JP Coger's Washington County UPdate 5/17/26
- Beth Coger
- 3 days ago
- 5 min read
🏛️ This Week in Washington County Government - Includes One (1) Conditional Use Permit Ordinance - Genesis Ranch Project - read more below.
🏗️ Washington County Quorum Court, Regular Monthly Quorum Court Meeting – Thursday, 5/21/2026, 6:00 pm, Washington County Courthouse, 280 N. College, Fayetteville, Arkansas.
Read Complete Agenda HERE.
Some Agenda Highlights:
 Item 7: County Judge Report - Patrick Deakins
Item 8: Property Assessed Capital Expenditure Act Ordinance - Here is the proposed Standards Manual and Handbook. This passed out of committee last week but it was not unanimous. If anyone would like to voice their opinion on this matter, it will be greatly appreciated. What concerns do you have? Do you think it is a good idea? Â
  Â
Item 9: Ordinance Amending the Community Rebuilding Initiative (CRI) 2026 Budget. The financial discussion surrounding the Community Rebuilding Initiative (CRI) continues to raise serious questions about transparency and long-term sustainability. According to figures presented by the County Comptroller on May 11, 2026, the CRI has incurred approximately $1.79 million in reported expenses.Â
Here are the CRI Fund 3535 ledgers for 2025 and 2026 year-to-date vendor payments based on the county’s records.
• Returning Home Inc. has received approximately $775,488.76, representing approximately 79.23% of the identifiable vendor payments. (2025 & 2026 YTD)
• Ozark Guidance Center a/k/a Arisa Health appears to have received approximately $108,414.72, representing approximately 11.08% of the identifiable vendor payments. (2025 & 2026 YTD) (They have received payments totaling over $44K in 2026)
Item 10: A resolution requiring Stewart Family Christmas Lights, LLC, Etal, to cease operations and go through the Conditional Use Permit process. This resolution was discussed at last month’s meeting. Read that summary HERE.
Item 11: Ordinance Ratifying CUP for The Genesis Ranch Project. Property Owner: Teen Challenge Ranch of NWA, 14938 Greasy Valley Road (WC 8), Prairie Grove, Arkansas.
_________________________________________________________________
🏛️ Last Week in Washington County
The Washington County Finance & Budget Committee met Monday 5/4/26. Watch the meeting HERE. Â
Read the time-stamped Summary of that meeting HERE.
Key Highlights
đź’° CRI Costs & Mental Health Funding
The committee spent significant time discussing the true costs of the Community Rebuilding Initiative (CRI), including detention officer salaries, professional services, and the proposed additional $169,875 appropriation for mental health services connected to the program.
Questions were raised regarding:
whether detention officer salaries should be counted as CRI costs,
how much money has been paid to Returning Home and related vendors,
whether the CRI is functioning as “pretrial services,”
and the long-term sustainability of the program.
The committee ultimately voted to send the additional mental health services appropriation ordinance to the full Quorum Court with a “do pass” recommendation. JPs voting in favor of the additional money to CRI: Wilson, Massingill, Lopez, Dean, Ecke, Washington, Highers, Rios Stafford, Pond. JPs voting against the ordinance: Coger, Leming, Ricker, Bruns, Dennis.
đź“Š County Finances & ARPA Funds
Treasurer Bobby Hill reported:
county cash reserves declined from approximately $70 million to $67 million during April,
General Fund and Jail Fund expenses exceeded monthly revenues,
approximately $2.3 million remains in ARPA funds, although closer to $1.9 million may actually remain available after reimbursements owed to Springdale, Fayetteville, and the University of Arkansas.
⚖️ Law Library Fund Questions
A lengthy discussion occurred regarding the county law library fund, including:
how the fund was moved outside the normal county appropriation process,
concerns regarding law library board membership and compliance with state law,
and prior expenditures made from the fund, including payoff of a vehicle loan connected to Returning Home.
County officials stated the law library board currently lacks enough sworn members to conduct business.
❄️ Jail HVAC Replacement Funding
The committee approved reappropriating previously budgeted jail maintenance funds to continue replacement of aging rooftop HVAC units at the detention center.
🛣️ Additional Ordinances Advanced
The committee also approved:
a JAG grant appropriation for law enforcement,
and a road department revenue appropriation.
đź“Ś The full Quorum Court will consider these items at its meeting Thursday.
______________________________________________________________
đź“Š Washington County Jail Data Dashboard
⚖️ Detention Center Data
Snapshot Date:Â May 17, 2026
Individuals Incarcerated in WCDC: 677
Homeless/Unsheltered: Â 67Â Â
This graph shows the Washington County jail population from pre-COVID March 2020 through the present. In March 2020, the jail population dropped dramatically from approximately 700 people to around 350. Those reductions occurred because policies and practices changed quickly during the COVID emergency — particularly regarding pretrial detention.
Importantly, our community remained safe.
That moment demonstrated something many criminal justice experts have long argued: large jail populations are often driven as much by policy decisions as by crime itself. It showed that Washington County has the ability to reduce jail overcrowding when leaders are willing to rethink practices, prioritize evidence-based approaches, and focus detention resources on people who truly pose a risk to public safety.
We can reduce unnecessary incarceration again while still maintaining public safety. But doing so will require leadership willing to challenge the status quo, listen to criminal justice experts, and seriously examine alternatives to relying on continued jail expansion and increased detention capacity as the primary solution.
This is exactly why local elections matter.
I encourage residents to speak with the candidates running for Washington County Judge and for Justice of the Peace. Ask where they stand on jail expansion, pretrial detention, rehabilitation programs, and the long-term financial obligations connected to these projects. These are important issues that deserve serious public discussion before more decisions are made.
🔎 Public Data Resources
Detailed reports are available here:
Detainee Charge Report:https://www.washingtoncountyar.gov/government/departments-f-z/sheriff/detention-information/detainee-charge-report
Here’s a list in alphabetical order to search for people.
__________________________________________________________
🧾 County Bid Postings (as of 05/17/26): Â
ACTIVE BIDS:Â
Bid 2026-11 - Razing of Structure located at 19443 Nob Hill Road/Loop, WC 389. Bids Due: 4:00 PM, 5/18/26. Proposals Opened 5/19/26, 9:00 AM, 280 N. College Avenue, Suite 530, Fayetteville, Arkansas.
Bid 2026-12 - Fuel Island Canopy. Bids due: 4:00 pm 5/25/26 (bid says 2025, but that has got to be a typo). Proposals Opened 5/26/26, 9:00 AM, same location as above.
___________________________________________________________
🧑‍💼Here are the Washington County Job Openings as of 05/17/26
Full Time | Open Until Filled | $21.91 / HR | |
Full Time | Open Until Filled | $18.61 - $20.51 | |
Full Time | Open Until Filled | 24.38 - 26.86/hr | |
Full Time | Open Until Filled | $76,606.40 - $84,448 | |
Temporary | Open Until Filled | 14/Hr | |
Full Time | Open Until Filled | $16 - $17.62 | |
Full Time | Open Until Filled | $21.25 - $23.42/hr | |
Part Time | Open Until Filled | $16hr | |
Full Time | 05/29/2026 4:30 PM | $29.92-$32.98 | |
Full Time | 05/29/2026 4:30 PM | $18.61-$20.51 | |
Full Time | 05/29/2026 4:30 PM | $18.61-$20.51 | |
Full Time | Open Until Filled | $18.61-$20.51 | |
Full Time | 05/29/2026 4:30 PM | $19.95-$21.98 | |
Full Time | Open Until Filled | $60,278.40 - $66,435.20 (DOE) |
Please share this list!Â
View and apply for job openings HERE. ___________________________________________________________
Thank you for staying informed and engaged in Washington County.
— Beth Coger
Justice of the Peace, District 9
Washington County Quorum Court
Comments