[1. CALL TO ORDER]
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I WANT TO WELCOME EVERYONE TO THE SEPTEMBER MEETING OF THE PULASKI COUNTY QUORUM COURT.
AS IS OUR CUSTOM HERE IN PULASKI COUNTY, WE OPEN ALL OF OUR MEETINGS WITH AN INVOCATION FOLLOWED BY THE PLEDGE.
JUSTICE REED IS GOING TO LEAD US IS GOING TO GIVE US THAT INVOCATION AND JUSTICE GREEN IS GOING TO LEAD US IN THE PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE.
AND LET ME REMIND EVERYBODY EARLY THAT YOU'RE OPERATING YOUR OWN MICROPHONE.
IF THE LIGHT IS LIT, YOUR MICROPHONE IS HOT.
IF IT IS NOT, YOUR MICROPHONE IS OFF AND YOU ARE BEING LIVE BROADCASTED.
SO I'D MIND I WOULD MIND THAT MICROPHONE.
MR. REED? FATHER. THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR BEING HERE WITH US.
PRAY FOR YOUR HELP IN MAKING DECISIONS AND THE TRUTH WOULD PREVAIL AMEN.
WELL, WELCOME EVERYONE, MADAM CLERK, WHEN YOU ARE READY, IF YOU WILL, PLEASE CALL THE ROLL.
HERE. MR. DENTON. HE'S ON LIVE STREAM.
HERE. MS. GREEN, I BELIEVE SHE'S.
HERE. ON LIVE STREAM, THANK YOU.
FIFTEEN PRESENT. THANK YOU, MADAM CLERK.
AND WE HAVE TWO OF OUR MEMBERS WHO ARE WITH US VIRTUALLY, IS THAT CORRECT? YES, SIR. SO FOLKS, IF YOU TRY AND TALK OR WE'RE WAITING ON THEM TO SPEAK, YOU WILL HAVE TO PAUSE A FEW MINUTES BECAUSE IT TAKES A MINUTE TO FIGURE OUT WHERE YOU'RE UN-PAUSE BUTTON OR UNMUTE BUTTON IS.
AND SO WE'LL TRY AND KEEP THIS RUNNING SMOOTHLY AS POSSIBLE.
MEMBERS IN YOUR PACKET LAST WEEK, YOU SHOULD HAVE RECEIVED THE MINUTES FROM OUR LAST
[5. APPROVAL OF MINUTES]
MEETING. I WILL ENTERTAIN A MOTION FOR ADOPTION.SECOND. MEMBERS, THERE'S A MOTION AND A SECOND.
ARE THERE ANY ADDITIONS OR DELETIONS FOR THE MEETINGS FROM AUGUST? THERE BEING NONE, MADAM CLERK CALLED THE ROLL TO ADOPT THE MINUTES FROM AUGUST.
YES. MR. DENTON. MR. DENTON. MR. REED. YES.
FOURTEEN AYES, ONE, I GUESS, ABSTENTION.
THANK YOU, MADAM CLERK, AND WE'LL WE'LL CHECK ON JUSTICE DENTON HERE IN A FEW MINUTES.
HE MAY HAVE STEPPED AWAY OR HE MAY BE TRYING TO OPERATE THAT UNMUTE BUTTON, WHICH SOMETIMES CAN BE A CHALLENGE.
YES, IT CAN BE. NOW, MADAM CLERK, IF YOU WILL, PLEASE READ FOR US INTO THE RECORD THE
[6. COMMITTEE REPORT: Agenda Committee]
AGENDA COMMITTEE REPORT.CERTAINLY SEPTEMBER 28, 2021 TO THE PRESIDING OFFICER OF THE PULASKI COUNTY QUORUM COURT WE YOUR COMMITTEE OF THE AGENDA TO WHOM WAS REFERRED ITEMS 21I58, 21I59, 21I61, 21I62.
BEG LEAVE TO REPORT WE HAVE HAD THE SAME UNDER CONSIDERATION AND HEREWITH RETURN THE SAME WITH THEIR RECOMMENDATION OF DO PASS.
[00:05:01]
RESPECTFULLY SUBMITTED CURTIS A.KEITH, CHAIR. THANK YOU, MADAM CLERK, THERE BEING NO UNFINISHED BUSINESS, WE'LL MOVE ON TO NEW BUSINESS.
ONE RESOLUTION, MADAM CLERK, PLEASE READ FOR US RESOLUTION 21I60.
[21-I-60 A RESOLUTION OF THE QUORUM COURT OF PULASKI COUNTY CONFIRMING THE REAPPOINTMENT OF MR. ERIC MCDANIEL TO THE PULASKI COUNTY PLANNING BOARD FOR A TERM TO EXPIRE JUNE 30, 2024, AND THE APPOINTMENT OF MS. PATRICIA BLICK AND MR. TOMMY MAJORS TO THE PULASKI COUNTY PLANNING BOARD FOR A TERM TO EXPIRE JUNE 30, 2025.]
A RESOLUTION OF THE QUORUM COURT OF PULASKI COUNTY CONFIRMING THE REAPPOINTMENT.THE REAPPOINTMENT OF MR. ERIC DANIEL TO THE PULASKI COUNTY PLANNING BOARD FOR A TERM TO EXPIRE JUNE 30, 2024 AND THE APPOINTMENT OF MS. PATRICIA BLEAK AND MR. TOMMY MAJORS TO THE PULASKI COUNTY PLANNING BOARD FOR THE TERM TO EXPIRE JUNE 30, 2025.
THANK YOU, MADAM CLERK, JUSTICE BLACKWOOD, YOU'RE RECOGNIZED FOR THE MOTION.
SECOND. MEMBERS YOU'VE HEARD THE MOTION AND THE SECOND.
THERE ARE ANY QUESTIONS OR COMMENTS FOR RESOLUTION 21I60? MS. GULLEY YOU'RE RECOGNIZED FOR A QUESTION.
HOW MANY MINORITIES SERVE ON THIS BOARD? I'M SORRY, MA'AM. I WOULD LIKE TO KNOW HOW MANY MINORITIES.
THREE. OK, HOW MANY HAD? LOOK THAT UP ON THE INTERNET. YOU'D LOOK IT UP ON THE PULASKI COUNTY WEBSITE.
HOW MANY MINORITIES HAVE YOU APPOINTED TO THIS BOARD? THREE. YOU HAVE? THREE MA'AM. OK.
THAT'S THE ANSWER. FIVE TIMES, THREE.
YOU NEED TO SHOW SOME RESPECT.
MA'AM. IN THE INTEREST OF EVERYONE'S TIME HERE AND THE BENEFITS OF I DON'T NEED AND I DON'T THINK ANYONE NEEDS HERE ANY OF YOUR ANTICS, YOU ASK ME A QUESTION.
I ANSWERED IT TO YOU FOUR TIMES.
AND YOU SAID IT DISRESPECTFULLY.
ARE THERE ANY OTHER QUESTIONS OR COMMENTS FOR RESOLUTION 21I60? MADAM CLERK, PLEASE CALL THE ROLL FOR RESOLUTION 21I60.
THANK YOU, MADAM CLERK, JUSTICE BLACKWOOD, YOU PASSED YOUR RESOLUTION.
THANK YOU. NOW, MADAM CLERK, WE'RE MOVING ON THE ORDINANCES, PLEASE READ FOR US WHEN
[21-I-58 AN ORDINANCE TO ALLOW FOR PAID TIME OFF FOR INCENTIVES TO PARTICIPATE IN THE PULASKI COUNTY EMPLOYEE WELLNESS PLAN.]
YOU'RE READY ORDINANCE 21I58.AN ORDINANCE TO ALLOW FOR PAID TIME OFF FOR INCENTIVES TO PARTICIPATE IN THE PULASKI COUNTY EMPLOYEE WELLNESS PLAN.
BEFORE I RECOGNIZE JUSTICE LEWISON, I HEARD THE BEEP UP THERE.
JUSTICE DENTON, ARE YOU ONLINE WITH THE SIR? I MOVED FOR THE ADOPTION.
MEMBERS YOU'VE HEARD THE MOTION, YOU'VE HEARD THE SECOND, ARE ANY QUESTIONS OR COMMENTS ORDINANCE 21I58? MR. STOWERS, YOU'RE RECOGNIZED FOR THE QUESTION.
THANK YOU, SIR. IT'S ACTUALLY MORE OF A COMMENT.
I SIGNED ON AS A SPONSOR FOR THIS.
HAVING SPENT THE LAST 25 YEARS IN THE HEALTH CARE ARENA, PREVENTATIVE HEALTH CARE, WELLNESS, FITNESS, OBVIOUSLY EXERCISE.
SOMETHING THAT I DON'T DO NEAR ENOUGH OF ARE VERY IMPORTANT TO OUR HEALTH, WHICH ALSO IMPACTS SO MANY THINGS, NOT JUST THE THE WEALTH OF OUR HEALTH, BUT BUT WHAT WE INVEST IN BOTH INDIVIDUALLY AND COLLECTIVELY AND TO OUR HEALTH INSURANCE PLAN HERE AT THE COUNTY.
SO I SUPPORT THIS ANYTHING WE CAN DO TO INCENTIVIZE OUR EMPLOYEES AS LONG AS IT'S TRACKABLE AND THERE'S A LEVEL OF ACCOUNTABILITY TO MANAGEMENT AND TO LEADERSHIP FOR THAT TIME. I THINK THAT PROGRAMS OF THIS NATURE HELP US TO HAVE A HEALTHIER, MORE MORE VIABLE AND VITAL WORKFOR US.
THANK YOU, JUDGE, FOR ALLOWING ME TO SAY THAT.
MR. JUSTICE ELLIOTT, YOU'RE RECOGNIZED FOR THE QUESTION.
[00:10:05]
ANY OTHER QUESTIONS OR COMMENTS? MADAM CLERK, PLEASE CALL THE ROLL FOR ORDINANCE 21I58.MR. DENTON. DID HE DROP OFF? OK, MR. REED.
THANK YOU, MADAM CLERK, AND CONGRATULATIONS JUSTICE LEWISON ON YOUR ORDINANCE, MADAM
[21-I-59 AN ORDINANCE AMENDING ORDINANCE 20-OR-44 (2021 ANNUAL BUDGET, PULASKI COUNTY, ARKANSAS) TO RECOGNIZE AND APPROPRIATE TITLE II GRANT FUNDS FOR THE YOUTH SERVICES DEPARTMENT FOR THE VISION LEADERSHIP PROGRAM.]
CLERK. NOW WHEN YOU'RE READY, PLEASE READ FOR US ORDINANCE 21I59.AN ORDINANCE AMENDING ORDINANCE 20 OR 44 2021 ANNUAL BUDGET PULASKI COUNTY, ARKANSAS TO RECOGNIZE AN APPROPRIATE TITLE TWO GRANT FUNDS FOR THE YOUTH SERVICES DEPARTMENT FOR THE VISION LEADERSHIP PROGRAM.
JUSTICE GREEN, YOU'RE RECOGNIZED FOR THE MOTION.
MOVE FOR THE ADOPTION. SECOND.
THAT WAS A GOOD JOB, JUSTICE GREEN.
ARE THERE ANY QUESTIONS OR COMMENTS FOR 21I59? THERE BEING NONE, MADAM CLERK, PLEASE CALL THE ROLL FOR ORDINANCE 21I59.
CONGRATULATIONS JUSTICE GREEN.
AND AGAIN, GOOD JOB ON TIMING OUT YOUR YOUR MICROPHONE.
YOU FIT RIGHT IN. THANK YOU, MADAM CLERK.
[21-I-61 AN ORDINANCE AMENDING ORDINANCE 20-OR-44 (2021 ANNUAL BUDGET, PULASKI COUNTY, ARKANSAS) TO RECOGNIZE AND APPROPRIATE GRANT FUNDS FOR THE COMMUNITY SERVICES DEPARTMENT FOR THE EMERGENCY SOLUTIONS GRANT PROGRAM.]
WHEN YOU'RE READY, PLEASE READ FOR US ORDINANCE 21I61.AN ORDINANCE AMENDING ORDINANCE 20 OR 44 2021 ANNUAL BUDGET PULASKI COUNTY, ARKANSAS TO RECOGNIZE AN APPROPRIATE GRANT FUNDS FOR THE COMMUNITY SERVICES DEPARTMENT FOR THE EMERGENCY SOLUTIONS GRANT PROGRAM.
JUSTICE MCMULLEN YOU'RE RECOGNIZE FOR THE MOTION.
SECOND. MEMBERS YOU'VE HEARD THE MOTION THE SECOND.
ARE THERE ANY QUESTIONS FOR 21I61? THERE BEING NONE, MADAM CLERK, PLEASE CALL THE ROLL FOR ORDINANCE 21I61.
YES. ALRIGHT THAT WOULD BE 13 AYES, TWO ABSTENTIONS AND ONE ABSENT.
I'M SORRY. 12 AYES, 12 AYES, TWO ABSTENTIONS, ONE ABSENT.
THANK YOU, MADAM CLERK. CONGRATULATIONS, JUSTICE MCMULLEN, YOU NEEDED 10 TO PASS IT AND YOU DID.
[21-I-62 AN ORDINANCE AMENDING ORDINANCE 20-OR-44 (2021 ANNUAL BUDGET, PULASKI COUNTY, ARKANSAS) TO APPROPRIATE AMERICAN RESCUE PLAN FUNDS FOR QUALIFIED REIMBURSABLE EXPENSES AND OTHER PURPOSES.]
MADAM CLERK. NOW, WHEN YOU'RE READY, PLEASE READ FOR US 21I62.AN ORDINANCE AMENDING ORDINANCE 20 OR 44 2021 ANNUAL BUDGET PULASKI COUNTY, ARKANSAS TO APPROPRIATE AMERICAN RESCUE PLAN FUNDS FOR QUALIFIED REIMBURSABLE EXPENSES AND OTHER PURPOSES. JUSTICE STOWERS YOU'RE RECOGNIZE FOR THE MOTION.
MOVED FOR THE ADOPTION. SECOND.
MEMBERS YOU'VE HEARD THE MOTION, YOU'VE HEARD THE SECOND.
ARE THERE QUESTIONS OR COMMENTS FOR ORDINANCE 21 I 62? THERE BEING NONE, MADAM CLERK, WILL YOU PLEASE CALL THE ROLL FOR THE PASSAGE OF ORDINANCE 21 I 62? MR. REED.
[00:15:01]
YES. MR. KEITH. YES.THANK YOU, MADAM CLERK, JUSTICE STOWERS, CONGRATULATIONS, YOU'VE PASSED YOUR ORDINANCE, 21 I 62.
[Additional Item 1]
NOW MEMBERS, YOU NOTICE YOU'VE GOT A COUPLE OF ORDINANCES THAT WERE LATE FILINGS.IN ORDER TO HEAR A LATE FILING, YOU'LL NEED TO SUSPEND THE RULES.
SO I WILL ENTERTAIN A MOTION ON THE FIRST ORDINANCE.
21 I 64 TO SUSPEND THE RULES FOR THE ITEM TO BE HEARD.
MEMBERS, YOU'VE HEARD A MOTION.
OK. MEMBERS, YOU'VE HEARD THE MOTION, YOU'VE HEARD THE SECOND.
MADAM CLERK, PLEASE READ FOR US ORDINANCE 21 I 64.
AN ORDINANCE AMENDING ORDINANCE 20 OR 44 2021 ANNUAL BUDGET PULASKI COUNTY ARKANSAS TO APPROPRIATE ACT OR I'M SORRY, ACT 1188 FOR THE SHERIFF'S DEPARTMENT.
AND WE REED THE ORDINANCE, AND I'M A LITTLE OUT OF ORDER.
WE SHOULD VOTE ON SUSPENDING THE RULES BEFORE WE WE READ THE MOTION.
OKAY, THANK YOU FOR NOT CORRECTING ME.
THAT'S A I DON'T BELIEVE THAT THAT'S A DEBATABLE MOTION.
ON THE QUESTION OF WHETHER TO SUSPEND THE RULES TO HEAR ORDINANCE 21 I 64 AS A LATE FILING.
THANK YOU, MADAM CLERK, AND SO IF YOU ALLOW ME TO RECOVER HERE, WILL YOU NOW PLEASE READ FOR US THE ORDINANCE? 21 I 64.
CERTAINLY AN ORDINANCE AMENDING ORDINANCE 20 OR 44 2021 ANNUAL BUDGET PULASKI COUNTY, ARKANSAS TO APPROPRIATE ACT ELEVEN EIGHTY EIGHT FOR THE SHERIFF'S DEPARTMENT.
JUSTICE BLACKWOOD YOU'RE RECOGNIZE FOR THE MOTION.
MOVE FOR THE ADOPTION. SECOND.
[INAUDIBLE] YEAH. SO ARE THERE ANY QUESTIONS OR COMMENTS ON 21 I 64? JUSTICE STOWERS, YOU'RE RECOGNIZED, I THINK YOU HAD YOUR HAND UP FIRST.
I NOTICED THAT MAJOR HAYNES IS WITH US THIS EVENING, SIR.
WOULD YOU MIND JUST GIVING US A BRIEF EXPLANATION? AS FAR AS I THINK MOST OF US KNOW THE ACT 1188 FUNDS, WHICH OUR COUNTY JUDGE WAS, I BELIEVE, THE LEAD SPONSOR AND THE AUTHOR OF THAT LAW.
IS THAT CORRECT, SIR? WHEN IT PASSED THE LEGISLATURE.
OK. AND AND THERE'S AN ADDITIONAL 25 DOLLARS THAT'S TACKED ON TO EACH FINE ACROSS THE COUNTY THAT CAN ONLY GO TO THE COUNTY JAIL.
SO THAT'S THAT'S WHAT THE FUNDING IS.
BUT I WOULD LIKE TO THAT'S WHERE THE REVENUE COMES FROM.
MAJOR, I WOULD LIKE TO HEAR WHAT THIS $900,000 OUT OF ACT, THE ACT 1188 FUNDS IS GOING TO BE USED FOR AT THE JAIL.
THANK YOU, SIR. AND I'VE GOT CHIEF HENDRICKS HERE.
DO YOU WANT DO YOU WANT TO TALK ABOUT IT? YES. AND SO FOR THOSE THAT YOU DON'T KNOW ME, MY NAME IS CHUCK HENDRICKSON, THE CHIEF OF DETENTION AT PULASKI COUNTY.
AND SO WE'RE ASKING FOR ROUGHLY $900,000.
ABOUT FOUR HUNDRED AND EIGHTY FIVE THOUSAND OF THAT'S GOING TO GO TOWARDS SEALING, CAULKING AND CLEANING THE FACILITY.
WE'VE GOT A TON OF LEAKS THAT ROBERTS MCNUTT CAME OUT AND TOLD US THAT THIS WOULD HELP RECTIFY SOME OF THOSE ISSUES.
ABOUT ONE HUNDRED AND TEN OR SO IS GOING TO BE FOR FIXING THE ROOF AND ABOUT TWO HUNDRED
[00:20:01]
AND SEVENTY OF IT'S GOING TO BE FOR BUILDING FENCED IN AREA TO MAKE THE AREA BEHIND INTAKE MORE SECURE.WE'VE HAD A COUPLE OF INDIVIDUALS RUN OUT FROM THERE AND TRY AND ESCAPE IN THE THREE YEARS THAT WE'VE BEEN THERE IN LITTLE ROCK POLICE DEPARTMENT HAD A VEHICLE STOLEN WHILE IT WAS RUNNING AND AN OFFICER HAD TAKEN A DETAINEE INTO THE FACILITY.
SOMEONE THAT WAS COMING OUT AT INTAKE DECIDED THEY NEEDED A CAR.
SO THIS IS GOING TO GO AHEAD AND LIMIT ACCESS AROUND THAT AREA TO VEHICLES, TO OUR VEHICLES AND THEN CORDON OFF THE PUBLIC PARKING.
SO TO MAKE IT MUCH MORE SECURE.
I HEARD 270 AND 110, THAT'S 380.
THAT'S GETTING US ABOUT A THIRD OF THE NINE HUNDRED.
WHAT'S THE REMAINDER OF THE 900 GOING TO BE USED? AS I MENTIONED, THE 485 FOR THE SEALING CLEANING CAULKING.
SORRY, I FORGOT TO DO MY MATH ON THAT.
THANK YOU. OTHER QUESTIONS COMMENTS.
JUSTICE GREEN, ARE YOU TALKING TO US? YES, SIR. I DON'T HAVE ANY INFORMATION ON THAT, AND I COULDN'T HEAR HIM MAKING SPEAKERS]. I CAN REPEAT IT IF NEED BE.
MS. GREEN, WOULD YOU LIKE TO HEAR THE THE INFORMATION REPEATED? WELL, I COULDN'T HARDLY HEAR HIM.
I GUESS HE WASN'T. IS IS THIS BETTER? ARE WE GOOD? OK, SO FOUR HUNDRED AND EIGHTY FIVE THOUSAND IS GOING TO BE FOR THE CLEANING, CAULKING AND SEALING OF THE DETENTION FACILITY ITSELF.
ONE HUNDRED AND TEN OR SO IS GOING TO BE FOR FIXING THE ROOF, AND ABOUT TWO HUNDRED AND SEVENTY IS GOING TO BE FOR CREATING A SECURE AREA BEHIND INTAKE WITH FENCING SO THAT WE CAN CORDON OFF OUR VEHICLES, CORDON OFF THE AREA WHERE OFFICERS HAVE TO DO THEIR WORK AND CREATE A PUBLIC AREA WHERE THE PUBLIC CAN PARK AND BE SEPARATED FROM THE SECURE AREA.
MS. GREEN, DID YOU HEAR THAT OK? THANK YOU, THANK YOU. YES.
NOW MS. GULLEY, YOU'RE RECOGNIZED FOR THE QUESTION.
OK, I'M A LITTLE BIT CONFUSED.
ARE YOU REQUESTING ADDITIONAL FUNDING IN ADDITION TO WHAT'S ALREADY BEEN AWARDED TO THE SHERIFF'S DEPARTMENT, THIS EXTRA MONEY? WELL, IT'S MONEY THAT COMES TO US FOR THE MAINTENANCE OF THE FACILITY AND THAT COMES FROM CRIMINAL CASES WHERE A DEFENDANT HAS TO PAY AN EXTRA $25 WHEN THEY'RE ASSESSED FINES.
AND SO WE HAVE AN ACCOUNT RIGHT NOW THAT HAS ABOUT 1.9 MILLION IN IT, AND WE'RE JUST ASKING FOR AN ORDINANCE TO TRANSFER THAT 900,000 OF THAT OVER TO US SO WE CAN DO MAINTENANCE FOR THE BUILDING.
LET ME HELP YOU WITH THAT JUST A LITTLE BIT.
SO THOSE ARE RESTRICTED FUNDS, THEY CAN ONLY BE BUILT, THEY CAN ONLY BE USED OR SPENT ON THE FACILITY OF THE JAIL ITSELF OR JUVENILE DETENTION CAN ALSO USE THOSE FUNDS, BUT IT HAS TO BE APPROPRIATED JUST LIKE GENERAL FUND MONEY THAT YOU DO AT THE BEGINNING YEAR THROUGHOUT THE COURSE OF THE YEAR.
SO THESE ARE SOME MAINTENANCE ISSUES.
THIS IS I'M ASSUMING THE ROOFING YOU'RE TALKING ABOUT IS AROUND THE EXPANSION JOINTS WE'VE BEEN WORKING ON FOR A HALF A YEAR TRYING TO TRACE DOWN THESE THESE LEAKS.
AND YES, SIR. SO THESE ARE MAINTENANCE ITEMS, LARGE, YOU KNOW, MAINTENANCE ITEMS THAT HAVE CREPT UP AND ARE NOT IN THEIR REGULAR ANNUAL BUDGET.
SO THEY'RE ASKING FOR YOU TO APPROPRIATE 900,000 OUT OF THESE RESTRICTED FUNDS TO GO AHEAD AND BE ABLE TO MAKE THESE REPAIRS NOW, AS OPPOSED TO LETTING THE LEAKS GO UNTIL JANUARY 1ST, ASSUMING THAT YOU WOULD APPROPRIATE THE MONEY FOR THE NEXT YEAR.
AND IF I MAY, IN OTHER WORDS, THAT'S PRETTY MUCH BUDGET NEUTRAL.
SO IT'S ALREADY FUNDS THAT THE COUNTY HAS THAT ARE, YOU KNOW, ALLOTTED TO US.
I'M NOT SURE I'D CALL THAT BUDGET NEUTRAL, BUT BUT IT'S IT'S NOT.
THEY'RE NOT ALLOTTED TO YOU UNTIL THEY'RE APPROPRIATED, BUT THEY ARE RESTRICTED FOR WORK ON THE FACILITY. UNDERSTOOD.
IT WAS A GENERAL CHARACTERIZATION.
YES, MA'AM. I WAS JUST CURIOUS BECAUSE WHEN I WENT ON THE TOUR OF THE FACILITY, THAT WAS NOT MENTIONED TO ME, BUT ANYWAY, THAT'S ALRIGHT.
THANK YOU, MS. GULLEY. MR. ELLIOTT. ONE QUESTION.
YES, SIR. I'M GLAD YOU'RE ALL HERE TONIGHT, ON THE ROOF.
I KNOW THERE'S A LOT OF LEAKS AND EVERYTHING, BUT YOU GOT ANY JUST APPROXIMATELY TWO SQUARE FEET THAT YOU NEED TO DO THAT? I MEAN, YOU KNOW, A THOUSAND SQUARE FOOT OF THE ROOF OR WHATEVER.
[00:25:01]
WELL, SIR. WONDERING YOU KNOW.DON'T HAVE THAT NUMBER WITH ME, BUT I CAN CERTAINLY GET BACK WITH YOU ON IT.
I'LL JUST KIND OF WONDERING ABOUT HOW MANY SQUARE FEET IT'D BE.
THANK YOU, CHIEF, I APPRECIATE IT, AND IF YOU WILL COORDINATE WITH WITH THE COMPTROLLER ON THOSE REPAIRS SO WE CAN KEEP THAT LOG OF WHAT'S GOING AND WHAT'S NOT GOING.
AND SO WE DON'T GET SURPRISED LIKE WE DID A YEAR AGO, A YEAR OR TWO AGO OF THINGS THAT HAD CREPT UP ON US THAT WERE LARGE MAJOR ITEMS. YES, SIR. THANK YOU.
AND THANK FOR THE WORK THAT YOU DO OUT THERE.
ESPECIALLY SHORTHANDED AS I KNOW YOU ARE RIGHT NOW.
I APPRECIATE THAT. MADAM CLERK, WILL YOU PLEASE CALL THE ROLL FOR THE APPROVAL OF ORDINANCE 21 I 64? MS. MEDLOCK.
YES. MR. DENTON JUST IN CASE HE CAME IN THE ROOM.
THANK YOU, MADAM CLERK, JUSTICE BLACKWOOD, YOU PASSED YOUR ORDINANCE.
NOW MEMBERS WE HAVE ANOTHER LATE FILING AT THE RESOLUTION 21 I 65.
[Additional Item 2]
IT WILL ALSO REQUIRE SUSPENSION OF THE RULES TO BE HEARD.DID YOU MAKE A MOTION, MA'AM? YES, I DID.
YES, I DID. AND IT WAS SECOND.
MEMBERS, YOU'VE HEARD A MOTION, YOU HEARD A SECOND.
MADAM CLERK, WILL YOU PLEASE CALL THE ROLL FOR THE SUSPENSION OF THE RULES IN ORDER TO HEAR RESOLUTION 21 I 65? MR. REED. NO.
AYE. ELEVEN AYES, ONE ABSTENTION, ONE ABSENT AND TWO NAYS.
JUSTICE GULLEY, YOU HAVE GOT THE SUSPENSION OF THE RULES, MADAM CLERK, IF YOU WILL NOW PLEASE READ FOR US RESOLUTION 21 I 65.
A RESOLUTION OF THE QUORUM COURT OF PULASKI COUNTY DIRECTING THE PULASKI COUNTY PUBLIC WORKS DEPARTMENT TO CONDUCT AN ASSESSMENT OF ALL COUNTY ROADS AND BRIDGES AND IMMEDIATELY INSTALL SIGNAGE, CROSSWALKS AND CAUTION LIGHTS IN THE UNINCORPORATED AREAS OF THE COUNTY IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE UNIFORM TRAFFIC CONTROL DEVICES FOR STREETS AND HIGHWAYS PUBLISHED BY THE UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION.
JUSTICE GULLEY, YOU'RE RECOGNIZED FOR A MOTION.
THANK YOU, JUDGE. OUR PURPOSE FOR BRINGING THIS RESOLUTION TONIGHT IS, OH, I'M SORRY.
I MOTION. I MOVE THAT WE I MOVE FOR THE ADOPTION.
YOU'VE HEARD THE MOTION. YOU HEARD THE SECOND.
QUESTIONS, COMMENTS? RESOLUTION 21 I 65.
MS. MASSEY, YOU HAVE A QUESTION.
YES, SO ARE WE NOT ALREADY? I'M JUST ASKING IN COMPLIANCE WITH THE DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION.
WHAT HAVE YOU IN REGARD? YES MA'AM. IN REGARDS TO KEEPING OUR COUNTY ROADS SAFE? ARE WE CONDUCTING THE NECESSARY INSPECTIONS TO MAKE SURE THAT OUR ROADS AND BRIDGES ARE SAFE? YES, MA'AM.
OK. ARE THERE CROSSWALKS THAT NOT ME NOT BE IN A COUNTY, YOU KNOW, IN THE COUNTY.
I DON'T, YOU KNOW, SOMETIMES I DON'T KNOW THIS STUFF, BUT DO WE NOT HAVE CROSSWALKS OR
[00:30:05]
WHATEVER THAT WE NEED AND WHERE CHILDREN ARE CROSSING THE STREET DURING SCHOOL HOURS? ARE WE REQUIRED TO HAVE THAT? I DON'T. I DON'T KNOW. IN SOME CASES, DEPENDING ON ON THE OBSERVATION OF THE CONTROLLING OFFICIAL IN THIS CASE IS THE ROAD AND BRIDGE DIRECTOR SHANE RAMSEY, WHO'S HERE TO ANSWER QUESTIONS FOR YOU SHOULD YOU NEED.I'M NOT GOING TO TELL YOU THAT WE WE HAVEN'T MISSED WHAT WHAT HAPPENS IS, IS BUS STOPS CHANGE AND MOVE AROUND FROM YEAR TO YEAR.
AND SO IT'S IT'S IT CAN BE A LITTLE BIT TOUGH TO KEEP UP WITH AND THE SCHOOLS DON'T ALWAYS COMMUNICATE WITH US.
AND WHAT ENDS UP HAPPENING WITH THEM IS WHAT WE JUST DID.
ON [INAUDIBLE] ROAD, WHERE, ACCORDING TO PULASKI SPECIALS RECORDS, EVERY INTERSECTION IS A BUS STOP AND AT THE INSISTENCE OF THE LOCAL JP, THE ROAD AND BRIDGE DEPARTMENT TRYING TO ACCOMMODATE HAD CROSSWALKS, THE THE HEAT APPLIED CROSSWALKS TO ALL FOUR INTERSECTIONS WHEN IN FACT, IN THE END IT'S ONLY ONE OF THEM IS A IS A BUS STOP AND.
WHAT I GOT WAS AN EMAIL FROM KEVIN TUCKER THAT.
IT KIND OF DESCRIBES, YOU KNOW, THIS SITUATION AS BEING UPSETTING TO THE RESIDENTS OF ALL THIS ADDITIONAL WORK THAT'S NOT REQUIRED BEING DONE.
IF YOU'D LIKE, I'LL I'LL ASK THE CLERK TO READ IT INTO THE RECORD.
I WOULD LIKE THAT TO READ INTO THE RECORD, I'D ALSO LIKE TO HEAR FROM OUR [INAUDIBLE].
MR. RAMSEY? YES, IN REGARDS TO ARE THERE ARE THERE CROSSWALKS, ARE THERE CROSSWALKS THAT THAT WE NEED TO UPDATE? AND I THINK THAT'S THAT'S IT FOR ME.
FOR THE RECORD, INTRODUCE YOURSELF, PLEASE.
SORRY. NOW WHAT WAS THE QUESTION? ARE WE COMPLIANT IN REGARDS TO THE CROSSWALKS AND OUR SCHOOL INTERSECTIONS? AND IF NOT, DO YOU PLAN TO GET COMPLIANT? YES, MA'AM, WE ARE COMPLIANT.
OK. A CROSSWALK, BY DEFINITION, HAS TO HAVE A STARTING POINT AND A DESTINATION SUCH AS A SCHOOL, A PARK.
YES, AND IT ADVISES AGAINST A MID BLOCK CROSSWALK THAT IS JUST IN THE CENTER OF THE ROAD.
IS THAT BETTER? THAT'S BETTER.
YEAH. OK, SO YES, WE ARE IN COMPLIANCE WITH THE MUTCD ON CROSSWALKS.
AGAIN, THE MUTCD STATES A CROSSWALK HAS TO HAVE A BEGINNING AND A DESTINATION SUCH AS A SIDEWALK OR A.
IF YOU'RE CROSSING A MAJOR ROAD GOING INTO A COUNTY PARK CITY PARK, YOU WOULD HAVE A CROSSWALK. AND WE ARE CURRENT, I THINK THE JUDGE ALREADY ANSWERED THAT, BUT IN REGARDS TO INSPECTIONS ON OUR ROADS AND OUR BRIDGES.
YES, MA'AM. HOW OFTEN DO WE DO INSPECTIONS? THE STATE HIGHWAY DOES YEARLY INSPECTIONS ON ALL OF OUR BRIDGES, ARDOT AND SENDS THE COUNTY REPORTS.
WE HAVE A NEXT STEP PAYMENT MANAGEMENT THAT DRIVES ALL OF THE COUNTY ROADS THROUGHOUT THE YEAR AND ASSESSES THEM AND GIVES US A PCI BREAKDOWN OF THE CONDITION OF THE ROAD AND WHAT WE NEED TO DO.
THANK YOU. AND I WOULD LIKE THAT LETTER TO BE READY, AND I'M JUST CURIOUS TO KNOW WHAT IT WHAT IT SAYS IF IT'S NOT TOO TIME CONSUMING.
I GUESS IT'S EMAIL FORM FROM KEVIN TUCKER AT [INAUDIBLE], ARKANSAS.
IT'S AUGUST 19, 2021 TO SHANE RAMSEY.
HIS SUBJECT IS [INAUDIBLE] ROAD CROSSWALK INSTALLATION.
GOOD MORNING. GOOD MORNING, SHANE.
WANTED TO GIVE YOU SOME INFORMATION ON THE CONFLICT AND RESISTANCE WE HAD FRIDAY, AUGUST 13, 2021 WHILE ATTEMPTING TO INSTALL THE CROSSWALKS FOR KIDS BUS STOP ON CH BAKER PLACE.
[00:35:05]
I THINK THIS IS KHENNEDI LANE, KHENNEDI LANE, CHARLES LANE AND WALKERS LANE.IMMEDIATELY UPON LAYING OUT THE CROSSWALK ON CH BAKER, CHRIS BAKER CAME FLYING UP ON US AND DEMANDED WE STOP WHAT WE WERE DOING BECAUSE CH BAKER IS A PRIVATE ROAD AND WE HAD NO PERMISSION FROM HIM TO INSTALL THE CROSSWALK.
AT THAT POINT, I CONTACTED YOU BY PHONE TO DISCUSS.
AFTER OUR DISCUSSION, WE LAID THE CROSSWALK OUT WITHIN THE PULASKI COUNTY RIGHT OF WAY TO BE WITHIN 50 FEET OF THE [INAUDIBLE] ROAD CENTERLINE.
MR. BAKER FURTHER TOLD US WE HAD NO RIGHT TO PUT ANY OF THESE CROSSWALKS IN.
I TOLD HIM WE ARE A PRIVATE CONTRACTOR AND THAT WE WORK UNDER THE CONTRACT FOR PULASKI COUNTY ROAD DEPARTMENT AND COUNTY JUDGE BARRY HYDE.
I FURTHER TOLD HIM THESE SIDEWALKS WERE THE DESIRE OF HIS QUORUM COURT REPRESENTATIVE, JUSTICE GULLEY, AND SHE SAID, AND SHE HAD PUSHED THE PULASKI COUNTY TO GET THEM IN BEFORE SCHOOL STARTED.
MR. BAKER THEN BEGAN TO RIDICULE JUSTICE GULLEY AND SAY THAT SHE DIDN'T KNOW WHAT SHE WAS DOING AND WAS ONLY OUT TO MAKE A NAME FOR HERSELF.
WE WERE FINALLY ABLE TO FINISH ALL FOUR CROSS CROSSWALKS ABOUT MIDNIGHT AFTER HAVING MULTIPLE RESIDENTS COME OUTSIDE AND CONFRONT US AND PEOPLE DRIVING BY THROWING THINGS AT US WHILE WE WERE WORKING.
ALL THAT BEING SAID, WE WERE ABLE TO GET THE PROJECT COMPLETE.
KEVIN TUCKER, PRESIDENT AF&G LLC, WHICH IS ARKANSAS FENCE AND GUARDRAIL.
SO THE CROSSWALK THAT WE THAT WE LAID, IT WAS A PRIVATE ROAD, AND WE'RE NOT WE'RE NOT WE DIDN'T HAVE THE AUTHORITY TO DO SO BECAUSE IT'S A PRIVATE ROAD OR WE DO HAVE THE AUTHORITY TO DO IT? WE HAVE AUTHORITY. OK.
ALL RIGHT, THANK YOU. NO MORE QUESTIONS FROM ME.
MR. MCCOY, YOU'RE RECOGNIZED FOR THE QUESTION.
JUST CURIOUS FOR MR. RAMSEY'S OPINION OR TAKE ON THE RESOLUTION.
IS THERE ANY, YOU KNOW, LET US KNOW WHAT YOU FEEL ABOUT IT.
I THINK WE'VE ALREADY WE ALREADY DO EVERYTHING IN THE RESOLUTION OUTSIDE OF THE TRAFFIC LIGHTS AND THE SIGNAGE.
WE PUT THE SIGNAGE UP AT THE SCHOOL'S REQUEST BECAUSE AS THE JUDGE SAID EARLIER SCHOOL BUS STOPS CHANGE, THEY MAY STOP AND PICK UP TWO KIDS HERE FOR TWO YEARS.
AND THEN I WAS LOOKING ONLINE AT THE PULASKI COUNTY SPECIAL SCHOOL DISTRICT.
PLEASE CORRECT ME IF I'M WRONG, BUT WE'RE ONLY RESPONSIBLE FOR THOSE CROSSWALKS AND SO FORTH THAT ARE ON COUNTY ROADS AND NONE OTHERS.
OK. AND I ONLY FOUND A, I GUESS, A HANDFUL OR SO.
THAT WE WOULD BE RESPONSIBLE FOR HIGH SCHOOL, ELEMENTARY AND MIDDLE.
I YIELD. THANKS. MS. GULLEY, YOU'RE RECOGNIZED FOR A QUESTION.
THANK YOU. I WANT TO EXPLAIN THIS ORDINANCE.
FIRST OF ALL, THIS IS THE FIRST TIME I'VE HEARD OF THIS EMAIL FROM THIS KEVIN TUCKER.
AND IF MR. BAKER EVEN SAID THAT EVEN SO, HE'S ONLY ONE PERSON IN BRUSH ISLAND.
EVERYONE HAS BEEN WELCOMED AND APPRECIATIVE OF THE WORK THAT'S BEEN DONE AND THEY WANT THE CROSSWALKS. THEY SUPPORT IT.
BUT THIS IS NOT ABOUT BRUSH ISLAND.
THIS ABOUT THIS IS ABOUT OTHER AREAS IN MY DISTRICT.
DICK JETER, [INAUDIBLE] AND [INAUDIBLE].
I SENT AN EMAIL TO SHANE RAMSEY, COPIED STEVE BRUMMETT, TRAVIS MONTGOMERY, AND I BELIEVE I SENT TO YOU TO JUDGE HYDE REQUESTING THAT THEY ASSESS THOSE AREAS.
I WOULD LIKE FOR THE BUS STOPS THERE BE SCHOOLS, SCHOOL BUS STOP SIGNS, PUT THE BUS STOPS IN THOSE AREAS AND TO ASSESS THE AREAS FOR CROSSWALKS.
NOW I UNDERSTAND THAT SOME OF THE ROADS MIGHT, CAN'T, YOU KNOW, HAVE CROSSWALKS BUT TO ASSESS THE AREA.
I WANT YOU GUYS TO MEET WITH ME, THE COMMUNITY LEADERS, TO EVEN ARDOT.
I MEAN, I PUT THIS REQUEST IN BACK IN SEPTEMBER THE 8TH AND NO ONE ACKNOWLEDGED MY EMAIL.
DICK JETER HAS A DANGEROUS INTERSECTION, AND I'M SURE THERE'S OTHER AREAS IN THE COUNTY AND MY COLLEAGUES' DISTRICT THAT MAY PERHAPS NEED SOME WORK AS WELL.
NOW, DICK JETER HAS BEEN ON Y'ALL FOR YEARS ABOUT THE DANGEROUS INTERSECTION AT WOOTEN ROAD AND VALENTINE.
AND I DO HAVE VIDEO FOOTAGE OF IT.
YOU KNOW, THERE'S PEOPLE HERE TO SPEAK ON TONIGHT ON DANGEROUS AREAS IN THEIR IN THEIR COMMUNITIES. THIS IS NOT ABOUT BRUSH ISLAND.
I APPRECIATE THE WORK YOU DID IN BRUSH ISLAND.
MY CONSTITUENTS APPRECIATE IT.
BUT WHAT YOU ALL DID IN BRUSH ISLAND AND CAME OUT AND ASSESSED, I WANT YOU GUYS TO DO
[00:40:04]
THAT IN THE OTHER AREAS, INCLUDING IN JACKSONVILLE, SHERMAN HILLS ROAD.THAT ROAD NEEDS TO BE ASSESSED.
THEY NEED SCHOOL BUS STOP SIGNS OUT THERE.
I'VE TALKED TO TRANSPORTATION DIRECTOR MR..
HE AND I'D SPOKEN. I'VE SPOKEN TO THE JACKSONVILLE SUPERINTENDENT JEREMY [INAUDIBLE].
YOU KNOW THIS THING ABOUT BECAUSE IT'S THE CITY OR WHATEVER THE COUNTY SHOULD BE WORKING WITH THE CITY OFFICIALS, THE MAYORS.
WE SHOULD BE PARTNERING AND WORKING TOGETHER, DOING WHAT'S IN THE BEST INTERESTS OF OUR CONSTITUENTS, ESPECIALLY OUR YOUNG CONSTITUENTS IN THESE COMMUNITIES.
AND YOU KNOW, AND TO COME HERE TODAY, IT SEEMS LIKE THIS THING IS SOMETHING PERSONAL.
I JUST WANT YOU GUYS TO DO THE JOB.
WE, MY COLLEAGUES AND I, WE PUSH FOR A BONUS AND STUFF FOR YOU GUYS.
TAXPAYERS PAYING FOR YOUR SALARIES.
THERE IS SIMPLY NO EXCUSE FOR A DIRECTOR OF ANY DEPARTMENT NOT ACKNOWLEDGING AN EMAIL FROM AN ELECTED OFFICIAL.
AND IN MY OPINION, WHEN THAT IS GOING ON, ESPECIALLY WHEN THE TOP LEADER CFO IS BEING COPIED, I'M ASSUMING THAT YOU'RE FOLLOWING THEIR INSTRUCTIONS.
IT'S A BLATANT DISRESPECT AND MR. RAMSEY. I'VE ALWAYS HAD RESPECT FOR YOU.
YOU AND I WORK WELL IN THE PAST LONG BEFORE I BECAME J.P.
WHEN BUDDY [INAUDIBLE] AND LARRY SHERMAN WAS YOUR BOSS WHEN YOU CAME OUT INTO THE COMMUNITY. YOU KNOW, AND I'M VERY DISAPPOINTED.
IT'S A DISRESPECT TO ME AND MY COLLEAGUES AND WHAT? MA'AM.
ALL YOU'RE DOING IS SCOLDING, WHICH IS ALL YOU'VE DONE FOR THESE PEOPLE WHO WORK IN PUBLIC WORKS SINCE THE DAY YOU SHOWED UP, YOU SHOW DISRESPECT.
YOU TALK DOWN TO THEM, YOU ORDER THEM.
THEY DON'T WORK FOR YOU, MA'AM.
THEY DO NOT TAKE ORDERS FROM YOU. THEY WORK FOR THE PEOPLE OF PULASKI COUNTY.
OK. I'M THE PERSON WHO SUPERVISES THEM.
EVERYBODY IN THE COUNTY CAN'T GO OUT AND ORDER THESE FOLKS AROUND.
THEY'RE FOLLOWING YOUR INSTRUCTIONS? MA'AM, IF YOU SUBMIT A QUESTION OR A CONCERN, WE'LL CONSIDER IT.
WE'LL TAKE IT UNDER ADVISEMENT.
YOU'VE BEEN TOLD THAT AGAIN AND AGAIN, AND WHAT YOU WANT IS SOMEBODY TO GO OUT AND DO WHAT YOU SAID OR WHAT YOU NO, SIR. NO, SIR. I WANT THEM TO DO THEIR JOB.
MA'AM. THESE ARE DANGEROUS INTERSECTIONS.
A KID WAS HIT TODAY IN JACKSONVILLE.
YOU NOT KNOW THAT? MA'AM. WE DON'T TAKE ACTION WITHIN THE CITIES.
WE SHOULD BE OUT. WE SHOULD BE.
MA'AM, WE DON'T DO ROADWORK IN THE CITIES.
CITIES DON'T DO ROAD WORK IN THE COUNTIES.
WE DON'T AND REGARDLESS, THESE ARE UNINCORPORATED AREAS.
YOU WOULD PAY ATTENTION YOU'D FIND OR YOU'D KNOW THAT WE HAVE NUMEROUS PARTNERSHIPS WITH EACH OF THE CITIES THAT ARE IN PULASKI COUNTY, ON ON TRANSPORTATION PROJECTS, ON BRIDGES, ON DRAINAGE.
BUT WE'RE SPEAKING SPECIFICALLY OF ROAD AND BRIDGE RIGHT NOW.
LET'S LEAVE THE CITIES OUT JUST FOR A SECOND.
WHAT ABOUT THE UNINCORPORATED.
MA'AM YOU STARTED OFF WANTING TO TELL ME THAT I WAS DISRESPECTFUL TO YOU? AND THAT'S WHAT YOU'VE BEEN SINCE YOU STARTED THIS CONVERSATION OR YOUR SPEECH THERE? NO SIR. YOU'VE TALKED DOWN TO THESE FOLKS.
THAT'S NOT TRUE. AND IN CASE YOU'VE NOT NOTICED, THEY NO LONGER RETURN YOUR PHONE CALLS, THEY FORCE YOU TO SEND THINGS IN WRITING BY EMAIL.
YOU'VE ORDERED OR HOW YOU'VE FORMULATED THAT REQUEST.
AND THEN MY LEADERS HAVE SEEN MY REQUEST.
GREAT. ALL OF THE EMAILS THAT THEY RECEIVED, THEY'VE COPIED AND THEY'VE SEEN IT.
YOU'RE JUST MAKING EXCUSES, JUDGE HYDE.
MA'AM YOU'RE JUST BEING DISRESPECTFUL.
LEARN YOUR JOB, PLEASE, BECAUSE YOU'VE BEEN HERE A SHORT TIME.
I KNOW MY JOB. AND I WISH YOU'D WORK ON IT.
YOU HAVE NO RESPECT FOR THE MINORITY COMMUNITIES IN DISTRICT 10.
THEY HAVE BEEN DONE WRONG FOR YEARS.
NO, IT'S NOT CHICKEN. THAT'S A REALLY CHICKEN ACCUSATION TO MAKE THAT'S MADE TO TRY AND GET A CERTAIN RESPONSE. NO, YOU DON'T LIKE THE FACT BECAUSE I'M ADVOCATING FOR MY CONSTITUENTS, FOR THE UNDERSERVED QUESTIONS ON THE ORDINANCE OR ON THE RESOLUTION.
THANK YOU, SIR. AND THIS HAS NOTHING TO DO WITH PERSONALITY OR EVEN MAYBE SIDEWALKS, CROSSWALKS, CAUTION LIGHTS.
BUT MY CONCERN HERE IS WITH THE SEPARATION OF POWERS, THIS RESOLUTION, AND IT IS A RESOLUTION, BY THE WAY, NOT AN ORDINANCE.
BOTH IN THE TITLE AS WELL AS IN THE BODY SPEAKS TO THE QUORUM COURT DIRECTING THE PULASKI COUNTY PUBLIC WORKS DEPARTMENT TO IMMEDIATELY INSTALL SIGNAGE.
WELL, IF YOU LOOK AT THE ARKANSAS CONSTITUTION.
AMENDMENT FIFTY FIVE OF 1977 THAT REORGANIZED THE COUNTY GOVERNMENT AND ESTABLISHED THE QUORUM COURTS AS WE KNOW THEM TODAY.
[00:45:04]
THE DUTIES AND THE JURISDICTION OF THIS BODY AND OF US AS INDIVIDUAL JUSTICES OF THE PEACE ARE VERY CLEARLY AND SUCCINCTLY LAID OUT, AS ARE THE DUTIES OF THE COUNTY JUDGE AND THE OTHER EXECUTIVES IN COUNTY GOVERNMENT, REGARDLESS OF THE MERITS IN THE NEEDS THAT MAY BE PRESENT AND MAY BE ADDRESSED IN THIS RESOLUTION, THIS RESOLUTION FLIES INTO THE FACE OF OUR CONSTITUTION AND AMENDMENT 55 OF OUR CONSTITUTION AS IT RELATES TO THE SEPARATION OF POWERS.IN 17 YEARS, I'VE HAD THE PLEASURE OF WORKING WITH TWO COUNTY JUDGES.
WE'VE NOT ALWAYS AGREED AT TIMES WE'VE ANTIMATELY DISAGREED.
HOWEVER, AT THE SAME TIME, I'VE ALWAYS RESPECTED THAT THE COUNTY JUDGE IS THE CEO OF THE COUNTY AND THAT THE DIRECTORS AND THE DEPARTMENTS OF COUNTY GOVERNMENT ARE UNDER HIS JURISDICTION, HER JURISDICTION AND THE JURISDICTION OF THE OTHER FOUR COUNTY EXECUTIVES.
IS THAT AS THE LEGISLATIVE BODY OF THE COUNTY.
THE EXECUTIVE BRANCH'S IS TO ENFORCE LAW AND TO OVERSEE THE DAY TO DAY OPERATIONS OF THE COUNTY. AGAIN, MY FEELING, MY BELIEF IS THIS RESOLUTION, ALTHOUGH WELL-INTENDED FLIES IN THE FACE OF THE SEPARATION OF POWERS, WE CERTAINLY WOULD NOT WANT THE EXECUTIVE BRANCH MEDDLING IN OUR AFFAIRS AS THE LEGISLATIVE BODY, AND I FEEL THAT THIS RESOLUTION ATTEMPTS TO MEDDLE INTO THE JURISDICTION AND TO THE AUTHORITY GRANTED BY THE CONSTITUTION AND AMENDMENT 55 OF THE CONSTITUTION AND TO THE POWERS OF THE EXECUTIVE BRANCH.
AND FOR THAT REASON, I CANNOT SUPPORT THIS RESOLUTION.
JUSTICE MEDLOCK, YOU'RE RECOGNIZED FOR THE QUESTION.
I JUST HAVE A LITTLE CLARIFICATION, I GUESS, IF YOU WILL.
I THINK THIS IS A LITTLE BROAD OPEN ENDED, IF YOU WILL, BECAUSE IT JUST SAYS ALL COUNTY ROADS, ALL BRIDGES.
AND I'M JUST WONDERING IF THERE ARE AREAS OF CONCERN BROUGHT TO YOUR ATTENTION BY YOUR CONSTITUENTS. MAYBE NOT JUST IN MY OPINION, A BETTER APPROACH MIGHT BE CERTAIN SPECIFIC AREAS BECAUSE I DON'T WANT TO SAY THEY'RE NOT DOING THEIR JOB.
APPARENTLY THEY ARE DOING THEIR JOB AND ONE MIGHT TAKE IT THAT WAY.
BUT WE DO APPRECIATE THE WORK THAT YOU DO AND NOT SAYING THAT YOU DON'T DO YOUR JOB, BUT THINGS COULD CHANGE AND MAYBE THOSE THINGS NEED TO BE BROUGHT.
BUT I THINK IT'S TOO BROAD FOR ME TO SUPPORT.
JUSTICE MCMULLEN YOU'RE RECOGNIZED FOR THE QUESTION.
WOULD YOU PULL THE MICROPHONE ALL THE WAY UP TO YOUR FACE, PLEASE? YES. WHAT I AM LOOKING AT, I DO SEE THE BROADNESS OF THIS AND I DO SEE THE WORD IMMEDIATELY. THOSE TWO POINTS, I THINK, COULD BE AMENDED.
SECONDLY, IN RESPECT TO WHAT, YOU KNOW, I CAN TELL THAT JUSTICE OF THE PEACE STOWERS WAS PREPARED AND STUDIED, YOU KNOW, UP FOR THIS ORDINANCE.
NEVERTHELESS, I DO DISAGREE WITH HIM IN VIEW OF WHAT HE SAID IT REALLY GIVES ME THE FEELING OF BEING A MERE SPECTATOR ON THE QUORUM COURT, AND I DIDN'T SIGN UP FOR THAT.
YOU KNOW, WHEN YOU TALK ABOUT US BEING THE LEGISLATIVE BRANCH, AND I JUST WANT TO MAKE THAT CLEAR.
AND AT THIS POINT, WHAT I WOULD DO IS ASK MS. GULLEY IF SHE WOULD LIKE TO MAYBE WORK ON THAT LANGUAGE.
JUSTICE MASSEY YOU'RE RECOGNIZED FOR THE QUESTION.
THANK YOU, MY QUESTION IS THIS IS VERY BROAD.
DIRECTOR OF ROAD AND BRIDGE HAS ALREADY STATED HE'S IN COMPLIANCE, WHETHER HE IS OR WHETHER HE'S NOT, IF THERE ARE SOME NEEDS.
I WOULD LIKE THOSE STREETS NAMED SPECIFICALLY THINGS OF THAT NATURE, BUT JUST TO SAY ALL THE STREETS, ALL THE LIGHTS, SO TO SPEAK.
NO, I CAN'T SUPPORT IT AS SUCH, BUT PERHAPS TO COME BACK NEXT MONTH OR WHATEVER WITH
[00:50:02]
DETAILED LIST OF WHAT IS NEEDED, AND I WOULD POSSIBLY BE IN SUPPORT OF THAT.MOST DEFINITELY. WELL, THIS IS A GOOD TIME TO REMIND EVERYONE THAT THE COUNTY HAS AN APP CALLED PULASKI WORKS.
IT'S A FREE APP ON YOUR PHONE.
EVERYBODY'S GOT ONE THAT ALLOWS YOU TO SNAP A PICTURE, GIVE A LITTLE DESCRIPTION, SELECT WHAT KIND OF PROBLEM IT IS.
WHETHER IT'S A MISSING SIGN OR A CROSSWALK PROBLEM, A GARBAGE PROBLEM, A DRAINAGE PROBLEM, A POTHOLE.
IT'S A LIST AS LONG AS YOUR ARM, AND IT MARKS THE LONGITUDE AND LATITUDE OF THE SPOT WHERE YOU'RE MAKING THIS COMPLAINT SO THAT THERE'S NO CONFUSION IN MAINTENANCE BEING ABLE TO FIND EXACTLY WHERE IT IS THAT YOU THINK YOU HAVE A PROBLEM AND THEY RESPOND TO YOU IMMEDIATELY IN EMAIL THAT THEY'VE RECEIVED YOUR QUESTION AND YOU GET AN EMAIL.
USUALLY THE NEXT DAY BECAUSE THOSE EMAILS GO DIRECTLY TO THE FOREMAN THEY DON'T GO TO AN ADMINISTRATIVE ASSISTANT AND THEN TO THE SUPERINTENDENT AND THEN TO THE FOREMAN, THEY GO IMMEDIATELY TO THE FOREMAN AND YOU'LL GET AN EMAIL LETTING YOU KNOW THAT THEY'RE OUT LOOKING AT THE PROBLEM.
YOU'LL GET AN EMAIL WHEN THEY HAVE RESOLVED THE PROBLEM OR DETERMINE THERE'S NOT A PROBLEM. AS A FOLLOW UP, IT COMMUNICATES WITH YOU ALL THE WAY THROUGH.
EVERY YOU KNOW, I SEE A LOT OF FACES HERE TONIGHT THAT I SEE IN COMMUNITY NEIGHBORHOOD MEETINGS THAT I ATTEND.
AND I KNOW EVERY ONE OF YOU HAS HEARD US EXPLAIN THE THE APP, AND I URGE YOU THAT IF YOU HAVE A PROBLEM OR YOU HAVE A SITUATION YOU THINK NEEDS ATTENTION TO, USE THE APP.
IT ALLOWS IT TO BE IN YOUR WORDS INSTEAD OF YOUR WORDS TO SOMEBODY ELSE WHOSE WORDS TO SOMEBODY ELSE WHOSE WORDS TO SOMEBODY ELSE.
VERY DIFFICULT TO FOLLOW THOSE.
MS. GULLEY, I'M HOPING THAT YOU'RE GOING TO WRAP THIS UP NOW.
FIRST OF ALL, MY CONSTITUENTS AND I DO USE THE APP RECORDS WILL SHOW THAT.
BUT BACK TO THIS RESOLUTION, THE QUORUM COURT COORDINATOR, JUSTIN BLAGG, DRAFTED THIS AT MY REQUEST. THEN IMMEDIATELY WHEN I CAUGHT THAT I DON'T LIKE THAT.
I DO PLAN TO AMEND IT AND RESUBMIT IT.
AND IT'S JUST NOT FOR THIS PARTICULAR AREA, FOR THIS PARTICULAR AREA OF DISTRICT 10.
I'M SPEAKING OF ALL THE AREAS.
I'M NOT SAYING THEY NEED THE CROSSWALK.
I'M ASKING FOR THEM TO WORK WITH THE LEADERS AND I ARDOT COME OUT THERE AND ASSESS FACE TO FACE. YOU KNOW WHAT I'M SAYING? SEE WHAT THE ISSUES ARE NOW THEY HAVE BEEN OUT I KNOW ON DICK JETER AND SOME PARTS OF MCALMONT, BUT NOTHING IS GETTING DONE.
IF SOMETHING WAS GETTING DONE THESE REQUESTS, I WOULDN'T BE PRESENTING THIS TODAY.
NOW, WHETHER IT BE BY APP OR BY EMAIL, PUBLIC RECORD, MY CONSTITUENTS AND I HAVE SUBMITTED OUR CONCERNS OUR COMPLAINTS TO ROAD AND BRIDGE AND NO SIR, NO MA'AM, THEY HAVE NOT COMPLETED THE ORDER.
NOW, I DON'T APPRECIATE PEOPLE BEING UNTRUTHFUL.
PARDON ME, MA'AM. I DON'T APPRECIATE PEOPLE BEING UNTRUTHFUL.
OK. MADAM CLERK, CALL THE ROLL.
MS. MCMULLEN. THIS IS FOR APPROVAL OF THE ITEM MS. MCMULLEN, YOU'RE VOTING YES OR NO ON THE ITEM.
ALL RIGHT. THEN AT THIS PARTICULAR TIME, I WOULD VOTE YES.
SO YOU DO 11 NAYS, TWO ABSENT AND TWO AYES, TWO YESES.
THANK YOU, MADAM CLERK. MS. GULLEY. YOU'VE FAILED TO PASS YOUR RESOLUTION.
MEMBERS THAT CONCLUDES OUR BUSINESS SESSION.
[Announcements]
WE MOVE TO ANNOUNCEMENTS, AND I BELIEVE JUSTICE STOWERS, YOU'VE ASKED FOR A POINT OF[00:55:07]
PERSONAL PRIVILEGE IN MAKING AN ANNOUNCEMENT.DURING THE SEPTEMBER AGENDA COMMITTEE MEETING, I MADE A COMMENT UNDER MY BREATH CONCERNING MS. MCMULLEN THAT WAS PICKED UP ON MIC.
I WANT TO APOLOGIZE TO ALL MY COLLEAGUES, BUT PARTICULARLY TO MS. MCMULLEN FOR THIS COMMENT.
THAT WAS DISRESPECTFUL, DEROGATORY AND INAPPROPRIATE.
I SINCERELY REGRET HAVING MADE SAID COMMENT, HAVE MADE A RENEWED COMMITMENT TO MYSELF AND AS WELL AS TO ALL OF YOU AS MY COLLEAGUES, TO BE RESPECTFUL AND TO ACT APPROPRIATELY, EVEN WHEN WE ADAMANTLY DISAGREE.
THANK YOU THIS EVENING FOR ALLOWING ME THE OPPORTUNITY AND THE TIME TO EXPRESS MY APOLOGIES AND MY REGRET.
THANK YOU, JUDGE. THANK YOU, JUSTICE STOWERS.
MEMBERS, ARE THERE ANY ADDITIONAL ANNOUNCEMENTS? I HAVE ONE. YES, MA'AM.
TODAY IS NATIONAL VOTER REGISTRATION DAY, SO HOPEFULLY YOU GUYS WENT OUT AND REGISTERED PEOPLE TO VOTE OR YOU MADE SURE THAT THEY CHECK THEIR VOTER REGISTRATION STATUS.
WE HAD A VOTER REGISTRATION DESK.
WELL, OF COURSE WE ALWAYS DO IN THE COURTHOUSE, BUT WE DEFINITELY MADE A POINT TO HAVE PEOPLE COME BY THE COURTHOUSE TODAY.
WE ALSO WENT TO WASHINGTON BARBER COLLEGE AND WE WENT TO THE PAUL MITCHELL BEAUTY SCHOOL OVER IN NORTH LITTLE ROCK.
SO WE WERE TRYING OUR BEST TO MAKE SURE THAT WE GOT FOLKS REGISTERED AND WE DID, AND I DON'T HAVE THE TOTAL NUMBER, BUT JUST WANTED TO MAKE THAT ANNOUNCEMENT.
THANK YOU. THANK YOU, MADAM CLERK.
JUSTICE ELLIOTT, YOU'RE RECOGNIZED FOR ANNOUNCEMENT.
I'D LIKE TO MAKE AN ANNOUNCEMENT.
JUDGE HAD A HAPPY BIRTHDAY YESTERDAY AND I JUST WANT TO WISH HIM A HAPPY BIRTHDAY.
ALL RIGHT. HAPPY BIRTHDAY! IS THAT A LIBRA? I'M SORRY. IS THAT A LIBRA? MEMBERS ARE THERE ANY OTHER ANNOUNCEMENTS? WE DO HAVE SOME PUBLIC COMMENT.
WE ARE LUCKY TO HAVE WITH US TONIGHT MEMBERS CATHY WELLS, ONE OF THE NEIGHBORHOOD ASSOCIATION LEADERS IN THE CITY OF LITTLE ROCK.
AND MS. WELLS WELCOME TO THE PODIUM AND WE GENERALLY HAVE A TIME LIMIT, MA'AM OF THREE MINUTES ON OUR PUBLIC COMMENTS AND WE DO HAVE SEVERAL TO GO TONIGHT.
THANK YOU. GOOD TO BE BACK WITH YOU ALL.
IT FEELS LIKE WE'RE REALLY GOVERNING AGAIN.
YOU CAN STILL SMELL THE NEW CARPET.
[LAUGHTER] I HEAR CONCERN ABOUT GETTING MORE AND BETTER INFORMATION INTO THE QUORUM COURT AND OUT TO THE COMMUNITY ABOUT THE RENT RELIEF PROGRAM THAT'S OPERATING WITH FEDERAL FUNDS THROUGH MR. FREDERICK LOVES OPERATION.
I SENT YOU ALL A HAPPY LETTER THAT KIND OF GOT OVERLOOKED, I THINK IN ALL THE MOVING BACK AND FORTH. SO I'M HERE TO REPEAT IT.
I WOULD LIKE TO SUGGEST THAT YOU FOLKS PASS A RESOLUTION THAT SAYS WE NEED A HISTORY TO DATE REPORT TO THE QUORUM COURT.
AND FROM THIS POINT GOING FORWARD, WE GET WEEKLY UPDATES TO ALL THE QUORUM COURT MEMBERS IN A LITTLE OLD WRITTEN MEMO THAT SAYS, YOU KNOW HOW MUCH MONEY WE GOT IN, HOW MUCH MONEY WE SPENT, HOW MANY FOLKS WE HAD APPLY, HOW MANY FOLKS GOT ALLOWED, AND ALL THOSE BASIC THINGS BECAUSE WE DON'T HAVE IT AND WE'D LIKE TO HAVE IT.
THERE'S PLENTY OF FOLKS IN MY NEIGHBORHOODS AND THE COALITION OF LITTLE ROCK NEIGHBORHOODS THAT ARE FACING REAL TOUGH TIMES ABOUT THIS.
AND THE MORE THAT THE FOLKS TRYING TO HELP THEM CAN LEARN FROM THE COUNTY AND HAVE AS AN ONGOING FLOW.
I THINK THE BETTER OFF WE ALL ARE AND THE COMMUNICATION CAN BE IMPROVED.
COMPANION TO THAT I ALSO ASKED FOR THE NAMES OF THE LANDLORDS WHO HAD REJECTED THE RENT CHECKS THAT HAD BEEN OFFERED.
IN FACT, I SUBMITTED THAT IN A FREEDOM OF INFORMATION REQUEST ON SEPTEMBER THE 10TH, AND I HADN'T HEARD BACK ABOUT THAT ONE, AND I'D SURE LIKE TO KNOW THOSE NAMES.
WE'D LIKE TO ENCOURAGE THOSE FOLKS TO DO THAT.
SO THOSE ARE MY TWO REQUESTS TO YOU, FOLKS.
IS COZETTA? SOMEBODY STICK THEIR HEAD IN THE HALLWAY? MAYBE TRAVIS.
IS COZETTA OUT THERE IN THE HALLWAY? I SAW HER IN THE DOORWAY EARLIER.
CHECK HER OFFICE. SHE'S IN HER OFFICE.
MS. WELLS YOU SHOULD BE RECEIVING THAT REPORT SINCE TWO WEEKS AGO OR THREE WEEKS AGO WHEN
[01:00:01]
YOU ASKED FOR IT. IT'S NOT QUITE AS LENGTHY AS WHAT YOU WOULD ASK FOR, BUT ALL THE ITEMS YOU JUST MENTIONED ARE IN THAT REPORT EVERY FRIDAY, AND THERE MAY BE, MUST BE A PROBLEM.IT'S NOT GETTING OUT. ARE THE QUORUM COURT MEMBERS RECEIVING THAT? [INAUDIBLE] BY GOLLY YOU NEED TO WE'RE GOING TO FIX THAT WHILE WE'RE RIGHT HERE IN THE ROOM.
PARDON ME. IS THAT AN EMAIL OR OR IS IT HARD COPY LETTERS? EMAIL WE HARDLY DO SNAIL MAIL ANYMORE.
E-MAIL. IS THAT ON THE NEWS BY ANY CHANCE LETTER THAT COZETTA SENDS OUT? NO. I DIDN'T THINK.
SHE'S OUR COMMUNICATIONS DIRECTOR, AND SHE'S RECEIVING THE INFORMATION ON THE ERAP ONE PROGRAM EACH FRIDAY FROM FREDERICK LOVE.
AND APPARENTLY WE'VE GOT A BALL DROP SOMEWHERE THAT YOU DIDN'T, THAT WE DIDN'T GET YOUR EMAIL ADDRESS TO HER SO THAT YOU CAN SEND IT TO HER.
AND COZETTA WILL YOU ALSO COPY THAT AND START WHEN TOMORROW WHEN YOU COME TO WORK, GO AHEAD AND SEND IT TO EVERYBODY.
SURE. YOU KNOW THE ONE FROM LAST FRIDAY, BUT SEND IT TO ALL THE JP'S? YEAH, NO PROBLEM. BECAUSE YEAH FREDERICK LOVE HE DOES SEND IT TO ME EVERY FRIDAY BECAUSE I HAVE A LOT OF MEDIA REQUESTS FOR IT.
RIGHT. SO HE MAKES SURE THAT I HAVE IT, BUT I'M HAPPY TO DO THAT.
YES. POST IT ON YOUR WEBSITE SOMEWHERE PEOPLE COULD STUMBLE OVER IT.
[LAUGHTER] AND OUR WEBSITE IS A LITTLE ANTIQUATED.
WE'RE PROBABLY GOING TO COME TO THIS GROUP THIS FALL AND ASK FOR SOME FUNDS TO BUILD A NEW AND MORE CURRENT TECHNOLOGICAL WEBSITE.
AND IN TERMS OF A FREEDOM OF INFORMATION REQUEST, I WILL ASK OUR COUNTY ATTORNEY TO GIVE YOU A CALL TOMORROW AND EXPLAIN WHAT THE DISPOSITION OF YOUR FOI REQUEST IS.
THANK YOU SO MUCH. YOU'RE WELCOME.
THANK YOU, CATHY. THANK YOU COZETTA.
THERE'S MR. GARY HARPER IS HERE.
STEP UP, AND IF YOU WILL, FOR THE RECORD, PLEASE STATE YOUR NAME AND IF YOU REPRESENT ANYONE OTHER THAN YOURSELF PLEASE TELL US WHO.
GARY HARPER, JUST REPRESENTING MYSELF AND RENTERS UNITED.
AND JUST REALLY COME TO TALK TO YOU TODAY ABOUT HOW HARD THIS FORM AND INFORMATION IS TO FILL OUT AND GET TO YOU ALL.
I WISH I COULD GET ONE OF Y'ALL TO START FROM THE BEGINNING AND ACTUALLY SIT DOWN AND DO IT. IT'S RIDICULOUS AS FAR AS THE PROCESS, I KNOW IT ASKS FOR A LOT OF INFORMATION NOT TRYING TO DISRESPECT YOUR, YOU KNOW, YOUR FORM OR ANYTHING, BUT THERE'S JUST SO MUCH THAT IT REQUIRES TO DO THAT BY THE TIME YOU DO IT, THEN IT TAKES ANOTHER PROBABLY FOUR TO SIX MONTHS BEFORE YOU HEAR ANYTHING BACK.
AND BY THEN JUST RECENTLY IN THE LAST TWO WEEKS, I'VE SEEN SIX PEOPLE GO OUT OF MY APARTMENT COMPLEX AND IT'S JUST GETTING BAD, BAD OUT THERE AND I DON'T KNOW WHAT WE COULD DO ABOUT IT, BUT JUST ASKING FOR HELP ANY WAY WE CAN.
CAN WE RESPOND TO THAT? WELL, WE SHARE YOUR CONCERN, APPRECIATE YOU COMING BY HERE TONIGHT.
IT HAS BEEN A DIFFICULT PROGRAM TO [INAUDIBLE] OR QUICKLY STAND UP WITH A NEW DEPARTMENT.
I THINK THAT THE FOLKS HAVE WORKED VERY HARD WITH A SYSTEM THAT CAME FROM THE TREASURY WHO'S NOT USUALLY IN THE RENTAL ASSISTANCE BUSINESS.
YES, SIR. IF MAYBE OUR FOLKS IN WASHINGTON WOULD HAVE DECIDED TO MELD HUD AND THE TREASURY DEPARTMENT TO GET SOMETHING LIKE THIS OUT, IT MIGHT HAVE BEEN A LITTLE EASIER.
I HOPE THAT IT'S BECOME A LITTLE EASIER AS IT'S GONE FORWARD.
THE PROGRAM WILL COME TO AN END BEFORE TOO MUCH LONGER, JUST BECAUSE THE FUNDS ARE GOING TO RUN OUT. THE DEPARTMENT DOES INVITE APPLICANTS TO COME TO THEIR OFFICE ON 630 AND PINE CEDAR AND A EMPLOYEE WILL HELP THEM FILL OUT THEIR APPLICATION, UPLOAD IT, GET THEM, HELP THEM UNDERSTAND THE DOCUMENTS THAT ARE NEEDED WITH THE APPLICATION AND THEN WHEN THEY RETURN WITH THOSE DOCUMENTS, THE EMPLOYEE OR AN EMPLOYEE WILL ASSIST THEM WITH UPLOADING THOSE DOCUMENTS, SCANNING THEM AND UPLOADING THE FILE I'M ASSUMING TO PERFECT THEIR APPLICATION.
[01:05:02]
SORRY, I DIDN'T MEAN TO INTERRUPT.I HAD TO GET A YOUNGER, TECH SAVVY GUY TO HELP ME FINISH MINE BECAUSE MY LANDLORD ACTUALLY STARTED IT.
BUT THEN SHE GOT A PROMOTION TO ANOTHER PROPERTY LEFT AND THEN LEFT MINE UNDONE SO, BUT I HAD TO GET A YOUNGER, TECH SAVVY GUY TO HELP.
I RESEMBLE THAT REMARK USUALLY.
[LAUGHTER] I APPRECIATE THAT. SO I THINK THAT THEY'VE GOTTEN BETTER AND MORE EFFICIENT AT IT. YOU KNOW, THE PROGRAM CAME WITH A LOT OF CHALLENGES.
WE SUSPECTED IT WOULD IN THE BEGINNING, BUT WE WANTED TO PARTICIPATE.
SO WE WANT TO TRY AND HELP THE PEOPLE WHO ARE IN NEED.
AND I, YOU KNOW, THERE IS NO DOUBT THAT THERE'S SOME FOLKS THAT HAVE GOTTEN LEFT OUT, AND THAT'S EXTREMELY UNFORTUNATE.
I HATE THAT. BUT THE DEMAND IS SO GREAT AND THE MONEY IS RELATIVELY SMALL AND EMPLOYMENT IS TERRIBLE. IT IS TAKING US JUST TO TRY AND FILL THOSE 12 SLOTS IT HAS TAKING US PROBABLY TWO OR THREE TIMES OVER SINCE JUST APRIL.
SO THEY FACED A LOT OF CHALLENGES IN GETTING OUT WHAT THEY'VE DONE THERE NOW OR AS OF LAST FRIDAY, THEY WERE NEARLY $6 MILLION HAS BEEN ISSUED.
THERE'S FOUR POINT FIVE OR SO LEFT AND AT THE PRESENT RATE, THEY'RE RUNNING ABOUT HALF A MILLION TO SEVEN HUNDRED AND FIFTY THOUSAND DOLLARS A WEEK.
SO THEY'RE MAKING SOME GOOD PRODUCTION.
BUT YOU MENTIONED THERE'S A LOT OF PROBLEMS INVOLVED.
AS YOU MENTIONED, ONE OF THEM IS THE LARGER COMPANIES, THE COMPLEXES.
YES SIR. BECAUSE THEY HAVE THE SAME LABOR PROBLEMS EVERYONE ELSE, INCLUDING THE COUNTY IS EXPERIENCING RIGHT NOW.
AND SO YOU GET HALFWAY THROUGH AN APPLICATION AND THE MANAGER OR THE BOOKKEEPER, WHOEVER IS CHARGED WITH DOING THAT, THEY TURN OVER.
AND SO IT'S A NUMBER OF PROBLEMS. AND I APPRECIATE, YOU KNOW, YOUR BEING HERE TO TELL US THAT I PROMISE YOU THESE FOLKS ARE WORKING AS HARD AS THEY CAN, YOU KNOW, TO GET THAT MONEY OUT AS QUICKLY AS THEY CAN.
MY BIG CONCERN I WAS TRYING TO GET HERE BECAUSE I'M BORDERLINE, BECAUSE JUST WITH MY JOB, I'M NOT BEING ABLE TO, YOU KNOW, TO KEEP UP WITH THE RENT AND EVERYTHING. AND I BORDERLINE SO I'LL PROBABLY I DON'T KNOW HOW MUCH LONGER I'LL HAVE IN MY PLACE, BUT YOU KNOW, IT IS WHAT IT IS.
I WOULD RECOMMEND THAT IF YOU'RE FILING A CLAIM, FILE IT WITH THE STATE BECAUSE LIKE I TOLD YOU, WE'RE RUNNING OUT OF MONEY AND THAT PROGRAM WILL CLOSE WHEN THE MONEY IS GONE.
YES, SIR. THE STATE WILL GO WELL INTO NEXT YEAR AND I THINK THAT THEY HAVE BEEN WORKING THROUGH THE SAME ISSUES AND IT'S MY UNDERSTANDING THAT THEY'RE DOING MUCH BETTER NOW.
AND TO GIVE YOU THE NUMBERS THAT WE'RE DEALING WITH IS IN THE FIRST INITIAL OPENING OF THE PROGRAM, WE RECEIVED SEVENTEEN THOUSAND APPLICATIONS.
SEVENTEEN THOUSAND PEOPLE WERE APPLYING AND TRYING TO APPLY.
I KNEW THERE WAS A LOT OF FOLKS OUT THERE.
I HAD NO IDEA IT WOULD BE THAT MANY.
YEAH. SO I URGE YOU TO KEEP TRYING AND HOPEFULLY, YOU KNOW, YOU'LL BE SUCCESSFUL.
ALL RIGHT. THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME, SIR.
ALL RIGHTY. IF YOU COULD SPEAK INTO THE MICROPHONE, PLEASE, SO IT'LL PICK UP.
I WAS JUST GOING TO SAY THAT I DID HAVE SOMEONE REACH OUT TO ME AND I JUST DIRECTED THEM TO FREDERICK LOVE, AND HE WAS VERY RESPONSIVE AND HELPED GUIDE THEM TO SOMEBODY THAT COULD ASSIST IN FILLING OUT THAT APPLICATION OR AT LEAST GETTING HELP WITH THAT.
SO I KNOW THEY'RE REALLY TRYING.
I KNOW THAT PROBABLY DOESN'T HELP YOU.
BUT IF YOU KNOW SOMEBODY THAT'S HAVING DIFFICULTY LIKE YOU SAID, THE PINE STREET LOCATION, OR JUST CALL OR HAVE THEM CALL AND EVERYBODY WILL HELP DIRECT THEM, I THINK THAT FREDERICK DID.
MR. LOVE DID AT THAT PARTICULAR INCIDENT THANK YOU. JERMAINE CANE.
I'M HERE WITH THE RENTAL ASSISTANCE, AND ALL I WANT TO SAY IS IT'S HARD OUT THERE FOR PEOPLE WHO DON'T HAVE THE MEANS TO GET TO THE FROM POINT A TO POINT B.
WHAT I'M SAYING IS IT'S HARD OUT THERE BECAUSE I'M GETTING SUED AND EVICTED RIGHT NOW, YOU KNOW, BECAUSE I'M NOT ABLE TO KEEP UP WITH MY RENT.
AND I'VE BEEN FILLING OUT FOR THIS PROGRAM FOR MONTHS AND MONTHS AND MONTHS AND MONTHS
[01:10:03]
AND MONTHS. AND I STILL HAVEN'T RECEIVED ANYTHING OR NO KIND OF INFORMATION ON WHAT'S GOING ON. AND ALL I WANT TO KNOW IS WHAT'S GOING ON, WHAT'S THE HOLD UP FOR HELPING PEOPLE OUT THERE? BECAUSE LIKE YOU SAID, I KNOW PEOPLE WHO GOT EVICTED WITH THEIR KIDS AND CARS GOT REPOED, AND IT'S JUST HARD OUT THERE.AND PEOPLE FILLING OUT THE APPLICATION AND IS NOT HEARING NOTHING BACK AND IT'S BEEN MONTHS AND MONTHS AND MONTHS.
SO I NEED HELP TO GUIDE IT IN THE RIGHT DIRECTION.
WELL, THE YOU KNOW, THE HOLDUP IS THE SHEER NUMBERS.
JUST REALLY KIND OF PLUGGED THE WHOLE SYSTEM UP.
BUT AS I TOLD YOU OR MENTIONED EARLIER, YOU KNOW, THIS PROGRAM IS GOING TO WIND DOWN IF YOU HAVEN'T HEARD FROM SOMEBODY AND I'M ASSUMING THAT YOU'RE CALLING REGULARLY OR YOU'RE SENDING THEM AN EMAIL OR YOU'RE KNOCKING ON THE DOOR AND YOU'RE SAYING, NOBODY'S ANSWERING YOUR CALLS, NOBODY, YOU'RE NOT HEARING ANYTHING FROM ANYONE.
RIGHT, RIGHT. OK, SO MR. TRAVIS IS THERE IN THE BLUE SPORT COAT, IF YOU LEAVE HIM IN WRITING YOUR NAME AND YOUR EMAIL AND YOUR TELEPHONE NUMBER AND YOUR ADDRESS.
THEN I'LL MAKE A CALL IN THE MORNING, FIND OUT WHY YOU HAVEN'T HEARD FROM ANYBODY, BECAUSE THAT'S NOT A TYPICAL PROBLEM.
I UNDERSTAND. SO YOU MUST HAVE APPLIED IN APRIL, THE FIRST MONTH.
AND YOU NEVER HEARD FROM ANYBODY SAYING YOU WERE MISSING DOCUMENTS.
NOTHING. YOU TURNED IN A RENT STATEMENT.
EVERYTHING I DID, EVERYTHING I WAS SUPPOSED TO DO, EVERYTHING THEY ASKED ME TO DO AND I'M NOT LIKE I CAN BARELY READ OR WRITE, SO I GOT PEOPLE HELPING ME.
SO RIGHT RIGHT. I KNOW THEY'RE DOING THINGS THAT THEY ARE SUPPOSED TO DO, AND THEN THE PROCESS OF ME WAITING HERE I AM GETTING THROWED OUT AND NOWHERE TO GO.
AND YOU KNOW WHAT I MEAN? I DON'T KNOW WHAT ELSE TO SAY, YOU KNOW, I WANT TO KNOW WHAT'S THE HOLD UP AND WHAT'S THE PROBLEM? I MEAN, LIKE YOU SAID IT'S SHEER NUMBERS, I UNDERSTAND THAT.
THE HOLD UP IS CERTAINLY THE APPLICATION.
WE'LL FIND OUT WHAT'S THE STATUS OF THAT APPLICATION IS TOMORROW.
THANK YOU VERY MUCH. ALL RIGHTY.
MS. FLORENCE WYLIE IS HERE WITH US TODAY, ANOTHER ONE OF OUR ESTEEMED NEIGHBORHOOD LEADERS ON THE WESTERN DISTRICT OF MCALMONT, MS. WILEY, WILL YOU PLEASE COME TO THE PODIUM AND TELL US WHAT YOU WANT TO TALK ABOUT TODAY? MY NAME IS FLORENCE WYLIE.
AND MY COMMUNITY IS MCALMONT AND WHICH IS LIKE NORTH LITTLE ROCK.
AND WHAT I WANT TO TALK ABOUT TODAY IS MY STREETS, AND THE ISSUE IS MY STREETS NEED TO BE WIDENED. AND I'VE TALKED TO ROAD AND BRIDGE ABOUT IT, AND I TALKED TO STEVE ABOUT IT AND THEY PUT THE THE REFLECTORS IN.
AND THAT JUST LET ME KNOW THAT CENTER LINE IS STILL SHORT BECAUSE WE STILL NEED WIDER STREETS AND WE NEED WIDER STREETS BECAUSE THE SAME CARS THEY RUN ON THE HIGHWAY ARE THE SAME ONES THAT RUN IN THE COMMUNITY, ON THE STREETS, IN THE RESIDENTIAL AREA.
SO MY THING IS WE NEED WIDER STREETS.
AND THAT'S IT. AND I THANK THE JUDGE.
THANK YOU FOR YOUR COMMENTS MS. WYLIE. OK. AND I WANT YOU ALL TO GET BACK TO ME ABOUT WITH THAT.
AND I WILL I WILL VISIT WITH YOU SHORTLY.
IF I DON'T CALL YOU TOMORROW, IT'LL BE THE NEXT DAY.
IF YOU DON'T CALL ME, I KNOW WHERE TO COME.
YOU DO AND AS A MATTER OF FACT MS. WYLIE IS ONE OF MY MAIN CONTACTS IN THE EAST PART OF THE COUNTY AND DOES AN EXCELLENT JOB IN CARING FOR HER SIDE OF THE TRACKS AND USED TO BE RESPONSIBLE FOR KEEPING REVEREND GREEN ON TRACK.
THANK YOU. ETHYLENE JOHNSON IS ETHYLENE STILL HERE? YES, MA'AM.
GOOD EVENING. GOOD EVENING, I'M ETHYLENE JOHNSON.
I'VE BEEN SITTING THERE AND I'VE BEEN PRAYING THE WHOLE TIME WE'VE BEEN IN HERE.
[01:15:01]
WHY? BECAUSE I SEE THE DIVISION AND IT'S VERY UNPLEASANT AND VERY UNCOMFORTABLE.IT'S NO NEED IN ME SAYING ANYTHING BECAUSE THE RESOLUTION OR WHATEVER IT WAS, WHATEVER IT'S CALLED THAT MS. GULLEY MADE WAS TURNED DOWN.
IN MY AREA IN DICK JETER VALENTINE ROAD.
THERE'S A LOT OF SPEEDING GOING ON.
THERE'S A SIGN THAT WAS UP ACROSS THE STREET FROM WHERE I LIVE THAT WAS KNOCKED DOWN BECAUSE OF AN ACCIDENT, I REPORTED IT.
THE SIGN IS STILL LAYING IN THE DITCH.
THE BIG 18 WHEELERS COME THROUGH MORNING, NOON AND NIGHT EVERY DAY.
WE HAVE NO SIGNS UP FOR THEM NOT TO COME DOWN THAT ROAD.
AND THEN WHAT THE INTERSECTION SHE'S TALKING ABOUT AT WOOTEN AND VALENTINE IS VERY DANGEROUS. IT'S A CURVE.
IF YOU'RE COMING FROM 161 GOING EAST, YOU CANNOT SEE WHAT'S COMING AROUND THE CURVE WHEN THEY SHOOT DOWN WOOTEN ROAD.
IT'S A CURVE RIGHT BY MY HOUSE THAT'S REALLY DANGEROUS.
AND YOU KNOW, IT'S JUST THAT WE NEED SIGNS UP, YOU KNOW, IN THESE PLACES.
BUT I'M PRAYING FOR ALL THE PEOPLE IN HERE BECAUSE I FEEL THE TENSION AND IT'S VERY UNPLEASANT AND UNCOMFORTABLE.
GOOD EVENING. I'M NOT HERE TO COMPLAIN ABOUT MY COMMUNITY TODAY, I'M HERE ABOUT THE MAILING ADDRESS HERE.
I'M, OF COURSE, MY QUESTION MAY HAVE BEEN ANSWERED THAT YOU ALL ARE NOT RECEIVING MUCH MAIL, MAIL ANYMORE, BUT STILL IT SHOULD BE DELIVERED THAT IS BEING MAILED IN.
TOLD HADN'T BEEN RECEIVED, BUT IT DIDN'T COME BACK TO ME.
AND PULASKI COUNTY ADMINISTRATIVE SERVICES WAS TOLD TO ME WASN'T HEARD OF.
I PUT IT UP ONLINE. I SEE PULASKI COUNTY ADMINISTRATIVE SERVICES.
AND I MAILED IT TO 201 SOUTH BROADWAY LITTLE ROCK, ARKANSAS.
ON SEPTEMBER 23RD, 2021, JUST A FEW DAYS AGO, I MAILED ANOTHER LETTER CERTIFIED RETURNED.
IT CAME BACK INSUFFICIENT ADDRESS.
SO I'M NOT GOING TO ASK FOR AN EXPLANATION.
I JUST WANT YOU TO KNOW THAT I KNOW THAT PULASKI COUNTY ADMINISTRATIVE SERVICES DOES EXIST. 201 SOUTH BROADWAY IS AN ADDRESS.
AND THAT MY MAIL WAS RECEIVED, BUT WASN'T ACCEPTED.
THANK YOU, MR. SAMPSON, AND WE DO RECEIVE MAIL HERE EVERY DAY IN LARGE QUANTITIES.
IF YOU WANT TO CHECK WITH TRAVIS ON YOUR WAY OUT TODAY TO SEE EXACTLY WHAT THE MAILING ADDRESS IS YOU'RE USING YOU FEEL FREE TO DO THAT.
BUT LET ME TELL YOU, SIR, YOUR MAIL IS NOT MAKING IT TO MY DESK OR MY ADMINISTRATIVE ASSISTANTS DESK.
WE DON'T TAKE MAIL AND DISREGARD IT.
THROW IT AWAY OR SEND IT BACK.
SO IF YOU'LL SEE MY ASSISTANT, THE FELLOW OVER HERE IN THE BLUE BLAZER, IN THE RED SHIRT, HE'LL MAKE SURE THAT YOU'VE GOT A CORRECT ADDRESS.
WE'VE BEEN UNDER CONSTRUCTION HERE FOR A COUPLE OF MONTHS, SO GOD KNOWS WHAT THE MAIL SERVICE HAS BEEN DOING.
BUT YOU KNOW, THE POSTMAN SHOWS UP WITH FOUR OR FIVE OF THOSE BUSHEL BASKET LOOKING THINGS EVERY DAY.
[01:20:01]
MARVIN ROAMS. IS MARVIN ROAMS STILL HERE? HOW'S EVERYBODY DOING.A DAY OVER 50, RIGHT? I WISH I WAS 50.
ALL RIGHT. I CAN'T EVEN REMEMBER WHEN I WAS 50.
[LAUGHTER] TO BE HONEST WITH YOU, BUT THANK YOU FOR THE ACKNOWLEDGMENT.
I WAS HERE THE LAST TIME I WAS MENTIONING THE WATER IN THE DITCHES IN RIXEY WELL, I LIVE RIGHT ACROSS THE STREET FROM HARRIS ELEMENTARY SCHOOL AND WE NEED IT.
NOW THE SHERIFF'S DEPARTMENT SINCE THE SCHOOL HAS OPENED THE SHERIFF'S DEPARTMENT HAS REALLY BEEN DOING A GOOD JOB IN CATCHING THE SPEEDERS COMING THROUGH IN THE MORNING.
GREAT. BUT IN THE EVENING, THERE'S NONE PRESENT, BUT IN THE MORNING TIME, YEAH, THEY'RE ATTACKING THEM PRETTY GOOD.
AND LIKE I SAID THE WATER IN RIXEY, IT'S A REALLY BIG CONCERN STANDING IN THE DITCHES, YOU KNOW? AND YOU KNOW, SO THAT'S MY MAIN DEAL TODAY, AND I JUST WANTED TO COME IN AND SAY THOSE FEW THINGS TO YOU. SIR ONE SHORT QUESTION FOR YOU, SIR.
DID YOU TURN IN A SATELLITE VIEW MAP OF THE RIXEY MCALMONT AREA? WELL, THAT WASN'T ME, SIR.
IT WASN'T YOU. OK, WELL, I WON'T RESPOND TO IT THEN.
IT WASN'T ME. AND SO I WILL TELL YOU, SIR, THAT WATCH CLOSELY.
WE HAVE A ROAD PROJECT, A ROAD I DON'T WANT TO SAY REBUILD OR REMODEL OF HIGHWAY 161. WE HAVE THE PLANS ON HAND NOW.
WE'VE BEEN WORKING WITH ARDOT AND AN ENGINEER FOR SEEMS LIKE A YEAR.
OK. AND WE'LL BE MAKING SOME CHANGES ON THAT ROAD AND THE CHANGES WHEN THE CHANGES ARE DONE. IT WILL INCLUDE NEW CROSSWALKS ACROSS HARRIS TO LINE UP WITH THE TUNNEL GOING UNDER THE TRACKS. OK. AND WE'LL GO ALL THE WAY ACROSS THE PARKING LOT WITH THE SCHOOL TO GIVE THE SAFE PATH FOR THE KIDS TO WALK SO THEY'RE NOT WANDERING ALL OVER THE PARKING LOT AS THE BUSSES ARE COMING AND GOING.
OK. AND PROVIDE A WALKING LANE, A WHAT'S CALLED A SIDE PATH OR A MULTI-USE PATH ALL THE WAY FROM EAST MCCAIN UP TO JUST PAST TRAMMEL ROAD.
OK. AND THEN THE SPEED LIMIT ON THAT ROAD IS ALREADY 30 MILES AN HOUR.
PART OF THAT PLAN WILL CHOKE THOSE LANES DOWN TO 10 FOOT LANES TO SLOW VEHICLES DOWN.
WE KNOW FROM RESEARCH THAT WIDE LANES MEAN PEOPLE GO FASTER.
IN THE QUORUM COURT TWO MONTHS AGO, I THINK PASSED AN ORDINANCE THAT PLACES A FINE UPON TRUCKS GOING INTO NO TRUCK ZONES, AS WELL AS EXCEEDING THE WEIGHT LIMITS IN THE NEIGHBORHOOD THAT SPECIFICALLY WAS TO TRY AND STOP THE TRUCK TRAFFIC ON VALENTINE ROAD, VALENTINE WOOTEN ROAD AND ESPECIALLY 46TH STREET, WHERE THEY'RE COMING FROM GALLOWAY AND CUTTING THROUGH THERE.
I'M AS FRUSTRATED, MAYBE NOT, PROBABLY AS FRUSTRATED AS YOU, BECAUSE YOU HAVE TO LIVE THERE. RIGHT.
AS TO HOW SLOW ENGINEERS IN ARDOT ARE.
BUT WHAT WE'RE PUSHING AND WE'RE MOVING FORWARD.
SO I LISTEN, I'VE BEEN TALKING WITH RAYMOND SMITH.
YOU KNOW WHO THAT IS? YES. AND WE'LL BE PLANNING AN OUTREACH THAT WE'LL DO THERE AT HARRIS ELEMENTARY, HOPEFULLY WITHIN THE NEXT 30 DAYS TO SHOW YOU ALL THE DRAWINGS AND THE PLANS AND WHAT WE WANT TO DO AND TO GET FEEDBACK BACK FROM YOUR COMMUNITY, FROM THE NEIGHBORHOOD.
WE'RE GOING TO TRY AND TURN THAT INTO MORE OF A NEIGHBORHOOD.
I HOPE. I HOPE YOU'LL LOOK AT IT AND BE PLEASED.
I KNOW I WILL. AND IN THE PROCESS OF THAT, THEY'RE WORKING ON THE WATER SOME OF.
AND SO WE'RE WORKING THROUGH THOSE ISSUES.
YOU'RE WELCOME. THAT'S ALL MY PUBLIC REQUEST.
I FILLED OUT A FORM FOR PUBLIC COMMENT AS WELL.
WELL, I PROBABLY STUCK IT TO ANOTHER ONE.
WHY DON'T YOU STEP TO THE PODIUM AND INTRODUCE YOURSELF? I'VE SEEN YOU BACK THERE FOR THE WHOLE MEETING.
[01:25:01]
YEAH. HI, MY NAME IS MALIK MARSHALL.I GOT SOME WRITTEN STUFF BECAUSE I DON'T KNOW, YOU KNOW, OFF THE DOME IS NOT THE BEST FOR ME. I'M AN ORGANIZER WITH ARKANSAS RENTERS UNITED AND ARKANSAS COMMUNITY ORGANIZATIONS.
I REALLY APPRECIATE Y'ALL LETTING ME SPEAK TONIGHT.
WE'RE GOING TO BE MEETING WITH THE COUNTY A LITTLE BIT LATER THIS WEEK TO TALK ABOUT THE RENTAL ASSISTANCE PROGRAM. AND SO I REALLY APPRECIATE YOU ALL FOR ALLOWING US TO HAVE THAT MEETING. AND I THINK THAT WE'RE GOING TO TALK THROUGH SOME SOLUTIONS WHEN WE GET THERE. JUST A LITTLE BIT OF BACKGROUND.
WE HAD AN EVICTION INTERVENTION PROGRAM THIS YEAR SINCE FEBRUARY.
EVERY SINGLE PERSON IN PULASKI COUNTY THAT RECEIVED AN EVICTION HAD SOMEBODY AT THEIR DOOR EXPLAINING THE CDC MORATORIUM AND MOST OF THE TIME, SENDING THEM OVER TO Y'ALL.
AND SO, TO PUT IT PLAINLY, I TALKED TO A LOT OF PEOPLE THAT ARE BEING EVICTED, LIKE PRETTY MUCH EVERY DAY, ALL DAY.
THAT'S WHAT I DO. AND I THINK THAT THERE ARE JUST A FEW THINGS ABOUT THIS PROGRAM THAT, YOU KNOW, IT KIND OF IT GIVES YOU A CERTAIN PERSPECTIVE WHEN YOU'RE TALKING ALL THESE PEOPLE THAT ARE DOING THIS PROGRAM AND HEARING ABOUT THESE ISSUES.
AND SO FOR ONE, I'M REALLY GLAD TO HEAR ABOUT THAT THERE ARE PEOPLE THAT CAN HELP WITH THE APPLICATIONS. THAT IS GREAT NEWS.
THAT'S SOMETHING THAT WE'VE BEEN TRYING TO GET INFORMATION ON.
AND YEAH, I WOULD WANT TO GIVE YOU ALL A CHALLENGE IF ALL OF YOU WOULD TRY TO DO THIS APPLICATION ON YOUR PHONE.
MOST AT LEAST WELL 50 PERCENT OF THE PEOPLE I TALKED TO, DON'T HAVE COMPUTERS, PROBABLY EVEN A LOT MORE THAN THAT.
I WOULD CHALLENGE Y'ALL TO TRY TO DO THIS APPLICATION ON YOUR PHONE.
IT TOOK US TWO HOURS TO GET THE DOCUMENTATION UPLOADED FOR ONE QUESTION.
I'M NOT KIDDING FOR ONE QUESTION.
AND SO THERE ARE SO MANY PEOPLE THAT WE'RE TALKING TO.
IF YOU ALL HAVE PEOPLE THAT CAN HELP WITH THESE APPLICATIONS, THAT'S GREAT NEWS AND WE'LL BE GETTING THAT INFORMATION OUT TO FOLKS.
ALSO, I THINK A SELF ATTESTATION IS A REALLY IMPORTANT POLICY THAT'S BEEN PUSHED BY THE BIDEN ADMINISTRATION AND NOW BY DHS.
THE REST OF THE STATE IS DOING SELF ATTESTATION, AND IT JUST I KNOW THAT, YOU KNOW, THERE ARE SOME POTENTIAL CONCERNS ABOUT FRAUD, BUT I MEAN, EVERY OTHER COUNTY IN THE STATE IS DOING SELF ATTESTATION NOW, AND I CAN'T TELL YOU HOW DIFFICULT IT IS TO JUST IT'S SO ALL THESE. THERE ARE SO MANY DOCUMENTS AND IT'S SO HARD TO GET ALL THESE DOCUMENTS.
IF YOU KNOW, GOVERNOR HUTCHINSON IS NOT KNOWN FOR BEING ON THE CUTTING EDGE OF RENTERS RIGHTS, IF HE CAN DO SELF ATTESTATION, I THINK PULASKI COUNTY COULD DO THAT AS WELL.
YOU KNOW, AND THERE ARE ABSOLUTELY METHODS TO PREVENT FRAUD IN THAT PROCESS, AND IT JUST MAKES IT SO MUCH EASIER.
AND THEN I'LL SAY THERE'S ALSO THE ISSUE ABOUT ALLOWING MONEY TO GO DIRECTLY TO RENTERS WHEN LANDLORDS REFUSE TO PARTICIPATE.
THIS SINGLE CHANGE WOULD HAVE EASILY HELPED DOZENS OF RENTERS I'VE SPOKEN TO FIND NEW HOUSING DURING THE PANDEMIC, AND I UNDERSTAND THAT THE APPLICATION PROCESS TAKES A LONG TIME AND YOU ALL ARE DOING YOUR BEST.
BUT I REALLY CANNOT TELL YOU THE AMOUNT OF PEOPLE I'VE SPOKEN TO WHO WERE EVICTED WHILE WAITING ON ASSISTANCE FROM THIS PROGRAM.
AND I THINK THAT THIS CHANGE WOULD REALLY BE BIG BECAUSE IF YOU'RE EVICTED WHILE, IF YOU WAIT, SAY, TWO MONTHS TO GET YOUR ASSISTANCE AND THEN YOU'RE EVICTED, THEN YOU'VE JUST WAITED THOSE TWO MONTHS. IT DOESN'T MATTER.
BUT IF YOU WAIT TO IF WITH THAT PROCESS, IF YOU WAIT TWO MONTHS AND THEN YOU GET EVICTED AND THEN MAYBE IT EVEN TAKES AN EXTRA MONTH, BUT YOU AT LEAST KNOW THAT YOU STILL GOT THAT MONEY COMING. AND AGAIN, WE'RE THE ONLY COUNTY IN THE STATE NOT DOING THAT NOW BECAUSE THEY'VE IMPLEMENTED IT VIA DHS.
AND SO YOU WOULD NOT WHERE THE MONEY GOES DIRECTLY TO THE TENANTS IF THE LANDLORD REFUSES TO PARTICIPATE.
AND YOU WOULD NOT BELIEVE HOW MANY LANDLORDS REFUSE TO PARTICIPATE IN THIS PROGRAM.
IF Y'ALL WANT TO HAVE A CONVERSATION I'M READY TO GO HOME AND HAVE MY DINNER.
SO YOU COULD TAKE IT IN THE HALL.
BUT IF YOU'D LIKE TO COMPLETE YOUR THREE MINUTES TO SPEAK, GO RIGHT AHEAD.
MS. MCMULLEN. OH YEAH. HE'LL BE AVAILABLE FOR YOU TO TALK TO AFTERWARDS, I'M SURE.
SO, YEAH, WE ARE THE ONLY COUNTY NOT DOING THAT.
SO YEAH, EVERY OTHER COUNTY IS DOING THAT.
HOW MANY COUNTIES HAVE A PROGRAM, SIR.
WELL, THE DHS PROGRAM DOES IT IN THE REST OF THE STATE AND THEN WASHINGTON AND BENTON COUNTY. COUNTIES RIGHT? AND BENTON COUNTY IS WASHINGTON COUNTY DIDN'T DO IT.
THE CITY OF FAYETTEVILLE DID IT.
BENTON COUNTY, I DON'T KNOW IF THEY'RE DOING IT NOW, BUT THEY WEREN'T DOING IT.
SO IT'S SOMETHING THAT'S NEW ONLINE.
THAT'S WHY WE SCHEDULE THE MEETING WITH YOU.
DID WE WASTE OUR TIME OR ARE WE GOING TO HAVE A MEETING? NO, I DON'T KNOW. I DON'T KNOW WHAT.
HEY, I'M JUST TRYING TO TALK ABOUT MY EXPERIENCES WITH THIS PROGRAM, I'M JUST TRYING TO PARTICIPATE IN DEMOCRACY, I DON'T KNOW, I DON'T WANT, I'M NOT I DON'T WANT TO BE YOUR ENEMY, I WANT TO BE YOUR FRIEND.
I DON'T WANT TO BE YOUR ENEMY EITHER. SO, OK, SO I'M SORRY IF I'VE OFFENDED YOU AND I JUST.
YOU HAVE NOT OFFENDED ME IT'S JUST. OK. MY JOB HERE TO KEEP THE MEETING GOING.
[01:30:01]
I HEAR YOU.THESE FOLKS HAVE BEEN HERE NOW, GOING ON TWO HOURS AND WE PUT A THREE MINUTE TIME LIMIT ON IT. AND WE GENERALLY DON'T ALLOW, YOU KNOW, CONVERSATIONS TO TAKE PLACE ACROSS THE TABLE IN THE INTEREST OF TIME.
SO I APPRECIATE YOU BEING HERE. WELL, I JUST WANT TO SAY THAT SO IT HAS COME TO MY ATTENTION THAT YOU ALL JUST RECENTLY ACCEPTED ERA TWO FUNDS.
IS THAT CORRECT AT THE LAST MEETING? I DON'T THINK THAT WE HAVE FINALIZED THAT ACCEPTANCE.
WELL, THAT IS REALLY GOOD NEWS THAT YOU'RE LOOKING INTO IT.
IT LOOKED LIKE ON THE LAST AGENDA THAT IT WAS PASSED.
IT MIGHT HAVE REQUIRED A RESOLUTION OR SOMETHING? I'M NOT SURE SIR. OK, OK, WE'LL ADDRESS THAT WHEN WE MEET NEXT WEEK OR I THINK IT'S LATER THIS WEEK. OK, OK, SO ARE YOU GOING TO BE IN THAT MEETING? I WAS PLANNING ON IT.
OK, GREAT. THAT'S REALLY GREAT TO HEAR.
AND SO, YEAH, I JUST WANTED TO KIND OF LET ALL OF YOU ALL KNOW KIND OF ABOUT THESE ISSUES WE'VE BEEN SEEING. AND I WILL ALSO SAY THAT EARLIER IT WAS SAID THAT WE CAN CONTACT SOME, LIKE IF YOU HAVE ISSUES AND STUFF, YOU CAN CONTACT THE PROGRAM AND IT HAS.
I WILL JUST, YOU KNOW, AGAIN, I'M NOT PUSHING ANY BLAME ON ANYBODY, BUT I HAVE TRIED TO CONTACT THIS PROGRAM A LOT OF TIMES USING MULTIPLE NUMBERS THAT WERE LISTED ONLINE.
AND WE NEVER I HAVE ALMOST NEVER, EVER GOTTEN A RESPONSE AND SOMEONE ANSWER OR CALL ME BACK. AND SO THAT'S JUST ANOTHER THING, AND I KNOW THAT WE'RE GOING TO MEET AND WE'RE GOING TO TALK TO THESE THINGS. BUT I JUST WANTED TO BE LIKE, YOU KNOW, EVERYONE TO KIND OF HEAR ABOUT THESE ISSUES AS WELL.
SO ANYWAYS, THANK YOU FOR LETTING ME SPEAK.
I'M SORRY IF I WENT ON TOO LONG.
WITH YOUR VOLUNTEERS FOR THOSE FOLKS TO COME INTO THE FOLD AND MENTOR THOSE FOLKS WHO ARE TRYING TO GET THESE APPLICATIONS DONE BECAUSE IT'S A PEOPLE PROBLEM.
WE HAVE OVER SEVENTEEN THOUSAND APPLICATIONS AND TWELVE PEOPLE DOING APPLICATIONS.
YEAH. SO YOU KNOW, I'M HOPING THROUGH YOUR ORGANIZATION, YOU GUYS WILL MAYBE BE ABLE TO, YOU KNOW, SET SOME THINGS UP WHERE YOUR VOLUNTEERS WILL HELP THOSE FOLKS THROUGH.
I THINK THAT WOULD BE REALLY, REALLY BENEFICIAL.
AND MS. MASSEY, YOU MAY LOOK AT IT WITH YOUR GROUP AS WELL.
SORRY SIR. WHAT GROUP IS THAT [INAUDIBLE].
IT NEEDS TO STOP. MEMBERS WERE FINISHED TONIGHT.
* This transcript was compiled from uncorrected Closed Captioning.