/31/25 $24,599,411.69
Item 7.1 AN ORDINANCE ESTABLISHING SALARIES FOR JPS & OTHER MATTERS.
JPs will receive compensation full amount allowed by law divided into 26 payments. Notice: No exact amount is given. I will find out and be transparent.
JP can miss one meeting per year for “emergency or personal reasons” and be paid. After that absent JP’s pay is withheld at rate of $913.33 for regular QC meeting & $300 each committee meeting.
Any JP who misses more than ½ of any meeting is deemed absent
Item 8.1 AN ORDINANCE GIVING BALANCE OF HIV CLINIC FUND which totals $61,786.21 to Community Clinic.
Item 10.1 AN ORDINANCE AMENDING JUDGE TAYLOR’S COURT BUDGET FOR 2025.
Circuit Judge Joanna Taylor has been working non stop since January 1st. She is holding court in the morning and afternoon. I wouldn’t be surprised if she announced she’s starting a night court. She is intent on clearing out cases that have been languishing in the backlog. She needs an additional $66,311.76 to hire additional staff. I will be voting for this.
🌟WASHINGTON COUNTY ELECTION COMMISSION MEETS Tuesday, 2/11/25, 9:00 AM, Washington County Courthouse, Room 115. Meetings are live-streamed on the County Election Commission’s YouTube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCpX-GrzfCvEF0PszfEr6V3Q
The agenda includes:
1. Oath of Office
2. Election of Chair
3. Approve Minutes from the previous meeting
4. New Building Update
5. School Election: Meeting Dates
a. March 6: Ballot Draw/ Polling Site Selection @ 9:00b. March 13: Ballot Approval @ 9:00c. April 22: Public Test @ 10:00 ( Not an EC Meeting)d. April 23: Logic and Accuracy Certification/ Poll Worker Noticee. May 13: Election Dayf. May 15: Provisional Ballot Review @ 9:00g. May 23: Provisional Ballot Hearing/Certification @ 1:006. Precinct Changes7. Legislative Update8. Other Business
🌟WASHINGTON COUNTY PLANNING COMMISSION MEETS Thursday, 2/13/25, 5:00 PM, Washington County Courthouse, Room 115. Here’s the agenda for the meeting. All Board Meetings are live streamed on the Washington County YouTube channel. Click here to watch live stream/archived videos.
Click here to view the entire presentation with maps, applications, and much more information.
AGENDA SUMMARY:
ZBA: Lot 5A Magnolia Acres Variance - Acreage 18488 Lake Sequoyah Rd., Fayetteville, AR. Proposed Use: Non-Buildable Lot. Applicant Alan Reid & Associates. .04 acre
Moonlight on the White Rentals CUP, 18250 Saddlebock Ln, Springdale, AR; Applicants Christy Stigge. Proposed Use: Commercial – Kayak, Canoe, and Fishing Gear Rentals. 4.38 acres
Arkansas Mailing Services CUP, 10504 & 10506 Hwy 265, Greenland, AR. Applicant: Jon Jones. Proposed Use: Commercial – Mailing Services - 6.08 acres.
Hogeye Wireless Communication Facility CUP - 14652 Hogeye Rd, WC 28, Prairie Grove, AR 72753. Proposed use: Communication Tower Facility. 49.73 acres
Devil’s Den Proving Ground, 12743 W Hwy 265, West Fork, AR. Applicant: Brahm Driver and Michael Davis. Proposed Use: Commercial – Office Space Building. 10.03 acres
Johnson Minor Subdivision - 19811 S Hwy 59, Evansville, AR. Applicant: Gene E. Buescher/Survey 1. Proposed Use: Single-Family Residential 6.22 acres
Amador Minor Subdivision - 13471 White Oak Road, Fayetteville, AR. Applicant: Alan Reid & Associates. Proposed Use: Single-Family Residential 3.00 acres
Replat Lot 5A Magnolia Acres Subdivision I 18488 Lake Sequoyah Rd., Fayetteville, AR. Applicant: Alan Reid & Associates. Proposed Use: Single-Family Residential 6.03 acres
Devil’s Den Proving Ground Preliminary Large Scale Development (LSD) Plat I 12743 W Hwy 265, West Fork, AR. Applicant Braham Driver & Michael Davis. Proposed Use: Commercial - Office Space Building 10.03 acres.
Desert Sand Commercial Buildings Preliminary LSD 7645 W. John Garrison Rd., Fayetteville, AR. Applicant: Joseph Warren. Proposed Use: Commercial – Multi Use Warehouse. 32.00 acres / 1 parcel (5 acres will be used)
Other Business: Discussion of Current Development and Planning Department activities
🌟 DETENTION CENTER INFORMATION 2/8/25
As of 2/8/25, there are at least 752 people locked up 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.
78 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 2/9/25
🌟 New bid listing for Community Rebuilding Initiative for behavioral health support. Posted 2/3/25. Bids due 2/18/25 at 4:00 PM and bid opening 2/19/25 at 9:00 AM.
🌟 New bid posting for Drug Court, Drug Testing Service. Posted 2/3/25. Bids due 3/3/25 at 4:00 PM and bid opening will be 3/4/25, 9:00 o’clock a.m.
Below is the link to current RFQs and bids:
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COUNTY JOB OPENINGS THIS WEEK (2/9/25)
🌟 Part time law clerk (prosecutor’s office), three positions. Salary $16/hr.
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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