JP Coger's Washington County UPdate 8/17/25
- Beth Coger
- Aug 17
- 7 min read
Updated: Aug 26
UPCOMING EVENTS & THINGS TO KNOW:
With major agenda items up for a vote this week — from zoning ordinances to planning board expansion — public input will play a key role in shaping the outcome. Please read and share this newsleter with your friends and neighbors. Reach out to me with any questions or for more details so you can stay informed and engaged.
Now is the time to contact your Justices of the Peace and the County Judge to let them know where you stand on these important matters that will shape the future of Washington County. Here's the contact info you need to do that.
Next Quorum Court Meeting
🚩THE NEW ZONING ORDINANCE IS ON THE AGENDA AGAIN FOR THURSDAY 8/21/25. Read more below.
➽ The regular monthly meeting of the Washington County Quorum Court happens Thursday, August 21, 2025, 6:00 PM, Washington County Courthouse, 280 N. College, Fayetteville, Arkansas. This is an in person meeting only. The meeting will be live streamed here on the county’s YouTube channel.
The agenda for that meeting can be found here.
IMPORTANT NOTICE: When the judge announces “Public Comment Time”—whether at the beginning of the meeting or just before a vote on an ordinance or resolution—I recommend that anyone wishing to speak promptly rise and form a line. A visible line of speakers increases the likelihood that the court will suspend the usual rules and allow everyone the opportunity to speak for up to three minutes.
AGENDA ITEMS I AM HIGHLIGHTING:
➽ ITEM 8: ORDINANCE TO ALLOW EAGLECREST RECOVERY TO OPERATE WITHOUT CUP. We cannot—and should not—deny a Conditional Use Permit (CUP) simply because the clients of a rehabilitation center are people in recovery. At the same time, eliminating the CUP process altogether would be a serious mistake. The CUP framework exists to balance competing interests by allowing the county to set reasonable conditions and restrictions. These conditions are essential to protect the rights of the facility and its residents, safeguard public safety, preserve neighborhood property values, and ensure quality of life for surrounding communities. Doing away with this process would strip both residents and the county of an important tool for accountability and responsible growth.
➽ ITEM 9: NEW ZONING ORDINANCE. The ordinance starts on Page 13 - of the agenda. The ordinance is on its third and final reading.
I won’t revisit all the reasons I and many others believe this ordinance is fundamentally flawed—they’ve been thoroughly discussed since March 2024. Nearly every amendment I proposed was rejected, and the one that passed was significantly weakened.
My concerns go way back to the beginning when the community was not included, when the county judge and county attorney refused to hold public meetings throughout the county even though asked by several JPs and Washington County citizens, when the Northwest Arkansas Regional Planning Commission was told their services were no longer needed.
➽ ITEM 10: ORDINANCE INCREASING NUMBER OF PLANNING BOARD MEMBERS FROM SEVEN TO NINE. This ordinance, sponsored by JP Rios Stafford, is on its second reading. County Attorney Brian Lester has opined that any ordinance that amends the number of planning board members will have to be sent to the planning board for a public hearing. The purpose of this ordinance is to bring the Washington County Planning Commission in compliance with Act 519 of 2025 which requires that a majority of planning board members reside in unincorporated areas of the county.
Dr. Sam Ata recently notified the quorum court that due to Act 519, all planning decisions are on hold and there will be no planning board meetings. Here is that email notice.
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⇒ MEETINGS FROM LAST WEEK:
The Washington County Quorum Court Finance & Budget Committee met Tuesday 8/12/25. You should watch that meeting here.
Starting at 8:12 in the video, I ask for an explanation as to why $36,030.41 was paid to ArVest Bank to pay off a vehicle owned by Returning Home, Inc. or Nick Robbins. Here's the invoice. I was questioning whether this was a legitimate expense for the "Law Library Fund" to pay. At 10:06 in the video, Judge Deakins, without being invited by the chair, and in violation of Robert's Rules of Order, interrupts and stops that line of inquiry. I mean isn't that why we get reports from the comptroller to go over in public meetings? These are public funds.
Starting at 38:26 in the video is a presentation by Ozark Electric concerning the “PILOT” Project (“Payment in Lieu of Taxes”). Unfortunately we did not receive this presentation ahead of the meeting and I do not have it to share with you here.
“So it's basically an 39:06 agreement between an entity and the county, an agreement to build 39:13 certain items and certain time frames um for an abatement of discount on taxes.”
Per Ozark Electric, the PILOT - Financial Impact:
Calculation: Investments @ 65% abatement
Annual Investment –$50MM+ in annual investment, ~3% increase
Additional Projects - Transmission Project $200MM-$300MM, Springdale Office $20MM-$40MM, Fiber Expansion Projects $7.5MM
Financial Impact:
With additional investments @65% abatement, payments to Washington County over 30 years estimated at $215MM
Without additional investments payments to Washington County over 30 years estimated at $100MM
I need to hear from you, Washington County, what are your thoughts on this? Is it a good deal for us taxpayers? Or is it a good deal for Ozark Electric? Is it a good deal for everyone? I will have more on this next week when, hopefully, I can share their presentation with you.
Quorum Court F&B Committee rejects JP Coger’s Resolution for Fiscal Impact Study.
Starting at 1:55:18 in the video I introduce my resolution for a fiscal impact study as to what it will cost to operate the additional 88 jail beds the county is adding at the Washington County Detention Center. I felt this was needed because it’s important to know and plan ahead. I mean, who could possibly object to being prepared financially?
I am very disappointed that it did not pass. Here is the transcript of the discussion – starting with my introduction – and comments by other JPs. The final vote was:
AGAINST JP COGER’S MOTION FOR FISCAL IMPACT STUDY (Those standing in above photo voted NO):
JP Brad Bruns
JP David Wilson
JP Massingill
JP Lisa Ecke
JP Charles Dean
JP Willie Leming
JP Gary Ricker
JP Butch Pond
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➽ Here again is the complete copy of the Internal Investigative Report by Washington County, Arkansas, concerning investigations at the Washington County Sheriff’s Office, along with information regarding the appointment of a special prosecuting attorney and his two-page report. The evidence and information contained in this report are deeply troubling and have brought to light serious issues that must be addressed.
In addition to investigating the illegal use of county property and misuse of county funds, their investigation also revealed “likely violations” involving the 309 Inmate Program (“309 prisoners” are state inmates placed under county or city supervision per Act 309—either housed locally, assigned to work, or conditionally released with oversight.) Learn more about the 309 program here.
The special prosecutor determined that the actions of certain Sheriff’s Office employees would, in his opinion, “...be better termed as a public funds type of illegal exaction, rather than a theft of property.” As such, it is now incumbent upon the Quorum Court to consider what corrective action is necessary. This responsibility should concern every elected official in Washington County, as it goes directly to the integrity and accountability of our government. If the only remaining avenue for remedy is through a civil action or other administrative measures, it is our duty to pursue it without delay.
The quorum court controls the purse strings and that is a powerful way to bring change.
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WASHINGTON COUNTY DETENTION CENTER REPORT:
As of Saturday, August 16, 2025, there were 692 individuals detained at the Washington County Detention Center. The breakdown is as follows:
84 individuals reported their address as either “homeless” or 1832 S. School Street (Seven Hills Homeless Shelter).
40 detainees are classified as 309 Trustees.
123 individuals are ADC Commitments—they have been sentenced to the Arkansas Department of Corrections but remain in our jail due to a lack of available DOC beds.
181 individuals are being held on Failure to Appear charges.
199 individuals are being held for other jurisdictions (Hold for Other Departments).
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.
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County Bid Postings (as of 8/17/25)
Bid: 2025-09 due 8/18/25 at 4:00 PM; opening date 8/19/25. This is a bid for flooring and wall updates for the Fourth Floor of the Washington County Courthouse.
Bid: 2025-10 due 9/8/25 at 4:00 PM: opening date 9/9/25. This is a bid for a “fuel island system” for the road department.
Bid: 2025-11 due 9/2/25 at 4:00 PM: opening date 9/3/25. This is a bid for work order and data management software, also for the road department.
Remember the road department just took bids for thirteen road graders.
Directly below is the tabulation sheet for the thirteen road graders. There were only two bidders. I asked how we could be bidding these road graders when the money had not been appropriated and here’s the response I received from Mr. Paul Sherman, WC Comptroller:
“This bid was done to know the direction that we need to take in regard to future appropriations to replace our current graders next year. There are multiple “moving parts” into this large capital investment. Several of them are coming up on the end of their lease terms. Through discussion with Mr. Crowder, we may have some positive equity values in our current graders. This could potentially reduce that amount of funding that will be required going into the future. The bid will allow us to match future appropriations to the actual figure needed verses appropriating too much and letting that appropriation expire. This is another attempt to match the budget to actual cash flow, which will allow us to manage our funds more effectively and efficiently.”
View all RFQs and bids [here].
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County Job Openings (as of 8/16/25).
Full Time | Open Until Filled | $21.91 / HR | |
Temporary | Open Until Filled | 14/Hr | |
Full Time | Open Until Filled | $21.25 - $23.42/hr | |
Full Time | Open Until Filled | $21.91 - $24.14 | |
Part Time | Open Until Filled | $16 | |
Full Time | Open Until Filled | $18 Hr | |
Full Time | Open Until Filled | $16.90-$31.10 |
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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