[Agenda Committee]
[00:00:04]
ALL RIGHT, GUYS, WE WANT TO GET THIS STARTED.
EVERYONE, TAKE THEIR SEATS, PLEASE.
OKAY, GUYS. SO THE AGENDA IS A LITTLE OUT OF ORDER.
TWO NOMINATIONS WILL BE ACCEPTED AND OBVIOUSLY THE INDIVIDUAL WITH THE MOST VOTES GETS THE CHAIR.
AND WE ARE HAVING SOME VIDEO ISSUES.
SO THE AUDIO IS WORKING WITH THE VIDEOS DOWN AT THE MOMENT.
IT'S THE NOMINATIONS WILL COME FROM THE FLOOR.
A SECOND. DO WE HAVE ANY OTHER NOMINATIONS FOR CHAIR? OKAY. WAS THAT A MOTION FOR MASSEY FOR CHAIR? OKAY. WE HAVE MR. KEITH, WHO'S BEEN NOMINATED FOR THE CHAIR AND PROPER SECOND.
IS THERE ANOTHER NOMINATION FOR CHAIR? ALL RIGHT, SEEING NONE.
MR. KEITH, YOU ARE THE CHAIR BY ACCLAMATION.
CONGRATULATIONS. IT SHOULD BE A FAMILIAR SEAT, MR. KEITH. AND I GUESS REAL QUICK, WE CAN KNOCK IT OUT AS WELL IF WE WANT TO DO OPEN NOMINATIONS FOR THE VICE CHAIR OF THE AGENDA COMMITTEE.
SECOND. DO WE HAVE ANY OTHER NOMINATIONS? SEEING NONE. MR. MCCOY.
CONGRATULATIONS, MR. KEITH. THE MEETING IS YOURS.
BUT ANYWAY, SO WE'LL GO AHEAD AND THANK YOU FOR.
OK. THANK YOU. I APPRECIATE THAT.
THANK YOU FOR I THANK EVERYONE FOR THEIR SUPPORT.
SO I WILL DO MY BEST TO CONTINUE.
ALL RIGHT. WE'LL GO AHEAD AND GET OUR MEETING UNDERWAY.
WE'LL START WITH AN INVOCATION BY JUSTICE MCCOY LAID BY THE PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE BY JUSTICE MEDLOCK.
IF YOU CAN, WOULD YOU PLEASE STAND? LORD FATHER, WE THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR THE DAY YOU'VE GIVEN US.
WE ASK THAT YOU BE WITH THOSE IN POSITIONS OF AUTHORITY AND LIKE OURSELVES AND THE OTHER DEPARTMENT HEADS AND MANAGERS AND ANYBODY IN AUTHORITY. DEAR LORD, WE LIFT THEM UP WITH PRAYERS AND PETITIONS.
I PLEDGE ALLEGIANCE TO 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.
THANK YOU, EVERYONE, FOR STANDING.
WE'LL GO AHEAD. AND AMY, WOULD YOU PLEASE CALL THE ROLL? . YOU HAVE 14 PRESENTS.
14 PRESENT, WE DO HAVE THE ABILITY, WE DO HAVE A QUORUM, SO WE'LL MOVE FORWARD.
WE'RE DOWN TO ITEM SIX, WHICH IS APPROVAL ABOUT LAST MINUTE MINUTES.
IS THERE A MOTION SECOND? A MOTION WAS MADE WITH THE SECOND THAT WE APPROVE THE MINUTES FROM OUR LAST MEETING.
ALL THOSE IN FAVOR SIGNIFY BY SAYING I.
WE WILL GO AHEAD AND GET INTO.
THERE'S NO UNFINISHED BUSINESS THAT I'M AWARE OF.
WE'LL GO AHEAD AND START THE NEW BUSINESS.
AMY, WOULD YOU PLEASE READ ITEM 23I-09? AN ORDINANCE AMENDING ORDINANCE 22-OR-45 2023 ANNUAL BUDGET, PULASKI COUNTY, ARKANSAS TO RECOGNIZE AND APPROPRIATE TEMPORARY ASSISTANCE FOR NEEDY FAMILIES
[00:05:01]
TANF GRANT FUNDS FOR THE YOUTH SERVICES DEPARTMENT.JUSTICE GREEN WE SEND THIS TO THE FULL QUORUM COURT TO PASS RECOMMENDATION.
JUSTICE GREEN WOULD YOU LIKE TO EXPLAIN OR DO YOU HAVE SOMEONE TO THANK? MS. JAMIE IS HERE.
GOOD EVENING, DIRECTOR SCOTT YOUTH SERVICES.
THIS IS A GRANT WE RECEIVE FROM TANF FUNDS, TEMPORARY ASSISTANCE FOR NEEDY FAMILIES.
SO IT'S A PILOT PROGRAM AND IF WE DO WELL, WE'LL BE ABLE TO EXPAND THE PROGRAM.
SO WE'LL BE MY STAFF AND I AFTER Y'ALL, APPROPRIATE THE FUNDS AND GIVE US THE GO ON THIS.
LOCATIONS FOR STUDENTS FOR THIS SUMMER TO GIVE 35 STUDENTS IN UNINCORPORATED AREAS JOB PLACEMENTS AND WE'LL PAY THEM AND THEY'LL ALSO GO THROUGH A CAREER READINESS PROGRAM THROUGH THE STATE OF ARKANSAS IN A PARTNERSHIP WITH THIS GRANT.
SO WERE THERE ANY OTHER QUESTIONS? THE AFTERSCHOOL PROGRAM IS I THINK WE'LL BE HIRING TWO FULL TIME POSITIONS FOR THIS GRANT TO PART TIME, AND THEN 35 KIDS WILL GET THE SUMMER EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITY.
THAT WILL BE A WHOLE YEAR LONG UNTIL JANUARY OF NEXT YEAR.
AND SO, SCOTT, I DO HAVE A FEW LIGHTS ON, SO IF YOU JUST BEAR WITH ME, WE'LL START OFF WITH JUSTICE STOWERS? YEAH. MISS SCOTT, THANK YOU FOR BEING HERE FOR THE THOROUGH EXPLANATION.
IS THERE ANY PARTICULAR ONE OF OUR PROGRAMS THAT THAT THESE INDIVIDUALS WILL BE ASSIGNED TO, LIKE MY CURRENT AFTERSCHOOL PROGRAMS OR SO WE'LL BE ACTUALLY LOOKING FOR EMPLOYERS LIKE PEOPLE WHO OWN SMALL BUSINESSES IN SOME OF OUR UNINCORPORATED AREAS OR AREAS WHERE WE DON'T REALLY JUST HAVE A LOT OF PROGRAMING TO TO SUPPORT SMALL BUSINESSES TO PLACE THESE STUDENTS AT.
SO THEY WON'T NECESSARILY WORK AT AN AFTER SCHOOL PROGRAM.
THEY CAN WORK AT A SMALL ARCHITECT FIRM, A LUMBER FIRM, WHATEVER.
SO WE HAVE TO GO THROUGH THE INTERVIEWING PROCESS.
WE HAVE TO FIND ALL THE JOB LOCATIONS.
WE HAVE TO PLACE ALL THE KIDS, WE HAVE TO GO THROUGH ORIENTATION.
IT'S GOING TO BE A LOT FOR US TO GET UP BY MAY, BUT WE'RE EXCITED ABOUT IT.
AND SO WE KNOW HOW MUCH PROGRESS YOU AND YOUR COLLEAGUES HAVE MADE OVER THE LAST FEW YEARS AND CONTINUE TO MAKE AS IT RELATES TO WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT. IT'S NEAR AND DEAR TO SENATOR ENGLISH'S HEART HERE IN PULASKI COUNTY, FOR ONE.
AND SO I DO SUPPORT THIS ITEM.
AND WITH THAT, I YIELD. MR. KEITH? THANK YOU, DIRECTOR SCOTT, JUST CURIOUS, IF YOU DON'T FIND SUFFICIENT EMPLOYERS OUT IN THE UNINCORPORATED AREA, WHICH YOU CONSIDER WITHIN THE CITY LIMITS? SO OR I GUESS.
I JUST WANT TO BE VERY HONEST AND TRANSPARENT.
AND I TOLD THEM I WAS HAPPY TO PUT A PROGRAM IN PLACE FOR THOSE YOUTH IN THOSE AREAS.
BUT IF WE DON'T HAVE A SUFFICIENT NUMBER OF EMPLOYERS OUT IN THE COUNTY, ARE THOSE POSITIONS JUST GOING TO GO ON FIELD? I THINK I HAVE TO FIND THEM.
THANK YOU, JAMIE. JUSTICE MCMULLEN? EVERY TIME. NOW, THE TIME YOU CALL ON ME, THOSE QUESTIONS THAT I HAVE HAVE BEEN ANSWERED, I WAS WONDERING ABOUT THAT, TOO.
BEING THAT THE LOCATION WAS LIMITED TO UNINCORPORATED AREA JOBS OF EMPLOYMENT.
AND I NOTICED AND OF COURSE THE FUNDING IS FOR YOUR STAFF.
SO BASICALLY WE'RE NOT LOOKING AT TRAINING NECESSARILY, ARE WE? I AM GOING TO HIRE TWO NEW STAFF TO HELP US WITH THIS.
THIS IS NOT ME ASKING FOR AN INCREASE IN MY PULASKI COUNTY BUDGET.
NO, BUT I'M JUST CURIOUS, AGAIN, ABOUT THE SHAPE YOUR FORMAT OF THE PROGRAM.
NOW, YOU HAVE NOT FOUND A LOCATION FOR THIS FOR YOUR EMPLOYEES? NO, I AM WORKING ON ACTUALLY GETTING THIS GRANT UP AND GOING JUST LIKE I DO ANY OTHER GRANT.
ONCE Y'ALL GIVE ME THE APPROVAL.
[00:10:01]
I DON'T REMEMBER, BUT I'M SURE IT IS.AND THEN SO THE CHILDREN THAT YOU WORK WITH WILL NOT HAVE TO BE THERE EVERY DAY.
IT'S LIKE AN EMPLOYMENT AGENCY.
AND IT'S A SUMMER WORKFORCE PIECE.
SO THAT'S WHY IT'S A $350,000 GRANT.
IT'S MORE THAN JUST A TRADITIONAL AFTERSCHOOL PROGRAM.
THE WORK IS FOR SUMMER WORK, FIRST PIECE AND A NEW AFTERSCHOOL PROGRAM.
ABSOLUTELY. AND OTHERS WHO ARE NOT IN THE SUMMER PROGRAM CAN BE.
MM HMM. AND SO WHEN I SAID I KNOW THAT YOU WERE THERE AND THAT YOU'RE HELPING WITH HIRING.
MM HMM. IT'S GOING TO BE AN OPEN APPLICATION PROCESS, AND WE'RE JUST GOING TO BE MAKING SURE THAT WE'RE INTENTIONAL TO GET STUDENTS FROM SOUTHWEST ROLAND, JACKSONVILLE, NORTH PULASKI, WHERE WE DON'T JUST HAVE A LOT OF STANDING EVERYDAY SERVICE PROGRAMS. YEAH, LIKE YOU SAID, LITTLE ROCK IS IS QUITE, WELL, THEY'RE BUSY IN DOING THAT ALREADY.
YES, MA'AM. ANYTHING ELSE, JUSTICE MCMULLEN? NO. ALL RIGHT. THANK YOU.
JUSTICE ELLIOTT? I JUST WANT TO BE A SPONSOR.
JUSTICE CURRY? YOU KNOW, MY QUESTIONS HAVE REALLY BEEN ANSWERED.
YOU MENTIONED SOUTHWEST, SO THERE'S STILL QUITE A BIT OF SOUTHWEST.
UNINCORPORATED WOULD BE WHAT, LIKE WRIGHTSVILLE? SOUTHWEST WOULD BE INCLUDED BECAUSE WE DON'T HAVE JUST TRADITIONAL AFTER SCHOOL STANDING DAY TO DAY SERVICES.
BUT WE'RE ALSO LOOKING IN AREAS WHERE WE JUST DON'T HAVE SERVICES BEING PROVIDED.
SO WE HAVE QUITE A FEW NEW SUMMER PROGRAMS WE'RE TRYING TO GET UP.
JUSTICE, I DON'T WANT TO TALK TONIGHT.
JUSTICE ROBINSON? THANK YOU. SO, MY QUESTION IS, DO YOU THINK YOU'RE GOING TO HAVE A PROBLEM FINDING 35 KIDS? I REALLY DON'T, BECAUSE KIDS, THEY WANT TO WORK, THEY WANT JOBS.
[INAUDIBLE]. I REALLY DON'T THINK WE'RE GOING TO HAVE.
SO IF YOU ONLY FOUND, SAY, 15, WHAT HAPPENS? DOES THAT MONEY ROLL OVER OR? SO, THEY DID A PILOT PROGRAM IN WEST MEMPHIS, AND I THINK THEY HAD 70 KIDS THAT THEY WERE ABLE TO GET UP IN THAT PROGRAM.
PRIME EXAMPLE WE HAD LAST MONTH, I HAD 92 KIDS REGISTERED FOR MY ACT PROGRAM AND 60 SHOWED UP.
EVERYBODY'S NOT GOING TO SHOW UP, BUT I FEEL LIKE THE NUMBERS ARE THERE IN THE JOBS WILL BE THERE.
THANK YOU. THANK YOU, JUSTICE ROBINSON.
JUSTICE MASSEY? THANK YOU. I JUST WANT TO BE ADDED AS A SPONSOR, THAT'S ALL.
THANKS. RIGHT. AND IF YOU KNOW EMPLOYERS IN YOUR AREAS, I WILL BE MORE THAN HAPPY TO TAKE THOSE CALLS AND FOLLOW UP WITH THOSE INDIVIDUALS AND PLACE STUDENTS IN THOSE AREAS AT THOSE LOCATIONS.
THANK YOU,JUSTICE MASSEY. JUSTICE MCCOY? AGAIN, IF YOU COULD KIND OF GIVE ME THE BOILERPLATE SUMMARY OF WHAT THE SCREEN IS AND ALSO THE $40,000 FOR THE YOUTH PROGRAM AND EVENTS, WHAT WOULD THAT INCLUDE? SO THE 40,000 IS FOR EVENTS FOR THE SUMMER WORKFORCE PROGRAM AND FOR THE AFTERSCHOOL PROGRAM THAT WILL TAKE PLACE ALL YEAR LONG.
SO WHAT WOULD THOSE LOOK LIKE? WHAT ARE WE TALKING ABOUT? JUST AS PARTIES OR WHAT ARE WE? SO THE SUMMER WORKFORCE PROGRAM IS GOING TO BE A TEN WEEK PROGRAM BECAUSE IT HAS TO BE TEN WEEKS SO THAT THE KIDS CAN GET THE CAREER READINESS CERTIFICATION FROM THE STATE.
THAT'S THE PART THEY'LL DO ON FRIDAY.
SO SOME OF THEIR STUFF MIGHT BE, LIKE WITH OUR TRADITIONAL PROGRAMS, WE'LL TAKE THE KIDS OUT TO THE 4H CENTER. IT MIGHT COST ME SEVEN, SIX OR $7,000 TO TAKE, DEPENDING ON HOW MANY KIDS I'M TAKING OUT THERE TO PUT ON THEIR PROGRAM.
AND THAT'S JUST A ONE DAY LEADERSHIP DEVELOPMENT PART FOR THE KIDS.
SO A COLLEGE TOUR, I THINK WE HAVE A COLLEGE TOUR IN THE MIDST OF THIS AS WELL.
[00:15:01]
THE CHARTER BUS.WE HAVE A COLLEGE TOURS COMING UP RIGHT NOW THAT WE'RE PREPARING FOR SPRING BREAK.
THE CHARTER BUS ALONE IS COSTING ME $5600, $5800.
SO ALL OF THAT COMES UNDER PROGRAM SERVICES.
DOES THAT MAKE SENSE? SO THE THE EXPENSES, I CAN GET UP TO $40,000 REAL FAST IN A YEAR IF I'M TALKING ABOUT A SUMMER PROGRAM IN AN AFTER SCHOOL PROGRAM, THAT LINE ENCOMPASSES BOTH.
OKAY. BUT AND JUST KIND OF GENERALLY SPEAKING, EXCEPT FOR WHAT WE'VE BEEN TOLD HERE IN THE TITLE OF THE ORDINANCE, THIS IS A GRANT TO FUND A AFTERSCHOOL PROGRAM ALL YEAR ROUND? MM HMM. FOR WHO? AND DOES IT ALSO INCLUDE, LIKE, KIND OF GIVE ME A GENERAL AFTER SCHOOL PROGRAM IS GOING TO BE PLACED AT MILLS HIGH SCHOOL.
AND SO LIKE THIS GRANT IS A TOTAL IF YOU JUST HAD TO GIVE A REAL GOOD SUMMARY OF THE GRANT IN A SENTENCE OR TWO, WHAT WOULD THAT BE? IT'S A SUMMER AFTERSCHOOL PROGRAM THAT'S FOCUSING ON JUNIOR HIGH AND HIGH SCHOOL KIDS, NOT A REAL POPULATION THAT WE REALLY HAVE AFTERSCHOOL PROGRAMING FOR.
MOST OF OUR AFTERSCHOOL PROGRAMS THAT WE CURRENTLY HAVE ARE 6-11.
THAT'S THE AGE THAT WE'RE CURRENTLY SERVING.
SO THIS AFTERSCHOOL PROGRAM WILL BE FOR KIDS THAT ARE IN JUNIOR HIGH TO HIGH SCHOOL.
AND THEN THERE'S A SUMMER WORKFORCE PIECE WHERE THE KIDS WILL GET PAID 13 OR $14 AN HOUR FOR 29 HOURS A WEEK FOR TEN WEEKS, AND THEY'LL GET A CAREER CERTIFICATION FROM THE STATE COMPLETING THE PROGRAM.
OKAY. THANK YOU. THANK YOU, JUSTICE MCCOY JUSTICE MEDLOCK? SO I'M JUST CURIOUS ON THE THE 35 KIDS THAT ARE PARTICIPATING IN THIS PROGRAM, ARE THEY THE KIDS THAT GO TO THE AFTER SCHOOL? IS IT ONE IN THE SAME? SO IT'S KIND OF LIKE TWO SEPARATE ENTITIES GOING ON.
THEY REALLY DON'T HAVE ANYTHING TO DO WITH EACH BECAUSE.
I WAS WONDERING WHAT AGE GROUP IS GOING OUT THERE TO WORK THAT NEEDS AFTER SCHOOL CARE? NO, THAT'S WHY WE HAVE TWO DIFFERENT FULL TIME POSITIONS, BECAUSE ONE FULL TIME PERSON WOULD TRULY BE WORKING WITH THE AFTERSCHOOL PROGRAM.
AND THEN THERE'S ONE PERSON WHO WILL BE SPECIFICALLY WORKING WITH THE SUMMER WORKFORCE PIECE.
WORKING WITH US TO FIND JOB PLACEMENTS FOR THE KIDS OVERSEEING THE PROGRAM.
MY STAFF AND I DON'T RUN THE DAY TO DAY PROGRAM.
THIS WILL PROBABLY BE SOMEBODY WHO'S NOT HOUSED IN THE COUNTY BUILDING, THESE POSITIONS.
SO WHAT AGE GROUP IS INVOLVED IN THE THE WORK? THE CAREER SUMMER WORK FOR ITS PIECE IS 18 TO 22, THE AFTERSCHOOL PROGRAM THAT'S ALSO IN THIS GRANT, IT'S LIKE 15 TO 18.
OKAY. I'D LIKE TO BE ADDED ALSO.
ALL RIGHT. STILL GOT SOME LIGHTS.
SO IF YOU BEAR WITH US, JUSTICE DAVIS? I THINK YOU ANSWERED MY QUESTION.
SO RECENT GRADUATES CAN ALSO? YES, MA'AM. AND THEN DO THEY HAVE TO GO TO MILLS? OR CAN THEY BE IN ANY PULASKI COUNTY SPECIAL SCHOOL DISTRICT? FOR THE HIGH SCHOOL AFTER SCHOOL PROGRAM OR THE SUMMER WORKFORCE PROGRAM? FOR THE SECOND.
THE SUMMER WORKFORCE PROGRAM, ANY SCHOOL PUBLIC CHARTER, IT DOESN'T MATTER.
WE'RE NOT RESTRICTING ANYBODY.
WE'RE JUST TRYING TO DO A JOB PLACEMENT PROGRAM FOR YOUTH.
JUSTICE CURRY? YES. I WOULD LIKE TO BE ADDED AS A SPONSOR.
HOW ABOUT THIS? IS THERE ANYBODY THAT DON'T WANT TO BE ADDED? OKAY. SO CAN YOU GO AHEAD AND ADD EVERYBODY? AND LAST LIGHT.
JUSTICE STOWERS? YEAH, I'LL BE VERY BRIEF.
BUT YOU'VE CAME IN AND YOU'VE CREATED PROGRAMS THAT EQUIP YOUNG PEOPLE, THAT GIVE THEM THE TOOLS THAT THEY'RE GOING TO NEED IN LIFE AND EVERYDAY LIFE. AND, YOU KNOW, FROM OUR PRESCHOOLERS TO OUR ELEMENTARY, MIDDLE, JUNIOR HIGH SCHOOL, AND THEN, YOU KNOW, FOR EVEN FOR THOSE THAT HAVE GRADUATED, WE'RE TALKING ABOUT AIR. I WANT TO SAY HOW MUCH I APPRECIATE YOUR STEADFAST DEDICATION TO THE YOUNG PEOPLE OF PULASKI COUNTY.
I KNOW THAT THE DIFFERENCE AND THE IMPACT IS BEING MADE AND FELT.
[00:20:01]
THANK YOU. WE APPRECIATE THAT.AND SINCE THERE ARE NO MORE LIGHTS, AMY, WOULD YOU PLEASE CALL THE ROLL ON 23I-09? 14 AYES.
14 AYES. WE WILL SEND 23I-09 TO THE FULL QUORUM COURT WITH THE DO PASS RECOMMENDATION.
AMY, WOULD YOU PLEASE READ 23I-10.
AN ORDINANCE AMENDING ORDINANCE 22OR-45 2023 ANNUAL BUDGET PULASKI COUNTY ARKANSAS TO APPROPRIATE DISTRICT COURT AUTOMATION FUNDS FOR THE DISTRICT COURT DEPARTMENT. JUSTICE MASSEY? YES, I MOVE THAT WE SEND THIS TO THE FULL QUORUM COURT WITH A RECOMMENDED DUE PASS.
JUSTICE MASSEY WOULD YOU LIKE TO EXPLAIN? AND THIS IS TO APPROPRIATE 66,000, I BELIEVE, FOR TECHNOLOGY EQUIPMENT AND THE COURT DEPARTMENT.
AND WE HAVE MS. CAROL WILKINS HERE AS ONE OF THE ADMINISTRATORS THAT COULD ANSWER ANY QUESTIONS, IF THERE BE ANY.
OKAY. WELL, WE'VE GOT SOME LIGHTS ON.
JUSTICE MCCOY? IN THE CITY TO INTRODUCE HERSELF FIRST.
CAN YOU SPEAK INTO THE MICROPHONE.
I APOLOGIZE? I'M CAROL WILKINS, ADMINISTRATOR FOR DISTRICT COURT.
IS THAT NOT NEEDED NOW? IS THAT GOING TO FOLLOW SOME OTHER MONTHS? I THINK I WAS TOLD THAT THAT WILL BE TAKEN UP AT THE FULL QUORUM COURT MEETING RESOLUTION.
YEAH. THE RECORD IS DIRECTION.
THERE APPEARS TO BE NO MORE QUESTIONS.
AMY, WOULD YOU PLEASE CALL THE ROLL? OH, HOLD ON.
I'M SORRY, JUSTICE BLACKWOOD? SHE'S FINE. SHE'S FINE. I JUST WANT TO BE ADDED AS A SPONSOR.
OKAY. SO WOULD EVERYONE THAT WANT TO BE ADDED, WOULD YOU PLEASE PUNCH YOUR LIGHT SO I CAN LET YOU TELL AMY THAT YOU WANT TO BE ADDED? OKAY. JUSTICE LEWISON? I WOULD JUST LIKE TO THANK CAROL FOR EVERYTHING YOU'VE ALWAYS DONE FOR US BECAUSE YOU ALWAYS COME OUT NO MATTER WHAT, TO GET UP AND EXPLAIN THINGS TO US.
ALL RIGHT. THANK YOU. ONE MORE LIGHT.
JUSTICE ELLIOT? I DON'T KNOW. I WAS GOING TO VOTE FOR IT.
OH, YOU'RE VOTING ALREADY? OKAY, WE GONNA GIVE IT TO AMY NOW.
AMY, WOULD YOU PLEASE CALL THE ROLL? THANK YOU, MA'AM.
14 AYES. WE WILL SEND 23I-10 TO THE FULL QUORUM COURT WITH A DO PASS RECOMMENDATION.
FOR RESIDENTIAL TREATMENT SERVICES IN SUPPORT OF THE DRUG DEFERRAL TREATMENT PILOT PROGRAM AND TO ACKNOWLEDGE THEIR EMPLOYMENT OF A PULASKI COUNTY JUSTICE OF THE PEACE. JUSTICE MCMULLEN.
YES, I MOVE TO SEND THIS TO THE FULL QUORUM COURT WITH A DUE PASS RECOMMENDATION.
A MOTION WAS MADE WITH THE SECOND.
WE SEND 23I-12 TO THE FULL QUORUM COURT WITH A DO PASS RECOMMENDATION.
JUSTICE MCMULLEN. WOULD YOU LIKE TO EXPLAIN OR WOULD YOU LIKE TO PASS THAT ON TO? WELL, I WILL DO BOTH.
OKAY. I'LL DO A SHORT EXPLANATION, OF COURSE.
IT IS IN REGARDS TO, I WOULD HAVE TO SAY, MAKING SOME CHANGES AND AND THAT OR SOME ADJUSTMENTS BECAUSE OF A NEED THAT THE COUNTY HAS IN REFERENCE TO DRUG TREATMENT PROGRAM.
AND THE MAIN POINT, OF COURSE, IS THAT WE FIND AN ENTITY THAT IS QUALIFIED AND CAPABLE OF DELIVERING THE NEEDED SERVICES TO THE DISTRICT COURTS, I'M SORRY, TO THE COURT OF LITTLE ROCK AND NORTH LITTLE ROCK.
AND I WOULD LIKE NOW FOR YOU TO SPEAK ON THIS, IF YOU WILL.
OKAY. OKAY. MR. KEITH. I'M SORRY, KEITH.
[00:25:01]
IT'S A LITTLE ODD.THEY ARE, THE COUNTY HAS AGREED TO PAY THE MONEY FOR THE PILOT PROGRAM, AND THE COURTS ARE ESSENTIALLY DRIVING THE PROGRAM AS FAR AS WHO THE PROVIDERS ARE GOING TO BE AND THE SERVICES THAT ARE NECESSARY TO PROVIDE THAT.
ONE OF THE COMPANIES THAT HAS SHOWN INTEREST IS QUALITY LIVING CENTERS INC.
THIS IS A NONPROFIT ORGANIZATION THAT MR. KEITH IS ASSOCIATED WITH.
UNDER STATUTE, YOU HAVE TO PASS AN ORDINANCE RECOGNIZING, ACKNOWLEDGING THAT YOU HAVE A JUSTICE OF THE PEACE WHO IS EMPLOYED BY A COMPANY THAT THE COUNTY IS LOOKING TO CONTRACT SERVICES THROUGH.
SO THE COUNTY TO PROVIDE THE MONEY THE COURTS WILL MANAGE AND PICK THEIR PROVIDER.
AND THAT'S THAT'S THE GIST OF IT.
MR. KEITH IS NOT ALLOWED TO REALLY VOTE ON THIS EITHER.
IT'S REALLY I MEAN, THIS IS AN ENABLING PIECE OF LEGISLATION.
IT'S A STATUTORY HURDLE THAT YOU HAVE TO GO THROUGH.
WE'RE NOT REINVENTING THE WHEEL ON THIS EITHER.
SO THIS IS NOT THE FIRST TIME THIS HAS EVER OCCURRED.
IT'S JUST SOMETHING THAT YOU HAVE TO DO BECAUSE OF HIS EMPLOYMENT.
ALL RIGHT. WELL, THANK YOU, JUSTIN.
YEAH, I COULD HAVE DONE THAT, BUT I DIDN'T KNOW HOW FAR I WAS TO GO ON IT.
FIRST OF ALL, I WOULD SIMPLY LIKE TO KNOW WHEN DID THE NORTH LITTLE ROCK AND THE LITTLE ROCK DISTRICT COURTS DECIDE TO CREATE A DRUG TREATMENT PROGRAM? I THINK THIS IS IN RESPONSE TO RECENT CONVERSATIONS THROUGH JUSTIN, IS IT THROUGH THE CRIMINAL JUSTICE COORDINATING COMMITTEE OR AS A KIND OF A TANGENTIALLY CREATED AS A RESULT OF THIS CONVERSATION? AND THE CRIMINAL JUSTICE COORDINATING COMMITTEE.
AND THE CRIMINAL JUSTICE COORDINATING COMMITTEE IS A COMMITTEE THAT IS DESIGNED.
BY STATUTE TO BRING THE VARIOUS SHAREHOLDERS AND STAKEHOLDERS THAT PARTICIPATE IN THE ADMINISTRATION OF JUSTICE. SO THE COURTS, THE COUNTY COMMUNITY LEADERS, THOSE FOLKS ALL COME TO THE TABLE TO ADDRESS THE NEEDS OF THE COURT SYSTEM. YES. OKAY.
SO THAT IS NOT NECESSARILY ANYONE FROM THE QUORUM COURT WHO IS ON THAT COMMITTEE.
ALSO, WHAT I WOULD LIKE TO KNOW IS HAS IT BEEN CREATED YET? IN OTHER WORDS, THE DISTRICT COURTS, IT SAYS THAT THEY ARE CREATING A DRUG DEFERRAL TREATMENT PILOT PROGRAM.
HAS THAT ALREADY BEEN CREATED OR IS IT STILL IN PROCESS? IT IS IN PROCESS.
OKAY. AND I ALSO WANT TO KNOW, SINCE IT IS STILL IN PROCESS.
HAVE THEY VETTED OTHER POTENTIAL YET? I DON'T THINK I CAN ANSWER THAT QUESTION SINCE IT IS STILL IN PROCESS.
I BELIEVE THAT THIS WAS BROUGHT FORWARD TO ENSURE THAT QUALITY CHOICE WOULD BE ABLE TO SUBMIT A BID AND NOT BE DISQUALIFIED BASED ON MR. KEITH'S EMPLOYMENT WITH THEM.
THANK YOU. THANK YOU, JUSTICE MCMULLEN.
OKAY, SOME LIGHTS ARE ON, SO WE'LL START OFF WITH JUSTICE STOWERS.
THANK YOU, MR. KEITH. SO I WOULD COMPARE THIS.
MOST OF US HAVE BEEN HERE FOR A LONG TIME TOGETHER.
RIGHT? I LEFT THAT COMPANY IN 2020 AND I WAS ALREADY A JP WHEN I WENT TO WORK FOR THEM IN OH EIGHT, BUT I WAS IN NO WAY AN INFLUENCER OR HAD ANY TYPE OF INFLUENCE AS IT RELATED TO THE COUNTY'S BUSINESS WITH THAT COMPANY.
SO THAT'S JUST AN ANALOGY I WANT TO THROW OUT THERE, BECAUSE MOST OF YOU ALL WILL REMEMBER THAT.
JUSTICE MASSEY, YOU TOOK YOUR LIGHT OFF.
JUSTICE DAVIS? ARE THERE GOING TO BE OTHER BIDS OR IS JUST JUST THE ONLY BID THAT WE'RE ACCEPTING?
[00:30:03]
SO THIS IS A PILOT PROGRAM, SO I DON'T THINK I CAN ANSWER THAT QUESTION EXPRESSLY TONIGHT.AND SO MY UNDERSTANDING IS THAT THERE WOULD BE MULTIPLE OPPORTUNITIES OR OPPORTUNITIES FOR OTHER ENTITIES TO ALSO PARTICIPATE SO THAT IT'S DEVELOPED OUT AS FULLY AND PROPERLY AS CAN BE.
AND WHERE DID THE 30? WHERE THE NUMBER 35,000 COME FROM? WAS THAT THEIR ESTIMATE OF THE TOTAL COST, OR IS THAT THE COURT'S ESTIMATE, OR IS THAT THEIR TOTAL? AND WHERE IS THAT MONEY COMING FROM? SO THE MONEY WOULD COME FROM COUNTY GENERAL AND THE THAT MONEY WOULD BE USED ON A PER DEFERRAL BASIS.
AND I BELIEVE THE ORIGINAL ESTIMATES THAT WERE BROUGHT UP IN CONVERSATION WERE SIMILAR 1000 TO $2000 DEPENDING ON THE NEEDS OF THE PATIENT AND REFER TO THEM AS PATIENT TO THE PATIENT.
SO 35,000 PER COURT WOULD GIVE ADEQUATE OPPORTUNITY TO DEVELOP OUT THE PILOT PROGRAM SO THAT A MORE, MORE FULL FLEDGED PROGRAM COULD RESULT.
WOULD I BE ABLE TO COME BACK AND TELL US MORE ABOUT THE PROGRAM WHEN IT'S COMPLETED OR WHEN IT'S READY TO GO? I WOULD ASSUME THAT IF THIS BECOMES A STANDING PROGRAM, THAT THEY WOULD HAVE TO COME BACK WITH A MUCH LARGER APPROPRIATION.
SO, YES. SO IS THIS INPATIENT OR OUTPATIENT? PATIENT, INPATIENT? WHERE IS THAT GOING TO BE AT? I THINK THAT DEPENDS ON THE SERVICE PROVIDER.
RIGHT. SO THIS COMPANY CAN HAVE INPATIENT AT THEIR FACILITY? YES. YES. OH, OKAY.
BE PATIENT. IT'S A RESIDENTIAL TREATMENT FACILITY.
ANY MORE QUESTIONS? THERE BEING NONE.
AMY, WOULD YOU PLEASE CALL THE ROLL ON 23I-12? . 13 AYES.
13 AYES. WE WILL SEND 23I-12 TO THE FULL QUORUM COURT WITH THE DO PASS RECOMMENDATION.
AMY, WOULD YOU PLEASE READ 23I-13? AN ORDINANCE AMENDING ORDINANCE 22OR-45 2023 ANNUAL BUDGET PULASKI COUNTY, ARKANSAS TO RECOGNIZE AND APPROPRIATE GRANT FUNDS FOR THE COMMUNITY SERVICES DEPARTMENT FOR THEIR HOUSING OPPORTUNITIES FOR PERSONS WITH AIDS PROGRAM.
JUSTICE LEWISON I MOVE FOR THE ADOPTION.
CAN YOU SEND IT TO THE FULL QUORUM COURT BEFORE WE ADOPT THE FULL QUORUM COURT FOR ADOPTION? ALL RIGHT. I MOVE THAT YOU DO.
DID I HEAR A SECOND? A MOTION WAS MADE WITH THE SECOND THAT WE SEND 23I-13 TO THE FULL QUORUM COURT WITH A DO PASS RECOMMENDATION OR FOR ADOPTION.
JUSTICE LEWISON, WOULD YOU LIKE TO EXPLAIN? NOT REALLY, BUT I WOULD LIKE.
ALL RIGHT. COME UP HERE AND EXPLAIN THIS IN DIRECTOR LOVE.
GOOD EVENING, QUORUM COURT FREDERICK LOVE, DIRECTOR OF COMMUNITY SERVICES.
THIS IS OUR HOT BILL GRANT THAT WE RENEW EVERY YEAR.
AS YOU KNOW, WE RUN THE PROGRAM TO HELP OR ASSIST WITH RENTS FOR PERSONS WHO ARE LIVING WITH HIV OR AIDS. OKAY.
WE'VE GOT A FEW LIGHTS. I'VE GOT JUSTICE STOWERS.
YEAH. SO, MR. LOVE, THE QUESTION HERE IS CONCERNING THE START.
TALK TO YOU. LOSE YOUR TRAIN OF THOUGHT.
BUT I DID. THE POINT I WANTED TO MAKE IS THAT THESE FUNDS ARE COMING FROM THE CITY OF LITTLE ROCK.
THE CITY OF LITTLE ROCK IS GRANTING THESE FUNDS TO THE COUNTY.
THAT'S WHAT I WAS TOLD. SO THESE ARE NO THESE ARE HUD FUNDS.
BUT THE CITY OF LITTLE ROCK IS A PASS THROUGH FOR FOR THIS PROGRAMING COMING FROM EITHER.
[00:35:02]
THEY'RE COMING FROM HUD TO THE STATE TO THE TO KNOW HUD THROUGH THE CITY.TO THE CITY. THROUGH THE CITY.
TO THE COUNTY. SO WHAT WOULD THE CITY DO WITH THESE FUNDS IF THEY DIDN'T IF WE DIDN'T PILOT WITHIN THIS PROGRAM, IF WE DID NOT RUN THIS PROGRAM, I GUESS THERE MIGHT BE ANOTHER AGENCY THAT COULD RUN IT.
I THINK YOU WOULD PROBABLY WANT TO HAVE IT IN PULASKI COUNTY.
DUE TO THE FACT THE NUMBER OF PERSONS THAT ARE LIVING WITH HIV OR AIDS IS HIGH IN THE COUNTY.
AND SO THEREFORE, THE PROGRAM REALLY IS PREDICATED ON MAKING SURE PEOPLE STAY STAY IN TREATMENT FOR HIV AND AIDS, WHICH THEN PREVENTS THE SPREAD OF THE DISEASE.
I MEAN, SO THE PROGRAM YOU REALLY WOULD WANT TO KIND OF RUN IT IN PULASKI COUNTY, RUN IT, YOU KNOW.
I JUST KNOW THAT 30 YEARS AGO, 35 YEARS AGO, WHEN I WAS GROWING UP IN THE 80S, AIDS WAS, YOU KNOW, PEOPLE THERE WAS A HUGE AMOUNT OF DISCRIMINATION AGAINST PEOPLE WITH AIDS IN HOUSING AND EVERY OTHER TYPE OF ACCOMMODATION AS WE HAVE MOVED IN THE CONTINUUM OF TIME AND A GENERATION OR TWO.
I DON'T FEEL THAT THERE'S NEAR THAT STIGMA THERE ANYMORE.
THERE MIGHT STILL BE SOME THAT FEEL THAT WAY, BUT I KNEW THAT FOR A LONG TIME.
ARE WE STILL IN THAT PLACE OR HAVE WE MOVED TO A POINT? I GUESS WHY ARE WE PICKING AND CHOOSING WINNERS AND LOSERS HERE RATHER THAN THIS BEING FOR VETERANS OR, YOU KNOW, THIS IS FOR AIDS OR MAYBE BEING FOR MOTHERS, SINGLE MOMS WHO HAVE CHILDREN? THAT'S WHY I'M JUST I'M TRYING TO FIGURE OUT WHY WE'RE SINGLING OUT THE AIDS COMMUNITY.
WELL, I MEAN, BECAUSE THAT'S WHAT THIS GRANT IS SPECIFICALLY FOR PERSONS WITH AIDS, LIKE WE HAVE WE HAVE OUR SHELTER PLUS CARE GRANT FOR PEOPLE WITH DISABILITIES.
WE HAVE JUST REGULAR HOUSING FOR THE GENERAL POPULATION.
SO THIS GRANT IS JUST SPECIFICALLY FOR PERSONS WITH HIV AND AIDS.
NO IMPACT ON THE GENERAL FUND COMING THROUGH THE CITY OF LITTLE ROCK? NO, SIR. I'LL TAKE THE CITY OF LITTLE ROCK'S MONEY ANY TIME THEY WANT TO HELP US.
JUSTICE BLACKWOOD? I WANT TO BE ADDED AS A SPONSOR.
YES, THANK YOU. A WEEK OR TWO AGO, THE CITY HAD A MEETING.
HARPO FUNDING WAS ONE OF THOSE.
SO I HEAR YOU'RE SAYING THAT THIS COMES FROM THE CITY.
BUT THIS PART THREE IS THE CITY OF LITTLE ROCK.
THE PASS THROUGH IS THE CITY OF LITTLE ROCK.
SO THE CITY OF LITTLE ROCK, THIS IS ALSO FOR UNINCORPORATED AREAS OF THE COUNTY.
WE COVER THE ENTIRE PULASKI COUNTY UNINCORPORATED.
OH, IT'S NOT JUST FOR UNINCORPORATED.
WE COVER ALL OF PULASKI COUNTY.
OKAY, SO THEREFORE, I REALIZE THAT IT'S COMING THROUGH THE CITY.
I GUESS HOW CAN I SAY THIS? IS IT PART OR IS IT THE FUNDING THAT THE CITY HAS ALREADY INFORMED US ON? OR IS IT SEPARATE? BECAUSE LIKE I SAID, IN OTHER WORDS, DOES THE CITY ALSO DO ITS ON DISTRIBUTE ITS OWN OR IT ALWAYS GOES THROUGH THE COUNTY TO PROVIDE HARPER FUNDING? OKAY. I'M TRYING TO.
YOU DON'T. CAN YOU ASK ME THAT AGAIN? THAT WOULDN'T BE A FAIR QUESTION, WOULD IT? IN OTHER WORDS, THE CITY HAS THE CDBG GRANT.
THAT'S CORRECT. AND OTHER MONEY.
I'M TRYING TO THINK OF SOME OTHER MONEY AND IT INFORMS ITS COMMUNITY.
YOU KNOW, AND THE CDBG THAT STARTED IN 1974 AND ALL OF THAT.
SO HERE WE ARE WITH THE HOPPER.
ALSO, THE CITY INFORMS US OF THIS OF THE HARPER.
SO I WAS WONDERING, IS THIS ALL IS THIS THE SAME MONEY THAT THE CITY GOT FROM THE STATE OR DID THE CITY ALSO GET SEPARATE MONEY FROM THE STATE OF ARKANSAS TO GIVE TO THE COUNTY TO DISPERSE, WHEREAS THE CITY.
THAT'S ALL. AND IF SO, SO SO HERE'S SO HERE'S I THINK.
[00:40:01]
SO THE THE CITY THE CITY IS ITS OWN PJ, OR PARTICIPATING JURISDICTION IN CDBG AND FEDERAL HUD FUNDS.AND SO THESE FUNDS ARE COMING FROM HUD TO THE CITY.
AND THE CITY DOES WHAT THEY DO.
OKAY. I KNOW IT'S COMING FROM HUD TO THE CITY.
SO I KNOW MY QUESTION NOW IS NOT VERY CLEAR AND I WILL NOT PRESS IT ANY LONGER.
OKAY. I WILL NOT PRESS IT ANY LONGER.
I KNOW THAT IT'S COMING FROM HUD TO THE CITY.
AND I'M WONDERING, ARE THESE THE FUNDS THAT DOES COME FROM HER TO THE CITY OR DOES MORE? YES, THEY ARE.
OKAY. THEN WE'LL TALK ABOUT IT.
THE STATE HAS HAS ITS OWN HAS ITS OWN ALLOCATION AS WELL.
THAT'S THAT'S WHAT YOU'RE SAYING.
IS THIS AN ALLOCATION FOR THE CITY? ALLOCATION FOR THE STATE? YES. THE STATE HAS ITS OWN ALLOCATION.
THE CITY HAS ITS OWN ALLOCATION.
OKAY, I'VE CONFUSED YOU SOME MORE.
I REALIZE THAT THE STATE ALLOCATES THE MONEY TO THE CITY.
THAT'S INCORRECT. HUD ALLOCATES.
THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT ALLOCATES IT TO THE STATE.
THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT ALLOCATES IT TO THE CITY.
OKAY. AND THEN THE CITY GIVES.
THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT ALLOCATES IT TO THE CITY, NOT THE STATE GOVERNMENT ALLOCATING IT, CORRECT.
I'LL FIGURE THE REST OF IT OUT.
ONE MORE LIGHT. JUSTICE CURRY? YES. I WANTED TO ASK SINCE.
SINCE THIS HAS BEEN OPERATED FOR HOW MANY YEARS UNDER YOUR UNDER? WELL, THEY'VE OPERATED HARPER FOR AT LEAST, I MUST SAY, AT LEAST FIVE OR SIX YEARS.
AND OF COURSE, YOU'VE SEEN AN INCREASE NEED WISE COMPARISON.
HAS THE MONEY BEEN FULLY UTILIZED? YES, THE MONEY HAS BEEN FULLY UTILIZED.
AMY, WOULD YOU PLEASE CALL THE ROLL ON 23I-13? .
WE WILL SEND 23I-13 TO THE FULL QUORUM COURT WITH THE DO PASS RECOMMENDATION.
IS THERE A MOTION TO ADJOURN? WITHOUT OBJECTION? THIS THE BUSINESS PART IS OVER.
ADJOURNED. ARE THERE ANY ANNOUNCEMENTS? ANY ANNOUNCEMENTS? SO AN NAC REPRESENTATIVE.
NEXT TIME YOU GUYS COME IN FOR AGENDA, YOU WILL NOMINATE YOUR REPRESENTATIVE.
THE ARKANSAS ASSOCIATION OF COUNTIES QUORUM COURT BOARD.
SO GIVING YOU GUYS 30 DAYS TO WORK OUT.
OKAY. THAT WOULD BE AN AGENDA.
ANY OTHER ANNOUNCEMENTS? THERE BEING NONE. ARE THERE ANY PUBLIC COMMENTS? NO PUBLIC COMMENTS? THE MEETING IS OVER.
* This transcript was compiled from uncorrected Closed Captioning.