[Quorum Court on June 27, 2023.]
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I'D LIKE TO ASK EVERYBODY TO TAKE THEIR SEATS.
I'D LIKE TO CALL THE JUNE QUORUM COURT MEETING FOR PULASKI COUNTY TO ORDER. AS IS OUR TRADITION, WE ALWAYS HAVE AN INVOCATION, AND WE'VE ASKED JUSTICE STOWERS IF HE'LL GIVE THAT INVOCATION.
AND THAT'LL BE FOLLOWED BY JUSTICE.
BLACKWOOD IS GOING TO LEAD US IN THE PLEDGE.
THEN WE'LL MOVE ON WITH BUSINESS.
SO ALL THOSE WHO CAN PLEASE STAND WITH ME.
FAITHFUL. GOD, WE STAND BEFORE YOU THIS EVENING.
WE ASK THAT YOU WOULD HELP US TO BE KIND AND GOOD AND GRACIOUS.
TO ONE ANOTHER. I'M NOT ALWAYS THE BEST EXAMPLE OF THAT.
THAT ALTHOUGH WE MIGHT DISAGREE FROM TIME TO TIME ON ISSUES OR POLICIES THAT WOULD WE WOULD BE IN UNITY AS IT RELATES TO THE WELL BEING OF THE CLOSE TO 400,000 CONSTITUENTS IN PULASKI COUNTY.
YES. THAT THEY WOULD BE PUT FIRST.
AND WE WOULD PUT OURSELVES AND OUR EGOS SECOND.
I ASK THESE THINGS IN YOUR NAME.
THANK YOU, JUSTICE STOWERS AND JUSTICE BLACKWOOD.
MADAM CLERK, WHENEVER YOU'RE READY, PLEASE CALL THE ROLL.
IT'S JUST. I REMIND EVERYBODY.
THANK YOU, MADAM CLERK, PLEASE CALL THE ROLL.
THANK YOU, MADAM CLERK AND MEMBERS IN YOUR PACKET THAT YOU RECEIVED.
YOU SHOULD HAVE HAD THE MINUTES FROM LAST MONTH'S MEETING.
I TRUST THAT YOU'VE HAD TIME TO LOOK THEM OVER.
MEMBERS, YOU'VE HEARD A MOTION AND A SECOND.
ARE THERE ADDITIONS OR DELETIONS FROM THE MINUTES FROM OUR MAY MEETING? IS SOMEBODY CALLING THAT IN? CLERK, HOW ABOUT CALLING THE ROLL FOR THE ADOPTION OF THE MINUTES? CERTAINLY.
THANK YOU, MADAM CLERK. AND THE MINUTES ARE APPROVED.
AND NOW WHEN? WHEN YOU'RE READY, PLEASE READ THE COMMITTEE REPORTS INTO THE RECORD.
JUNE 27TH, 2023, TO THE PRESIDING OFFICER OF THE PULASKI COUNTY QUORUM COURT.
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WE, YOUR COMMITTEE OF THE AGENDA TO WHOM WAS REFERRED ITEMS 23-I-41, 23-I-42,23-I-43,23-I-44 BEG LEAVE TO REPORT WE'VE HAD THE SAME UNDER CONSIDERATION AND HEREWITH RETURN THE SAME WITH A RECOMMENDATION OF DUE PASS.AND A LITTLE BIT OF HOUSEKEEPING TONIGHT, LADIES AND GENTLEMEN, WE HAVE THE THE DIRECTOR, THE GENERAL MANAGER OF THE SIMMONS BANK ARENA WITH US, AS WELL AS THE CURRENT CHAIRMAN OF THE PUBLIC FACILITIES BOARD FOR THE SIMMONS BANK ARENA HERE TO GIVE US OUR FINANCIAL REPORT FOR 2022.
SO LET ME INTRODUCE MR. RHETT TUCKER. WILL YOU PLEASE GO TO THE PODIUM AND GIVE US YOUR REPORT? THANK YOU, JUDGE HYDE, MEMBERS OF THE COURT.
AS YOU RECALL, WE WERE HERE A COUPLE OF MONTHS AGO WITH CATCHING UP FROM COVID.
I THINK WE REPORTED ON 2019, 2020 AND 2021.
OUR 2022 AUDIT IS COMPLETE AND WE GOT ANOTHER CLEAN BILL OF HEALTH.
STARTED THE YEAR WITH ELTON JOHN, REBA MCENTIRE AND GEORGE STRAIT CONTINUED THROUGHOUT THE YEAR WITH OTHER BIG ACTS LIKE THE EAGLES AND KEVIN HART.
WE PRESENTED 40% MORE EVENTS THAN WE USED TO IN THE AVERAGE.
THAT'S THE HONEYMOON EFFECT FROM GETTING OVER COVID, AND OUR TICKET DEMAND WAS UP AS WELL.
SO WE HAD A VERY, VERY GOOD YEAR.
EVEN SOME OF OUR SHOWS THAT WE'VE HAD BEFORE PERFORM BETTER THAN THEY DID PRE-COVID.
WORKED WITH A NEW SECURITY CAMERA SYSTEM, NEW POINT OF SALE SYSTEM, NEW EXTERIOR POLE LIGHTING, NEW CARPET IN THE PUBLIC AREAS, NEW CONCOURSE FLOORING.
I ALSO WILL TELL YOU THAT THROUGH THE FIRST SIX MONTHS OF THE YEAR, WE'RE 28TH IN THE COUNTRY IN ATTENDANCE, 28TH, 50TH IN THE WORLD. THAT'S TOTALLY ATTRIBUTABLE TO MICHAEL MARION AND HIS TEAM.
SO WE'RE HERE TODAY TO TELL YOU WE'RE STILL SOLVENT, DON'T NEED ANY MONEY.
WE THANK YOU FOR YOUR SUPPORT.
THANK YOU. MR. MARION, I WANT TO TAKE THE OPPORTUNITY TO CALL YOU OUT AS YOU'VE BEEN HERE SINCE WE STARTED.
YOU CONTINUE TO DO A WONDERFUL JOB.
YOU ALL HAVE HAVE MAINTAINED THE MAINTENANCE AND THE UPKEEP OF THE FACILITY TO KEEP IT VIABLE IN THE MARKET AND ALL WITH WITH CURRENT FUNDS.
23 YEARS AGO ON A TEMPORARY SALES TAX.
THIS IS TRULY THE BEST EXAMPLE OF A PUBLIC FACILITY DONE ON MONEY THAT WAS PROMISED.
AND WE DELIVERED EXACTLY WHAT WAS PROMISED.
SO ONLY BECAUSE OF THE GREAT JOB THAT YOU'VE DONE AND THE SUPPORT THAT I'M SURE THAT MR. TUCKER, AS WELL AS THE REST OF THE BOARD, IS GIVING YOU.
AND I REALLY WANT TO CALL IT OUT.
AND AND I NOTICE THAT WE HAVE A NEW ROOF GOING ON THAT BUILDING.
AND THAT'S GREAT NEWS BECAUSE ROOFS AND PARKING LOTS TAKE UP A LOT OF BUDGET HERE AT THE COUNTY.
SO, MR. STOWERS, I THINK YOU HAD HAD YOU.
YOU'RE RECOGNIZED FOR A FOR A COMMENT.
THANK YOU, SIR. HOWEVER, YOU JUST TOOK EVERY WORD RIGHT OUT OF MY MOUTH.
YOU DON'T HAVE TO GET UP OR ANYTHING.
GOODNESS. AND IT'S GOING SO GREAT FOR Y'ALL.
AND THE OTHER THING IS, I'M GLAD THAT I WISH NOBODY WE HADN'T HAD NO TORNADOES OR ANYTHING.
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AND THANK THE LORD Y'ALL DIDN'T HAVE NO TROUBLE WITH IT.WE WERE VERY THANKFUL FOR THAT.
THANK YOU FOR THE KIND WORDS. THERE BEING NO QUESTIONS.
THANK YOU ALL FOR COMING AND WE'LL SEE YOU IN ABOUT A YEAR WITH WITH THE SAME SUCCESSFUL STORY.
MEMBERS THERE IS NO UNFINISHED BUSINESS MOVES US ON TO NEW BUSINESS.
WE HAVE NO RESOLUTIONS TONIGHT, SO WE'LL START RIGHT OFF WITH ORDINANCES.
SO, MADAM CLERK, WHEN YOU'RE READY, PLEASE READ FOR US.
23-I.-22 AN ORDINANCE AMENDING ORDINANCE 89 OR 52 ESTABLISHING THE OFFICE OF PULASKI COUNTY CIVIL ATTORNEY TO ALLOW THE COUNTY CIVIL ATTORNEY OR THEIR STAFF TO PERFORM PRO BONO SERVICES OUTSIDE OF WORK HOURS.
AND, MADAM CLERK, I SHOULD HAVE SAID THAT THIS IS THIS THIS WAS THE JUSTIN THIS WAS THE THIRD AND FINAL READING, RIGHT? SO THIS IS THE THIRD AND FINAL READING.
MEMBERS WE'RE READY TO VOTE ON THIS ITEM.
I'VE HEARD THE MOTION. I'VE HEARD THE SECOND.
IS THERE ANY DISCUSSION OR QUESTIONS ON ITEM 23-I-22.
THERE BEING NONE. MADAM CLERK, PLEASE CALL THE ROLL FOR THE ADOPTION OF 23-I-22.
ONE ABSENT. MADAM CLERK AND JUSTICE DAVIS, YOU PASSED YOUR ORDINANCE.
YOU WERE THE PRIMARY SPONSOR ON THIS.
SORRY. I KIND OF JUMPED THE ASTERISKS, THREW ME A CURVE THERE.
I HAD TO TRY AND MAKE SURE I WAS I WAS NAVIGATING THAT PROPERLY.
SO THANKS FOR WORKING ON THAT.
AND MADAM CLERK, NOW WE'RE READY TO READ 23-I-41 WHEN YOU'RE READY.
AN ORDINANCE AMENDING ORDINANCE 22-OR-45 2023 ANNUAL BUDGET PULASKI COUNTY, ARKANSAS TO RECOGNIZE AN APPROPRIATE GRANT FUNDS FOR THE COMMUNITY SERVICES DEPARTMENT AND ROAD AND BRIDGE DEPARTMENT FOR THE ROAD IMPROVEMENT PHASE TWO PROJECT TO IMPROVE TRANSPORTATION COMPONENTS AT THE LITTLE ROCK PORT AUTHORITY INDUSTRIAL PARK.
JUSTICE GREEN, YOU RECOGNIZED FOR THE MOTION.
MEMBERS, YOU'VE HEARD THE MOTION, YOU'VE HEARD THE SECOND.
ARE THERE ANY QUESTIONS OR COMMENTS FOR ORDINANCE 23-I-41.
THERE BEING NONE. MADAM CLERK, PLEASE CALL THE ROLL FOR THE ADOPTION OF 23-I-41.
JUSTICE GREEN, YOU PASSED YOUR ORDINANCE 23-I-41.
AND WHENEVER WE'RE READY, MADAM CLERK, PLEASE READ FOR US NOW.
23-I-42 AN ORDINANCE AMENDING ORDINANCE 22 OR.
PULASKI COUNTY, ARKANSAS TO RECOGNIZE AND APPROPRIATE FUNDS RECEIVED FROM CENTRAL ARKANSAS WATER INTO THE PLANNING DEPARTMENT'S BUDGET FOR THE PURPOSE FOR THE PURCHASE OF A VEHICLE.
JUSTICE LEWIS AND YOU'RE RECOGNIZED FOR THE MOTION.
SECOND MEMBERS YOU'VE HEARD THE MOTION, YOU'VE HEARD THE SECOND.
ARE THERE ANY COMMENTS OR QUESTIONS REGARDING 23-I-42.
THERE BEING NONE. MADAM CLERK, PLEASE CALL THE ROLL FOR THE ADOPTION OF 23-I-42.
JUSTICE LEWISON YOU PASSED YOUR ORDINANCE.
AND WHEN YOU'RE READY, MADAM CLERK, PLEASE READ FOR US.
ORDINANCE 23-I-43 AN ORDINANCE AMENDING ORDINANCE 22-OR-45 2023 ANNUAL BUDGET PULASKI COUNTY,
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ARKANSAS TO RECOGNIZE AN APPROPRIATE GENERAL FUNDS REIMBURSEMENT MONEY FOR AN ALL INCLUSIVE PLAYGROUND AT TWO RIVERS PARK AND JUSTICE CAPPS YOU RECOGNIZED FOR THE MOTION.MOVE FOR THE ADOPTION. SECOND.
SECOND MEMBERS. YOU'VE HEARD THE MOTION.
YOU'VE HEARD MULTIPLE SECONDS.
ARE THERE ANY QUESTIONS OR COMMENTS FOR 23-I-43.
MADAM CLERK, PLEASE CALL THE ROLL FOR THE ADOPTION OF 23-I-43.
ONE ABSENT. THANK YOU, MADAM CLERK.
JUSTICE CAPPS, YOU PASSED YOUR ORDINANCE 23-I-43.
NOW WE'RE READY. PLEASE READ ORDINANCE 23-I-44.
AN ORDINANCE AMENDING ORDINANCE 22-OR-45.
YOU'RE RECOGNIZED FOR THE MOTION.
SECOND MEMBERS YOU HEARD THE MOTION.
IS THERE ANY QUESTIONS OR COMMENTS FOR ORDINANCE 23-I-44.
MADAM CLERK. THERE BEING NONE, PLEASE CALL THE ROLL FOR THE ADOPTION OF ORDINANCE 23-I-44.
THANK YOU, MADAM CLERK. JUSTICE MCMULLEN YOU PASSED YOUR ORDINANCE 23-I-44.
THAT ADJOURNS. THE BUSINESS PORTION OF OUR AGENDA BRINGS US TO ANNOUNCEMENTS.
ANYONE HAVE AN ANNOUNCEMENT? MR. BLAGG, YOU HAVE. WE HAVE A FORM.
OKAY. SO MEMBERS, A COUPLE OF HOUSEKEEPING ITEMS ON THE AGENDA FOR ME.
FIRST OF ALL, IN I THINK THE LAST BUDGET MEETING WERE THE SECOND TO LAST BUDGET MEETING.
THERE WERE SOME INAPPROPRIATE CONDUCT AND UNPROFESSIONAL CONDUCT WHERE EMPLOYEES WERE CALLED OUT BY NAME AND CRITICIZED FOR FOR THEIR THEIR COMMENTS OR GUIDANCE THAT THEY HAD PROVIDED TO THE QUORUM COURT TIKI IN THE PURCHASING OR PROCUREMENT OFFICE WAS UNFAIRLY CALLED OUT AND AND AND SOME ACCUSATION OF INAPPROPRIATENESS WAS GIVEN.
I HOPE THAT YOU'LL NOT TOLERATE IT IN YOUR MEETINGS IN THE FUTURE.
THAT'S SOMETHING THAT WE'RE NOT GOING TO DO.
WE'RE NOT GOING TO BE DISRESPECTFUL OF ONE ANOTHER.
AND I WOULD ASK THAT YOU NOT TOLERATE IT IN YOUR MEETINGS.
AND SO IN ADDITION, WE'VE HAD A LOT OF CONVERSATION AND TURMOIL OVER THE PROCUREMENT OF A CONTRACT AT THE BEGINNING OF ACTUALLY AT THE END OF LAST YEAR FOR TURNKEY HEALTH IN THE JAIL.
I WANT TO AND I WANT TO CLARIFY IT FOR YOU.
THE COUNTY JUDGE'S OFFICE DOESN'T OPERATE OTHER ELECTED OFFICIALS DEPARTMENTS.
WE DON'T MANAGE THEIR BUDGETS.
WE DON'T MANAGE THEIR APPROPRIATIONS.
WHAT WE DO IS MANAGE PROCUREMENT FOR THEM AT THEIR REQUEST IN STRICT ACCORDANCE WITH ARKANSAS LAW.
AND WE PROVIDE REVIEW OF CONTRACTS AND PURCHASE ORDERS BY THE ATTORNEYS, THE COUNTY ATTORNEY'S OFFICE TO ENSURE THAT CONTRACTS ARE ENFORCEABLE AND COMPLIANT WITH ALL THE LAWS THAT REGULATE US.
THE RESPONSIBILITY TO MANAGE A BUDGET LIES WITHIN THE ELECTED OFFICIALS OFFICE.
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THEIR RESPONSIBILITY.THEIR AUTHORITY. TRUST ME, IF I STARTED MANAGING THE BUDGET FOR THE SPARKLING, CLEAN, WELL MANAGED BUDGET OF OUR CLERK, WE'D PROBABLY HAVE SOME CONVERSATIONS.
SO I WANT TO MAKE THOSE THINGS CLEAR AND TO MAKE SURE THAT AND I'M GOING TO TELL YOU THAT IN NINE AND A HALF YEARS OF BEING HERE, WE HAVE NEVER HAD AN INSTANCE WHERE A CONTRACT WAS WAS ASKED FOR, PUT OUT TO BID, ACCEPTED AND APPROVED BY THE ELECTED DEPARTMENT'S OFFICE, AND THEN PUT INTO PLACE AND ASK PROCUREMENT TO DRAW THAT CONTRACT AND RUN THROUGH PROCUREMENT, RUN THROUGH THE ATTORNEY'S OFFICE AND FINALLY TO MY OFFICE FOR SIGNATURE.
SO WHAT YOU HAVE IN FRONT OF YOU IS A FORM THAT YOU USED RIGHT NOW PURCHASE REQUISITION.
ONCE SOMETHING IS BID THROUGH PROCUREMENT, IT IS PROVIDED TO THE ELECTED OFFICE OR ELECTED DEPARTMENT WHO REQUESTED THAT REQUISITION, THAT BID.
AND IT IS THAT INDIVIDUAL OFFICE THAT ASKS FOR THAT BID TO NOW BECOME A PURCHASE ORDER OR CONTRACT, WHATEVER IS APPROPRIATE FOR THAT PARTICULAR ITEM BEING OBTAINED.
SO WHEN THERE'S A CONTRACT OR A PURCHASE ORDER REQUESTED FROM THE SHERIFF'S DEPARTMENT, WE'LL ASK FOR THE SHERIFF'S SIGNATURE ON IT, MAKING SURE, ACKNOWLEDGING THAT THEY HAVE THE BUDGET AND THE APPROPRIATION IN PLACE FOR THE AGREEMENT THAT THEY'RE ASKING THE JUDGE TO SIGN.
I HOPE THAT CLEARS UP ANY QUESTIONS ON WHOSE RESPONSIBILITY WAS WHAT AND WHERE.
AND AND THAT'S ALL MY ANNOUNCEMENT.
THANK YOU FOR GIVING ME THE OPPORTUNITY TO TRY AND CLEAR THESE TWO ISSUES UP.
ARE YOU TRYING TO BE RECOGNIZED? SO IT'S ANNOUNCEMENTS.
SO I DON'T WANT TO GENERATE A DISCUSSION ON THIS.
HOWEVER, TO THE TO THE RANKING MEMBER ON THIS COMMITTEE AND THE CHAIRPERSON OF BUDGET, I WILL MAKE YOU THE THE GIVE YOU THE OPPORTUNITY TO SPEAK UP.
SO SO MY QUESTION IS SO WHAT YOU'RE SAYING IS THIS WAS SIGNED JUST BASED ON ON THAT POLICY, NOT THAT YOU HAD LOOKED OVER THE CONTRACT AND EXAMINED WHAT WAS IN IT OR ANYTHING YOU SIGNED BASED ON THE GOOD FAITH OF THAT DEPARTMENT THAT THEY HAD THE AMOUNT IN THE BUDGET OR WHAT HAVE YOU? YES. NO, NO DEPARTMENT UP TO THIS POINT, AT LEAST FOR NINE AND A HALF YEARS, HAS ASKED FOR US TO TO SIGN AND EXECUTE A CONTRACT OR PURCHASE ORDER THAT EXCEEDED THEIR BUDGET OR APPROPRIATION.
OKAY. AND YOU THINK ABOUT THAT FOR JUST A MINUTE AND IT MAKES SENSE.
ANY OTHER COMMENTS? QUESTIONS, ANNOUNCEMENTS.
THERE BEING NONE. DO WE HAVE ANY PUBLIC COMMENT TONIGHT? MR. BLAGG? THANK YOU FOR BEING HERE.
THANKS FOR THE GUESTS. THANKS FOR EMPLOYEES.
THANK YOU.
* This transcript was compiled from uncorrected Closed Captioning.