Aug 23, 2022 Quorum Court

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WELCOME TO YOU AND EMPLOYEES AND GUESTS, WE'RE GLAD TO HAVE YOU HERE FOR OUR AUGUST QUORUM COURT MEETING HERE IN PULASKI COUNTY.

CALLED THE MEETING TO ORDER.

[1. CALL TO ORDER]

JUSTICE STOWERS IS GOING TO LEAD US IN AN INVOCATION, AND THEN WE'LL JOIN JUSTICE MEDLOCK IN OUR PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE.

SO IF YOU WILL, PLEASE STAND.

ALMIGHTY GOD, WE ARE THANKFUL.

AND HONORED BY YOUR PRESENCE AND BY YOUR GRACE AND YOUR MERCY.

WE ASK THAT YOU WOULD BE WITH US THIS EVENING.

HELP US TO MAKE DECISIONS THAT ARE HUMANE BEST AND GOOD? FOR OUR CONSTITUENTS AND FOR ALL OF GOD'S PEOPLE.

IT'S IN YOUR NAME I PRAY.

MADAM CLERK, WHEN YOU'RE READY, PLEASE CALL THE ROLL.

SHOULD BE ON.

JUSTIN, WHERE'S THE MAN BEHIND THE CURTAIN.

IT'S ON NOW. OKAY.

THREE ABSENT AND 11 PRESENT.

THANK YOU, MADAM CLERK.

[5. APPROVAL OF MINUTES]

I'LL ACCEPT A MOTION TO ADOPT.

MEMBERS, YOU HEARD A MOTION AND A SECOND.

ARE THERE ANY ADDITIONS OR DELETIONS TO THE MINUTES FROM JULY? THERE BEING NONE.

THE MINUTES ARE ACCEPTED WITHOUT OBJECTION.

MADAM CLERK, WILL YOU PLEASE READ FOR US THE COMMITTEE REPORTS.

[6. COMMITTEE REPORTS: Agenda Committee & Budget Committee]

CERTAINLY. AUGUST 23RD 2022. TO THE PRESIDING OFFICER OF THE PULASKI COUNTY QUORUM COURT WE YOUR COMMITTEE OF THE BUDGET TO WHOM WAS REFERRED ITEMS 22 I-55, 22 I 56, BEG LEAVE TO REPORT WE'VE HAD THE SAME UNDER CONSIDERATION AND HEREWITH RETURN THE SAME WITH THE RECOMMENDATION OF DUE PASS. RESPECTFULLY SUBMITTED.

DONNA MASSEY CHAIR.

AUGUST 23RD, 2022, TO THE PRESIDING OFFICER OF THE PULASKI COUNTY QUORUM COURT WE YOUR COMMITTEE OF THE AGENDA TO WHOM WAS REFERRED ITEMS 22 I 54 BEG LEAVE TO REPORT.

WE HAVE HAD THE SAME UNDER CONSIDERATION AND HEREWITH RETURN THE SAME WITH THE RECOMMENDATION OF DUE PASS.

RESPECTFULLY SUBMITTED, CURTIS A KEITH, CHAIR.

THANK YOU, MADAM CLERK.

AND NOW, IF YOU WILL, PLEASE READ FOR US ORDINANCE NUMBER 22 I 54.

[22-I-54 AN ORDINANCE AMENDING ORDINANCE 21-OR-46 (2022 ANNUAL BUDGET, PULASKI COUNTY, ARKANSAS) TO APPROPRIATE FUNDS FROM THE ASSESSOR'S AMENDMENT 79 FUND INTO THE ASSESSOR'S REAL PROPERTY REAPPRAISAL COST FUND.]

AN ORDINANCE AMENDING ORDINANCE 21 OR 46 2022 ANNUAL BUDGET PULASKI COUNTY, ARKANSAS TO APPROPRIATE FUNDS FROM THE ASSESSOR'S AMENDMENT 79 FUND INTO THE ASSESSORS REAL PROPERTY REAPPRAISAL COST FUND.

MISS BLACK, WOULD YOU RECOGNIZE FOR THE MOTION? MOVE FOR THE ADOPTION? SECOND.

[00:05:01]

THERE ARE ANY QUESTIONS OR COMMENTS FOR ITEM 22 I 54.

THERE BEING NONE. MADAM CLERK, PLEASE CALL THE ROLL FOR THE ADOPTION OF ORDINANCE 22 I 54.

TWO ABSENT AND 12 AYES.

THANK YOU, MADAM CLERK. AND LET THE RECORD REFLECT THAT JUSTICE GREEN HAS JOINED THE QUORUM COURT.

MADAM CLERK, PLEASE READ FOR US NOW ORDINANCE 22 I 55.

[22-I-55 AN ORDINANCE AMENDING ORDINANCE 21-OR-46 (2020 ANNUAL BUDGET, PULASKI COUNTY, ARKANSAS) TO DOWNGRADE A POSITION FOR TWELFTH DIVISION CIRCUIT COURT AND TO ADD A SECRETARY POSITION FOR SIXTEENTH DIVISION CIRCUIT COURT.]

JUSTICE MASSEY IF I CAN FIND YOU THERE.

THERE YOU ARE. MOVE FOR THE ADOPTION.

THERE WAS A MOTION AND A SECOND.

AND MR. STOWERS, YOU RECOGNIZE FOR A MOTION? [INAUDIBLE] WELL, MR. STOWERS, I WITHDRAW MY RECOGNITION OF YOU FOR A MOTION THERE BEING NO MOTION.

WELL, OBVIOUSLY, I WAS SO SORRY ABOUT THAT.

AND MEMBERS, YOU'VE HEARD THE MOTION.

YOU'VE HEARD THE SECOND. DO WE HAVE ANY QUESTIONS OR COMMENTS ON ORDINANCE 22 I 55.

THERE BEING NONE, MADAM CLERK, PLEASE CALL THE ROLL FOR THE ADOPTION OF ORDINANCE 22 I 55.

12 EYES, TWO ABSENT.

THANK YOU, MADAM CLERK.

AND MS. MASSEY, THE BUDGET COMMITTEE HAS PASSED YOUR ORDINANCE.

MADAM CLERK PLEASE READ FOR US NOW ORDINANCE 22 I 56.

[22-I-56 AN ORDINANCE AMENDING ORDINANCE 21-OR-46 (2022 ANNUAL BUDGET, PULASKI COUNTY, ARKANSAS) TO APPROPRIATE FUNDS FOR SEVENTH DIVISION CIRCUIT COURT FOR EXTRA HELP.]

JUSTICE MASSEY YOU'RE RECOGNIZED FOR THAT MOTION.

MOVE FOR THE ADOPTION AND WE DO HAVE AN AMENDMENT.

WELL, LET'S GET IT ON THE FLOOR FIRST YOU'VE HEARD A MOTION.

DO WE HAVE A SECOND? SECOND.

BECAUSE YOU HEARD A MOTION AND A SECOND.

AND THANK YOU FOR TRYING TO KEEP ME STRAIGHT.

MS. MASSEY. I NEEDED, APPARENTLY, TONIGHT.

JUSTICE STOWERS I WARMED YOU UP, SO YOU SHOULD BE READY TO GO NOW TO PRESENT TO US AN AMENDMENT NUMBER ONE ON ITEM 22 I 56.

THANK YOU, JUDGE. I WANT TO MAKE A MOTION TO PLACE I 56 BACK ON THE FIRST READING FOR THE PURPOSE OF AN AMENDMENT.

[INAUDIBLE] JUSTIN, ARE WE GOING TO REQUIRE A SEPARATE VOTE FOR THIS? AND IT'S A SIMPLE VOTE OF THE MAJORITY.

SO MEMBERS. SO EVERYBODY UNDERSTANDS WHAT YOU'RE VOTING ON.

YOU'RE VOTING TO PLACE THIS ITEM BACK ON A FIRST READING FOR THE PURPOSE OF HEARING THIS AMENDMENT.

ANYBODY UNCLEAR ON THAT? MADAM CALLED THE ROLL ON MOVING ITEM 22 I 56 TO A FIRST READING FOR THE PURPOSES OF AN AMENDMENT.

OKAY.

[00:10:14]

THANK YOU, MADAM CLERK.

JUSTICE STOWERS, YOU'RE RECOGNIZED FOR THAT MOTION, FOR THAT AMENDMENT.

THANK YOU, SIR. THERE IS AN AMENDMENT THAT'S IN FRONT OF US.

IT'S AMENDMENT ONE, TWO ITEM NUMBER 22 I56 THAT ESSENTIALLY TAKES US BACK TO THE EXTRA HELP PORTION OF THIS ITEM AND DOES NOT ADD AN ADDITIONAL PART TIME BAILIFF TO THIS DIVISION'S BUDGET.

AND I WOULD ENTERTAIN A SECOND.

MEMBERS, YOU'VE HEARD THE MOTION.

YOU'VE HEARD THE SECOND.

ARE THERE QUESTIONS OR COMMENTS ON AMENDMENT ONE? ORDINANCE 22 I 56.

THERE BEING NONE. MADAM CLERK, CALL THE ROLL FOR THE ADOPTION OF AMENDMENT ONE TO ITEM NUMBER 22 I 56 .

CALL] 12 AYES, TWO ABSENT.

THANK YOU, MADAM CLERK AND JUSTICE MASSEY YOU PASSED YOUR ORDINANCE, AND JUSTICE STOWERS, YOU HELPED PASS IT WITH YOUR AMENDMENT . WE NOW YOU PASSED YOUR AMENDMENT.

EXCUSE ME, I SAID THAT WRONG.

JUSTIN, KEEP ME STRAIGHT. WE NOW NEED TEN VOTES TO PLACE ON A THIRD AND FINAL READING.

YEAH, YOU NEED A MOTION TO PLACE IT BACK ON THIRD AND FINAL READING.

AND YOU COULD DO IT WITH A SIMPLE VOICE VOTE AS WELL, SIR.

GREAT. I'M WAITING ON A MOTION.

SO MOVE. MEMBERS YOU HEARD THE MOTION TO PLACE ITEM 22 I 56 AS AMENDED ON A THIRD AND FINAL READING.

ALL THOSE IN FAVOR SIGNIFY SO BY SAYING AYE.

AYE. ALL THOSE OPPOSED THE SAME SIGN IT BEING UNANIMOUS.

LET THE RECORD REFLECT THAT IT WAS UNANIMOUS AND NOW WE'RE BACK TO OUR VOTE TO APPROVE THIS. AND IT'S ALREADY ON THE FLOOR.

IT'S ALREADY READY FOR VOTE.

SO WE'RE READY FOR ANY QUESTIONS OR COMMENTS ON ITEM 22 I 56 AS AMENDED.

THERE BEING NONE. MADAM CLERK, PLEASE CALL THE ROLL ON THE ADOPTION OF ORDINANCE 22 I 56 AS AMENDED.

12 AYES, TWO ABSENT.

THANK YOU, MADAM CLERK. MEMBERS WITH JUST A LITTLE BIT OF WORK THERE.

WE'VE ADOPTED 22 I 56 AS AMENDED.

THAT CONCLUDES OUR BUSINESS SESSION OF THIS MEETING.

WE NOW GO TO ANNOUNCEMENTS.

[Announcements]

I WILL, IF YOU WANT TO SPEAK TO WHAT IT IS AND ALL THAT.

BUT I JUST WANT TO LET YOU KNOW THAT A RESOLUTION HAS BEEN PLACED ON YOUR DESK FOR LATER CONSIDERATION BUT WANTED TO GET IT OUT THERE SO.

THANK YOU, MR. BLAGG. SO LET ME LET ME NOT CONFUSE YOU.

YOU'RE NOT CONSIDERING OR DISCUSSING THAT TONIGHT.

WE JUST WANTED TO GET IT IN YOUR HANDS.

YOU'LL YOU'LL DISCUSS AND DEBATE THAT AT YOUR AGENDA MEETING IN TWO WEEKS.

SO WE WANTED TO GET IT TO YOU EARLIER SO THAT YOU HAVE A CHANCE TO READ IT AND SOME QUESTIONS.

THAT'S AN ORDINANCE.

IT'S A REFLECTION OF A RESOLUTION EXCUSE ME, THAT WAS PASSED BY THE COUNTY JUDGES ASSOCIATION WITH AND IN PARTNERSHIP WITH THE ARKANSAS SHERIFFS ASSOCIATION.

SO WE'LL GET BACK AND VISIT ON THAT BETWEEN NOW AND THEN.

YOU HAVE A COMMENT ON THIS.

OKAY. SO YOU HAVE AN ANNOUNCEMENT.

MS. MASSEY, YOU'RE RECOGNIZED.

[00:15:01]

I JUST WANTED TO SAY THAT LAST WEEK, A WEEK BEFORE LAST, WE ATTENDED THE ARKANSAS ASSOCIATION OF COUNTIES MEETING.

AND I TELL YOU, I ALWAYS ENJOY THAT MEETING.

I MEAN, THERE'S A LOT OF KNOWLEDGE PASSED.

AND I REALLY THINK THAT EVEN IF YOU CAN'T MAKE IT TO OUR DESIRE TO GO TO THE NATIONAL, IF WE MAKE IT TO OUR STATE, THAT WOULD BE VERY BENEFICIAL TO EVERYONE HERE.

I MEAN, THERE IS SO MUCH KNOWLEDGE, ESPECIALLY ONE OF THE COURSES, ATTORNEY RAINWATER, HE IS SO KNOWLEDGEABLE AND HE AND SO THAT WAS ONE OF THE BEST ONES.

SO I JUST ENCOURAGE EVERYONE TO TRY AND ATTEND NEXT YEAR.

THANK YOU, THAT'S ALL.

JUDGE I WANTED US TO CONGRATULATE JUSTICE ELLIOTT ON THE COUNTY LINES ON THE [INAUDIBLE]. GOT HIS PICTURE IN THERE AND EVERYTHING.

ANY ANOTHER ANY OTHER ANNOUNCEMENTS.

GREAT. SO WE'LL MOVE ON TO THE FINAL PART.

[Public Comment]

AND PASTOR CROWDER, I APOLOGIZE SO MUCH THAT I WAS SO BUSY WALKING IN AT THE LAST MINUTE.

I DIDN'T EVEN RECOGNIZE YOU.

I'VE GOTTEN TO JOIN YOU IN SOME OF YOUR CONGREGATION OVER IN NORTH LITTLE ROCK, BEHIND THE HIGH SCHOOL, AND APPRECIATE HOW ACTIVE YOU ARE IN THE COMMUNITY AND SUPPORTIVE. SO IF YOU'D LIKE TO APPROACH THE PODIUM, YOU'RE RECOGNIZED.

WE GENERALLY TRY AND STICK TO 3 MINUTES ON PUBLIC ANNOUNCEMENTS.

SO JUST DO THE BEST YOU CAN FOR US AND WELCOME.

IS THAT A WAIT A MINUTE.

I'VE GOT TO TURN IT ON. YOU READY NOW? APPARENTLY IT TAKES A SECOND, SO TRY IT AGAIN.

IT MIGHT BE BROKE. I NO PASTOR KNOWS HOW TO OPERATE A MICROPHONE.

I'VE SEEN HIM DO IT BEFORE.

IT'S. MY LIGHT'S ON, MAN.

TRY IT AGAIN. AGAIN.

IT TAKES. I GUESS IT HAS TO WARM UP.

THEY TAKE A FEW SECONDS.

THANK YOU SO MUCH, JUDGE.

AND TO THIS COURT, I'M A PASTOR.

AND SO, YOU KNOW, 3 MINUTES IS HARD, BUT I'M GOING TO DO IT.

I WANTED TO, FIRST OF ALL, TAKE THIS TIME TO ADDRESS THIS COURT CONCERNING A WELL KNOWN VACANCY IN DISTRICT TEN.

AND I STAND TO SPEAK ON THIS.

I'VE RECEIVED NUMEROUS PHONE CALLS RECENTLY AT AN OVERWHELMING RATE DUE TO MY INVOLVEMENT IN THE COMMUNITY AND BEING REALLY AN OUTSPOKEN PERSON WITHIN OUR DISTRICT.

CONCERNING THE LACK OF REPRESENTATION.

ALSO, GIVEN THE FACT THAT MY FAMILY OWNS A GREAT DEAL OF THE [INAUDIBLE], THE BRUSH ALLEN AND THE MACK ALMA AREA, IN WHICH THOSE ARE THE MOST AREAS WITHIN THE DISTRICT THAT HAS GREAT AND GRAND PROBLEMS, THAT NOW WE DON'T HAVE ANYONE TO REPRESENT US.

AND I KNOW THAT IN PAST HEARINGS, OVER THE PAST YEAR, ISSUES HAVE BEEN BROUGHT UP CONCERNING OUR DISTRICT AND ISSUES IN OUR DISTRICT.

BUT NOW IT SEEMS THAT THOSE ARE BEING COVERED UP BECAUSE WE ARE DISTRACTED BY A VACANCY.

AND SO OUT OF CONCERN TO THIS MISSING PIECE OF THE PUZZLE, ALTHOUGH EVERYONE, YOU KNOW, LOOKS FITLY JOIN THAT ONE PIECE IS A GREAT PROBLEM BECAUSE EVEN THOUGH WE CAN SEE THE QUORUM COURT, THAT ONE MISSING PIECE KEEPS US IN COMPLETING THE PICTURE.

AND I'M ASKING THIS COURT TO ENGAGE AND IGNITE A RESOLUTION TO DECLARE THAT PARTICULAR SEAT VACANCY.

I'M NOT TOO SURE WHAT YOUR POLICY AND PROCEDURES IS.

I DID SPEAK TO THE GOVERNOR'S OFFICE LAST WEEK CONCERNING THIS VACANCY, AND THEY ARE JUST SIMPLY WAITING ON A RESOLUTION FROM THIS COURT PERSONALLY SPOKE WITH THEM ON MY OWN.

ALSO, MYSELF AND SOME OTHER INDIVIDUALS WITHIN OUR DISTRICT AND SOME OTHER ATTORNEYS WITHIN OUR DISTRICT WENT OVER THE ORDER THAT WAS GIVEN BY THE JUDGE AS PERTAINING TO THE INCIDENT THAT MADE THE SEAT BECOME VACANT.

HOWEVER, EVERYONE KEEPS REVERTING BACK TO PART FIVE THAT THAT SEAT WAS DEEMED VACANT.

WHETHER THE COURT, YOU KNOW, I GUESS DECLARED IT, I BELIEVE IT'S UP TO THIS COURT.

AND SO I'M ASKING IN WHATEVER WAY POSSIBLE WE CAN GET SOME TYPE OF REPRESENTATION.

AND SO, PASTOR, THANK YOU.

AND I THINK FOLKS ARE CONCERNED.

I KNOW I AM. AND I THINK OUR QUORUM COURT IS AS WELL TO GET MOVING FORWARD AS QUICKLY AS POSSIBLE.

AND I'M GOING TO ALLOW MR. STOWERS TO ASK A QUESTION.

HE'S APPARENTLY HAS ONE, AND THEN WE'LL ASK THE COUNTY ATTORNEY'S OFFICE TO GIVE YOU AN UPDATE OF WAITING ON THE JUDGE TO ADD SOME LANGUAGE I THINK IS THE BEST LAYMAN'S EXPLANATION I GIVE YOU, BUT WE'RE ALL ANXIOUSLY AWAITING.

[00:20:04]

I'M GOING TO DO THE BEST I CAN TO HELP YOU WITH WHATEVER I CAN.

AND WE'VE GOT SOME ABLE BODIED PEOPLE HERE ON THIS BOARD THAT I THINK WILL BE SUPPORTIVE OF OF GOOD, GOOD GOVERNMENT ACTION WITHIN THAT DISTRICT. ALL RIGHT.

THANK YOU, SIR. THANK YOU FOR COMING.

MR. STOWERS. YOU HAVE A COMMENT? YES, SIR. THANK YOU.

SO, PASTOR, FIRST OF ALL, THANK YOU FOR BEING HERE AND BEING CONCERNED.

I THINK THIS WHOLE BODY IS EQUALLY CONCERNED IN THAT RIGHT NOW, DISTRICT TEN IS DISENFRANCHISED BECAUSE THEY DON'T HAVE AN EFFECTIVE REPRESENTATIVE.

SO LEGALLY, WHERE THIS IS, IS THAT OUT OF CIRCUIT COURT, THEY THERE WAS A PRELIMINARY RULING THAT MISS GULLEY CAN NO LONGER FULFILL HER HER DUTIES AS A JUSTICE OF THE PEACE.

SHE'S APPEALED THAT NOW TO THE SUPREME COURT, WHICH WILL GO THROUGH THE COURT OF APPEALS, ULTIMATELY TO THE STATE SUPREME COURT.

AND UNTIL THAT IS RESOLVED THROUGH THAT PROCESS, THE CIRCUIT COURT JUDGE THAT MADE THAT RULING CANNOT MAKE THE ULTIMATE FINALITY RULING DECLARING THAT SEAT VACANT.

ONCE THAT CIRCUIT JUDGE IS ABLE TO DO THAT, THEN THIS BODY WILL BE ABLE TO MOVE FORWARD WITH THE RESOLUTION, SEND THAT TO THE GOVERNOR AND THE GOVERNOR WILL BE ABLE TO MAKE AN APPOINTMENT OF A REPLACEMENT FOR MISS GULLEY TO SERVE OUT THE REMAINDER OF HER TERM.

SO THAT'S WHERE WE'RE AT RIGHT NOW, IS WAITING FOR THE APPEAL PROCESS TO PLAY OUT IN COURT, AS WELL AS ONCE THAT PLAYS OUT, ALLOWING THIS BODY TO MAKE THAT RESOLUTE.

SOLUTIONS IN THAT RESOLUTION TO THE GOVERNOR DECLARING A VACANCY.

SO AND I WILL, YOU KNOW, DEFER TO JUDGE HYDE.

MAYBE HE HAS MORE TO ADD TO THAT.

BUT THAT'S ESSENTIALLY WHERE WE'RE AT.

AND WE ALL WANT THAT PROCESS TO TO MOVE FASTER RATHER THAN SLOWER, SO DISTRICT TEN IS REPRESENTED ON THIS BODY.

JUDGE, I YIELD. THANK YOU, MR. STOWERS. MS. VALETTA, DO YOU HAVE ANYTHING YOU WANT TO ADD OR YOU WANT TO LET THAT STAND? JUDGE I'LL JUST LET THIS STAND.

MR. STOWERS IS CORRECT IN THAT IT HAS TO COMPLETE THE APPEALS PROCESS IN WHICH IT'S CURRENTLY IN MOTION.

THANK YOU. YES.

MEMBERS HANG ON HERE THAT COMPLETE THEIR COMMENT, PUBLIC COMMENT PERIOD.

AND WITHOUT OBJECTION, WE'RE ADJOURNED.

* This transcript was compiled from uncorrected Closed Captioning.