Local JPS to vote on 911 Center resolution
The Saline County Quorum Court will consider an ordinance approving an interlocal agreement between the county and the city of Benton to form the Saline County Emergency Communications Center, also known as the 911 Center, during its meeting Monday night.
A resolution committing the county to work with Benton on the creation of a joint public safety answering point and creating the 911 Board was approved during the August Quorum Court meeting. The board is comprised of the county judge, Benton mayor, director of the office of Emergency Management, Saline County sheriff, Benton police chief, Benton fire chief, ambulance service manager and a fire service coordinator.
A previous joint study of the project at the end of 2019, conducted by the Association of Public Safety Communication Officials, involved the county, along with the cities of Benton and Bryant. The purpose was to conduct a study regarding dispatch centers and see if consolidation was the best option for the area.
During the August meeting, County Judge Jeff Arey said the initial study recommended full consolidation of all three, however, Bryant has since opted out of participation.
“They felt like that consolidation was not in their best interest,” Arey
said. “So, Saline County and the city of Benton have been continuing those talks over the last several weeks.”
The interlocal agreement that will be considered by the Justices of the Peace is the first action the board has taken to move the project forward.
The JPS will also hear the third and final reading of an ordinance Monday evening which, if approved, will see a number of new roads added to the county road system. Those roads include:
• 123 feet of extension of Heritage Way for a total of 467 feet.
• 763 feet of extension of Heritage Valley Drive for a total of 1,533 feet.
• 1,110 feet of extension of Meadow Acres Drive for a total of 4,781.79 feet.
• 100 feet of extension of Brody Crossing for a total of 4,500 feet.
• 1,154 feet of Eagle Valley Drive.
• 1,403 feet of Navajo Way.
Other items on the agenda include:
• A resolution supporting Issue 1 which concerns the continuation of a halfpercent sales tax in which proceeds go to fund state and local highways, roads and bridges.
• The appointment of April Kesterson as Saline County Fire Service Coordinator.
• A resolution authorizing the grant application process for FEMA COVID-19 grant funds.
• An ordinance transferring county general funds - Assessor’s Office.
• An ordinance appropriating county general funds - Election Commission.
• An ordinance appropriating county general fund and STOP Grant funds.
• An ordinance transferring ICJR/ARREST Grant funds.
• An ordinance appropriating county general fund and VOCA Grant funds.
• An ordinance providing for certificate pay for Saline County Sheriff’s Office Deputies.
• An ordinance appropriating ICJR/ARREST Grant FY20-23 funds.
• An ordinance transferring county general funds - Saline County Sheriff’s Office.
• An ordinance appropriating Law Enforcement Protection Services and Detention Center funds.
The meeting is 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 COVID19 pandemic.