JP Coger’s Washington County Update June 15, 2025
- Beth Coger
- Jun 15
- 3 min read
Stay informed and engaged with Washington County affairs! If you know someone who would like to receive this newsletter, please share my contact information:📞 479-306-9994📧 ejcoger@gmail.com
🔔 A Quick Reminder:
Your voice matters. Keep showing up. Keep speaking up. We make better decisions when we include the community and welcome your involvement. Please stay engaged, attend meetings, bring a friend or two (or three), and stay in touch with your Justice of the Peace, the County Judge, the Sheriff, and other county officials. Contact information here.
📅 Upcoming Events & Key Issues
🗓 County Offices Closed – Juneteenth (6/19/25)
Washington County offices will be closed during business hours on Thursday, June 19, in observance of Juneteenth.🛑 Note: The Quorum Court will still meet that evening as scheduled.
⚖️ Zoning Code Overhaul Vote May Happen Thursday
It's on the agenda. The Quorum Court may vote on the proposed new Planning & Zoning Ordinance at Thursday night’s meeting. Whether this will be moved to the third and final reading, or left on first reading, unknown at this point, at least to me.
The County Judge and administration made a critical early mistake by terminating the work of the Northwest Arkansas Regional Planning Commission and opting to go it alone (Exhibit 1 | Exhibit 2).
Since then:
They refused to hold meetings in rural communities (despite repeated requests from myself and other JPs).
They ignored many thoughtful and much needed suggestions from rural landowners and concerned citizens.
They essentially shut down opportunities for meaningful public input.
An effective government that is not just intent on pushing through its own agenda will always listen to its citizens and include them in decision making processes and welcome those discussions. That just has not happened here. This vote will shape land use in Washington County forever.
🏛 Public Meetings This Week (Week of June 15)
📌 Community Meeting – Wind Energy Project
📍 Cincinnati Fire Station (Lincoln Fire Station 2 on Google Maps)📅 Wednesday, June 18, 2025🕕 6:00–8:00 PM📍 12700 Cincinnati Road, Lincoln, AR 72744
📌 Washington County Quorum Court – Regular Monthly Meeting
🕕 Thursday, June 19 @ 6:00 PM📍 280 N. College Ave., Fayetteville🔴 In-person only. No Zoom participation.📺 Watch live: County YouTube Channel
Public Comment Period:
Occurs near the start of the meeting (Agenda Item 5).
Each speaker: up to 3 minutes.
The court may vote (⅔ majority) to extend comment time.✍️ This is your chance to be heard.
🔎 Agenda Highlights:
Item 5: Public Comment
Item 8: Ordinance to Adopt New Planning & Zoning Laws (Final vote likely this Thursday. Second and third readings may be expedited.)▶️ Watch the Planning Board meeting here
Item 9: Repeals 2023-26 (Eaglecrest Recovery exempted from needing a CUP)
Item 10: Vacation policy change to include all full-time military employees
Item 11: Adoption of new County Employee Handbook
Item 14: Appropriates $800,000 from General Fund reserves for EOC Construction Project
Item 15: Ratification of CUP for Social Sauna Pop-Up Project (CUP Details)
📌 Finance & Budget Committee Recap (6/10/25)
🕒 ~25-minute meeting🎤 JP Willie Leming served as Vice Chair and did a great job.▶️ Watch the meeting
🚨 Detention Center Report (as of 6/14/25)
Total detainees: 701
71 list addresses as either "homeless" or 1832 S School St (Seven Hills Homeless Shelter)
41 "309" trustees
95 ADC Commitments (waiting on state DOC beds)
225 in jail for Failure to Appear
221 on Hold for Other Department
🔗 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.
📣 County Bids & Job Openings
🧾 Bid Notices (as of 6/15/25)
❌ No new RFQs or bid notices🔗 View prior RFQs and bids [here].
👷 County Job Postings (as of 6/15/25)
The only new listing that I spotted: Deputy Circuit Clerk I
Position | Type | Salary |
Adult Detention Officer | Full Time | $21.91/hr |
Animal Shelter Admin Asst. | Full Time | $16.00–$17.62/hr |
Deputy Circuit Clerk I | Full Time | $19.27–$21.24/hr |
Deputy First Class - Patrol | Full Time | $24.38–$26.86/hr (DOE) |
Election Poll Worker | Temporary | $14/hr |
Janitorial – Buildings & Grounds | Full Time | $16–$17.62/hr |
Juvenile Detention Officer | Full Time | $21.25–$23.42/hr |
Peer Recovery Specialist | Full Time | $17.05/hr |
Planning Technician | Full Time | $21.25–$22.31/hr |
Road Department Mechanic III | Full Time | $29.92–$32.98/hr |
Equipment Operator EQ1–EQ4 | Full Time | $16.90–$31.10/hr (DOE) |
📌 Consistently hiring:
Road Department: 479-444-1610
Sheriff’s Office: 479-444-5700
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