With a short agenda, the Baxter County Quorum Court met in regular session Tuesday night at the Baxter County Courthouse.
Justice of the Peace Dennis Frank presented a report from the recent budget committee meeting, where they started to review budget requests for 2024. Frank stated all departments are currently running at or just below original forecasts for 2023. He noted most preliminary budgets presented show slight increases due to inflation, but there were several items the court needed to be aware of.
First was continuing the veteran’s suicide prevention contract at $25,000 annually. The 2024 primary elections will cost the county $175,000; the recycling center is requesting to raise its budget from $35,000 to $50,000 to cover costs of equipment and vehicle repairs; and the 911 department asked for an additional $122,000 to update equipment. In addition, the Sheriff’s Office was funded through ARPA funds last year and will now roll back through the general fund in the amount of $3.4 million.
The committee is still waiting to see budgets from personnel services for merit increases for county employees and IT for a possible increase due to cyberattacks.
Before regular business, the court heard presentations from Jeremy Ragland of the Northwest Arkansas Economic Development District, Gary Regan of the Arkansas Division of Emergency Management (ADEM) and Brad Runsick of the Baxter County Extension Office.
Ragland presented the completion of a grant which was awarded to Baxter Health during the COVID pandemic in 2020, the amount of $500,000. Some funds were used to purchase eligible equipment and supplies the hospital needed to treat COVID patients.
Regan, the Community Preparedness Coordinator or ADEM, presented an award to Baxter County and OEM Director David Stults for exemplifying distinguished leadership in preparing their communities for disasters. They were recognized for purchasing a mobile communications unit for the 911 center, developing a 400-gallon potable water tank and cooling station, and reinstating the Community Emergency Response Team (CERT) program, which now includes two teams totaling 40 members.
Runsick shared with the court October is National 4-H month. He stated the current membership is 150 members with five clubs around the county. Enrollment numbers are up from 115 last year, which he attributed to having new leadership to help recruit new members and leaders. In addition, Runsick shared there has been an increase in participation in county contests. Runsick states the Master Gardeners is one of the largest volunteer organizations in the state.
The Extension Office oversees the Serve Safe food safety certification restaurants and food trucks must have to operate. In addition, the office oversees the Best Care training, a continuing education program for daycare and preschool facilities.
Runsick states they also oversee the Master Gardeners volunteer program, which provides gardening education, as well as keeping several garden areas around the county, including Bull Shoals State Park, Clysta Willett Park, and Mr. Smile near the Baxter County Sheriff’s Office.
In regular business, the court approved an ordinance to appropriate fees and reimbursements received in August to the Sheriff’s Office 2023 budget; an ordinance to appropriate $5,000 from the general revenue fund into the recycling project budget to cover a deficit in the parts and repairs line item due to unexpected equipment repairs and for expenses for the remainder of the year; and an ordinance to appropriate $4,500 within the 911 Department budget to cover payroll expenses for a part-time staff person who will fill in for a full-time person while on vacation.
The court passed an ordinance to allow the county to do business with Ozark Dynamics, owned by Justice of the Peace #4 Dirk Waldrop, to provide equipment for the Baxter County Sheriff’s Office. Baxter County Sheriff John Montgomery stated there was a specialized weapon with a suppressor the department needed if they were to come across a wounded or distressed animal; it would not be as noisy or distracting as if a deputy was using their sidearm. Waldrop’s company provided a better rate and had the weapon in stock.
In addition, a resolution was passed to reappoint Wayne Roth to the Gamaliel Fire Protection District Board of Commissioners.
WebReadyTM Powered by WireReady® NSI