Quorum Court approves SRO funding, park application

The Saline County Quorum Court, during a regular meeting Monday, approved funding for a school resource officer position, as well as approving a resolution involving a grant for the Paron community.

Beginning Aug. 12, the Saline County Sheriff’s Office will provide a school resource officer for the Harmony

Grove School District.

In an ordinance involving the SRO position, the court approved an appropriation of $16,901.

As part of the partnership between the district and the county, the school district will reimburse all appropriated expenses for the position.

The Haskell Police Department will no longer provide a school resource officer for the district. With this approval, the SCSO now provides SROS for three school districts, according SCSO Lt. Daniel Dodson.

The Justices of the Peace approved a resolution authorizing the county to apply for a FUN Park grant through the Arkansas Department of Parks and Tourism to develop a park in the Paron community.

According to the ADPT, FUN Park grants provide up to $50,000 in funding to municipalities with populations of 2,500 or less and unincorporated communities sponsored by their county government. The funds are available for the development of open-air, outdoor recreation facilities, but do not cover pools or splash pads. FUN Park grants do not require matching funds from the applicants.

The county is the sponsor that has to make the applica

tion for the grant, but the Paron Community Trust will be providing land, according to Saline County Judge Jeff Arey.

The court approved an ordinance to appropriate $1,000 for part-time help at the Office of Emergency Management and an ordinance involving a court security grant of $4358.91.

The JPS also approved an ordinance appropriating $14,937.50 from the District Court Automation Fund.

The funds will be used for “court-related technology,” according to the approved ordinance.

The court voted to reappoint Matt Nalley and Randy

Ives to the Saline County Planning Board, as well as reappointing Terry Nichols to the Turtle Creek Subordinate Fire Improvement District.

With Linda Edwards’ term on the Saline County Public Library Board set to expire June 30, the JPS voted to appoint Lindsey Jordan to the board.

An ordinance the court was scheduled to discuss regarding an amendment to the county’s personnel policy was removed from the agenda by the item’s sponsor, JP Josh Curtis, according to Arey.

The next meeting of the court is scheduled to take place July 15 at the Herzfeld Library in Benton.

All meetings of the court are open to the public and the community is encourage to attend.