Dec 21, 2021 Quorum Court

[1. CALL TO ORDER]

[00:00:20]

MIC] I'M GOING TO ASK YOU TO LEAD US TO THE PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE AFTERWARDS, AND THEN WE'LL HAVE A ROLL CALL.

EVERYONE, PLEASE STAND. LET'S PRAY.

FATHER, THANK YOU FOR THIS WONDERFUL SEASON TO CELEBRATE THAT YOU SENT YOUR SON TO SAVE US ALL AND PRAY THAT YOU WOULD HELP US TO UNDERSTAND THE ISSUES AND REPRESENT OUR PEOPLE.

WELL, TONIGHT IN JESUS NAME, I PRAY.

AMEN. AMEN.

MADAM CLERK, STAND IN, WILL YOU PLEASE CALL THE ROLL? YES, SIR. MR. REED? HERE.

MR. DENTON.

HERE. MS. LEWISON? HERE.

MS. BLACKWOOD? MS. MCMULLEN? HERE. MS. MASSEY? HERE. MS. CONEY? MR. KEITH? HERE. MS. GREEN? MS. GULLEY? PRESENT. MR. ROBINSON? HERE.

MR. MCCOY? HERE. MR. STOWERS? PRESENT.

MR. ELLIOTT? HERE. MS. MEDLOCK. 11 PRESENT, FOUR ABSENT . THANK YOU, SIR. REMEMBER, IN YOUR PACKETS THIS WEEK, YOU SHOULD HAVE RECEIVED THE

[5. APPROVAL OF MINUTES]

I'M SURE YOU'VE HAD TIME TO LOOK OVER THEM.

WITHOUT OBJECTION, I MOVE THAT WE ADOPT THOSE MINUTES.

WELL, I GUESS WE'RE GOING TO CALL THE ROLL.

MEMBERS, YOU'VE HEARD A MOTION, YOU'VE HEARD A SECOND.

MR. CLERK, PLEASE CALL THE ROLL.

MS. MEDLOCK? TO ADOPT THE MINUTES FROM LAST MONTH.

MS. MEDLOCK? MR. ELLIOTT? YES. MR. STOWERS? YES.

MR. MCCOY? YES. MR. ROBINSON.

AYE. MS. GULLEY? AYE.

MS. GREEN? MS. GREEN? MR. KEITH? YES. MS. CONEY? MS. CONEY? MS. MASSEY? AYE. MS. MCMULLEN? AYE. MS. BLACKWOOD? MS. BLACKWOOD? MS. LEWISON? AYE. MR. DENTON? AYE. MR. REED? YES. 11 AYES, FOUR ABSENT.

THANK YOU MEMBERS AND THAT ALLOWS US TO ADOPT THE MINUTES FOR LAST MONTH.

MR. CLERK, YOU SHOULD HAVE A COMMITTEE REPORT ON THE AGENDA COMMITTEE.

[6. COMMITTEE REPORTS: Agenda Committee]

WE ARE COMMITTED THE AGENDA TO WHOM IS REFERRED ITEMS 21I-76, 21I-77, 21I-78, 21I-79, AND 21I-80 BEG LEAVE TO REPORT.

WE HAVE HAD THE SAME ORDER UNDER CONSIDERATION AND HERE WITHIN RETURN, THE SAME WITH THE RECOMMENDATION OF DO PASS RESPECTFULLY SUBMITTED.

COURTESY KEITH CHAIR.

THANK YOU, SIR.

MEMBERS, THERE IS NO UNFINISHED BUSINESS MOVE TO NEW BUSINESS.

FIRST ITEM FOR CONSIDERATION TONIGHT IS A RESOLUTION.

[21-I-81 A RESOLUTION OF THE QUORUM COURT OF PULASKI COUNTY CERTIFYING LOCAL COUNTY GOVERNMENT ENDORSEMENT OF TREX COMPANY, INC. TO PARTICIPATE IN THE CONSOLIDATED INCENTIVE (TAX BACK) ACT OF 2003.]

MR. CLERK, PLEASE READ IT FOR THE COURT.

A RESOLUTION OF THE QUORUM COURT OF PULASKI COUNTY CERTIFYING LOCAL COUNTY GOVERNMENT ENDORSEMENT OF TREX CO., INC.

TO PARTICIPATE IN THE CONSOLIDATED INCENTIVE TAX BACK ACT OF 2003.

THANK YOU, MR. CLERK.

JUSTICE REED, YOU'RE RECOGNIZED FOR THE MOTION.

MOVE TO APPROVE.

SECOND. MEMBERS, YOU'VE HEARD THE MOTION, YOU'VE HEARD THE SECOND.

IS THERE ANY QUESTIONS OR DISCUSSION FOR RESOLUTION 21I-81? MR. REED? YEAH, I'D JUST LIKE TO KNOW WHAT THEY DO, WHAT THEIR BUSINESS IS.

YOU GUYS HERE, I DON'T KNOW IF ANYBODY'S HERE.

TREX LUMBER IS A PRODUCT, YOU SEE, ADVERTISED ALL THE TIME, IT'S AN EXTRUDED RECYCLED PLASTIC THAT INCLUDES SOME WOOD FIBER IN IT.

[00:05:03]

YEAH, I KNOW WHAT IT IS.

MS. MCMULLEN, YOU'RE RECOGNIZED FOR THE QUESTION.

YES, I UNDERSTAND THAT IT WILL BE BENEFICIAL.

I READ SOMETHING ABOUT IT, AND I AM GLAD THAT, YOU KNOW, I FINALLY HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY.

I WISH I COULD REMEMBER JUST EXACTLY WHAT IT WAS THAT I READ, AND I THINK IT WAS SOME TYPE OF AN INCENTIVE THAT WAS COMING FROM THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT.

A LARGE, VERY LARGE INCENTIVE OR SOMETHING.

IS THERE ANYTHING THAT YOU CAN SHARE WITH US SINCE THERE IS NOT ANYONE HERE? YEAH, WELL, SO I'VE JUST DESCRIBED THE PRODUCT FOR YOU, IT'S A MATERIAL THAT'S USED FOR DECKING, IT'S RECYCLED PLASTIC PRIMARILY.

THIS WILL BE THEIR LARGEST MANUFACTURING FACILITY IN THE UNITED STATES.

THESE ARE; I'M SORRY? THAT'S AWESOME. IT ACTUALLY IS AWESOME.

WE'VE BEEN WORKING ON BRINGING THIS MANUFACTURER INTO THE LITTLE ROCK PORT FOR SOME TIME.

I WILL ALSO TELL YOU, HOPEFULLY YOU WILL HAVE TAKE A LITTLE PRIDE IN.

THIS FACILITY IS LOCATED IN THE PART OF THE PORT THAT IS THE UNINCORPORATED PULASKI COUNTY, AS AMAZON WAS WHEN THEY CAME IN AS WELL.

THERE'S A MUCH IMPROVEMENT.

WE'RE GOING TO BE IMPROVING THE ROADS OUT IN THAT SOUTHERN PART OF THE PORT TO INDUSTRIAL QUALITY AND GRADE ROADS LIKE WE DID FOR THE [INAUDIBLE] AND AMAZON.

SO IT'S GOING TO ALLOW US TO REALLY MAKE AN IMPROVEMENT AND AN IMPROVEMENT FOR THE PORT ITSELF AND INFRASTRUCTURE.

THEY'LL BE EXTENDING THEIR SHORT LINE RAILROAD ALL THE WAY TO THE SOUTHERN BOUNDARY NOW OF THE PORT. THERE ARE.

THERE ARE THERE, THERE ACTUALLY IS A $4 MILLION, I'M SORRY, A $3 MILLION GRANT COMING FROM EDA. THAT'S THE FEDERAL ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT AUTHORITY TO HELP WITH SOME OF THE COST OF THOSE IMPROVEMENTS, AND THE ARKANSAS ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT DEPARTMENT IS ALSO PARTICIPATING, AS WELL AS THE GOVERNOR'S OFFICE.

THIS IS IMMEDIATE, 500 NEW JOBS AVERAGING MORE THAN $24 AN HOUR AND IS EXPECTED TO BE 2000 JOBS IN TWO YEARS.

AND YOU MENTIONED THE EDA WITH THOSE IMPROVEMENTS.

THAT'S THE IMPROVEMENTS THAT ARE HAVING TO BE MADE BY LITTLE ROCK.

THEY ALLOW THAT SITE TO BE USED.

THEY'RE BUILDING THE NEW PUBLIC ROAD IS BEING IMPROVED AND THE RAILROAD, RAIL LINE THAT SERVES THOSE, ALL THOSE COMPANIES IN THE PORT WILL BE EXTENDED AND IMPROVED AS WELL.

THAT'S WHAT THAT EDA GRANT IS PAYING FOR.

THAT'S WHAT I WAS THINKING.

YEAH, IT'S A GOOD IMPROVEMENT.

YEAH, YEAH.

AND I KNOW THAT THERE WAS SOMETHING COMING OUT OF OTHER THAN THAT.

IS THERE SOME OTHER INCENTIVES ALSO FINANCIAL THAT THEY ARE RECEIVING? NOT THAT I'M AWARE OF, MA'AM.

OK. ALL RIGHT.

I DON'T THINK THIS ISN'T LIKE ONE OF THOSE THINGS WHERE THERE'S.

YOU KNOW, SOME SOME FINANCIAL INCENTIVE OR SOMETHING.

ACTUALLY, WE HAVEN'T HAD ONE OF THOSE IN LITTLE ROCK IN THE SEVEN YEARS I'VE BEEN HERE.

WELL, I DO HAVE THE INFORMATION.

I WILL REFER TO IT LATER, BUT THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR THE INFORMATION THAT YOU PROVIDED US.

YOU'RE WELCOME. JUSTICE GULLEY, YOU'RE RECOGNIZED FOR THE QUESTION.

OK. THERE WAS NO EMAIL FROM THE COMPANY SENT IN REGARDS TO THIS.

NO EMAIL? ANY EMAIL PERTAINING TO THIS RESOLUTION.

AND YOU MENTIONED SOMETHING ABOUT ROAD IMPROVEMENTS.

AND SO I'M JUST TELLING THAT WAS A BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE NEW MANUFACTURER WHO'S COMING TO THE PORT. THE CONSOLIDATED INCENTIVE TAX BACK IS SOMETHING YOU DO FOR BUSINESSES, 30 A YEAR THAT HAS TO DO WITH, I HOPE I HAVE THIS RIGHT HAS TO DO WITH SALARY TAXES.

IF I REMEMBER CORRECTLY, SOMEONE MAY REMEMBER IT BETTER THAN ME.

BUT THIS IS NOT INCENTIVE.

THIS IS NOT PUBLIC MONEY GIVEAWAY.

THERE'S NO SUCH THINGS.

OK. AS I RECALL, THERE WAS A SIMILAR COMPANY, EXCUSE ME, A COMPANY IN MY DISTRICT THAT WANTED A RESOLUTION PASSED AND THEY HAD SENT AN EMAIL, I THINK TO ALL OF US JP'S ASKING FOR SUPPORT. MAYBE IT WAS JUST FOR ME, BUT THERE'S NOTHING FROM THE COMPANIES IS WHAT I'M GETTING AT. NOTHING. NO REPRESENTATIVE.

NOTHING. NO ONE HERE FROM THE COMPANY TO EXPLAIN.

NORMALLY, WE DON'T ASK THEM TO BRING A REPRESENTATIVE FROM THE COMPANY TO THESE MEETINGS JUST FOR THE SAKE OF A SMOOTH PROCESS.

OK. ANY OTHER QUESTIONS? NO. MR. CLERK, PLEASE CALL THE ROLL FOR THE ADOPTION OF RESOLUTION 21I-81 MR.

[00:10:04]

MR. DENTON? AYE. MS. LEWISON? YES.

MS. BLACKWOOD? MS. BLACKWOOD? MS. MCMULLEN? YES. MS. MASSEY? AYE.

MS. CONEY? YES. MR. KEITH? YES. MS. GREEN? MS. GREEN? MS. GULLEY? ABSTAIN. MR. ROBINSON? AYE. MR. MCCOY? YES. MR. STOWERS? YES.

MR. ELLIOTT? YES. MS. MEDLOCK? MS. MEDLOCK? 11 EYES, ONE ABSTENTION, TWO ABSENT.

THANK YOU, MR. CLERK.

TURN NOW, IF YOU WILL PLEASE READ FOR US, ORDINANCE NUMBER 21I-76.

[21-I-76 AN ORDINANCE ESTABLISHING THE RATES OF TAXATION TO BE LEVIED ON TAXABLE REAL AND PERSONAL PROPERTY IN PULASKI COUNTY, ARKANSAS, FOR THE USE AND BENEFIT OF PULASKI COUNTY AND CITIES; TOWNS; AND SCHOOLS IN PULASKI COUNTY FOR THE TAX YEAR 2021.]

JUSTICE DENTON, YOU'RE RECOGNIZED FOR THE MOTION.

MOVE FOR THE ADOPTION.

MEMBERS YOU'VE HEARD THE MOTION, YOU'VE HEARD THE SECOND.

ARE THERE QUESTIONS OR DISCUSSION ON ORDINANCE 21I-76.

THERE BEING NONE. MR. CLERK, WILL YOU PLEASE CALL THE ROLL FOR THE ADOPTION OF ORDINANCE 21I-76? MS. MEDLOCK.

MS. MEDLOCK.

MR. ELLIOTT? YES. MR. STOWERS? YES. MR. MCCOY? YES. MR. ROBINSON? AYE. MS. GULLEY? YES.

MS. GREEN. MS. GREEN, MS. CONEY. YES.

MS. MASSEY? AYE. MR. KEITH? YES. I APOLOGIZE, SIR.

MS. MCMULLEN? AYE.

MS. BLACKWOOD? MS. BLACKWOOD? MS. LEWISON? YES.

MR. DENTON? AYE. MR. REED? YES. TWELVE AYES, THREE ABSENT.

MR. CLERK, PLEASE LET THE RECORD REFLECT THAT JUSTICE GREEN HAS ARRIVED AND WHAT WAS OUR COUNT ON THAT VOTE, SIR? THAT WAS 12 TO THREE.

12, AYES, THREE ABSENT.

THANK YOU, MR. CLERK, AND JUSTICE DENTON, YOU PASSED YOUR ORDINANCE 21I-76 AND.

[21-I-77 AN ORDINANCE AMENDING ORDINANCE 20-OR-44 (2021 ANNUAL BUDGET, PULASKI COUNTY, ARKANSAS) TO RECOGNIZE AND APPROPRIATE GRANT FUNDS FOR THE YOUTH SERVICES DEPARTMENT FOR THE CHAMPIONS OF ORAL HEALTH PROGRAM.]

THANK YOU. JUSTICE LEWISON, YOU'RE RECOGNIZED FOR THE MOTION.

MOVE FOR THE ADOPTION. SECOND.

MEMBERS, YOU'VE HEARD THE MOTION. YOU'VE HEARD THE SECOND.

ARE THERE ANY QUESTIONS OR DISCUSSION FOR 21I-77.

THERE BEING NONE, MR. CLERK, PLEASE CALL THE ROLL FOR ORDINANCE 21I-77.

MR. REED? YES.

MR. DENTON? AYE. MS. LEWISON? YES.

MS. BLACKWOOD? MS. BLACKWOOD? MS. MCMULLEN? AYE. MS. MASSEY? AYE. MS. CONEY? YEAH. MR. KEITH? YES.

MS. GREEN? AYE. MS. GULLEY? AYE. MR. ROBINSON? AYE. MR. MCCOY? YES. MR. STOWERS? YES.

MR. ELLIOTT? YES. MS. MEDLOCK? MS. MEDLOCK? 13 AYES, TWO ABSENT.

CONGRATULATIONS, JUSTICE LEWISON, YOU PASSED YOUR ORDINANCE 21I-77.

MR. CLERK, PLEASE NOW READ ORDINANCE 21I-78, AN ORDINANCE AMENDING ORDINANCE 1OR-08 THE

[21-I-78 AN ORDINANCE AMENDING ORDINANCE 17-OR-08 (THE PULASKI COUNTY PURCHASING POLICY) TO CHANGE THE MINIMUM SPEND LIMIT ON PURCHASES THAT REQUIRE A PURCHASE ORDER, AND FOR OTHER PURPOSES.]

JUSTICE MASSEY, YOU'RE RECOGNIZED FOR THE MOTION.

YES, MOVE FOR THE ADOPTION.

MEMBERS, YOU'VE HEARD THE MOTION, YOU'VE HEARD THE SECOND.

ARE THERE ANY QUESTIONS, ANY DISCUSSION FOR 21I-78? MR. STOWERS YOU RECOGNIZED FOR THE QUESTION.

THANK YOU, SIR. I'D LIKE TO ASK THE COMPTROLLER, I UNDERSTAND YOU WEREN'T ABLE TO BE AT THE MEETING FOR A REALLY GOOD REASON, BUT THERE WERE SOME, I THINK, SOME QUESTIONS REGARDING WHAT PART OF THIS IS A RESULT OF THE LAST GENERAL ASSEMBLY MEETING AND PASSING LAW AND WHAT PART OF THIS IS.

ARE WE? ARE WE CHANGING BECAUSE IT'S TIME FOR IT TO CHANGE? ALL OF THE SECOND.

IT'S TIME FOR IT TO CHANGE. WE'RE TRYING TO BE IN LINE WITH WHAT LEGISLATIVE AUDIT THEY

[00:15:04]

YOU NEED TO CHANGE YOUR POLICY TO MEET MORE WITH THE STATE.

WE'RE ABOUT A YEAR BEHIND ON IT.

SO, OK, THAT ANSWERS MY QUESTION.

THANK YOU, JUDGE. ANY OTHER QUESTIONS OR DISCUSSIONS ON 21I-78? THERE BEING NONE. MR. CLERK, PLEASE CALL THE ROLL FOR THE PASSAGE OF ORDINANCE 21I-78.

MS. MEDLOCK? MS. MEDLOCK? MR. ELLIOTT? YES. MR. STOWERS? YES. MR. MCCOY? YES. MR. ROBINSON? AYE. MS. GULLEY? AYE. MS. GREEN? AYE. MR. KEITH? YES. MS. CONEY? YES.

MS. MASSEY? AYE. MS. MCMULLEN? AYE. MS. BLACKWOOD? MS. BLACKWOOD? MS. LEWISON? YES MR. DENTON? AYE. MR. REED? YES. 13 AYES, TWO ABSENT.

THANK YOU, MR. CLERK. JUSTICE MASSEY, YOU PASSED YOUR ORDINANCE AND NOW MR.

[21-I-79 AN ORDINANCE AMENDING ORDINANCE 20-OR-44 (2021 ANNUAL BUDGET, PULASKI COUNTY, ARKANSAS) TO RECOGNIZE AND APPROPRIATE GRANT FUNDS FOR THE COMMUNITY SERVICES DEPARTMENT AND ROAD AND BRIDGE DEPARTMENT FOR THE ZEUBER ROAD IMPROVEMENT PHASE II PROJECT TO IMPROVE TRANSPORTATION COMPONENTS AT THE LITTLE ROCK PORT AUTHORITY INDUSTRIAL PARK.]

AN ORDINANCE AMENDING ORDINANCE 20OR-44, 2021 ANNUAL BUDGET.

PULASKI COUNTY, ARKANSAS TO RECOGNIZE AN APPROPRIATE GRANT FUNDS FOR THE COMMUNITY SERVICES DEPARTMENT AND ROAD AND BRIDGE DEPARTMENT FOR THE ZUBER ROAD IMPROVEMENT PHASE TWO PROJECT TO IMPROVE TRANSPORTATION COMPONENTS AT THE LITTLE ROCK PORT AUTHORITY INDUSTRIAL PARK.

JUSTICE GREEN, YOU'RE RECOGNIZED FOR THE A MOTION.

MOVE FOR THE ADOPTION. SECOND.

MEMBERS, YOU'VE HEARD THE MOTION, YOU HEARD THE SECOND.

IS THERE ANY QUESTIONS OR DISCUSSION FOR 21I-79? THERE BEING NONE, MR. CLERK, PLEASE CALL THE ROLL FOR THE ADOPTION OR THE PASSAGE OF ORDINANCE. 21I-79.

MR. REED? YES.

MR. DENTON? MS. LEWISON? YES.? MS. BLACKWOOD MS. BLACKWOOD? MS. MCMULLEN? AYE. MS. MASSEY? AYE. MS. CONEY? YES. MR. KEITH? YES. MS. GREEN? AYE. MS. GULLEY? NO. MR. ROBINSON? AYE. MR. MCCOY. YES, MR. STOWERS? YES.

MR. ELLIOTT? YES.

MS. MEDLOCK? MS. MEDLOCK? TWELVE AYES, ONE, NO, TWO ABSENT.

THANK YOU, MR. CLERK.

JUSTICE GREEN, YOU PASSED YOUR ORDINANCE, 21I-79.

NOW, MR. CLERK, PLEASE REED FOR US ORDINANCE 21I-80.

[21-I-80 AN ORDINANCE AMENDING ORDINANCE 20-OR-44 (2021 ANNUAL BUDGET, PULASKI COUNTY, ARKANSAS) TO RECOGNIZE AND APPROPRIATE REIMBURSEMENT FUNDS FOR THE CRISIS STABILIZATION UNIT.]

JUSTICE STOWERS, YOU'RE RECOGNIZED FOR THE MOTION.

MOVE FOR THE ADOPTION.

MEMBERS, YOU'VE HEARD THE MOTION, YOU'VE HEARD THE SECOND.

ANY QUESTIONS OR DISCUSSION FOR 21I-80.

MR. ELLIOTT, YOU'RE RECOGNIZED FOR THE QUESTION.

CAN ANYONE TELL ME IF IT'S BEING FILLED UP OR HOW MANY NUMBERS WEEK OR MONTH IS THE ONE THROUGH? WE DON'T. WE DO NOT HAVE A REPORT FOR YOU ON THE USAGE TONIGHT.

THIS IS JUST A PASS THROUGH THAT YOU VOTE ON EACH MONTH WHERE WE SPEND THE MONEY TO OPERATE THE UNIT OR ACTUALLY UMS SPENDS MOST OF THE MONEY TO OPERATE IT.

AND THEN WE BILL, WE GET PAID AND WE NEED TO APPROPRIATE THE MONEY SO THAT WE CAN REPAY UMS FOR THEIR REIMBURSEMENT.

BUT I'M SURE, JUSTIN, IF YOU'LL ASK FOR A REPORT, YOU MAY BE ABLE TO GET IT BY THE END OF JANUARY, AND THAT WOULD BE THE REPORT FOR CALENDAR YEAR '21.

ANY OTHER QUESTIONS, COMMENTS ON 21I-80? THERE BEING NONE, MR. CLARK, PLEASE CALL THE ROLL FOR THE PASSAGE OF 21I-80.

MS. MEDLOCK? MS. MEDLOCK? MR. ELLIOTT? YES. MR. STOWERS? YES.

MR. MCCOY? YES. MR. ROBINSON? AYE. MS. GULLEY? YES. MS. GREEN? AYE.

MR. KEITH? YES.

MS. CONEY? YES.

MS. MASSEY? AYE. MS. MCMULLEN? AYE. MS. BLACKWOOD? MS. BLACKWOOD? MS. LEWISON? YES. MR. DENTON? AYE. MR. REED? YES. 13 AYES, TWO ABSENT.

THANK YOU, MR. CLERK. JUSTICE STOWERS, YOU PASSED YOUR ORDINANCE, 21I-80.

THAT CONCLUDES THE BUSINESS SECTION PORTION OF OUR MEETING TONIGHT.

[Announcements]

OUR COMPTROLLER, MIKE HUTCHENS, HIS LOVELY WIFE ERICA, ARE THE PROUD NEW PARENTS OF A BABY GIRL.

EIGHT POUNDS, ONE OUNCE.

[00:20:02]

AND HOPEFULLY YOU'LL YOU'LL GIVE THEM A SLAP ON THE BACK, IF NOT A CIGAR THE NEXT TIME YOU SEE HIM. YES, MA'AM? OK, WHEN WE'RE FINISHED, WE'RE ALL GOING TO HEAD BACK THERE TO THE BREAKROOM AND HAVE A CHRISTMAS PARTY. YES.

ACTUALLY, MS. LEWISON, THANK YOU FOR THAT, BECAUSE YOU GENERALLY KIND OF RUN THE SHOW EVERY YEAR AND IT TAKES A LITTLE WORK.

GOOD JOB. APPRECIATE IT.

AND WHEN WE SAY EVERYONE THAT INCLUDES THE JUDGE AS WELL.

I'M SORRY? I SAID THAT INCLUDES THE JUDGE AS WELL.

I THINK ONE TIME YOU HAD TO SKIP OUT ON US.

AND I SLIP AWAY EASILY THROUGH TRUST ME WITH GOOD INTENTIONS FOR EVERYONE'S BENEFIT SOMETIMES. ANY OTHER ANNOUNCEMENTS? JUDGE HOWARD, I HAVE AN ANNOUNCEMENT.

GO AHEAD, MR. ELLIOTT FIRST.

LADIES, FIRST. MS. CONEY, YOU WERE RAISING YOUR HAND? NO, I WAS POINTING AT THE JUDGE.

OH, OK. OK. JUDGE ELLIOTT.

JUSTICE ELLIOTT, DO YOU HAVE AN ANNOUNCEMENT? YOU WANT TO GO AHEAD? NO, SIR.

GO, YOU GO RIGHT AHEAD. I JUST WANTED TO TELL EVERYBODY, THE ONES THAT HADN'T GAVE ME YET FOR THE DEPUTY'S.

IT'S FINE. YOU CAN ALWAYS BRING IN NEXT ONES, WE DON'T GET IT ALL DONE TONIGHT, SO.

BUT THAT'S WHAT HAPPENED.

I JUST WANT TO LET YOU KNOW.

THANK YOU. THAT'S ALL. WELL, GOOD.

GOOD TIME. IT'S A THANK YOU KIND OF NIGHT.

SO THANK YOU TO THE AUXILIARY DEPUTIES WHO ARE HERE FOR OUR SECURITY AND TO ACT AS THE, THAT'S NOT THE EXACT WORD I WAS GOING TO PICK, BUT ARE HERE FOR THE BENEFIT OF OUR SECURITY AND ESPECIALLY EVERYONE'S SECURITY AS YOU LEAVE THE BUILDING, GET OUT TO YOUR VEHICLES. THANK YOU ALL AND APPRECIATE YOUR WORK HERE.

AND NOW, MR. CLERK, YOU YOU HAVE AN ANNOUNCEMENT.

YES, SIR. EARLIER TODAY, I EMAILED EACH OF YOU A REMINDER THAT YOUR STATEMENTS OF FINANCIAL INTEREST ARE DUE.

GOOD, GOOD. I DO HAVE PAPER COPIES, IF ANYONE WOULD LIKE A PAPER COPY, BUT THE END OF JANUARY, YES, AND TO OUR OFFICE AND WE DO HAVE NOTARIES ON STAFF IF YOU DO NEED A NOTARY.

SO BUT YOU HAVE ABOUT SIX WEEKS, FIVE, SIX WEEKS TO FILE THAT.

THANK YOU. SURE. BY THE WAY, THOSE ARE RECORDED AT THE CLERK'S OFFICE.

NOT AT THE SECRETARY OF STATE'S OFFICE.

YES. YOU'RE WELCOME. YOU'RE VERY WELCOME, SIR.

THAT'S ANNOUNCEMENTS. I DON'T BELIEVE WE HAVE ANY COMMENT CARDS.

[Public Comment]

THERE. DEANNE, YOU CAN GO TO THE PODIUM AND YOU HAVE THREE MINUTES TO MAKE A COMMENT. RIGHT HERE, MA'AM.

GOOD EVENING. I'VE SURE ENJOYED WORKING WITH YOU ALL THIS YEAR.

THIS IS THE FIRST YEAR I HAD THE OPPORTUNITY TO ATTEND QUORUM COURT AND TO SEE HOW OUR LAWS ARE MADE.

I WANT TO SAY I STAND BEFORE YOU THIS EVENING, REPRESENTING STATE HIGHWAY 161, DISTRICT 10. THERE IS A NUMBER OF SMALL NEIGHBORHOODS AS YOU TRAVEL STATE HIGHWAY 161.

WE ALL PAY TAXES AND WE'D LIKE TO KNOW WHERE OUR TAX DOLLARS ARE GOING.

ALSO, WE HELP PAY YOU ALL'S SALARIES.

OUR VOICES DESERVE TO BE HEARD.

AND IN OUR COMMUNITIES THAT YOU WORK IN WHICH YOU SERVE.

WE NEED LEADERS THAT ARE TRANSPARENT AND TO WORK FOR THE COMMUNITIES IN PULASKI COUNTY IN WHICH YOU SERVE AS WE EMBARK ON A NEW ERA.

I ASK EACH OF YOU TO SET YOUR HEART.

ARE YOU DOING THE BEST JOB YOU CAN DO FOR YOUR CONSTITUENTS AND THE COMMUNITIES YOU SERVE? OH, WE NEED TRANSPARENCY.

WE NEED ALL OF YOU WORKING FOR THE BENEFITS OF THE RESIDENTS OF PULASKI COUNTY.

[00:25:09]

WE NEED TRANSPARENCY AND WE NEED THE SAME ATTENTION IN WEST LITTLE ROCK, THE TWO RIVERS AND SHERWOOD. SO WE ASKED OUR JPS, OUR LOCAL OFFICIALS TO DO THE BEST JOB YOU CAN DO IN REPRESENTING OUR COMMUNITIES BECAUSE WE ALL PAY TAXES, WE DESERVE THE SAME, THE SAME BENEFITS IN EVERY NEIGHBORHOOD.

I HAD THE OPPORTUNITY TO TALK WITH MR. HYDE THE OTHER NIGHT, AND HE DID STATE TO ME HE WISHED I COULD GET IT OVER TO YOU ALL.

BUT WHEN WE ARE HERE IN THIS QUORUM COURT, WE NEED TO RESPECT EACH OTHER'S OPINIONS.

THAT'S THE WAY YOU DO BUSINESS PROFESSIONALLY.

SO I TOLD MR. HYDE I WOULD TRY TO GET IT OVER.

I DON'T KNOW IF YOU REMEMBER ME LAST MONDAY, BUT I DID TELL HIM I WOULD TRY TO GET IT OVER BECAUSE WHEN HE'S CONDUCTING BUSINESS, WE ALL DESERVE TO BE HEARD.

SO WHEN WE DON'T RESPECT EACH OTHER'S OPINION AND WE ARE FIGHTING AGAINST EACH OTHER AND LETTING OUR PERSONAL FEELINGS GET IN THE WAY, THEN WE DON'T DO A VERY GOOD JOB IN CONDUCTING BUSINESS.

BUT WE ALL DESERVE.

WE ALL DESERVE THE SAME RESPECT.

THANK YOU.

AND THANK YOU. AND MERRY CHRISTMAS, EVERYONE.

MERRY CHRISTMAS TO YOU, MA'AM.

DITTO.

* This transcript was compiled from uncorrected Closed Captioning.