JP Coger's Washington County Update 3/30/25
- Beth Coger
- Mar 30
- 4 min read
WHAT IS GOING ON?
Support JP Rivera Lopez and the Right to Prepare Act!
Washington County is home to a diverse community, including many immigrant and refugee families who speak a variety of languages. Ensuring that emergency communications are accessible to all residents is a matter of public safety.
JP Rivera Lopez is sponsoring The Right to Prepare Act, an ordinance that would require Washington County to send emergency alerts in languaged spoken by more than 10,000 residents. (Wish I'd thought of that) This common-sense policy will help ensure that all community members—regardless of the language they speak—receive life-saving information in times of crisis.
The ordinance is on the agenda for the County Services Committee meeting (3/31/25 at 6:00 PM). Your support can make a difference! Please attend the meeting or contact your Justices of the Peace to voice your support for this important step toward making Washington County safer for everyone. Here's contact information for all JPs.
WASHINGTON COUNTY MEETINGS THIS WEEK 3/30/25:
📅 The March meeting of the Washington County Quorum Court “County Services Meeting.”
📍 Location: 280 N. College, Washington County Courthouse, Fayetteville, AR 🕕 Date & Time: 3/31/25 at 6:00 PM. This is an in-person meeting only and will be livestreamed here.
What’s on the Agenda?
Item 8. “AN ORDINANCE SUPPORTING THAT THE EMERGENCY COMMUNICATIONS OF WASHINGTON COUNTY BE SENT IN LANGUAGES OF WHICH THE COUNTY HAS MORE THAN 10,000 SPEAKERS. THE RIGHT TO PREPARE ACT.” District 4 JP, Rivera Lopez, is sponsoring this ordinance and it’s a great idea and much needed.
Item 4. Juvenile Detention Monthly Statistics Report.
This report starts on Page 2 of the agenda. Average number of intakes per day 3/25 1.35; Number of Intakes (total for period) 35; Number of days of detention (total for period) 398; Average age 15.57; Average Length of Stay 20.25. The full report contains a lot of information that’s good to know and helps us understand things we should be working on doing.
Item 5. Sheriff’s Activity Report 2/16/2025 - 03/15/2025.
We had 1,907 calls for service; 866 detention intakes; 72 sent to prison; average daily high count of 766; state prisoner average daily population of 139; federal prisoner average daily population 77; Pre-Trial Average Daily Population of 477. We have around 477 people in our jail who have been arrested and/or charged, have appeared before a judicial officer, and had their bond set. That means the judge found they were not a threat and could be released if they are able to pay their bail. Unfortunately, many are not, and many of those sitting in jail are non-violent offenders. What’s in your wallet?
📌MEETINGS TO WATCH FROM LAST WEEK
The Washington County Planning Board met Thursday 3/27/25. Here’s video of the meeting. I had a rundown last week about the agenda items.
I received notification from the WC Planning Director at 9:42 am on Wednesday, 3/26/25 that the public hearing on the zoning ordinance would be the next evening 3/27/25 during the regularly scheduled Planning Board meeting. I notified the Planning Board, County Judge, County Attorney and others by email that day that this did not comply with A.C.A. 14-17-207
Despite what Dr. Ata’s email says, the Quorum Court did not pick the upcoming Planning Board meeting on 3/27/25 to present the zoning ordinance.
That also resulted in an email from Brian Lester confirming that the zoning ordinance would be on the agenda.
Because of these county emails, we had a huge turnout for the meeting Thursday night. Fortunately, someone thought better and Dr. Ata announced at the beginning of the meeting that the zoning ordinance would not be on the agenda that night.
It’s tentative now, but Dr. Ata told me the zoning ordinance will be before a special meeting of the Planning Board on Thursday, 4/10/25, 5:00 o’clock p.m. Dr. Ata and the board also confirmed that all statutory notice requirements will be met.
🌟 DETENTION CENTER INFORMATION 3/30/25
As of Tuesday, 3/30/25, there were at least 749 individuals currently detained in the Washington County Detention Center.
An estimated 80-100 additional detainees are not publicly listed due to "restrictive bookings."
74 detainees list their addresses as either "homeless" or "1832 S School Street" (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 (as of 3/30/25)
Property Insurance Buildings & Content:
RFP posted on County website, March 28, 2025
RFP requests for interpretations to be submitted by 2:00 PM on Monday, April 14, 2025
RFP due at 4:00 PM, Monday, April 28, 2025
RFP opened at 9:30 AM, Tuesday, April 29, 2025
View all current RFQs and bids [here].
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County Job Openings (as of 3/30/25)
Technology Director - IT Department
Type:Full Time
Salary/Pay Rate:$102,648 - $113,152
Posted Date:03/24/2025 7:00 AM
Assistant Library Director
Type:Full Time
Salary/Pay Rate:$65,395.20 - $72,092.80
Posted Date:03/25/2025 8:00 AM
Deadline to Apply:03/31/2025 8:00 AM Why just five days for applications for the Assistant Library Director? Already have someone in mind?
Office Manager- Animal Shelter
Type:Full Time
Salary/Pay Rate:$19.95-$21.98
Posted Date:03/13/2025 4:00 PM
Salary / Pay Rate: $19.95-$21.98
Job Type: Full Time Job Application: Employment Application 2
The Road Department (479-444-1610) and Sheriff's Office (479-444-5700) are consistently hiring.
Planning Technician
Type:Full Time
Salary/Pay Rate:$21.25 - $22.31
Posted Date:03/21/2025 8:00 AM
Salary: $21.25 - $22.31 Pay Grade: 9
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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