Benton County officials back concealed carry ordinance

BENTONVILLE — Benton County’s justices of the peace on Thursday advanced a proposal to allow concealed carrying of handguns in some county buildings.

The Quorum Court heard the second reading of an ordinance allowing elected officials and some employees to have concealed handguns in some buildings where possession isn’t prohibited by federal or state laws. The ordinance must be read at three Quorum Court meetings before it’s enacted.

The justices of the peace voted 13-1 to advance the ordinance for a third reading. Susan Anglin, justice of the peace for District 9, was the lone dissenting vote. Anglin said she’s concerned about potential liability for the county if there were an incident involving an employee. She said she has also heard from a number of constituents who didn’t support the ordinance.

“I still can’t support this,” Anglin said. “I know I’m the lone dog on this and I respect all of you.”

Arkansas law on concealed handguns prohibits permit holders from carrying weapons in a number of places. The list begins with “any police station, sheriff’s station, or Department of Arkansas State Police station” and includes highway police and Department of Transportation facilities and adjacent ground.

The list of prohibited places also includes “any courthouse, courthouse annex, or other building owned, leased or regularly used by a county for conducting court proceedings or housing a county office.” The law provides exceptions for county employees, elected officials and justices of the peace if the Quorum Court approves allowing concealed carrying of handguns and is incorporated into the local security and emergency preparedness plan.

The law doesn’t allow members of the public to have concealed handguns in county buildings. County employees would be required to have the enhanced concealed carry permit to have handguns in those areas allowed by the ordinance.

The proposal still lists as prohibited places “any place otherwise prohibited by federal or Arkansas law” along with a courtroom; a facility housing any operation of the sheriff, including the jail; the Juvenile Detention Facility; any building where circuit or district court proceedings are held; any state office on property owned or leased by Benton County; a school, college, community college or university event.

The justices of the peace also approved allowing J.B. Hunt Transport Services to recover some money spent in sales tax on the company’s expansion of its Lowell campus.

The Quorum Court approved the company’s participation in the state’s “Tax Back” program as authorized under the Consolidated Incentive Act of 2003. The act allows businesses expanding to apply for sales tax rebates on material and equipment used in the expansion. The company can ask for rebates for expenses incurred over a four-year period after entering into an agreement with the Arkansas Economic Development Commission. The company must document its costs and submit the request for reimbursement to the state Department of Finance and Administration.

Lowell Mayor Eldon Long said the new building is meant to house the company’s Information Technology operation and training. Long said Lowell’s City Council endorsed the company’s participation in the tax back program June 19.

According to a news release from the company, J.B. Hunt completed a four-story, 144,000-square-foot office building in 2017. That building was to house highway services, sales and e-commerce, along with other departments. Company officials announced plans in 2015 to expand its Lowell headquarters and add up to 1,000 jobs over a six-year period.