Kiwanis Club hears from sheriff, JPs Bollinger and Todd
GRAVETTE — Sheriff Shawn Holloway and justices of the peace Joseph Bollinger and Dustin Todd were guest speakers for the Oct. 21 meeting of the Gravette Kiwanis Club. Their main topic was the proposed expansion of the Benton County Jail.
Holloway first weighed in on proposed Amendment 4, which would legalize the use of recreational marijuana. It would authorize the possession, personal use and consumption of marijuana by adults in Arkansas. Holloway said he was not in favor of Amendment 4 because, where a similar measure was passed, violent crime increased 40% the first year and was up again the next year. Holloway said he favors medical marijuana because his father was helped by it and was able to get off other medications with unpleasant side effects but said, “I will definitely vote ‘No’ on Amendment 4.”
The vote on the jail issue is asking for a temporary 1/8 cent sales tax to build a $206 million jail expansion and a 1/4 cent sales tax for operation and maintenance of the jail and other law enforcement needs. The 1/8 cent tax would end when the jail is paid for and Holloway said he has plans to pay it off sooner than projected.
Part of the new jail would be empty as the county is building for the future. Holloway said he is working on an arrangement with U.S. Marshals to house their prisoners. The Marshal’s Service would pay $100-$120 a day for each prisoner and he said the jail could be paid off in five years.
Holloway said a larger jail is needed because the current facility is “busting at the seams.” Built in 1997, the kitchen is designed to feed 500 prisoners and is now feeding as many as 800. The laundry is the same way, he said, and the boilers are “maxed out.” Needs will only increase as the county population increases, with a projected population of 600,000 in Benton County by 2045.
The sheriff said he “hates taxes” but believes the county is being fiscally responsible. The jail has the lowest operating cost of any county in the state at $46.16 a day because the building design is very efficient and allows for operation by less employees. The proposed expansion would be built on the same design.
Holloway also bragged about the “great law enforcement and great prosecutor” in Benton County, saying no other county in the state of the same size is so low in crime.
The proposed expansion also includes a criminal justice center with four courtrooms. In response to a question from the audience, the justices of the peace explained that circuit courtrooms would be moved so criminals would no longer need to be transported downtown. The ballot issue only involves jail expansion as plans are to pay for the courts’ project with existing county money.
The quorum court allocates part of the county budget to the jail and most of the property tax collected goes to the jail, but planned changes will allow much of that to be allocated elsewhere. One of the problems is that the jail is housing several state prisoners and the state pays only $40 a day for their care. At a cost of $46 a day, the county is losing money on each one. Legislators have voted to expand the state prison at Calico Rock and possibly build another state prison, which should help alleviate that problem.
Because of the county’s location next to neighboring states, Holloway explained that many persons committing crimes in the county are from Oklahoma and Missouri. Because of jail overcrowding, persons committing misdemeanors are no longer being held but are released only to commit offenses again. Holloway said he often has to release felons to make room for more violent criminals. County work details have been cut back because there are no longer enough inmates who can be trusted to be released for such projects.
Justice Bollinger highlighted the need for additional mental health facilities and programs to rehabilitate convicted criminals. There is no mental health acute care facility in the county, he said, and there is a year’s waiting list at the state hospital. Mental health programs are needed to prevent recidivism, Bollinger said, and Sheriff Holloway agreed, saying faith-based programs are best because they “work on the heart, not the mind.”
During the business session, president Dr. Nancy Jones thanked all members who helped in the concession stand at the football game recently and all who attended the annual banquet and installation of officers. She reminded everyone that candy is still being collected for the hospital to use in their booth at Trick or Treat on Main Oct. 31 and said helpers are needed at the Founders Club dance on Nov. 1.
Jones gave reminders about upcoming events, including the start of early voting on Oct. 24 and the Mad Hatters tea party on Oct. 30 to knit hats for the Arkansas Children’s Hospital.
Former justice of the peace Bob Bland reported he had presented a $1,000 check to high school student Holden Jeffries from WoodmenLife in support of his food pantry project at Gravette schools and at the Bella Vista Boys and Girls Club.
Past division governor Dan Yates presented a past president’s plaque to outgoing president Dennis Kurczek and gave director’s pins to Steve Harari, Bob Kelley and Lavon Stark.