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🟧 JP COGER’S WASHINGTON COUNTY UPDATE 3/1/26


📅 Week of: March 1, 2026 📍 Washington County, Arkansas

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🏛️ Community & Civic Engagement 



On Thursday, February 26, 2026, Fayetteville Council Member Sarah Moore and I toured the “Covid Mitigation Project” (CMP) at the Washington County Detention Center (WCDC).


(Note: Yes, I have always, and still do, believe that using ARPA funds for jail expansion is not legal under U. S. Treasury Rules and Regulations.  See the Final Rule Overview https://home.treasury.gov/system/files/136/SLFRF-Final-Rule-Overview.pdf


County Judge Patrick Deakins and a few others have publicly described the project as “under budget and ahead of schedule.”


Our tour raises important questions about how that characterization aligns with the significant reduction in scope from the original plans.


The initial expansion proposal contemplated housing between 266 and 320 additional individual beds and adding approximately 36,000 square feet to the then existing 104,000-square-foot facility. The current buildout reflects a substantial downsizing of that vision, though no one that we talked to can say just how substantial; however, bed capacity appears to have been reduced to approximately 86–88 additional beds.


I am mentioning some of the areas of concern we observed. The new booking area currently consists of concrete flooring without an epoxy coating. The housing area does not yet include operational heating or air conditioning, and officials are considering whether to spend approximately $15,000 on temporary heat now or proceed directly with permanent heat and air HVAC installation. In what are intended to be secure areas, some concrete block walls have been reinforced with additional poured concrete while others have not.  The exercise yard for the medical unit was built flat and had to be redone to "slope" the concrete for drainage.


Given the scale of public investment in this project, transparency regarding scope changes, construction decisions, and budget impacts is essential.


💵 Additional County Funds Allocated


Although more than $20 million in American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) funds have been appropriated for the Covid Mitigation Project, county taxpayers have already contributed an additional $474,000 for “CMP Related Capital Needs,” to cover items no longer included in the revised construction scope, including but not limited to:


  • Planned movable shelving

  • Security electronics

  • A dedicated camera system and video server for the CMP

  • Ten large industrial-grade warehouse shelving units

  • Other related equipment


This underscores the importance of clearly distinguishing between:


  • Project construction costs,

  • Removed or deferred items,

  • And additional county-funded capital expenditures associated with the project.  We need to know this now in order to plan accordingly.

  • Is it really "under budget and ahead of schedule?"

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Early Turnout Signals High Interest in Local Races:


Early Voting Numbers:  Total votes cast in Washington County through 2/28/26: 14,260; Total Democratic Ballots: 6,462;  Total Republican Ballots: 7,207 ; Total Nonpartisan Ballots: 591.


Last Day to Early Vote is Monday, March 2, 2026.


Hours on Monday, the Last Day to Early Vote, are: 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.

The only location open on Monday, 3/2/26,  will be the Washington County Courthouse.


Election Day is Tuesday, March 3, 2026.


If you plan to vote on Election Day, you can find your polling location here:


I want to take a moment to recognize Washington County Election Coordinator Jennifer Price and her staff, who work diligently to make voting in our county secure, efficient, and accessible. From preparing polling locations to processing ballots and assisting voters, their work behind the scenes ensures that our democratic process runs smoothly.


Voting is one of the most direct ways we shape the future of Washington County. Whether you vote early or on Election Day, your participation matters.


If you have not yet cast your ballot, please make a plan to do so.


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🟠 County Services Committee Monday, March 2, 2026 — 6:00 PM 📍 Read the agenda HERE.

What to Expect:



The proposed ordinance establishing an Industrial Development Authority is currently scheduled for consideration at the County Services Committee meeting on Monday, March 2, 2026, at 6:00 PM, at the Washington County Courthouse.  Read the Act HERE.  HERE are some concerns I raised at the last meeting.



📢  The agenda also includes Item 7, titled “The Dark Side of Home Care: Exposing Fraud in Senior Care – Jacci Ryan.” She is the author of CareGivers ScareTakers, a book that discusses challenges in senior care.


I agree that we need stricter laws and broader protections in the elder-care system.  I am just not sure what the Quorum Court can do about that, but perhaps I will learn.


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🏛️ Transparency Corner: Public Records


📌  Order to Auction Surplus Real Property - Washington County, as a member of the Washington County Regional Ambulance Authority (WCRAA) Board, issued this order to auction WCRAA property at 4705 E. Gulley Road as “surplus real property” and that it is now available for auction under the procedures outlined in Ark. Code Ann. § 14-16-106.  WCRAA purchased this property in 2015 for $25,000.00.  Here is more information from Washington County Assessor Russell Hill’s Property Records.  (Property is tax exempt - it was owned by a church then transferred to WCRAA)


📌 Last week I told you about the FOIA Request County Attorney Lester to JP Coger.  



💵 Follow the Money


📌 Order 2026-022 Awarding Bid for Sheriff’s Fleet and/or Outfitting.  

💰 Total Fleet Cost

Total Approved Purchase: $758,071.53

Breakdown:

  • 9 Tahoes = $657,618.75

  • 1 Transit Van = $100,452.78

  • Combined Total = $758,071.53


📌   Contract 2026-92  Prime Contract Change Order #003:  Start of Work Delay Refund - Washington County and Nabholz - “Nabholz successfully accelerated the project schedule sufficient to make up for the delays in the beginning of the project.  This change order returns the General Conditions, General Requirements and Fee paid to Nabholz by the County to cover the additional management time that is now no longer needed.”  This change order is to give the County credit in the amount of  ($218,378.49), resulting in a new Contract Sum of $2,753,919.32.


📌  Contract 2026-83(1) Nabholz-Washington County-Harness Roofing, Inc.  This is to correct the contract amount for Harness Roofing.  Here is the Project Manager’s letter of explanation. 


📌  Order 2026-025 Directs the Washington County Treasurer to transfer $12,608.80 from 3513 Drug Court Grant Fund (PACT Grant) to 1000 General Fund.  This is to correct accounting after the PACT Grant termination notice of 1/14/26 was rescinded and the grant reinstated on 2/18/26.  


The PACT Act (Honoring our Promise to Address Comprehensive Toxics Act of 2022) is a federal law that expands health care and benefits for veterans exposed to toxic substances during military service. It broadens eligibility for Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) health care, adds new “presumptive conditions” linked to burn pits, Agent Orange, and other toxic exposures, and extends benefits to certain veterans of the Vietnam, Gulf War, and post-9/11 eras. _______________________________________________________________


🚔 CRIMINAL JUSTICE & DETENTION SNAPSHOT


  • 📍 Detention Center Data 

  •  Number Incarcerated Last Three Days 2/25/26 - 2/28/26 at 8:45 PM:  126

  •  Number Incarcerated & Released Last Three Days 2/25/26 - 2/28/26 at 8:45 PM:  92

  •  Incarcerated as of 2/28/26:  728

📊 Jail Population & Housing Instability

82 Listed as Homeless or Unsheltered. 

                                    

  • You can check the “Calls for Service” board here.  

  • Here’s a list in alphabetical order to search for people.

🧾 County Bid Postings (as of 02/28/26):  


Bid 2026-07   QUARTERLY BLASTING SERVICE TO BE CONDUCTED AT WASHINGTON COUNTY QUARRY, 16150 South HWY 45 Canehill, AR 72717.  Bid posted 2/13/26; Interpretations/Questions 2/24/26 at 2:00 PM;  Bids Due 3/2/26 4:00 PM; Opening:  3/3/26 9:00 AM   


Bid 2026- 08  RFP for Drug Testing - Circuit Court Div. 4.  Bid posted 2/19/26; Questions Due:  3/2/26 @ 2:00 PM; Bids Due 3/9/26 at 4:00 PM; Bids Opened:  3/10/26

You can view the closed bids here.  View all RFQs and bids [here].

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Includes, but not limited to, a new posting for “Road Department - Road & Bridge Maintenance Supervisor”  Salary/Pay Rate:  $63,856.00 - $70,387.20.

There are other good job opportunities available - check them out and share!

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📣 WHAT YOU CAN DO


⚖️ Demand Clear Accounting


When projects change in scope, the public deserves:

  • Side-by-side cost comparisons

  • Itemized change-order tracking

  • Clear explanations of how “under budget” is calculated

Ask for the data.


📤 Share this update. Stay informed. Stay engaged.



 
 
 

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