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Writer's pictureBeth Coger

THIS WEEK’S WASHINGTON COUNTY NEWS AND UPDATE, IS BEING BROUGHT TO YOU BY ROGUE JP BETH COGER, DISTRICT 9 -- JUNE 16, 2024




Here’s how I became “The Rogue JP.” Watch this video  starting at 1:01:06.  


JP Ecke says, speaking in favor of the ordinance to pay $100,000.00 to outside attorneys in the lawsuit against WC because of its illegal use of ARPA money for jail expansion, that she wants:


“...to allocate as much money as we need to beat this lawsuit because I am sick and tired of being sued by the same JP and having our taxpayers pay for it and so I would like to appropriate the full amount that we can to defend this court against this Rogue JP."   She doesn’t mention me by name, but we all know JP Lisa Ecke directed that at me and I’m proud to be rogue if that’s what it takes to get things done, challenge the status quo, and speak up for people whose voices aren’t being heard.



 



  WASHINGTON COUNTY QUORUM COURT REGULAR MONTHLY MEETING 6/20/24, 6:00 PM, WASHINGTON COUNTY COURTHOUSE.  If you’re able, please attend in person.  The event should be livestreamed here:  https://www.youtube.com/user/washcoar











  My RESOLUTION IN SUPPORT OF THE NORTHWEST ARKANSAS COMMUNITY CORRECTION CENTER is again on the agenda.  It passed out of County Services 6/3/24 and now must be approved by the full Washington County Quorum Court.  We had a huge crowd last time and will need all that community support again to get this passed.  Reach out to me if you have questions, please.


TELL YOUR JP TO VOTE “NO” ON THE STATE CRIMINAL ALIEN ASSISTANCE PROGRAM FY2024 (SCAAP)Learn more.


🎌We’ll be voting again on accepting money from the Dept. of Justice under the State Criminal Alien Assistance Program.  Read more about that here.  Here’s a letter from the Department of Justice that verifies what I’ve been saying, that the number we’re appropriating ($125,273.12) is merely an estimate.  There’s no way to know what amount we will receive until well after the grant period closes on 7/29/24.  Why the rush?  Why the estimate?  Why continue this harmful program?


🎌We will also vote Thursday on whether to give $100,000.00 of taxpayer dollars to defend the lawsuit brought by a local nonprofit, Arkansas Justice Reform Coalition, filed a federal lawsuit against Washington County, Arkansas, alleging, among other things, illegal use of American Rescue Plan Act dollars.  Read the complaint here.  

 

Here’s the full agenda You can read my summary of the agenda and certain items here.  




 


WASHINGTON COUNTY LIBRARY BOARD MEETS

TUESDAY, 6/20/24, 3:30 PM, 1080 WEST CLYDESDALE DRIVE, FAYETTEVILLE.  IN PERSON MEETING  

This is the first in person WC Library Board meeting since I’ve been attending.  Unfortunately, there’s no public agenda posted.


 

 

COUNTY UPDATE FROM LAST WEEK


🌟 The WC Quorum County Quorum Court Finance & Budget Committee met Tuesday, 6/11/24.   You can watch the full meeting here, and you definitely should do that.  Watch this and see why I'm so rogue.


 


DETENTION CENTER INFORMATION 6/15/24


As of  6/15/24, there are 766 people locked away in our Washington County Detention Center.  Most of those are pretrial - meaning they’ve been arrested and/or charged, but have not been found guilty.  This week 96 of those people are homeless.  There are 252 Failure to Appear charges;  250 “holds for other departments”; and 63 “courtesy/contract holds.”   There’s even one charge for a “Noisy Muffler.”  I’ve never seen that one.  This person has other more serious drug charges, too, and is in jail on a $10K bond.  


 

 

  COUNTY JOB OPENINGS THIS WEEK (5/26/24)

 🌟 Here’s the link to the current Washington County Job Openings as posted on the HR website: https://www.washingtoncountyar.gov/government/departments-f-z/human-resources/job-postings

 There you’ll be able to complete an online application, see salary ranges and more.  


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THINGS TO KNOW AND THINGS TO DO:


 WE’RE GETTING CLOSE TO THE FINAL COUNTDOWN ON BALLOT INITIATIVE PETITIONS.  IF YOU HAVE NOT YET SIGNED THE PETITIONS TO SAVE TRANSPARENCY IN GOVERNMENT, PLEASE DO AND PLEASE TELL YOUR FRIENDS AND NEIGHBORS TO SIGN. I will be collecting signatures each Saturday from 10:00 am to 4:00 pm in the parking lot at 224 N East Avenue, St. Paul’s Episcopal Church, Fayetteville.     Want to know more?  





PLEASE go to YouTube and sign up for Washington County’s YouTube channel.  Subscribe and be informed.  You can do that here: https://www.youtube.com/@washcoar  








We have added SIX new YouTube subscribers since last week.  There are now 786 subscribers and we need everyone in Washington County to subscribe and watch the meetings.  Only 135 have viewed last week’s Finance & Budget meeting.


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