JP Coger's Washington County UPdate 7/5/26
- Beth Coger
- 2 days ago
- 6 min read
TRANSPARENCY CORNER AND FOLLOW THE MONEY
Old Jail Expenses 1/1/2025 to 6/30/2026: $520,276.10 spent on renovations and improvements to the “Old Jail” formerly known as the women’s prison which Judge Deakins closed in 2024. The county judge wants to expand his Community Rebuilding Initiative (CRI) to that building which will, in fact, be a jail bed expansion. Over half a million dollars spent already.
Building & Grounds Unveils Multi-Year Facilities Plan
(See The Plan HERE)
The most significant presentation at Monday's County Services Committee meeting came from Building & Grounds Director Angela Ledgerwood, who unveiled a written multi-year plan for renovating and reorganizing county facilities. The written plan inventories 43 county buildings and identifies major needs ranging from ADA compliance and HVAC replacements to elevator upgrades and additional office space.
Director Ledgerwood estimates the Old Sheriff Building renovation would cost approximately $2.355 million, using about $2 million in available insurance proceeds, while future projects—including courthouse renovations and courtroom expansion—would likely require millions of additional dollars over several budget cycles.
Since the meeting, however, questions have emerged about how the plan was developed. Shortly after the presentation, all eight Washington County Circuit Judges sent a joint letter stating they had not been consulted about proposed changes to the courthouse, courtroom locations, or attorneys' facilities. They wrote that they first learned of the plans through a newspaper article and asked that any further work be paused until they have an opportunity to participate in discussions affecting the operation of the courts.
The following day, the County Assessor, Circuit Clerk, County Clerk, Collector, and Treasurer sent a similar letter explaining that they, too, first learned of the proposed renovations through the newspaper. They requested that elected officials who work in these facilities every day be included before decisions affecting their offices and operations are finalized.
(I have links to these letters below)
Several county departments have indicated they intend to request additional personnel and resources. At the same time, the administration is presenting a long-term facilities strategy that could require substantial capital investments.
The Building & Grounds presentation clearly establishes this administration's roadmap for county capital improvements over the next several years; however, this administration ends on December 31, 2026.
My Perspective:
Director Ledgerwood's presentation identified many legitimate maintenance needs throughout our county facilities. Deferred maintenance is real, and planning for the future is an important responsibility of the county government.
Planning, however, is different from committing the county to major capital projects. Preparing studies, identifying maintenance needs, developing cost estimates, and prioritizing future projects are all prudent steps. Committing the county to any multi-million-dollar construction projects--some of whichwill span several years-- is a different matter.
These decisions should be developed collaboratively with the people who use these facilities every day. That has definitely not happened to date.
Since this presentation, all eight Washington County Circuit Judges have written that they were not consulted before proposed courtroom and courthouse changes were announced and asked to be included before any further work proceeds. Likewise, the County Assessor, Circuit Clerk, County Clerk, Collector, and Treasurer have stated that they first learned of the proposed office relocations through the newspaper and requested an opportunity to participate before plans are finalized.
During the 2027 budget process, several departments are expected to request additional personnel and operational resources. Those requests deserve to be evaluated first before any of this administration’s proposed capital improvements. Renovating county buildings is important. So are public safety, roads and bridges, staffing critical county services, and meeting the needs of the citizens we serve.
MEETINGS IN WASHINGTON COUNTY WEEK OF 7/5/26:
📅 Washington County Quorum Court Finance and Budget Committee meets for its July meeting on Tuesday, July 7, 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
Read Agenda HERE.
At the conclusion of the meeting, after all decisions have been made, there will be a twelve-minute public comment period with a three-minute limit for each individual to comment on items on the agenda or other items.
↪ The agenda includes:
Item 4: Treasurer’s Report - Bobby Hill. Read my summary HERE.
Item 5: Insurance Report - Charles Angel. Read my summary HERE.
Item 6: Comptroller Report - Paul Sherman. Read my summary HERE.
The Quorum Court will consider an ordinance to amend the Sheriff's Office and Jail budgets to properly account for the purchase of new vehicles. Importantly, this ordinance does not request any additional county funding. Instead, it simply transfers $132,750.53 that has already been budgeted into the correct budget line items.
📅 Washington County Planning Commission Meeting is Thursday, 7/9/26, Quorum Court Room, 5:00 PM. Read agenda HERE. This meeting will be live-streamed on the County’s YouTube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/user/washcoar
↪ Agenda includes two (2) Conditional Use Permit Hearings and two (2) County Land Development Hearings.
Long Pine K9 CUP Staff Report & Application: Location: 6328 W. Cindy Hollow Lane, Fayetteville, Arkansas 72704. Applicant: Cindy and Annika Boehm. Proposed Use: Commercial - Dog Training Facility.
Phillips Masonry Inc CUP Staff Report & Application: Location: 1820 N Starnes Rd., Fayetteville, Arkansas 72704. Applicant: Dylan Phillips. Proposed Use: Commercial - Construction Storage Facility.
Replat Lots 8 & 10 Honey Hollow Subdivision Staff Report: Location: 10001 Honey Hollow RD, WC 2035, Winslow, Arkansas 72759. Applicant: Bates & Associates. Proposed Use: Single-Family Residential.
Replat Tract 4 Wilderness Run Subdivision Phase I: Location: 20558 Big Spring Rd., Winslow, Arkansas 72959. Applicants: Chet Swartzentruber, Jeff Lovan and Allen Treadwell. Proposed Use: Single-Family Residential.
WASHINGTON COUNTY MEETINGS FROM LAST WEEK:
The Washington County Quorum Court met for a special called meeting Tuesday, 6/30/26 where we heard two Conditional Use Permit appeals. Watch the meeting HERE. The meeting was four (4) hours, ending at 10:00 PM.
Read Outline and Summary HERE
Below are some highlights, but read the Summary above and watch the meeting for full details:
✔ Conditional Use Permit (“CUP”) Approved for HS Studios. Staff Report & Application
At the beginning of the meeting, a motion was made, seconded, and passed to move the HS Studios appeal to the beginning of the agenda (before the Fox Hunter Landing CUP). I think this was done because some JPs thought that appeal hearing would be shorter. It really was not. In any event, I thought everyone did a good job presenting their case. At the conclusion of the hearing, the Order Ratifying the CUP passed unanimously.
✔ CUP Approved for Fox Hunter Landing
This CUP appeal generated a lot of discussion, community involvement and many questions. At 3:37:27 in the video (link above), JP Pond made a motion to extend public comment time by fifteen minutes. I seconded. Because this required a ⅔ vote, the motion failed. It should have passed. Many people had sat through the almost four hour meeting and they should have been heard.
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📊 Washington County Jail Data Dashboard
⚖️ Detention Center Data. Read the most recent Inmate Population Analysis HERE.
Snapshot Date: July 4, 2026
Individuals Incarcerated in WCDC: 704
Individuals Incarcerated in Benton Co: 695
Homeless/Unsheltered: 63
Sleeping on Floor as of 6/29/26: 158 (all males)
Federal Holds: 81 US Marshall
ICE Holds: 7
ADC Committed: 154
Courtesy Contract Hold: 96
Failure to Appear: 100
Hold Other Department: 193
It’s crazy that Benton and Washington County together have 1,400 people in jail. Most are pretrial which means they have not been found guilty of a crime, but have been arrested and/or charged.
🔎 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.
🧾 County Bid Postings (as of 07/04/26):
ACTIVE BIDS:
Bid 2026-15 - Fire Alarm System Replacement - Juvenile Detention Center. Bids due: 7/13/26 at 4:00 PM; bid opening 7/14/26 at 9:00 AM.
🧑💼Here are the Washington County Job Openings as of 07/04/26
There is a new posting for Youth Development Supervisor at the Juvenile D
Full Time | Open Until Filled | $21.91 / HR | |
Full Time | Open Until Filled | 24.38 - 26.86/hr | |
Temporary | Open Until Filled | 14/Hr | |
Full Time | 07/10/2026 4:30 PM | $45572.80-$50211.20 | |
Full Time | Open Until Filled | $21.25 - $23.42/hr | |
Full Time | Open Until Filled | $23.71 - $26.13hr | |
Full Time | Open Until Filled | 19.95-21.98 | |
Full Time | 07/12/2026 4:30 PM | $18.61-$20.51 | |
Full Time | 07/10/2026 4:30 AM | $21.91 - $24.14 | |
Full Time | Open Until Filled | $21.91 - $24.14/hr |
etention Center. Please share with people you think might be interested.
View and apply for job openings HERE. Please share this list! ___________________________________________________________
— Beth Coger
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