Quorum Court OKs three appointments, grant applications

BENTONVILLE — Benton County’s Quorum Court plowed through its agenda to close February business Thursday night.

Among the items, the court declared a vacancy for the Justice of the Peace District 12 position.

A vacancy must be declared before Gov. Asa Hutchinson can appoint a replacement. District 12 Justice of the Peace Adriane Carr will move to McPherson, Kan., on Monday. Her husband, Patrick, took a job with the police department there late last year.

District 12 includes parts of Siloam Springs, Gentry and some of western Benton County.

Moehring also introduced Jennifer Reynolds as the new director of Central Communications. Reynolds worked for the Fayetteville for 13 years.

In other business, the Quorum Court approved:

■ Appointing Jackie Crabtree and Rick Parker to the Benton County Historical Preservation Commission.

■ Appointing Quinita Henry to the Northwest Arkansas HIV Clinic Board.

■ Appointing Blake Webb to the 911 Administration Board. ■ Granting a waiver regarding the hire-in rate and pay rate for various positions in various departments.

■ Authorized applying for a federal grant for a water line extension from Benton County Water Authority No. 5 to Rambo Water District No. 1. The Rambo district is in the Beaver Lake area and serves about 35 households via a community well. The Rambo district has been in violation of U.S. Environmental Protection Agency standards for cyanide content from July 2017 to July of last year, according to information provided by the water district.

■ Affirming a policy of the Benton County Sheriff’s Office prohibiting the use of excessive force and addressing the treatment of individuals engaged in non-violent civil rights demonstrations.

■ Applying for a grant for the Northeast Benton County Volunteer Fire Department an EMS. The grant is for firefighting equipment.