JP Coger's Washington County UPdate 8/23/26
- Beth Coger
- 7 minutes ago
- 9 min read
Welcome to this week’s Washington County Update!
Starting this week off with valuable information from Assessor Russell Hill
Last Thursday, 8/20,26, the Quorum Court approved Washington County’s continued participation in the voluntary SCAAP program by a 10–5 vote, rejected the Water Authority nomination of a county employee, and adopted stronger controls over how capital funds may be spent.
I also talk about another $327,420 Paragon agreement, bids approaching $150,000 for two Emergency Management vehicles, and new jail data showing 754 people in custody—approximately 154 above the jail’s estimated functional capacity.
There is a great deal to cover, so let’s get started.
Thursday night’s meeting may have marked an important shift:
The Court did not automatically approve both of the county judge’s board nominees. The JPs separated the appointments, discussed the potential independence concern and rejected the Water Authority nomination. That level of scrutiny has not existed in recent years.
The Court approved JP Lyons’s budget-control ordinance, requiring capital-outlay funds to be used only for the project or purpose for which they were appropriated. Any proposal to redirect the money must now return to the Quorum Court for public approval.
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👀 Looking Ahead
Several important Washington County meetings are coming up. All meetings are open to the public.
Unless otherwise noted, meetings will be held at the Washington County Courthouse, 280 N. College Avenue, Fayetteville.
County Services Committee: Monday, August 31, at 6:00 p.m.
Finance & Budget Committee: Tuesday, September 8, at 6:00 p.m. I will have more on this meeting next week.
Washington County Library System Board: Thursday, September 17, at 4:00 p.m., at the Emergency Operations Center, 2462 S. Brink Drive, Fayetteville.
Regular Quorum Court Meeting: Thursday, September 17, at 6:00 p.m.
Planning Board Meeting: Thursday, September 24, at 5:00 p.m.
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Quorum Court Approves SCAAP; Rejects Water Authority Appointment
The Washington County Quorum Court met Thursday, August 20.
Watch the meeting video HERE.
Read my summary of the meeting HERE.
SCAAP Passes 10–5
After more than half an hour of discussion and extensive public opposition, the Court approved an ordinance anticipating and appropriating $100,000 from the federal State Criminal Alien Assistance Program, or SCAAP.
The actual award has not yet been determined. Sheriff Jay Cantrell confirmed that the federal government will decide the amount later, after determining how much money is available, how many jurisdictions apply and which submitted inmate records qualify.
The sheriff also clearly confirmed that SCAAP itself is voluntary. Washington County is not legally required to participate.
Supporters characterized the money as reimbursement for correctional-officer expenses the county has already incurred. They also argued that fingerprints and other information are already transmitted through federal systems regardless of SCAAP.
That argument, however, does not fully address the separate act required to obtain this reimbursement: Washington County voluntarily compiles and submits information about a selected group of incarcerated people so the federal government can review their immigration status and determine eligibility.
I told the Court that I cannot separate the money from the process used to obtain it:
“If Washington County chooses to participate in SCAAP—to take the SCAAP money—then we must also take responsibility for what our participation helps make possible. We cannot accept a check, deny the consequences, and then claim that we have clean hands.”
JP Rivera Lopez said participation erodes trust in public institutions and makes residents of his diverse district less likely to contact police. JP Rios Stafford said she has opposed the program each year, in part because it can apply to people convicted of two misdemeanors and is not limited to felony convictions.
The ordinance passed 10–5. JPs Rivera Lopez, Washington, Coger, Highers and Rios Stafford voted no.
Water Authority Nomination Fails
The Court confirmed Emily Pluckett to the West Fork Library Board but rejected William Watts’s nomination to the Washington Water Authority.
I asked County Attorney Brian Lester to address the potential conflict or independence concern created when a county employee serves on a board whose interests could someday differ from those of county officials. Lester acknowledged that conflicts are possible but said the individual could recuse when a major conflict occurred.
Recusal, however, depends on the board member recognizing the conflict and choosing to step aside; it does not resolve the broader concern about independence.
The issue was not Mr. Watts’s character or qualifications. It was whether a county employee could always act independently if Water Authority interests conflicted with the wishes of officials who influence that employee’s county employment.
The nomination received five yes votes, six no votes and four abstentions, and therefore failed.
New Controls on Capital Money
The Court also approved an important ordinance restricting capital-outlay money to the project or purpose for which it was appropriated. Using the money for a different purpose will now require approval from the Quorum Court.
JP Lyons said the ordinance followed concerns about money appropriated for storm repairs being used for a Paragon architectural-services agreement, even though no architectural-services appropriation appeared in the 2026 budget.
This is an important transparency and legislative-control measure. When money remains after a project is completed, it should not automatically become available for an unrelated purpose. County officials must return to the Quorum Court, explain the proposed new use and obtain public approval.
PACE District Approved
The Court voted 11–4 to join the statewide Arkansas PACE Improvement District. PACE allows owners of qualifying commercial, industrial, agricultural, nonprofit and multifamily properties to finance energy, water and building improvements through private lenders and repay the financing through a property assessment.
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📊 Key Numbers This Week
10–5: Vote approving the SCAAP appropriation
754: People held in the Washington County Detention Center 8/21/26
154: Population above the jail’s estimated functional capacity
367: People classified as pretrial
$327,420: New Paragon design agreement
$70,709.45: July PCard payment
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Transparency Corner - Follow the Money
Another $327,420 Paragon Agreement
Washington County has entered into another $327,420 architectural and engineering agreement with Paragon Architecture, signed on the county’s behalf by County Judge Patrick Deakins.
Contract 2026-159, dated August 5 and filed August 17, calls for the design of an approximately 8,000-square-foot, pre-engineered metal building containing warehouse and office space, early-voting and assembly areas, mezzanine storage, two overhead doors, entry canopies, and approximately 40 parking spaces with site lighting.
Paragon will also design renovations to the existing Election Commission building, including a restroom and kitchenette on the west side and modifications to provide an ADA-accessible entrance. The basic services extend from schematic design through project closeout.
They include architectural and interior design; civil, structural, mechanical, electrical and plumbing engineering; coordination among the disciplines; and two construction-cost estimates.
The $327,420 covers design, engineering, surveys and related professional services; it does not include the cost of constructing the new facility or renovating the existing building. The agreement does not identify the anticipated construction cost or establish a project schedule. It states only that the schedule will be coordinated with the county after approval.
Clarification on Earlier Paragon Documents
Read HERE where Buildings & Grounds Director Angela Ledgerwood previously clarified that Contract 2026-125 is the Paragon agreement and Contract 2026-126 is the corresponding AIA document for the same project. They are not two separate projects or financial commitments. She said Purchasing was considering rescinding the 2026-126 designation and renumbering the document as 2026-125A so both documents would be clearly connected.
Accounting for that clarification, the face values of the separate Paragon agreements I have reviewed—Contracts 2026-41, 2026-122, 2026-125 and this new Contract 2026-159—total approximately $982,480. That represents potential contract values, not necessarily the amount already paid.
Key New Paragon Contract Numbers
$327,420: New Paragon design agreement
8,000 square feet: Approximate size of the proposed building
40: Proposed parking spaces
$128,345.00 Payments to Paragon Architecture County records show six payments made between April 30 and June 24, 2025. The county provided this information as of August 6, 2026.
Paragon Invoices
$28,350 net payment — Invoice 25-960-01 after applying a $12,500 overpayment credit from Project 25-946; 100 N. College renovations and facility submission for CRI.
$40,020.00 Invoice 25-960-04 100 N. College Renovations & Facility Submission CRI
$14,175.00 Invoice 25-960-02 100 N. College Renovations & Facility Submission CRI
$5,000.00 Invoice 25-920-01 Building Plan & Code Review for 105 N. Mills Avenue
$12,800.00 Invoice 25-921-01 Building Plan & Code Review for 114 N. College.
$28,000.00 Invoice 25-946-01 Building Assessment & Feasibility Study 10 N. College.
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2. $70,709.45 Order 2026-101 PCard Purchases July Billing Cycle. The statement included $71,311.53 in purchases, offset by $602.08 in credits.
Washington County issues purchasing cards, commonly called PCards, to authorized employees for county purchases and pays the combined account balance each month.
July spending declined by $7,486.92, or 9.6%, from June’s $78,196.37, but remained slightly above the four-month average of approximately $69,002.
From April through July billing cycles, the county paid a combined $276,006.70 in PCard bills:
April: $70,047.08
May: $57,053.80
June: $78,196.37
July: $70,709.45
3. Executive Order 2026-07 Preventing Animals & Pets in County Buildings restricts animals and pets in county buildings. The order cites flea infestation, maintenance, sanitation and public-health concerns and provides exceptions, including those required by law.
4. Order 2026-102 - Awarding Bid 2026-13 to Elite Work Place Solutions in the amount of $39,908.77 for mobile shelving in the sheriff’s office.
5. In the case of Neil Mehta v. Washington County, Jay Cantrell et al. 72CV-26-3011, it turns out the 8/13/26 hearing was moved to Friday, 8/21/26. I did not catch the change and missed the hearing; however, you can review Mr. Mehta’s exhibit list HERE.
6. Letter from the Arkansas Court of Appeals The Arkansas Court of Appeals letter acknowledges that the record was tendered in Damon Charles Sanford v. Cathy Mulvaney, Case No. 72CV-26-1620. The record will not be lodged until a certified transcript bearing the court reporter’s certificate is filed.
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📊 Washington County Jail Data Dashboard
⚖️ Detention Center Data. Read the most recent Inmate Population Analysis HERE.
Jail Population Remains Above Rated Capacity
On the morning of August 21, the Washington County Detention Center reported 754 people in custody—651 men and 103 women. Although the jail’s official rated capacity is 710, its usable or functional capacity is estimated at approximately 600 because different populations must be separated for safety and legal reasons, including men and women, sex offenders, federal detainees, and people requiring protective or specialized housing.
At 754 people, the jail was 44 above its rated capacity but approximately 154 above its estimated functional capacity—nearly 26% over the number it can realistically accommodate. A separate report listed the day’s high count as 759.
Washington County Jail Population Snapshot 8/21/26
Of the 754 people incarcerated:
367 were classified as pretrial, nearly 49% of the population.
702 were listed as not sentenced, approximately 93%.
223 were state prisoners awaiting action or placement by the state.
97 were identified as federal prisoners. The separate classification table lists 84 U.S. Marshal detainees and 13 people with immigration holds.
Only 52 people were identified as sentenced.
The average time in jail was 181 days, or about six months.
The combined bond amount was approximately $45.8 million, with an average reported bond of $60,802.
The average age was 37.
The jail population has increased by 30 people since the 724 reported last month, while the number classified as pretrial increased from 357 to 367.
Read the Detainee Summary HERE.These numbers reinforce my longstanding support for meaningful pretrial services (which differ from the County's Community Rebuilding Initiative) and for re-establishing a Criminal Justice Coordinating Committee to examine system-wide solutions. Read the 2020 Criminal Justice Assessment Study HERE.
🔎 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 08/23/26):
Bid 2026-18 - Re-Bid 2026-18 Sheriff’s Office Outdoor Range Acoustic. Sheriff’s Office Outdoor Range Acoustic Reduction: Bids are due August 31 at 4:00 p.m. The bid opening is September 1 at 9:00 a.m. in the fifth-floor conference room of the Washington County Courthouse.
Bid 2026-19 - Detainee Food, Commissary, Communications Services - Bids are due September 28 at 4:00 p.m. The bid opening is September 29 at 9:00 a.m. in Suite 530 of the courthouse.
Bid 2026-17 - Emergency Management Fleet - Bidding is closed. View the Bid Tabulation Sheet HERE. View the Sign-In Sheet HERE.
Bid comparisons
Vehicle | Don Brown Chevrolet | Superior Chevrolet GMC | Lower bid |
2026 Chevrolet Tahoe 4WD | $74,982.00 | $67,924.28 | Superior by $7,057.72 |
2026 Chevrolet Silverado 2500HD | $75,590.00 | $80,787.50 | Don Brown by $5,197.50 |
Combined total | $150,572.00 | $148,711.78 | Superior by $1,860.22 |
Nearly $150,000 for Two DEM Vehicles
Washington County received bids for a 2026 Chevrolet Tahoe 4WD and a 2026 Chevrolet Silverado 2500HD for the Department of Emergency Management.
The tabulation sheet does not mean that either bid has been accepted. We must wait for an order from the county judge to learn whether either purchase is approved and, if so, which bid or bids are selected.
If the county may select the lower bidder for each vehicle separately, the combined price would be $143,514.28. The tabulation sheet does not indicate whether the purchase can be divided between the two vendors.
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🧑💼 Here are the Washington County Job Openings as of 08/23/26.
Washington County currently lists 10 job postings representing at least 12 available positions, including 11 full-time positions and one temporary election position. The Road Department is seeking three Operator II employees; the remaining postings appear to represent one opening each.
Six of the postings are in detention, law enforcement, or juvenile justice, including adult and juvenile detention officers, a certified patrol deputy, and juvenile intake and probation officers. Other openings include a janitorial position, animal shelter kennel supervisor, three Road Department operators, and temporary election poll workers.
Hourly wages range from $14 for election poll workers to $26.86 for an experienced certified patrol deputy. The probation team-lead position pays between $58,697.60 and $64,708.80 annually. Most positions remain open until filled, but applications for the three Road Department openings are due Friday, August 28, at 4:30 p.m.
View and apply for job openings HERE.
Please share these opportunities with anyone who may be interested. ___________________________________________________________
Good government depends on an informed and engaged community. Thank you for taking the time to stay informed about the Washington County government. If you found this newsletter helpful, please consider sharing it with your neighbors, friends, and family.
— Beth Coger
Justice of the Peace, District 9
Washington County Quorum Court
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