Quorum Court to consider VFD Handbook, administration

TEXARKANA, Ark. — The Miller County Quorum Court will meet at 7 p.m. Tuesday to hear a third reading of an ordinance to approve the Rural Volunteer Fire Department Handbook and appointment of the Miller County VFD Administrative Board.

The first reading of the ordinance to approve the handbook was held in August and a second reading of the handbook was approved in September, with Justice Andy LaGrone abstaining from both votes.

Miller County Judge Cathy Hardin Harrison proposed the changes to the handbook, which is based on that used by the Conway County VFD. It creates an emergency services district, puts a fire administrator in place and an administrative board to oversee the department.

Tuesday’s agenda shows the potential candidates for the fire board are Jason Johnston for a oneyear term, Penny Brennan Harris for a two-year term, Boyd Bryant for a threeyear term, Steve Johnson for a four-year term and Kurt Yates for a five-year term.

Larry Pritchett, who Harrison appointed as fire administrator in January, resigned his position in August.

Eight of the nine fire stations have previously voted against the new handbook because they do not want having an administrative chief over the department chiefs, George Goynes chairman of the Miller County Rural Fire Department Association said.

The Volunteer Fire Department Committee will meet at 5:45 p.m. Tuesday and the Budget and Finance Committee will meet at 6 p.m. All meetings will be held in the second-floor courtroom of the Miller County Courthouse, 400 Laurel Street.