JP Coger's Washington County UPdate 6/14/26
- Beth Coger
- 17 hours ago
- 5 min read
Updated: 11 hours ago
THIS WEEK IN WASHINGTON COUNTY:
📅 Washington County Quorum Court Regular Monthly MeetingThursday, June 18, 2026 • 6:00 PM - Read agenda HERE. This meeting will be live-streamed on the County’s YouTube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/user/washcoar
Agenda Highlights:
Item 5: Citizens’ Comments A fifteen-minute period with a three-minute limit for each individual to comment on items on the agenda or other items. There will also be a twelve minute public comment time before a vote on any ordinance or resolution.
Item 6: Approval of May 2026 Minutes Read Minutes HERE.
Item 7: Judge’s report Read HERE
Item 8: Ordinance Authorizing WC to Join Arkansas Property Assessed Capital Expenditure (Ark PACE). Read the Ordinance HERE. This ordinance is on its second reading. Sponsored by JP Rios Stafford, this ordinance did not have the votes last month to move it forward; thus, it’s on this month for the second reading. I support this.
Item 9: Ordinance Ratifying CUP for Genesis Ranch Project. Read the Ordinance HERE. Here is the Staff Report from the Planning Department. This also is on its second reading. If you would like to go back and watch the Planning Board meeting where this CUP was approved by the PB, you can do so at links below (Genesis discussion starts at 14:45 in the video):
Second Part:
Item 10: Ordinance Accepting $81,000 Grant for Social Work Coordinator at Public Defender’s Office. I support accepting this $81,000 grant because it allows Washington County to add a Social Work Coordinator to the Public Defender's Office at no cost to local taxpayers. This passed from the Finance & Budget Committee 6/9/26 by a vote of 9 - 2 (JP Massingill was absent). Two JPs, Lisa Ecke District 6 and David Wilson District 2 voted against accepting the grant and spoke against it.
Item 12: Ordinance Appropriating $506,469.12 to the CAP Budget. CAP stands for Community Alternative Program. It is operated by Returning Home. Last year the quorum court passed Ordinance 2025-58 which funded CAP for the period 5/1/26 to 4/30/27. I was the only “No” vote when this passed out of Committee. CAP is not giving us sufficient return on investment compared to what other programs, such as pretrial services, will do. We’ve invested enough already in this program.
Item 13: Ordinance Approving CUP for The Skelton Project. Here is the Staff Report on Skelton. This was unanimously approved by the Planning Board on 6/4/26.
Key facts:
Existing 80' x 50' shop.
Sole employee (property owner).
2–3 customer visits per day.
1–3 lumber deliveries per month.
No complaints received by Planning staff.
Planning Board members questioned whether treated lumber would be present on site and whether that raised environmental concerns.
The owner explained:
He does not manufacture or treat lumber.
He primarily purchases and resells lumber.
Treated lumber might occasionally be sourced for customers but no treatment process occurs on site.
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🔍 TRANSPARENCY CORNER AND FOLLOW THE MONEY
➡️ Order 2026-75 - Fuel Island Canopy. $126,284.68 awarded to Awning Companies for awning/canopy at the new Fuel Island. For background, read HERE. I voted against this because I believe we could have done just fine without it. It was a “want” more than a “need.” I hope the next administration will come in and do forensic accounting for the past years.
➡️Order 2026-21 - This document is titled “Ratification Order” and was issued in an attempt to correct some substantial purchases that were made without following “established purchasing procedures.” I am guessing that means they were not properly bid. The items include NPK 6HD9 Hammer $45,000.00; John Deere 85 with 36” TAG Bucket and Hydraulic thumb $136,830.00; Hamm Roller $161,400.00, maintenance cost $3,006.82; Rental Applied = $66,816.00; leaving balance due of $97,590.82.
➡️ Order 2026-20 - Another “Ratification Order” citing “established purchasing procedure” was not followed when purchasing two vehicles. This is for a 2026 Ram 2500 (VIN 5019) for $60,785.00 with discounts Balance is $38,664.00. The second is also a 2026 Ram 2500 (VIN 5022) for $56,414.00 with discounts and trade-in balance is $38,664.00.
Contract 2026-128 - Contract between Washington County and Washington County Regional Ambulance Authority for “...911 call taking and dispatching for emergency medical services and fire prevention services.” Annual Subsidy for 2026 = $103,000; for 2027 = $105,000. I do not recall this being appropriated by the Quorum Court unless it was in the annual budget appropriation for ambulance services, but this looks extra.
Contract 2026-076 - Order awarding contract to Total Site Development in the amount of $22,950.00 pursuant to Bid No. 2026-11 for razing structure at 19443 Nob Hill Road Loop County Road 389.
WASHINGTON COUNTY MEETINGS FROM LAST WEEK:
The Finance & Budget Committee met 6/9/26 for what turned out to be a very short meeting. Watch the meeting HERE.
Read Outline and Summary HERE
Here are some highlights, but read the Summary above and watch the meeting for full details:
August Finance & Budget Meeting Rescheduled – The committee voted to move the August Finance & Budget meeting because the original date conflicted with the Arkansas Association of Counties meeting. New date: August 10, 2026.
$2 Million Insurance Fund Appropriation Advanced – The committee voted to move forward an ordinance appropriating $2 million from the General Reserve Fund to support the employee health insurance fund. The money will not necessarily be transferred all at once but will be available as needed to pay claims.
Public Defender Social Worker Grant Advanced – The committee voted 9 to 2 to send forward an ordinance accepting and appropriating an $81,000 Arkansas Access to Justice Foundation grant to fund a full-time social worker position in the Public Defender’s Office for one year. JPs Lisa Ecke and David Wilson voted “No.”
HR Emergency Staffing Request Advanced – The committee advanced an emergency ordinance appropriating $73,865.32 to fund a new full-time HR position. The request generated discussion because the 2026 budget ordinance generally limits personnel changes to certain months.
Budget Controls Amendment Advanced – The committee advanced an ordinance amending the 2026 budget controls to allow personnel headcount
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📊 Washington County Jail Data Dashboard
⚖️ Detention Center Data
Snapshot Date: June 13, 2026
Individuals Incarcerated in WCDC: 698
Homeless/Unsheltered: 67 (Down from 79 last week)
🔎 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
You can check the “Calls for Service” board here.
Here’s a list in alphabetical order to search for people.
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🧾 County Bid Postings (as of 06/13/26):
ACTIVE BIDS:
Bid 2026-13 - High-Density Mobile Shelving System - Washington County Detention Center - Covid Mitigation Project - Bids due: 4:00 PM, June 22, 2026; Bids Opened: 6/23/26 at 9:00 AM. These shelves and other items were originally covered under the $20+M jail expansion funded by American Rescue Plan Act dollars; however, because of cuts and cost overruns, the sheriff asked for an additional $475,000 in his 2026 budget to cover omitted items. When you hear the county judge say the CMP came in “early and under budget,” you should ask questions because that did not happen.
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🧑💼Here are the Washington County Job Openings as of 06/13/26
There is a new posting for GIS Analyst in the IT Department. Full time. $58,697 - $64,708, depending on experience. All these jobs look good though. Please share with people you think might be interested.
Full Time | Open Until Filled | $21.91 / HR | |
Full Time | Open Until Filled | 24.38 - 26.86/hr | |
Full Time | Open Until Filled | $76,606.40 - $84,448 | |
Full Time | Open Until Filled | $76,606.40 - $84,448 | |
Temporary | Open Until Filled | 14/Hr | |
Full Time | Open Until Filled | $58697.60-$64708.80 | |
Full Time | Open Until Filled | $21.25 - $23.42/hr |
View and apply for job openings HERE. Please share this list! ___________________________________________________________
— Beth Coger
Justice of the Peace, District 9
Washington County Quorum Court