[00:00:03]
WELCOME TO THE OCTOBER QUORUM COURT MEETING FOR PULASKI COUNTY.
[1. CALL TO ORDER]
IS JUSTICE MCCOY HERE? YEAH, THERE HE IS.JUSTICE MCCOY IS GOING TO LEAD US IN THE INVOCATION AS IS OUR TRADITION IN PULASKI COUNTY ON THESE MEETINGS, AND THEN JUSTICE ROBINSON WILL LEAD US IN THE PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE.
>> LET'S PRAY. O DEAR GOD, WE THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR THE DAY.
WE THANK YOU FOR THE PLEASANT WEATHER, DEAR LORD.
WE THANK YOU FOR THE CHANGING SEASONS AND WE THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR EVERYTHING YOU HAVE BESTOWED UPON US: THE BLESSINGS, THE OPPORTUNITIES AND WE ASK FOR YOUR CONTINUED SUCH BLESSINGS.
I ASK YOU TO BE WITH EACH OF US TONIGHT AS WE CONDUCT THE BUSINESS OF PULASKI COUNTY BUT ALSO BE WITH US INDIVIDUALLY AND ANYTHING THAT GOES UNSPOKEN AS WELL.
GRANT US SAFETY AND HELP US TO UNDERSTAND ALL THAT'S GOING ON SO WE CAN MAKE THE BEST DECISION POSSIBLE, AND IT'S IN YOUR SON'S NAME. AMEN.
>> THE FLAG OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA, AND TO THE REPUBLIC FOR WHICH IT STANDS, ONE NATION UNDER GOD, INDIVISIBLE, WITH LIBERTY AND JUSTICE FOR ALL.
>> [NOISE] THANK YOU, JUSTICE MCCOY.
THAT WAS A LOVELY PRAYER FOR US THIS EVENING.
WE'LL CALL ON YOU LATER IN THE MEETING IF WE NEED TO.
[LAUGHTER] MADAM CLERK, WILL YOU PLEASE CALL THE ROLL WHEN YOU'RE READY.
>> HELLO. [INAUDIBLE] MR. REED.
>> MS. BLACKWOOD. MS. MCMULLEN.
[5. APPROVAL OF MINUTES]
MEMBERS IN YOUR PACKETS THIS WEEK, YOU SHOULD HAVE RECEIVED THE MINUTES FOR OUR LAST MEETING IN SEPTEMBER.[NOISE] MOVE FOR THE ADOPTION.
>> MEMBERS YOU'VE HEARD THE MOTION, YOU'VE HEARD THE SECOND.
ARE THERE ANY ADDITIONS OR DELETIONS FOR THE MEETING FOR OUR SEPTEMBER QUORUM COURT MEETING? THERE BEING NONE, MADAM CLERK, PLEASE CALL THE ROLL TO ADOPT THE MINUTES.
>> MS. MCMULLEN. MS. BLACKWOOD. MS. LEWISON.
>> THANK YOU, MADAM CLERK, AND LET THE RECORD REFLECT THAT JUSTICE CONEY AND JUSTICE GREEN HAVE NOW ENTERED THE ROOM AND ARE PART OF THE MEETING.
[6. COMMITTEE REPORTS: Agenda Committee & Budget Committee]
>> MADAM CLERK, WHEN YOU'RE READY AGAIN NOW, WOULD YOU PLEASE READ THE COMMITTEE REPORTS FOR AGENDA AS WELL AS BUDGET INTO THE RECORD.
>> CERTAINLY. OCTOBER 26TH, 2021 TO THE PRESIDING OFFICER OF THE PULASKI COUNTY QUORUM COURT.
WE YOUR COMMITTEE OF THE BUDGET TO WHOM WAS REFERRED ITEMS 21I71, BEG LEAVE TO REPORT.
WE HAVE HAD THE SAME UNDER CONSIDERATION AND HEREWITH RETURN THE SAME WITH THE RECOMMENDATION OF, "DO PASS." RESPECTFULLY SUBMITTED, DONNA MASSEY, CHAIR.
OCTOBER 26TH, 2021, TO THE PRESIDING OFFICER OF THE PULASKI COUNTY QUORUM COURT, WE YOUR COMMITTEE OF THE AGENDA TO WHOM WHAT'S REFERRED ITEMS 21I66, 21I67, 21I70 BEG LEAVE TO REPORT WE'VE HAD THE SAME UNDER CONSIDERATION AND HEREWITH RETURN THE SAME WITH THE RECOMMENDATION OF "DO PASS." RESPECTFULLY SUBMITTED, CURTIS KEITH, CHAIR.
MEMBERS, WE HAVE A SPECIAL PRESENTATION,
[7. SPECIAL PRESENTATION:]
[00:05:03]
IT'LL LAST JUST A FEW MINUTES FROM THE LITTLE ROCK SCHOOL DISTRICT.ARE YOU ON YOUR OWN TONIGHT OR DO YOU HAVE SOMEONE WITH YOU?
>> ALL RIGHT. GOOD TO HAVE YOU.
REMEMBER THAT HALF OF PULASKI COUNTY AT 400,000 PEOPLE, HALF IS LITTLE ROCK AT 200,000 PEOPLE.
WHAT LRSD DOES IS HOPEFULLY IMPORTANT TO THIS BODY IS [NOISE] AS WELL AS LITTLE ROCK.
I WILL REMIND YOU LITTLE ROCK'S ELECTION FOR THEIR MILLAGE, WHICH IS NOT A MILLAGE INCREASE IS ON THE 2ND OF NOVEMBER, AND THE FOLLOWING TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 9TH WILL BE PULASKI SPECIAL SCHOOL DISTRICT DOING THEIR MILLAGE, WHICH IS ALSO NOT OUT YET.
>> EXCUSE ME, JUDGE, BOTH THE MILLAGES ARE NOVEMBER 2ND.
THE ACCOUNTS ELECTION IS NOVEMBER 9TH.
>> I'M SORRY. THANK GOODNESS YOU'RE HERE TONIGHT.
>> THEY ARE BOTH ON THE SAME DAY AND I HOPE THAT YOU FOLKS AND YOUR CONSTITUENTS WILL LOOK AT SUPPORTING BOTH OF THOSE BECAUSE NEITHER IS AN INCREASE IN YOUR TAXES.
THEY'RE BASICALLY REORGANIZATIONS.
KELSEY, WHY DON'T YOU TELL US ALL ABOUT THE GREAT THINGS IN LRSD.
>> ALL RIGHT. GOOD EVENING, EVERYONE. I'M KELSEY BAILEY.
I'M THE CHIEF DEPUTY FINANCIAL AND OPERATIONS OFFICER FOR THE LITTLE ROCK SCHOOL DISTRICT.
MR. PAUL WOULD HAVE LIKED TO BE HERE TONIGHT, BUT HE'S ACTUALLY CONDUCTING AN INSPIRING LEADER INITIATIVE AT THE DISTRICT OFFICE.
BUT JUST WANT TO TALK TO YOU A LITTLE BIT.
WE'RE EXCITED ABOUT THIS TIME RIGHT NOW IN LRSD.
IT HAS BEEN A LONG TIME COMING.
THERE'S THREE THINGS THAT WE'RE VERY EXCITED ABOUT.
ONE THAT WE HAVE A TOTAL LOCAL CONTROL BACK OF THE DISTRICT.
WE ALSO HAVE A LOCALLY ELECTED BOARD MEMBERS THAT ARE WORKING WELL TOGETHER, BUT ALSO THIS UPCOMING THURSDAY, WE'RE GOING TO BE LOOKING AT ENHANCING MANY OF OUR SALARY SCHEDULES OUT THERE FOR OUR TEACHERS.
WE TALKED ABOUT THIS FOR THE LAST 10 OR 12 YEARS.
OUR STRATEGIC PLAN THAT WAS ACTUALLY SAID IN 2009, WE DIDN'T GET TO THAT POINT.
WE ARE AT 36,000 NOW BUT THURSDAY IF THE BOARD APPROVES IT, OUR STARTING SALARY FOR OUR TEACHERS WOULD BE 43,000 WITH ANOTHER TWO YEARS TO GET UP TO 48,000.
ALSO INCREASING THOSE SALARIES FOR OUR CLASSIFIED WORKERS SUCH AS OUR CHILD NUTRITION, OUR BUS DRIVERS, CUSTODIANS, REPAIR PROFESSIONALS, AND DIFFERENT OTHER NON-CERTIFIED POSITIONS.
BUT WHAT WE HAVE RIGHT NOW, WE ARE EXCITED ABOUT OUR SERVICE IN MILLAGE EXTENSION.
WE'VE TRIED THIS TWO PREVIOUS TIMES IN 2017, 2020, AND NOW EARLY VOTING STARTED TODAY.
I BELIEVE IS THROUGH OCTOBER 31ST AND THE REGULAR VOTE IS NOVEMBER 2ND BUT WHAT WE'RE ASKING VOTERS TO DO IS EXTEND A PORTION OF OUR SERVICE MILLAGE WHICH CURRENTLY IS TO HELP ONE AFFORD MEALS.
WE'RE GOING TO BE LOOKING AT RESTRUCTURING TWO OF OUR OUTSTANDING BOND ISSUES: OUR DECEMBER 1ST, 2015, AND DECEMBER 15TH, 2015 BONDS.
BASICALLY, WHAT WE'RE DOING, WE'RE GOING TO RESTRUCTURE THOSE AND GET LOWER RATE AND THE EXTENT THAT PAYMENT OUT FOR 19 YEARS.
IT'LL ALLOW US TO RAISE UP TO $300 MILLION FOR CAPITAL IMPROVEMENTS.
I'VE TALKED ABOUT TO RAISE IT BUT THIS MONEY CAN ONLY BE USED UP FOR CAPITAL IMPROVEMENTS, THOSE THINGS THAT GO BACK INTO OUR BUILDINGS.
SOME OF THE THINGS WE'VE DONE OVER THE PAST YEAR, IF YOU'VE GONE OUT TO THE SOUTHWEST, WE HAVE A BRAND NEW HIGH SCHOOL OUT THERE, A BEAUTIFUL FACILITY ABOUT $103 MILLION FACILITY.
IF YOU HAVEN'T GOTTEN THE CHANCE TO GO OUT THERE, GO OUT AND LOOK AT LITTLE ROCK SOUTHWEST HIGH SCHOOL.
THOSE ARE SOME OF THE PROJECTS WE'VE DONE OVER THE PAST, BUT WHAT WE'RE LOOKING FORWARD TO, WE HAVE A PROJECT WE'VE BEEN TALKING ABOUT FOR SEVERAL YEARS THAT'S REPLACING OUR CLOVERDALE MIDDLE SCHOOL CAMPUS ON THE FORMER MCCLELLAN HIGH SCHOOL SITE.
THAT'S GOING TO BE OUR NEW KA SITE THAT'S GOING TO COMBINE SOME OF OUR ELEMENTARY SCHOOLS ALONG WITH REPLACING OUR CLOVERDALE CAMPUS.
WE ALSO HAVE IN THE PLANS A NEW WEST LITTLE ROCK HIGH SCHOOL ON THE PINNACLE VIEW CAMPUS.
RIGHT NOW WE HAVE LITTLE ROCK SCHOOL RENOVATION HIGH SCHOOL OUT THERE AS WELL, SO LOOKING AT POSSIBLY ABOUT 1,200 SCHOOL CAMPUS THERE WITH OTHER RENOVATIONS AROUND THE DISTRICT.
IF YOU EVER HAVE BEEN ABOUT CENTRAL HIGH, YOU KNOW WE HAVE PRETTY MUCH A WHOLE MOBILE PARK IN THE BACK THERE.
THIS MONEY IS GOING TO HELP REPLACE SOME OF THOSE PORTABLES OUT THERE AND TRY TO BUILD SOME PERMANENT SOLUTIONS THAT ARE ESSENTIAL AND SOME OTHER LOCATIONS THAT HAVE THOSE ENROLLMENT NUMBERS THAT'S BEEN STABLE IN THE LAST FEW YEARS.
WE ALSO HAVE THINGS LIKE ENHANCING OUR AUDITORIUM AT PARK VIEW TO A WORLD CLASS AUDITORIUM ALONG WITH THE AUDITORIUM AT CENTRAL AND SOME MODIFICATIONS OF THEIR HALL AS WELL.
THINGS THAT ALL OF THE SCHOOLS WILL GET TOUCHED ON, LIKE LED LIGHTS THROUGHOUT THE DISTRICT, THAT'S GOING TO SAVE US ON MONEY, ALSO IT'S GOING TO INCREASE THE BRIGHTNESS IN THE CLASSROOM FOR ENVIRONMENTAL SAKE.
WE HAVE ROOF REPLACEMENTS ON THERE.
WE HAVE A FULL LIST OF JUST SOME FACTS THERE.
OF COURSE, I CAN ONLY JUST TELL YOU THE FACTS.
I'M A REPRESENTATIVE OF DISTRICT SO I'M NOT ASKING YOU TO VOTE ANYWAY, BUT WE'RE EXCITED ABOUT THIS OPPORTUNITY.
WE HAVE OUR LOCAL CONTROL BACK.
HOPEFULLY, WE CAN GET MONEY IN TO ACTUALLY DO THESE MUCH NEEDED CAPITAL IMPROVEMENTS.
IT'S BEEN A WHILE SINCE LITTLE ROCK ACTUALLY DID ANY MAJOR IMPROVEMENT.
[00:10:01]
A RAISE IN MONEY HAS BEEN 21 YEARS SINCE THAT 2,000 MILLAGE OF FIVE MEALS AT THAT POINT. THERE ARE SEVERAL THINGS.IF YOU WANT TO GO ON OUR WEBSITES, WE HAVE ALL THOSE DIFFERENT PROJECTS LISTED.
ANOTHER BIG ONE ON THERE, WE HAVE A SECURITY CAMERA UPGRADES THROUGHOUT ALL OUR ELEMENTARY SCHOOLS.
WE'RE DOING SOME OF THAT RIGHT NOW.
WE'D HAVE SOME MONEY TO IMPROVE THE VENTILATION BUT THIS MONEY IS GOING TO HELP US REPLACE SOME OF THOSE AGING EQUIPMENT.
OUR AVERAGE AGE IN LITTLE ROCK BUILDING IS ABOUT 65 YEARS OLD RIGHT NOW.
WITH THOSE AGING BUILDINGS, WE HAVE A LOT OF INFRASTRUCTURE NEEDS.
WELL, THERE'S PLUMBING, HEATING, AND AIR, ELECTRICAL, ROOFING SYSTEMS, WE'RE DOING PRETTY GOOD WITH TECHNOLOGY, ACE HAS REALLY HELPED US OUT WITH THE FEDERAL MONEY THEY CAME TO GET TO A ONE-TO-ONE STATUS WITH CHROMEBOOKS AND DIFFERENT THINGS LIKE THAT.
BUT THAT'S PRETTY MUCH OUR PRESENTATION RIGHT NOW.
LIKE I SAID, EARLY VOTING STARTS TODAY.
IT GOES THROUGH OCTOBER 31ST AND THE REGULAR VOTE IS NOVEMBER 2ND.
>> THANK YOU, KELSEY. MEMBERS, DO YOU HAVE ANY SPECIFIC QUESTIONS FOR KELSEY?
>> DR. GULLEY, YOU'RE RECOGNIZED FOR THE QUESTION OR THE POSITIVE COMMENT.[LAUGHTER]
>> [NOISE] EXCUSE ME. [NOISE] DO YOU HAVING ANY TROUBLE HIRING BUS DRIVERS FOR THE SCHOOL? HAVE YOU HAD TROUBLE WITH THAT OR NOT? I JUST WONDERED
WE'RE HAVING TROUBLE HIRING BUS DRIVERS, SECURITY OFFICERS, CHILD NUTRITION WORKERS, AND SAFETY AND SECURITY, AND ALL THOSE DEPARTMENTS ACTUALLY REPORT TO ME.
WE'VE PUT IT OUT THERE, WE'RE HITTING ALL SITES TRYING TO GET APPLICANTS IN, AND WHEN YOU WORK FOR A PUBLIC SCHOOL DISTRICT YOU KNOW YOU HAVE TO PASS THE BACKGROUND CHECKS, AND THE DRUG SCREENINGS, AND THINGS LIKE THAT.
SOME OF THEM GET CAUGHT UP AND LEFT, BUT WE'RE REALLY JUST NOT HAVING ANY APPLICANTS.
I SIT ON A LOT OF THE ACTUAL INTERVIEW PANELS AND WE JUST SAY WE CALL IN THREE APPLICANTS TO THE INTERVIEW AND WE'VE HAD WHERE NONE OF THEM EVEN SHOW UP FOR THE INTERVIEW.
IT'S BEEN PRETTY HARD TO EVEN GET PEOPLE TO COME IN JUST FOR INTERVIEWS.
>> WE FEEL YOUR PAIN KELSEY, AND WE'VE GOT CONFIDENCE IN LRSD IN MOVING FORWARD AFTER THIS ELECTION.
AGAIN, CORRECT ME IF I'M WRONG MADAM CLERK, WELL, I'M SURE BECAUSE SHE STAYS ON TOP OF THESE THINGS BETTER THAN I DO.
>> THIS MERELY IS AN EXTENSION OF THE DEBT ABILITY WHICH WILL ALLOW FOR THESE ADDITIONAL FUNDS TO BE PROVIDED.
>> THAT'S CORRECT, WE'RE NOT ASKING FOR AN INCREASE IN MILLAGE RATE IS JUST EXTENDING THAT 12.4 TO ABOUT 46.4 MEALS OUT, ADDITIONAL 19 YEARS WHICH I THINK WE'VE ONLY READ ABOUT ONE DISTRICT MAYBE EVEN IN THE STATE THAT IT FELL OFF, SO THAT REALLY MEANS YOU'RE NOT GOING TO REINVEST BACK INTO YOUR DISTRICT AND YOUR CAPITAL IMPROVEMENTS IN YOUR FACILITY.
>> MR. STOWERS DID YOU HAVE A COMMENT?
>> NOW I'M GOING TO GO OFF IN LEFT FIELD.
>> THANK YOU, SIR. MR. BAILEY, THANK YOU FOR BEING HERE.
FIRST OF ALL, I DON'T LIVE IN LITTLE ROCK SCHOOL DISTRICT NOR PAY PROPERTY TAXES IN LITTLE ROCK SCHOOL DISTRICT.
BUT LET ME KNOW IF MY ASSUMPTION IS CORRECT, IS THE REASON WE'RE ABLE TO SEE THESE ADDITIONAL REVENUES TO DO THESE MUCH-NEEDED PROJECTS IN LITTLE ROCK SCHOOL DISTRICT [NOISE] IS A RESULT OF THE HISTORICALLY LOW-INTEREST RATES THAT WE HAVE RIGHT NOW AND HAVE CONTINUED TO ENJOY FOR THE LAST SEVERAL YEARS.
THEREFORE WE'RE ABLE TO REFINANCE OUR DEBT AND THUS TAKE ADVANTAGE OF THOSE LOW-INTEREST RATES.
>> YOU'RE SPOT ON, AND WE'VE TAKEN ADVANTAGE OF IT OVER THE LAST 10 YEARS.
WE'VE SAVED ABOUT $30 MILLION WHICH WE'VE BEEN ABLE TO REINVEST.
BUT THIS ALLOWS US TO DO A REFINANCE AND A RESTRUCTURE.
SIMILAR TO IF YOU BOUGHT A HOUSE 20 YEARS AGO, YOU GOT A 30-YEAR MORTGAGE.
THE INTEREST RATES THEN MIGHT HAVE BEEN 8.5 PERCENT AND NOW YOU CAN GET SOMETHING THREE PERCENT YOU DECIDE YOU WANT TO REFINANCE NOW BUT INSTEAD OF REFINANCING JUST FOR THOSE 10 YEARS REMAINING YOU GO BACK OUT WITH ANOTHER 30-YEAR MORTGAGE.
IT LOWERS YOUR INTEREST RATE, IT LOWER YOUR PAYMENT BUT IF YOU WANT TO TAKE EQUITY OUT OF YOUR HOUSE AT THAT TIME YOU COULD.
IT'S LIKE THAT IN A SCENARIO THAT'S WHAT WE'RE DOING TO ACTUALLY PUT MONEY BACK INTO OUR INFRASTRUCTURE.
>> REAL-LIFE EXAMPLE, I'VE REFINANCED TWICE IN THE LAST FIVE YEARS ON MY HOME.
THE LAST TIME WAS FOR 1.99 PERCENT.
>> ON A 15. YES, I UNDERSTAND THE CONCEPT AND THE ANALOGY. THANK YOU, JUDGE.
>> THANK YOU. KELSEY, I'LL LET YOU MOVE ON, I KNOW THAT YOU'VE GOT MORE CAMPAIGNING TO DO.
THANK YOU FOR YOUR LEADERSHIP FINANCIALLY OVER THERE, AND I WISH YOU GOOD LUCK.
HOPEFULLY, WE'LL GET FOLKS OUT TO VOTE FOR LRSD'S VILLAGE APPROVAL AS WELL AS PULASKI COUNTY SPECIAL.
>> I APPRECIATE IT. I GOT MY LAST TICKET TODAY IN HERE.
>> JUDGE HYDE, BEFORE KELSEY LEAVES MAY I SAY SOMETHING ABOUT THE ELECTION?
>> WE'VE ONLY HAD 338 PEOPLE VOTE TODAY,
[00:15:05]
AND THIS IS EARLY VOTING.THAT'S 0.2 PERCENT OF 185,000 PEOPLE WHO ARE ELIGIBLE TO VOTE, SO PLEASE GET YOUR CONSTITUENTS OUT THERE TO VOTE.
THANK YOU, KELSEY, SAFE TRAVELS.
>> MEMBERS, I DON'T THINK WE HAVE ANY UNFINISHED BUSINESS.
[21-I-66 A RESOLUTION OF THE QUORUM COURT OF PULASKI COUNTY ENCOURAGING THE PULASKI COUNTY ELECTION COMMISSION TO ADOPT THE 2021 METROPLAN REDISTRICTING MAP AS THE NEW DISTRICT BOUNDARIES FOR PULASKI COUNTY JUSTICES OF THE PEACE, BASED ON FEDERAL CENSUS DATA AND IN ACCORDANCE WITH ARTICLE 8 OF THE ARKANSAS CONSTITUTION.]
DO WE MOVE ON TO NEW BUSINESS? MADAM CLERK, WHEN YOU'RE READY WOULD YOU PLEASE READ FOR US RESOLUTION 21-I-66.>> A RESOLUTION OF THE QUORUM COURT OF PULASKI COUNTY ENCOURAGING THE PULASKI COUNTY ELECTION COMMISSION TO ADOPT THE 2021 METRO PLAN REDISTRICTING MAP AS THE NEW DISTRICT BOUNDARIES FOR PULASKI COUNTY JUSTICE OF THE PEACE BASED ON FEDERAL CENSUS DATA AND IN ACCORDANCE WITH ARTICLE 8 OF THE ARKANSAS CONSTITUTION.
>> JUSTICE KEITH, YOU'RE RECOGNIZED.
>> MEMBERS YOU'VE HEARD THE MOTION, YOU'VE HEARD THE SECOND.
ARE THERE ANY QUESTIONS OR COMMENTS FOR RESOLUTION 21-I-66? WHO HAD THEIR HAND UP FIRST?
>> I DID BY A FRACTION OF A SECOND.
>> WELL, THEN JUSTICE MCCOY YOU'RE RECOGNIZED FOR A POSITIVE COMMENT.
WE'RE ONLY ACCEPTING POSITIVE COMMENTS TONIGHT. [LAUGHTER].
>> AWESOME IDEA A NEUTRAL COMMENT [OVERLAPPING]
>> I MADE THAT DECISION ON THE WAY HERE.
>> I EVEN GAVE ADAM THE BENEFIT TO KNOW THAT I WAS GOING TO ASK A QUESTION, SO IF ADAM CAN TAKE THE MICROPHONE.
ADAM, MY QUESTION HAS TO DO WITH THIS LAST PHRASE IN THE TITLE AND IN ACCORDANCE WITH ARTICLE 8 OF THE ARKANSAS CONSTITUTION OBVIOUSLY DOWN THERE IN ITS REFERENCE FURTHER DOWN.
BUT I GUESS MY FIRST QUESTION IS WHY WAS ARTICLE 8 CHOSEN OUT OF THE ARKANSAS CONSTITUTION TO BE REFERENCED IN THE RESOLUTION?
>> I DON'T KNOW, I DIDN'T WRITE THE RESOLUTION SO I DON'T KNOW.
>> WELL, YOU MAY BE ABLE TO ANSWER.
WOULD YOU AGREE THAT THERE'S PROBABLY ONLY ONE AREA OF OUR CONSTITUTION THAT DEALS WITH COUNTY JP LINES AND REDISTRICTING BEING AMENDMENT 55, OR ARE THERE OTHERS?
>> AMENDMENT 55 EMPOWERS THE COUNTY BOARD OF ELECTION COMMISSIONERS TO ADOPT THE DISTRICT MAPS FOR JUSTICES OF THE PEACE.
>> I'M SORRY, SAY THAT AGAIN, AMENDMENT 55 DOES?
>> I GUESS I'LL JUST GET RIGHT DOWN TO BRASS TACKS, DO YOU THINK IT WOULD BE APPROPRIATE FOR AMENDMENT 55 TO BE REFERENCED SINCE ARTICLE 8 OF THE ARKANSAS CONSTITUTION DOESN'T DEAL WITH COUNTY CUM COURT POSITIONS?
>> THAT WOULD PROBABLY BE APPROPRIATE.
>> OKAY. I YIELD FOR RIGHT NOW.
>> JUSTICE STOWERS YOU'RE RECOGNIZED.
>> I WAS JUST WONDERING IF MS. MELINDA LEMONS IS OUR NEW DIRECTOR OF THE ELECTION COMMISSION?
>> I'VE NOT SEEN HER, I DIDN'T EXPECT HER.
>> OKAY, GREAT. WAS JUST GOING TO ASK FOR HER THOUGHTS ON THIS. I YIELD.
>> ANY OTHER QUESTIONS, COMMENTS? YOU'RE RECOGNIZED FOR A SECOND TIME.
>> I GUESS I'LL MAKE A MOTION THAT WE STRIKE THE REFERENCE OF ARTICLE 8.
BASICALLY EVERYTHING AFTER CENSUS DATA, [BACKGROUND] AND JUST STRIKE IT.
IF ONE OF MY COLLEAGUES WOULD GIVE ME A SECOND, I WOULD APPRECIATE IT. [LAUGHTER]
>> WELL, AS YOU'VE HEARD THE MOTION, YOU HEARD THE SECOND.
>> SOMEBODY GAVE A SECOND. [OVERLAPPING]
>> ARE THERE ANY QUESTIONS? DISCUSSION ON THE AMENDMENT TO STRIKE THE LAST FIVE WORDS OF THE MOTION.
JUSTICE STOWERS DO YOU HAVE A QUESTION OR A COMMENT?
>> ON THE MOTION YES, SIR. I DO.
>> THANK YOU, SIR. MY QUESTION IS IF WE'RE GOING TO STRIKE THAT.
WHY WOULD WE NOT REPLACE THAT WITH AMENDMENT 55 WHICH DOES ADDRESS WHAT WE'RE SPEAKING OF AND THAT IS THE REDISTRICTING OF COURT CUM DISTRICTS?
>> AMENDMENT 55 DOESN'T REALLY GO INTO THE SAME DETAIL THAT THE REST OF THE RESOLUTION DOES.
>> AMENDMENT 55 IS MUCH MORE BRIEF ABOUT REDISTRICTING.
>> LET ME STOP THE CONVERSATION.
[00:20:03]
FOR A POINT OF CLARIFICATION, MR. COUNTY ATTORNEY?>> WOULD THIS BE AN INEFFECTIVE? IT'S ONLY A RESOLUTION TO BEGIN WITH SO IT'S NOT LAW.
IS THERE A PROBLEM? DOES THE REFERENCE TO ARTICLE 8 MAKE THIS CONFUSING, OR INVALID?
>> IT DOESN'T IMPACT THE LEGALITY.
THIS IS A RESOLUTION IS JUST AN EXPRESSION OF THE BODY'S OPINION, AND ITS WILL, AND DESIRE.
THE CONTENT OF THE RESOLUTION, I BELIEVE FOCUSES MORE ON THE SUBJECT AT HAND.
ARTICLE 8 DOES DEAL IN REAPPORTIONMENT BY THE BOARD OF APPORTIONMENT.
>> THERE'S A LOOSE REFERENCE BUT I WAS LOOKING FOR A YES OR A NO.
>> THE ANSWER IS NO IT DOES NOT IMPACT THE LEGALITY.
>> THANK YOU, MR. COUNTY ATTORNEY.
ARE THERE OTHER QUESTIONS OR COMMENTS?
>> DID I [INAUDIBLE] THE FLOOR?
>> DID I [INAUDIBLE] THE FLOOR?
>> ACTUALLY, I THINK I TOOK THE FLOOR AWAY WHEN IT BROKE INTO A CONVERSATION OVER THERE.
>> YOU'RE RECOGNIZED IF YOU HAD A FURTHER COMMENT.
>> THANK YOU, SIR. I THINK THIS IS A QUESTION FOR-
>> YES. SIR, I THINK THIS IS THEN A QUESTION FOR COUNCIL.
FIRST OF ALL, THIS IS THE FIRST I'VE HEARD OF THIS CONCEPT THIS EVENING SO I'M TRYING TO MR. MCCOY WRAP MY BRAIN AROUND WHAT WE'RE TRYING TO DO HERE.
BUT ON LINE 26 OF THE RESOLUTION, THERE'S A REFERENCE TO ARTICLE 8, WHEREAS ARTICLE 8 THERE GOES ON.
THEN THERE IS A SECOND REFERENCE IN THE BODY OF THE RESOLUTION IN LINE 45.
AGAIN, WHEREAS METRO PLAN AND THEN IT GOES ON AND REFERENCES ARTICLE 8.
ARTICLE 8 IS REFERENCED SEVERAL TIMES THROUGHOUT THIS RESOLUTION.
MR. MCCOY IS YOUR INTENT TO ONLY STRIKE IN.
I'M NOT SAYING THIS IS A GOOD THING OR A BAD THING IT'S JUST BEEN, [NOISE] I GUESS THIS IS THE FIRST I'VE HEARD OF THIS SO IS YOUR INTENTION TO STRIKE THE REFERENCE TO ARTICLE 8 THROUGHOUT THE RESOLUTION, OR ONLY IN THE LAST PORTION OF THE RESOLUTION IS IT BE RESOLVED?
>> I THOUGHT THAT'S WHAT YOUR FIRST COMMENT WAS GOING TO ALLUDE TO.
BUT YES, I DO NEED TO MAKE A SUBSTITUTE MOTION TO STRIKE ARTICLE 8 OF THE ARKANSAS CONSTITUTION AND ANY APPLICABLE SENTENCES.
IF ANYTHING WE SHOULD MENTION AMENDMENT 55, BUT AMENDMENT 55 DOESN'T SAY MUCH ABOUT SOME OF THE EXAMPLES OF HOW BOUNDARIES SHOULD BE DRAWN.
>> THEN FROM MY READING [OVERLAPPING]
>> LET ME STOP THE CONVERSATION AGAIN BECAUSE APPARENTLY YOU'RE HANDING THE FLOOR BACK AND FORTH AND THAT'S NOT HOW WE WORK IN HERE.
>> THIS IS A PRIME EXAMPLE OF WHY WE DON'T RULE VERBAL.
THIS BODY NORMALLY REALLY STAYS AWAY FROM VERBAL AMENDMENTS, THEY TEND TO GET YOU IN TROUBLE. WE HAVE A MOTION, THE MOTION IS ON THE FLOOR A IT HAS A SECOND.
>> I STILL HAVE A QUESTION ABOUT ARTICLE 8.
>> I STILL HAVE A QUESTION ABOUT ARTICLE 8.
>> HOPEFULLY. YES, FOR THE COUNTY ATTORNEY. MR. COUNTY ATTORNEY,.
>> EASIER WHEN I CONTROL YOUR MICROPHONES.
>> I'M JUST TRYING TO UNDERSTAND WHAT WE'RE DOING SIR,.
>> SERIOUSLY I. IF WE'RE NOT GOING TO ADDRESS ARTICLE 8 AND I BELIEVE MR. MCCOY SUBSTITUTE MOTION, WHICH I'M NOT SURE WE GOT A SECOND ON IT YET, BUT I'M NOT SAYING I'M NECESSARILY IN DISAGREEMENT WITH IT, BUT MR. ATTORNEY, MY QUESTION IS, WE'RE NOT GOING TO REFERENCE [NOISE] ARTICLE 8 ON LINE 26, ON LINE 45, AND ON LINE SIX ON THE LAST PAGE OF THE RESOLUTION.
THEN WE'RE NOT GOING TO REPLACE ARTICLE EIGHT WITH AMENDMENT 55, WHICH MOST OF THIS NOMINATE, MINUTE 55 OF 1977, WE RENEWED COUNTY GOVERNMENT AND IN A NUISANCE.
MY QUESTION IS, WHAT ARE WE GOING TO, AND IS TO YOU, AND AS WELL AS THE AUTHOR OF THE AMENDMENT, ON THE FLOOR, ARE WE GOING TO REPLACE ARTICLE 8 WITH MINUTE 55? IF NOT, WHY NOT? THEN WHERE'S THEIR REFERENCE? WHAT THEN, IF IT'S NOT ARTICLE 8? WHERE IN THE CONSTITUTION, WHERE IN OUR STATE STATUTES IS IT ADDRESSED, AND WHERE IS IT CRYSTAL CLEAR, AS TO HOW, COUNTY QUORUM COURT DISTRICTS, ARE REDRAWN AFTER EACH CENSUS EVERY 10 YEARS.
BECAUSE, WHETHER WE PASS THIS OR NOT, I'M TRYING TO UNDERSTAND THE LEGALITIES FROM THIS PERSPECTIVE.
[00:25:01]
>> I WILL OFFER THIS, I BELIEVE THAT THE REFERENCE TO ARTICLE 8 IS INTENDED TO MAKE REFERENCE THERE IS A BODY OF LAW SURROUNDING REAPPORTIONMENT AND THE REQUIREMENTS THAT GO ALONG WITH DRAWLING DISTRICTS.
I THINK THAT THAT'S THE INTENT OF THE INCLUSION THERE, THE COMPACTNESS TEST.
THAT'S THE BEST ANSWER I CAN GIVE AS TO WHY ARTICLE 8 MIGHT BE REFERENCED, AND THEN THE POWER TO RE-APPORTION OR TO DRAW THE BOUNDARIES FOR QUORUM COURT MEMBERS, BELONGS TO THE ELECTION COMMISSION.
HOWEVER THE STATE, THERE ARE NO STANDARDS THAT ARE SET OUT IN LAW.
>> THANK YOU, MR. COUNTY ATTORNEY AND SO MEMBERS.
>> I'M NOT SURE WHY WE'RE OFTEN THIS, I SUSPECT I KNOW WHY WE'RE OFF IN THE DETAIL, THIS IS A RESOLUTION THAT BASICALLY SAYS, HEY, WE'D LIKE YOU TO ADOPT THESE MAPS.
WE LIKE THE IDEA THAT YOU'RE NOW, WORKING IN THIS DIRECTION, SO THE REFERENCE OR LACK OF REFERENCE TO CONSTITUTIONAL SECTION, DOESN'T REALLY SEEM RELEVANT, BECAUSE ALL YOU'RE ACTUALLY DOING IS MAKING A STATEMENT, THAT'S WHAT A RESOLUTION IS, TO THE ELECTION COMMISSION FOR PULASKI COUNTY, THIS IS WHAT YOU'D LIKE TO SEE.
>> I TRY TO HASTEN THIS ALONG, BECAUSE WE HAVE A LOT OF MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC HERE TONIGHT.
I'M GUESSING AT LEAST A COUPLE WANT TO TALK, AND THEY PROBABLY LIKE TALK BEFORE 8:30 AND I'D LIKE TO SEE HIM TALK BEFORE 8:30 BECAUSE BY 7:30 I'M GOING TO BE PRETTY HUNGRY.
I KNOW I AM. IS THAT AGREEABLE THERE? MR. MCCOY?
>> I'D LIKE TO PULL MY MOTION DOWN AND MAKE A SUBSTITUTE MOTION THAT WE STRIKE EVERY REFERENCE OF ARTICLE 8 AND. [OVERLAPPING]
>> OKAY. LET ME KEEP THIS ON TRACK, YOU'VE WITHDRAWN YOUR MOTION.
>> YOU'RE RECOGNIZE TO MAKE A SUBSTITUTE MOTION. PLEASE STAY.
>> I'D LIKE TO MAKE A MOTION TO STRIKE EVERY REFERENCE OF ARTICLE 8 OF THE ARKANSAS CONSTITUTION IN THIS RESOLUTION AND REPLACE IT WITH AMENDMENT 55, WHICH I THINK IS MUCH MORE PROPER.
>> THANK YOU, OUR MEMBERS, YOU'VE HEARD EMOTION. IS THERE A SECOND?
>> MEMBERS? YOU'VE HEARD THE MOTION, YOU'VE HEARD THE SECOND.
IS THERE MORE CONVERSATION AND DISCUSSION ON THE AMENDMENT? LET ME BEFORE I ASK THE CLERK TO CALL THE ROLL, LET ME MAKE SURE THAT IT'S CLEAR WHAT YOU'RE VOTING ON, YOUR VOTING ON WHETHER OR NOT TO AMEND THIS RESOLUTION.
YOU'RE NOT YET VOTING ON THE RESOLUTION.
YOU'RE VOTING ON THE MOTION TO AMEND THE RESOLUTION.
EVERYBODY CLEAR? GREAT. MADAM CLERK, PLEASE CALL, THE ROLL, FOR THE AMENDMENT OF THE RESOLUTION NUMBER 21, I, 66.
>> TWO AYES, SEVEN NO, FOUR EXTENSIONS, TWO ABSENT.
>> THANK YOU, MADAM CLERK. MEMBERS, THE AMENDMENT IS FAILED.
THAT BRINGS US BACK TO DISCUSSION.
THERE'S A MOTION AND THE SECOND ON THE FLOOR TO ADOPT RESOLUTION 21, I, 66.
WAS THERE ANY FURTHER QUESTIONS? COMMENTS? 21, I, 66.
THERE BEING NONE, MADAM CLERK, PLEASE CALL THE ROLL, FOR THE ADOPTION OF RESOLUTION 21, I, 66.
[00:30:02]
>> EIGHT YESES, TWO NAYS, THREE ABSTENTIONS, AND TWO ABSENT. DID I SAY THAT RIGHT?
>> BY MY MATH, THAT'S 15 ACCOUNTED FOR, IS THAT CORRECTLY?
>> EIGHT AFFIRMATIVE VOTES ADOPTS RESOLUTION 21 I-56.
[21-I-67 AN ORDINANCE AMENDING ORDINANCE 20-OR-44 (2021 ANNUAL BUDGET, PULASKI COUNTY, ARKANSAS) TO RECOGNIZE AND APPROPRIATE AMERICAN RESCUE PLAN ACT OF 2021 FUNDS AND TO PROVIDE FOR A ONE TIME PREMIUM PAYMENT TO ESSENTIAL COUNTY EMPLOYEES, EFFECTIVE DECEMBER 3, 2021.]
THAT MOVES US INTO ORDINANCES.MADAM CLERK, WILL YOU PLEASE READ FOR US ORDINATES 21 I-67.
>> CERTAINLY IN ORDINANCE AMENDING ORDINATES 20 OR-44 2021 ANNUAL BUDGET PULASKI COUNTY, ARKANSAS, TO RECOGNIZE AND APPROPRIATE AMERICAN RESCUE PLAN ACT OF 2021 FUNDS AND TO PROVIDE FOR A ONETIME PREMIUM PAYMENT TO THE CENTRAL COUNTY EMPLOYEES EFFECTIVE DECEMBER 3RD, 2021.
>> JUSTICE [INAUDIBLE] YOU RECOGNIZED FOR THE MOTION?
>> I'D LIKE TO REQUEST THAT THIS TIME THAT WE PASS OVER THIS ITEM AND LEAVE IT ON THE AGENDA FOR NOVEMBER.
>> THAT REQUIRE SECONDS. THAT'S JUST A REQUEST.
MADAM CLERK, I'M GOING TO ASK YOU TO PLACE ORDINATE 21 I-67 ON FIRST READING AND WHEN YOU'RE READY, PLEASE READ FOR US ORDINATES 21 I-70.
[21-I-70 AN ORDINANCE AMENDING ORDINANCE 20-OR-44 (2021 ANNUAL BUDGET, PULASKI COUNTY, ARKANSAS) TO RECOGNIZE AND APPROPRIATE AMERICAN RESCUE PLAN ESSER III GRANT FUNDS FOR THE YOUTH SERVICES DEPARTMENT.]
AGREE WITH THIS MISS [INAUDIBLE] YOU ARE WELCOME.>> 21 I-70, AN ORDINANCE AMENDING ORDINANCE 20 OR 44, 2021 ANNUAL BUDGET, PULASKI COUNTY, ARKANSAS, TO RECOGNIZE AND APPROPRIATE AMERICAN RESCUE PLAN.
ESSER, E-S-S-E-R, THREE GRANT FUNDS FOR THE YOUTH SERVICES DEPARTMENT.
I GUESS THIS SUPPOSED TO BE DEPARTMENT EMPLOYEES BECAUSE THERE'S A PERIOD AFTER DEPARTMENT EFFECTIVE DECEMBER 3RD, 2021.
JUSTICE MCMULLEN, YOU'RE RECOGNIZED FOR A MOTION?
>> I WOULD LIKE TO MOVE THIS TO THE FULL QUORUM COURT FOR ADOPTION.
>> MA'AM, YOU'RE IN THE FULL QUORUM COURT.
I'M LOOKING FOR A MOTION TO ADOPT.
>> YES, I WOULD MAKE A MOTION TO ADOPT.
>> THANK YOU. DO I HAVE A SECOND?
>> MEMBER IF YOU'VE HEARD THE MOTION, YOU'VE HEARD THE SECOND I KNOW THIS WAS DISCUSSED IN YOUR AGENDA MEETING.
MADAM CLERK WILL ASK YOU TO CALL THE ROLL FOR THE ADOPTION OF 21 I-70.
>> MS. LEWISON? MS. MCCLELLAN?
>> TWELVE AYES AND THREE YESES.
>> JUSTICE MCMULLEN, LOOKS LIKE YOU PASSED YOUR ORDINATES.
CONGRATULATIONS. THANK YOU, MADAM CLERK.
[21-I-71 AN ORDINANCE AMENDING ORDINANCE 20-OR-44 (2021 ANNUAL BUDGET, PULASKI COUNTY, ARKANSAS) TO CREATE A SECRETARY POSITION IN 9TH DIVISION CIRCUIT COURT (DEPT. 0436) AND TO CREATE A SECRETARY POSITION IN 14TH DIVISION CIRCUIT COURT (DEPT. 0430) EFFECTIVE NOVEMBER 6, 2021.]
NOW, IF YOU WILL, PLEASE READ FOR US ORDINANCE 21 I-71.>> AMENDING ORDINANCE 20 OR 44 2021 ANNUAL BUDGET, PULASKI COUNTY, ARKANSAS, TO CREATE A SECRETARY POSITION AND FORTH THINGS DIVISION CIRCUIT COURT DEPARTMENT 0430, EFFECTIVE NOVEMBER 6TH, 2021.
[NOISE] THE SPONSOR IS THE BUDGET COMMITTEE.
I ASK THE BUDGET CHAIR, JUSTICE MASSEY FOR THE MOTION.
[00:35:01]
>> MEMBER AS YOU'VE HEARD THE MOTION, YOU'VE HEARD THE SECOND.
ARE THERE ANY QUESTIONS FOR 21 I-71? JUSTICE LEE YOU'RE RECOGNIZED FOR THE QUESTION.
>> YES. I WOULD LIKE TO HEAR A LITTLE MORE EXPLANATION, BUT I DIDN'T GET TO GO TO THIS BUDGET MEETING ABOUT WHAT THE DISCUSSION WAS ABOUT AND WHY IT'S NEEDED OR THAT THING. PLEASE.
>> I THINK YOUR SHORT VERSION IS THAT IT'S A STATE LAW REQUIREMENT THAT ALLOWS THAT POSITION EACH COURT OR SEVERAL OF THE COURT, AND WE GET TO PAY FOR IT.
WE DON'T REALLY GET A CHOICE, BUT I'M GOING TO ALLOW OR ASK COUNTY ATTORNEY TO GIVE YOU THE SHORT CONCISE ANSWER ON THAT.
>> I THINK THE JUDGE JUST DID [LAUGHTER].
>> ONLY BECAUSE HE'S ALREADY BUGGED ME OUT AT ABOUT FOUR TIMES.
>> THANK YOU MISS COUNTY ATTORNEY.
ANY OTHER QUESTIONS? THERE BEING NONE, MADAM CLERK, PLEASE CALL THE ROLL FOR ORDINARY 12 I-71.
>> MR. ROBINSON? DID HE LEAVE?
>> THANK YOU, MADAM CLERK AND CHAIRWOMAN MASSEY, YOU'VE PASSED YOUR ORDINATES AND THANK YOU FOR THAT WORK AND THAT TIME HERE WHERE WE THANK YOU.
YOU'RE NOT QUITE FINISHED YET, BUT YOU'RE YOU'RE ROUNDING THE 4TH TERM, AND APPRECIATE THE WORK THAT YOU AND YOUR COMMITTEE'S BEEN DOING THIS FALL.
[NOISE] MEMBERS THAT CONCLUDES OUR BUSINESS PART OF OUR AGENDA.
[Announcements]
ARE THERE ANY ANNOUNCEMENTS FROM THE MEMBERS? THERE BEING NONE THAT BRINGS US TO PUBLIC COMMENT.DO WE HAVE SOME FOLKS IN A FILE CARDS FOR PUBLIC COMMENT? [NOISE] MR. BLACK, THANKS FOR GETTING THE RIGHT SLIDE UP THERE NOW.
[LAUGHTER] I THINK YOU'RE CONFUSING JUSTICE MCMULLEN THERE FOR A WHILE.
WE HAVE FIVE FOLKS THAT ARE HERE TO SPEAK ABOUT THE PARADISE VALLEY SUBDIVISION.
WE WILL CERTAINLY LET EACH OF YOU SPEAK.
THERE'S A THREE-MINUTE TIME LIMIT ON PUBLIC COMMENT.
I WILL TELL YOU IT'S SOMETIMES MORE EFFECTIVE COMPLETELY YOUR CHOICE.
IF YOU HAVE ONE OR TWO PEOPLE WHO YOU THINK ARE GOOD SPOKESPERSON FOR YOUR CAUSE, YOU MIGHT WANT TO LET THEM SPEAK.
SOMETIMES FOLKS FALL ASLEEP IF THEY HEAR THE SAME THING OVER AND OVER AGAIN.
BUT I'LL LET THAT BE YOUR DECISION FIRST UP IS CHRISTINA SENTEPHANTY.
AM I SAYING THAT CORRECTLY, MA'AM? THANK YOU FOR YOUR CORRESPONDENCE. BY THE WAY.
>> ARE YOU FULLY VACCINATED, MA'AM?
>> THEN THEN YOU NEED TO KEEP IT ON, PLEASE.
>> HELLO. THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR GIVING ME AN OPPORTUNITY TO SPEAK.
MY NAME IS CHRISTINA SENTEPHANTY AND I LIVE AT 23401 ROLE IN CUTOFF ROAD AND ROLAND AND I LIVE RIGHT NEXT DOOR TO PARADISE VALLEY.
I CAME FROM CALIFORNIA AND FOUND THE PLACE OF MY DREAMS. I LOVE ROLAND AND LOVED BEING IN THE COUNTRY. IT'S BEAUTIFUL.
I BOUGHT THE PROPERTY IN JULY AND IT CLOSED ON THE 15TH.
I CAME FROM CALIFORNIA AND GOT HERE AROUND THE 10TH OF AUGUST.
ON THE 15TH, I FOUND A LITTLE THING STUCK ON MY CALL BOX AND IT HAPPENED TO BE WHEN I OPENED IT, A 76 HOME TRACK HOME DEVELOPMENT THAT WAS GOING TO BE RIGHT NEXT DOOR TO ME AND I WAS LIKE, OH MY GOSH, AND I DIDN'T GET ANY NOTIFICATION.
[00:40:03]
THERE IS A CONSIDERATION, THERE IS A PROBLEM, THERE'S A FLAW WITH THAT SYSTEM.THEY ONLY HAVE TO SEND OUT CERTIFIED STICKER LETTERS.
THEY HAVE TO NOTIFY THE ADJACENT PEOPLE, PEOPLE WHO BOUGHT THE PROPERTY.
IF THERE ARE VARIANCES ON THE FIRST PLOT, THEY DO HAVE TO LET PEOPLE KNOW ACROSS THE STREET.
WHAT HAPPENS IS THAT THERE WERE ONLY SIX PEOPLE NOTIFIED.
NOBODY HAS TO SIGN AND SOMETHING THAT IT'S AS IMPORTANT AS A HUGE DEVELOPMENT GOING BESIDE, YOU SHOULD HAVE A SIGNED SIGNATURE OF THE PERSON TO MAKE SURE THAT THAT PERSON HAS BEEN REACHED.
THIS IS ONE OF THE CONCERNS I HAVE AND THERE'S THERE'S MANY OTHERS, BUT I WILL LET OTHER PEOPLE SPEAK ABOUT THAT.
BUT THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR THE TIME TO JUST SAY WHAT I WANTED TO SAY. THANK YOU.
NEXT UP IS MARY CATHERINE HENDERSON.
>> OKAY, GREAT. YOU ARE [OVERLAPPING].
>> THANK YOU, GUYS. THANK YOU ALL.
MY NAME IS MARY CATHERINE HENDERSON.
I'M HERE THIS EVENING TO STATE MY OPPOSITION TO THE PARADISE VALLEY SUBDIVISION AND THE SUBSEQUENT SEWER TREATMENT FACILITY THAT'S PLANNED FOR ROLL AND CUT OFF.
I LIVE AT 22800 ROLL AND CUT OFF.
WE PURCHASED OUR HOUSE IN JULY OF 2019 AND IT'S MY PERSONAL SLICE OF HEAVEN.
I WOULD LOVE TO SHARE OUR BEAUTIFUL COMMUNITY WITH NEIGHBORS, BUT I DON'T THINK 76 TRACT HOMES IS THE WAY TO DO THAT.
I'M SADDENED THAT I WASN'T NOTIFIED ABOUT THIS PROJECT EARLIER OR YOU PROBABLY WOULD'VE SEEN ME EARLIER AND CERTAINLY HEARD FROM ME EARLIER.
A FACEBOOK MESSAGE WAS WHAT TOLD ME THAT THE SEWER WAS GOING ON NEXT TO ME.
THE FACEBOOK MESSAGE TOLD ME THAT THIS DEVELOPER HAD PURCHASED THE LAND NEXT TO ME IN 2020 AND THAT'S WHERE THE SEWER SYSTEM FOR THE 76 TRACT HOUSES WAS GOING.
I'VE ALSO HEARD THAT THERE COULD BE UP TO 200 TRACT HOMES IN THAT SUBDIVISION.
I WILL ESSENTIALLY BE SURROUNDED BY TRACT HOME SEWER BESIDE ME AND BEHIND ME, WHILE I SELFISHLY DON'T WANT TO LIVE NEXT TO A SEWER.
I'M SURE THIS WILL ALSO DEVASTATE MILL BY YOU, AS YOU CAN SEE FROM OUR SIGNS.
THAT'S THE PROPOSED STREAM FOR THIS WASTE.
I HAVE A LOT OF CONCERNS ABOUT THIS DEVELOPMENT.
CAN OUR WATER DEPARTMENT HANDLE IT? CAN OUR VOLUNTEER FIRE DEPARTMENT HANDLE IT? CAN OUR ROADS? CAN OUR SCHOOLS? WE HAVE NO LOCAL POLICE.
WE HAVE NO LOCAL SHOPPING BESIDES THE, DOLLAR GENERAL.
NO STREET LIGHTS. ALL OF THIS WASTE BEING PUMPED INTO MILL BY YOU, IS THAT SAFE FOR LIVESTOCK? WILL IT KILL OFF THE WILDLIFE? WILL IT FLOOD AGAIN SELFISHLY, WILL IT STINK? I'M VERY UPSET.
I FEEL LIKE I'VE BEEN LEFT OUT IN THE DARK FOR SOMETHING THAT WILL DEEPLY AFFECT MY PROPERTY AND MY WAY OF LIFE.
I'M TERRIFIED THAT MY FAMILY IS GOING TO SPEND THE REST OF OUR LIVES LIVING NEXT TO 76 OR 200 FAMILIES TOILETS.
I DON'T KNOW WHAT I DID IN A PREVIOUS LIFE TO DESERVE THAT.
I'M HERE ASKING FOR YOUR HELP.
I WANT OUR VOICES TO BE HEARD, AND SO THAT'S WHY WE'RE HERE TODAY.
PLEASE HELP US. THIS CAN'T HAPPEN. THANK YOU.
RANDALL VAN DEN BERG, I'M I SAYING THAT RIGHT?
>> BRANDENBURG. OKAY. THANK YOU.
>> THANK YOU. THANK YOU FOR THAT.
THANK YOU FOR RESPECTING THE ORDER ON A BUILDING.
>> YOU BET. THANK YOU FOR ALLOWING ME TO COME BEFORE YOU THIS EVENING TO VOICE MY CONCERNS ABOUT THE PROPOSED SUBDIVISION OF PARADISE VALLEY ON ROLL AND CUT OFF, AND EXPRESS MY EXTREME CONCERN RELATED TO ITS DEVELOPMENT.
I MOVED MY WIFE AND THREE CHILDREN NOW TO ROLL AND CUT OFF IN 2002.
WE LOVED THE SERENITY, THE FREEDOMS, AFFORDABLE LIVING IN A COUNTRY AWAY FROM THE BUSYNESS, NOISE AND TRAFFIC OF CITY LIFE.
LITTLE COULD WE ENVISION THAT SOME WOULD TRY TO BRING OUT CITY OUT TO THE COUNTRY BY PLANNING TO BUILD A SUBDIVISION OF OVER 170 TO 200 HOMES, WHAT IS PLANNED, IN AN AREA THAT DOESN'T HAVE INFRASTRUCTURE, ROADWAYS, FIRE PROTECTION, POLICE PROTECTION, EMERGENCY SERVICES, ET CETERA, TO SUPPORT IT.
NOT ONLY THAT WHICH IS BAD ENOUGH, BUT TO TAKE ADVANTAGE OF OUR TRIBUTARIES AND BY DUMPING THE MASSIVE AMOUNT OF SEWER, WASTE AFFLUENT, INTO IT AND RUINING A WAY OF LIFE THAT HAS BEEN HERE FOR DECADES.
ADD INSULT TO INJURY, THIS WAS ALL PLANNED IN SECRET AND DONE BY SLEIGHT OF HAND BY ONLY NOTIFYING SIX HOMEOWNERS IN THE AREA, ONE OF WHICH WAS A DEVELOPER OF PARADISE VALLEY, HE MAILED HIMSELF HIS OWN NOTICE.
[00:45:03]
WHILE NO ONE IN THE COMMUNITY WAS AWARE THAT A DEVELOPER WAS SECRETLY BUYING UP LAND THAT SURROUNDS MY HOME, AND THAT OF MANY OF MY NEIGHBORS ON ROLL AND CUT OFF THROUGH AN ANONYMOUS HOLDING COMPANY SO THAT HE COULD SECRETLY INSTALL THE SEWER STATION WHICH BUTTS UP TO AND DIRECTLY BEHIND MY PROPERTY AT 23,000 ROLL AND CUT OFF ROAD.EVEN THOUGH THE PROPERTY THAT HE WAS BUILDING THE SEWER PLANT ON BORDERED MY AND MY NEIGHBORS PROPERTIES, NO NOTICE WAS GIVEN TO ANY OF US, EVEN THOUGH THIS WOULD DEVASTATE US AND OUR COMMUNITY.
THERE MAY NOT BE ANY ORDINANCE THAT CURRENTLY REQUIRES PROPERTY OWNERS TO BE NOTIFIED WHEN SOMETHING SO DAMN AND TAKE PLACE, BUT ANY SIMPLE MINDED PERSON WHO CARES ABOUT HIS FELLOW MAN CAN EASILY SEE THAT THIS IS WRONG.
IT IS WRONG TO RUIN MY PROPERTY, MY LIVELIHOOD, AND MY FUTURE, BY TAKING ADVANTAGE OF AND OPERATING IN A MANNER SUCH AS THIS.
AFTER DESTROYING THE VALUE OF MY PROPERTY AND THAT OF MY NEIGHBORS, YOU CAN'T HELP BUT LOOK AT THE DEVASTATING EFFECT THE SEWER PLANT WILL HAVE ON THE HEALTH OF THE SURROUNDING ENVIRONMENT, WHICH WE COMPOUNDED BY THE FLOODING THAT ALREADY OCCURS THROUGHOUT THE AREA.
THESE WETLANDS ON WHICH THE SEWER PLAN IS PLANNED AND I DROVE RIGHT THROUGH IT WITH MY FOUR WHEELER, IS PLANNED TO BE BUILT WHERE THERE'S MUCH WILDLIFE INCLUDING DEAR, OWLS, COYOTES, MANY OTHER SPECIES OF BIRDS WHICH WILL BE IMPACTED BY THE EFFLUENT SEWAGE FLOWING OUT FROM THIS FACILITY.
I PERSONALLY FREQUENTLY ENJOY HEARING THE HOOT OF THE OWLS, THE LAUGHTER OF THE COYOTES, THE CRACK CROAKING OF THE FROGS, ALONG WITH MANY OTHER SOUNDS NOT HEARD IN THE CITY.
WILDLIFE IS ONE OF THE REASONS I MOVED OUT TO THIS PLACE.
THEN I MUST TALK ABOUT THE ROADWAYS.
TRAFFIC IS BARELY MANAGEABLE AT TIMES DEPENDING ON WHAT EVENT MAY BE GOING ON, BUT IF ANOTHER 70 HOMES SPRING UP WITH DOUBLE THAT AMOUNT BEING PLANNED, THE ADDITION OF HUNDREDS OF CARS TRAVELING ON IT IN ANY GIVEN DAY WILL MAKE DRIVING ON ROLLING CUTOFF AND HIGHWAY ON 300 UNSAFE.
WHEN WE HAD BIKERS AND ESPECIALLY THE VERY LARGE BIG DAM BRIDGE OF 100 BIKE TOUR, THIS BECOMES A DISASTER IN THE MAKING.
I'VE SEEN MANY TIMES HOW THESE ACTIVITIES AFFECT DRIVERS WHO TRIED TO PASS GROUPS OF BIKERS WHEN FACED AN ONCOMING TRAFFIC, IT WILL BE VERY BAD.
>> THAT'S YOUR THREE MINUTES, SO TRY AND WRAP IT UP FOR ME, SIR.
>> ALL RIGHT. WELL, I HOPE THAT I WILL CLOSE IT UP.
IT'S MY HOPE THAT I HAVE COMMUNICATED IN SHORT, THE PERIOD OF TIME, IT WEIGHS ON YOU IN A WAY THAT IT ADEQUATELY DESCRIBES HOW THIS OUT OF PLACE SUBDIVISION WOULD BE AND SIMPLY DOESN'T BELONG.
IT IS MY PRAYER THAT THE PARADISE VALLEY SUBDIVISION, WHICH WILL BE NO PARADISE, WILL BE DENIED. THANK YOU FOR HEARING ME.
>> THANK YOU, MR. BRANDENBURG. BOYD COURTLY?
>> I DON'T THINK I CAN ADD MUCH TO WHAT HE SAID BECAUSE THAT WAS VERY GOOD.
BUT I WOULD LIKE TO ASK THE QUORUM COURT, IT'S GOING TO ASSUME THE THINGS THAT CAN HELP US WITH.
>> PULL THE MICROPHONE UP TOWARD YOU.
>> WE'D LIKE THE QUORUM COURT TO LOOK AT BETTER OVERSIGHT OF THE PULASKI COUNTY PLANNING BOARD.
MAKE SURE THEY'RE NOT RUBBER STAMPING PRELIMINARY PLAN APPROVALS BEFORE ALL OF THE REQUIRED DOCUMENTS HAVE BEEN SUBMITTED.
MAKE SURE THAT THE PRELIMINARY PLANS ARE BEING PROPERLY STUDIED FOR THE EFFECTS THAT WILL HAVE ON NEIGHBORING PROPERTIES, THE PROPERTY VALUES AS WELL AS STORM-WATER RUNOFF FROM THE SCORCHED EARTH DEVELOPMENTS.
I'M ASKING THE QUORUM COURT TO LOOK AT BETTER NOTIFICATION PROCEDURES WITH PROPERTY OWNERS AFTER HALF A MILE FROM THE DEVELOPMENT BEING NOTIFIED.
ALSO EXTEND THE COMMENT PERIOD FROM ONE WEEK TO 30 DAYS.
I'M ASKING THE QUORUM COURT TO LOOK AT THE LONG-TERM EFFECTS OF THE USE OF THE ABOVE-GROUND WASTE TREATMENT FACILITIES WILL HAVE ON NEIGHBORING PROPERTIES AND THEIR PROPERTY VALUES.
WE NEED A SIMPLE LAND USE PLAN TO PROTECT RURAL AREAS FROM LARGE URBAN STYLE LEAPFROG DEVELOPMENTS.
THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME. IT'S ALL WE CAN ASK.
>> THAT'S OKAY. IT HAPPENS ALL THE TIME.
>> I HAD A 50-50 SHOT AT THAT. [LAUGHTER]
>> I'LL JUST TRY AND ADD A LITTLE BIT OF EXTRA INFORMATION TOO.
AS YOU CAN TELL, WE ARE FRUSTRATED. WE ARE ANGRY.
I'M ACTUALLY THE HOUSE ON THE OTHER SIDE OF HER.
JUST BECAUSE SOMEONE CAN CHECK A BOX ON A PIECE OF PAPER, OUR HOMES BECOME WORTHLESS AND UNSELLABLE.
HOW WOULD ANY OF YOU LIKE TO HAVE THAT HAPPEN? NOT BECAUSE OF OUR OWN FAULT, BUT BECAUSE OF A CHECKBOX ON A PIECE OF PAPER, THAT'S WHAT'S GOING TO DO THIS TO US.
THE CREEK AND THE BITUMEN QUESTION OFTEN RUN DRY MOST OF THE YEAR, WHICH MEANS THE OUTPUT FROM THIS WILL ESSENTIALLY BE AN UNDILUTED SEWER RUNNING BEHIND OUR HOMES AND NOBODY SEEMS TO CARE.
[00:50:02]
THIS BUILDER PLANS ON USING INEXPENSIVE PACKAGED WASTEWATER TREATMENT PLANT SIMILAR TO THE ONE HE'S USING IN A SUBDIVISION NEXT DOOR TO THIS CALLED WATERVIEW ESTATES, WHICH HAS ALREADY HAD MULTIPLE VIOLATIONS SINCE HE HAS PUT THAT IN.YET HE GETS REWARDED WITH ALREADY CONDITIONAL INITIAL PRELIMINARY APPROVAL BY THE BOARD.
WHO IS GOING TO MANAGE THIS TWO YEARS, FIVE YEARS, 10 YEARS, 20 YEARS DOWN THE ROAD, LONG AFTER HE'S GONE AND MADE HIS MONEY OFF THE BACKS OF THE PEOPLE OF ROLL IT? WHO IS GOING TO PAY FOR HIS MISTAKES WHEN THINGS GO WRONG WITH THIS ONE? IT FEELS TO US AS NOBODY IN THIS COUNTY CARES ABOUT THE RESIDENTS.
JEFF LA MASTER FROM THE 80 EQ, VISITED A MEETING OF THE PMCC, WHICH IS A GROUP, AS YOU CAN SEE, OF CONCERNED CITIZENS.
THE PERSON THAT'S SUPPOSED TO PROTECT US WAS COMPLETELY UNAWARE THAT THE BUYER IS BEING USED BY THE COMMUNITY TO WATER LIVESTOCK AND IRRIGATE FIELDS.
HE HAS NEVER SEEN THE BAIYU, NEVER WALKED TO THE BAIYU, NEVER BEEN TO THE BAIYU AND HAS NO PLANS TO DO SO EVEN AFTER HEARING FROM THE COMMUNITY.
EVEN AFTER HEARING THAT WE WERE NOT NOTIFIED AS REQUIRED, HE SAID THAT THE DECISION WILL BE BASED SOLELY ON FEMALE REPORTS AND GEOLOGICAL MAPS.
NOT EVEN GOING TO SEE IT ONCE BEFORE HE MAKES HIS DECISION.
HE RECOMMENDED WE PROVIDE DOCUMENTATION AND EVIDENCE TO SUPPORT OUR CONCERNS.
IN OTHER WORDS, PUTTING THE OWNERS ON US THE COMMUNITY, NOT THE BUILDER COMING TO US FROM THE OUTSIDE.
I WANT TO TALK ABOUT HOW WE'RE BEING TREATED AND BY OUR OWN PLANNING BOARD.
WE TALKED PREVIOUSLY, YOU HEARD SOMEONE TALK ABOUT NOT HAVING ALL OF THE DOCUMENTATION, AT THE TIME WHEN THE PRELIMINARY APPROVAL WAS GRANTED IN FEBRUARY.
IT WAS A PRELIMINARY APPROVAL WITH CONDITIONS BECAUSE THE BUILDER DID NOT HAVE ALL OF THE PAPERWORK AS REQUIRED BY THE PLANNING BOARD.
YET THE PLANNING BOARD RUBBER STAMP TO THIS PROJECT, SAYING THAT THEY LACKED THE AUTHORITY TO DO ANYTHING DIFFERENT.
IN OTHER WORDS THEY SAID THEY HAD NO AUTHORITY TO MAKE ANY DECISION OTHER THAN TO LET ANYONE DO ANYTHING IN OUR TOWN BECAUSE THEY HAVE NO AUTHORITY AS LONG AS THEY CAN CHECK THOSE BOXES ON THE PIECE OF PAPER.
WHO IS GOING TO LOOK OUT FOR US, THE RESIDENTS? IF WE HAVE A PLANNING BOARD THAT HAS NO AUTHORITY TO DO SO, THIS SHOULD NEVER BE ALLOWED TO HAPPEN.
THERE COMES A TIME WHEN COMMON SENSE NOT CHECKS BOXES ON A FORM NEED TO PREVAIL AND THAT TIME IS NOW WE'RE NOT WEALTHY, WE ARE NOT ILLUSTRIOUS PEOPLE, WERE NOT POWERFUL INDIVIDUALS.
BUT THIS IS STILL OUR HOME AND OUR COMMUNITY.
THIS IS NOT [NOISE] BELONGING TO THE BUILDER.
>> WE'RE COMING TO THE END OF YOUR TIME.
>>THAT'S FINE. WE ARE NOT GOING TO GO DOWN WITHOUT A FIGHT.
WE ARE HERE AND WE ARE ASKING FOR YOUR HELP.
WE NEED BETTER OVERSIGHT OF THE PLANNING BOARD.
MOST IMPORTANTLY, WE NEED YOUR HELP TO STOP PARADISE VALUE FROM BECOMING A REALITY.
>> THAT CONCLUDES OUR COMMENTS ON PARADISE VALUE.
I WOULD CERTAINLY SUGGEST TO YOU ALL THAT YOU'RE WORKING WITH YOUR ELECTED REPRESENTATIVE ON THIS BODY TO MAKE CHANGES IN THE LAWS THAT GOVERN THIS PROCESS.
>> WELL AS YOU SEE HERE I DON'T HAVE A VOTE.
[LAUGHTER] I RUN THE MEETING, BUT I DON'T VOTE AND I DON'T DICTATE WHAT THE LAWS ARE.
THAT'S WHY YOU HAVE 15 ELECTED REPRESENTATIVES, EACH REPRESENTING DIFFERENT PORTIONS OF THE COUNTY THAT I'M ASSUMING THAT YOU ELECT TO REPRESENT YOU.
I UNDERSTAND AND I THINK ALL THE MEMBERS OF THIS BODY UNDERSTAND YOUR FRUSTRATIONS.
ANYBODY WHO'S BEEN AROUND THE UNINCORPORATED PORTIONS OF THE COUNTY, ESPECIALLY WEST PULASKI COUNTY, WHO CAN CLOSE THEIR EYES AND REMEMBER WHAT THE VIEW WAS THERE 20 YEARS AGO.
THEN OPEN YOUR EYES AND SEE WHAT IT IS TODAY, RECOGNIZE THAT IT'S GROWING.
I'M GOING TO TAKE THIS POINT PERSONAL PRIVILEGE TO MAKE A COMMENT THAT, TRADITIONALLY NOT JUST BY THIS "BUT BY THE RESIDENTS OF THE UNINCORPORATED AREAS."
[00:55:07]
WE DON'T WANT ANY ZONING, WE DON'T WANT ANY RULES.WE JUST COME TO THE COUNTRY SO WE CAN DO IT OUR WAY THE WAY WE WANT.
BUT THE LACK OF HAVING THOSE LAND USE PLANS THAT [NOISE] ZONING, ALLOW YOU TO GUIDE THAT FUTURE DEVELOPMENT IN WHAT YOU WANT IT TO BE IN THE END.
I APPRECIATE YOUR FRUSTRATION, THANK YOU FOR COMING HERE TO VOICE YOUR OPINION.
IT'S REALLY VERY IMPORTANT TO MYSELF, AS WELL AS THE 15 REPRESENTATIVES HERE, THAT THERE CONSTITUENTS ARE ENGAGED.
I WILL SAY AGAIN THAT YOU HAVE AN ELECTED REPRESENTATIVE AND YOU SHOULD HAVE YOUR VOICE HEARD AND I'LL LEAVE IT AT THAT.
YOU CAN CONTINUE TO CORRESPOND WITH ME AND SOMETIMES IT TAKES ME LONGER THAN OTHERS, BUT I'LL CORRESPOND BACK.
IN SOME OF THESE SITUATIONS, I CAN BE AS FRUSTRATED AS YOU ARE.
YOU ALL HAVE A GOOD NIGHT AND THANK YOU EACH, FOR COMPLYING WITH THE COURT ORDER IN TERMS OF OUR CRAZY COVID PANDEMIC THAT CONTINUES TO DRAG ALONG WITH US.
THANK YOU. [OVERLAPPING] I HAVE ANOTHER REQUEST TO ADDRESS THE QUORUM COURT AND [BACKGROUND] I'M SORRY, THIS LOOKS LIKE [SPANISH] I WAS ALMOST RIGHT.
>> I AM FULLY VACCINATED, LOOK TO GET MY BOOSTER NEXT MONTH.
>> I'M FROM DISTRICT 10 WITH KATRINA GOLLY.
I AM A MEMBER OF THE MAC GAMUT COMMUNITY VOICES.
WE MANAGE THE PARK AND THE 15 ACRE CEMETERY OUT THERE.
THAT'S WORTH ABOUT FIVE MEMBERS AND AS A RETURN.
WE ARE LISTED AS GETTING HELP FROM THE PULASKI COUNTY TO HELP MAINTAIN OUR PARK AND SINCE I HAVE BEEN A MEMBER OUT THERE, WHICH IS THE LAST SIX MAYBE SEVEN YEARS WE HAVE NEVER GOTTEN ANY HELP FROM THE PULASKI COUNTY [NOISE] LANDSCAPE OR WHATEVER YOU CALL TO COME OUT AND HELP US MAINTAIN THE PARK.
MY CONCERN TONIGHT IS IF WE COULD SUPPORT KATRINA GOLLY IN WHATEVER SHE DOES TO GET US HELP OUT THERE WE WOULD APPRECIATE IT, THE COMMUNITY WOULD APPRECIATE IT.
WE HAVE A LOT OF USAGE IN THAT PARK WITH THE YOUTH AND ALSO THE CHURCHES TO COME OUT AND USE THE PARK BUT MAINTENANCE OF THAT PARK IS VERY DEMANDING.
SINE WE ARE LISTED ON YOUR LIST THAT YOU DO COME OUT, WE WOULD LIKE TO SEE SOMEONE COME OUT AND OUR MEETINGS ARE SECOND TUESDAY OF EVERY MONTH, SOMEONE WOULD JUST LET US KNOW WHO IS IT THAT'S SUPPOSED TO BE HELPING US BECAUSE WE ARE GETTING NO HELP. THANK YOU.
>> THANK YOU MA'AM. I'LL LET YOU KNOW THAT ACTUALLY SINCE I'VE BEEN HERE FOR SEVEN YEARS, THERE'S NOT BEEN ANY CLAIMS THAT I'M AWARE OF THAT THE COUNTY UP KEEPS THE PARKS.
IT WAS ALWAYS MY UNDERSTANDING FOR EACH OF THE PARKS THAT THE COMMUNITY TOOK CARE OF MOWING THE GRASS AND EMPTYING THE TRASH AND THE COUNTY ENGAGED IN THE FUNDS AND THE GRANT APPLICATIONS TO GET THE MONEY TO BE ABLE TO BUILD THOSE PARKS AND EVERYTHING.
IT IS ONLY RECENTLY LAST YEAR ABOUT THIS TIME OR MAYBE IT WAS IN THE SPRING I GUESS THAT THE BUDGET COMMITTEE HAS APPROVED FUNDS FOR THE PUBLIC WORKS DEPARTMENT TO HIRE I THINK IT'S THREE INDIVIDUALS TO TAKE CARE OF THE MOWING AND EDGING, AND TRASH EMPTYING AT THOSE PARKS.
THE PROBLEM IS THAT WAS APPROVED IN APRIL AND THOSE LEVEL POSITIONS WE'VE HAD ZERO LOOK OF HIRING SINCE THEN.
WE ARE ACTUALLY SHORT-HANDED BY MORE THAN 10 PERCENT ACROSS OUR ENTIRE PUBLIC WORKS DEPARTMENT.
I APPRECIATE FOR ONE ESPECIALLY GLORIA ASHLEY PARK, I THINK IT'S THE NAME OF THAT PARK OUT THERE.
>> YOU ALL HAVE ALWAYS DONE AN EXCELLENT JOB OF CARING FOR THAT AND KEEPING IT MOWED AND KEPT UP.
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I'VE COMMENTED TO OUR COMMUNITY SERVICES DIRECTOR MORE THAN ONCE AND OUR PUBLIC WORKS DIRECTOR MORE THAN ONCE THAT HEY, THERE'S THE MODEL RIGHT THERE ON WHAT WE NEED THESE OTHER COMMUNITIES TO DO.THE REASON WE'VE ASKED THE QUORUM COURT FOR FUNDS TO ASSIST WITH THAT EFFORT IS IN MANY OF THESE NEIGHBORHOODS WHERE THESE PARKS ARE LOCATED, OUR POPULATION IS AGING AND IT'S NOT SO EASY AND THERE'S NOT AS MANY YOUNG PEOPLE AROUND TO PUSH ALONE MOW AND HAUL A BIG BAG OF LEAVES.
AS QUICKLY AS WE CAN GET THOSE POSITIONS HIRED, WE'RE GOING TO GIVE YOU SOME RELIEF AND GIVE YOU SOME HOPE.
I APOLOGIZE THAT WE'RE IN THIS [NOISE] ANOTHER CRAZY ASPECT OF THE [INAUDIBLE] COVID-19, BUT WE'RE EAGER TO DO IT AND WE'RE COMMITTED TO DOING IT BUT THANK YOU IN THE MEANTIME FOR ALL YOUR WORK OVER THE YEARS AND THANKS FOR YOUR WORK ON THAT ABANDONED CEMETERY OUT THERE AS WELL.
>> THANK YOU, SIR, FOR YOUR INTENTIONS TO HELP AND GOING FORWARD, PLEASE WORK WITH [INAUDIBLE] SHE HAS BEEN TREMENDOUS AND HELPING US OUT THERE AND WE WOULD LIKE TO SEE YOU GET WITH HER, WORK WITH HER AND SHE WILL IN TURN TALK WITH US.
>>WELL THAT'S GREAT AND POSITIVE THINGS HAPPEN FROM POSITIVE RELATIONSHIPS AND THAT'S BUILT FROM TRUST, WE'RE WORKING ON IT AND THANK YOU AGAIN MA'AM.
MEMBERS WITHOUT FURTHER BUSINESS, WE ARE ADJOURNED.
* This transcript was compiled from uncorrected Closed Captioning.