Packed agenda planned for Quorum Court meeting

The Saline County Quorum Court will meet Monday evening with a packed agenda, including hearing a report from the Saline County Prosecutor’s Office.

The court will consider a resolution regarding Act 833 fund distribution. The Public Works and Safety Committee approved the measure earlier this month.

Act 833 provides additional funding for Arkansas fire departments through additional insurance premiums assessed against insurers

when writing fire insurance or similar coverage.

Three percent of anticipated revenues will be allocated to Saline Count by the Arkansas Department of Finance and Administration. The Intergovernmental Cooperation Council of Saline County met in October and voted to distribute 2021 Act 833 funds based on a points system provided by the Saline County Firefighters Association. Those points were converted to percentages to allow for the distribution of funds to the fire departments based on needs. The percentages are outlined in the ordinance as follows:

• Alexander - 4.100 percent.

• Bauxite - 5.480 percent.

• Benton - 5.480 percent.

• Bryant - 5.480 percent.

• Collegeville - 5.480 percent.

• Crystal - 1.370 percent.

• Haskell - 5.480 percent.

• East End - 5.480 percent.

• Hot Spring Village - 2.740 percent.

• Lake Norrell - 5.480 percent.

• Lonsdale - 2.740 percent.

• Northeast - 5.480 percent.

• Paron – 5.480 percent.

• Salem -5.480 percent.

• Sardis - 5.480 percent.

• Shannon Hills - 5.480 percent.

• Shaw - 5.480 percent.

• Traskwood - 5.480 percent.

• Turtle Creek - 5.480 percent.

• West Pulaski - 1.370 percent.

The justices of the peace will also hear the second of three readings of an ordinance, which, if approved, will see new roads added to the county road system. Those roads include:

• 3,705 feet of Buck Road.

• 308 feet of Spadra Cove.

• 614 feet of Westcott Cove.

• 682 feet of Hartman Lance.

Other items on the agenda include:

• An ordinance appropriating Election Security-Homeland Security grant funds for 2020 in the amount of $18,557.

• An ordinance appropriating Saline County 911 Emergency funds for 2020 in the amount of $648,376.

• An ordinance appropriating Saline County Jail funds for 2020 in the amount of $10,372.

• Two ordinances transferring County General funds.

Prior to the Quorum Court meeting the HR committee will meet at 6 p.m. followed by the Quorum Court meeting at 6:30 p.m. A budget meeting concerning the 2021 budget will be had directly following the regular Quorum Court meeting.

All three meetings are open to the public and will be held in Courtroom

1 at the Saline County Courthouse in Benton. The county will be following all proper social distancing measures and, as such, space will be limited and access will be provided on a first come, first served basis. Masks are required. Neither meeting will be streamed live as they have been over the past few months due to the COVID-19 pandemic.