Court has lengthy agenda for meeting
The Hot Spring County Quorum Court had a lot on the agenda when it convened for its regular monthly meeting at the Hot Spring County Courthouse Tuesday evening. Members of the court moved swiftly through several pieces of legislation.
Bill # 21- 38, an ordinance to abolish the exhausted Magnet Cove Charter Administrative Fund # 1800 was given its third reading by title only and passed with a unanimous vote.
Bill # 21- 39, an ordinance to establish a new fund # 6511 New Deroche Area Fire Protection Association, was given a third reading by title only and passed with a unanimous vote.
Bill # 21- 41, an ordinance to adopt Hot Spring County Personnel Policy Manual 2022- 1 as a replacement for the current manual, was read by title only for the third time and passed with a unanimous vote. The emergency clause was proposed due to time constraints, and another unanimous vote was reached to allow it. The new manual will become effective Jan. 1, 2022.
Bill # 21- 46, an ordinance to transfer funds within the County Detention Facility Fund for inmate care was given its first reading in full. It was given a unanimous vote and will be given a second reading at the next meeting.
Bill # 21- 47, an ordinance to appropriate funds received from the Association of Arkansas Counties Risk Management Fund for a settlement on water damage incurred at the County Clerk’s Office, as well as roof damage done to the Election Building, was given a first reading and passed with a unanimous vote.
Bill # 21- 48, an ordinance to appropriate funds received from the Universal Service Administrative Company’s Schools and Libraries ( E- rate) program for a partial reimbursement of an internet bill for the Malvern- Hot Spring County Library, was given first reading and passed unanimously.
Bill # 21- 49, an ordinance to appropriate $ 180,884.67 from Unappropriated Industrial Park EDA Grant Fund # 3531 to Industrial Park EDA Grant Fund # 3531, Department # 0810 WCAPDD, was given first reading in full and passed with a unanimous vote.
Bill # 21- 50, an ordinance to establish the Annual Operating Budget for 2022, was given its first, second, and third readings by title only. After a lengthy discussion to clarify the budget parameters, it passed with one negative vote.
The Quorum Court then turned to the current resolutions on the agenda. Proposed Resolution # 21- 19 would approve the appointment of Ms. Lorri Helberg to the Malvern- Hot Spring County Library Board, who has been serving a partial term in this position since Jan. 2017. The affirmative vote puts Helberg in the seat until Dec. 31, 2026.
The court then introduced Proposed Resolution # 21- 20, joining the Malvern City Council and the Arkansas Economic Development Institute in showing public support for putting the wet/ dry issue on the ballot next November as a local option. Proposed Resolution # 2120 reads:
“A resolution expressing the opinion of the Hot Spring County Quorum Court on the Vote Hot Spring County Wet ballot initiative to repeal the order of the Hot Spring County Court of September 10, 1943, abolishing the sale and manufacture of intoxicating liquors within Hot Spring County.”
Justice of the Peace for District 7 Gerald Black clarified that this resolution was simply a nod to letting voters decide the issue for themselves. Organizers must collect around 7,000 signatures from Hot Spring County voters by next June to get the issue on the ballot. The resolution passed with one negative vote and one JP abstaining from the vote.
Elected officials declined to speak, so the meeting turned to old business. County Judge Dennis Thornton updated the members on the EDA Grant at the Industrial Park. He said they would be meeting with workers there on Wednesday to go over details.
Judge Dennis Thornton announced there are 72 current COVID cases in Hot Spring County. He asked everyone to remember his secretary and her husband in their prayers as they struggle with the illness.
Black updated the court on the Perla Water situation, and then Thornton gave kudos to his wife, Glorie Thornton, for her efforts to make the Christmas on the Courthouse Square a special night for the community.
New business included Bill # 21- 51, an ordinance to establish a one- time premium pay program, as well as Bill # 21- 52, an ordinance to appropriate $ 995,000 from Unappropriated American Rescue Plan Fund # 3046 to apply toward this program.
The ordinances would provide a one- time premium pay for qualifying elected officials and employees of Hot Spring County who were hired before or during the Jan. 1- Dec. 21, 2020, period and are still employed.
After a motion to suspend the rules was passed, the bill was given a second reading by title only. A repeat motion and third reading was given by title only, and Bill # 21- 51 was adopted with one vote in the negative. Bill # 21- 52 was likewise given suspension of the rules and passed with one negative vote.
Bill # 21- 53 and # 21- 54 were introduced to provide a bonus for current county employees who were hired after Dec. 31, 2020, and thus, do not qualify for the premium pay program outlined in Bill # 21- 51. JPS were going to table # 2154 until a thorough review could be made, but they decided to move ahead so that, if passed, funds could be released before Christmas.
These bills were also pushed through expeditiously via emergency clause and suspension of the rules, and the bills passed unanimously. County Clerk Sandy Boyette said qualified employees could expect their premium pay benefits and bonuses to be distributed as early as the end of the week.