[00:00:01]
HAS NOT ARRIVED. DO WE HAVE A VOLUNTEER TO? OKAY, SO WE'LL GO AHEAD AND GET OUR MEETING STARTED.
[1. CALL TO ORDER ]
WE'LL OPEN UP WITH INVOCATION JUSTICE STOWERS.FOLLOWED BY THE PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE BY JUSTICE LEWISON.
IF YOU CAN, WOULD YOU PLEASE STAND TALK ABOUT BEING PERFECT IN SEASON AND OUT OF SEASON. SO HERE WE GO.
HEAVENLY FATHER, THANK YOU FOR THIS DAY.
THAT YOU WOULD GIVE US WISDOM, INSIGHT TO MAKE THE BEST DECISIONS THAT WE CAN ON BEHALF OF THE PEOPLE THAT WE SERVE THE CONSTITUENTS OF PULASKI COUNTY, ARKANSAS.
I ASK THESE THINGS IN YOUR NAME.
ONE NATION UNDER GOD, INDIVISIBLE, WITH LIBERTY AND JUSTICE FOR ALL.
THANK EVERYONE FOR STANDING AND PARTICIPATING.
AMY, WOULD YOU PLEASE CALL THE ROLL? OH, HOLD ON, I'M SORRY.
ALL RIGHT, EVERYBODY, MAKE HER FEEL WELCOME.
THANK YOU. ALRIGHT, THANK YOU, THANK YOU.
WE HAVE A SPECIAL PRESENTATION TONIGHT.
[6. PRESENTATION BY PROGRESSIVE LEAGUE OF COLLEGE STATION REGARDING HEAVY TRUCK TRAFFIC]
MISTER DEXTER DOYNE.YOU CAN, IF YOU APPROACH THE MIC.
ALL RIGHT. THANK YOU VERY MUCH.
TO THE CHAIR AND TO ALL THE JUSTICE OF THE PEACE.
FIRST OF ALL, I'M DEXTER DOYNE.
I'M A MEMBER OF THE PROGRESSIVE LEAGUE OF COLLEGE STATION.
WE SERVE AS A NEIGHBORHOOD ASSOCIATION FOR THE COLLEGE STATION COMMUNITY, WHICH YOU ALL HAVE JURISDICTION OVER ABOUT TWO THIRDS OF IT, AND I'D LIKE TO ACKNOWLEDGE.
MISS CLORIA DOZIER, WOULD YOU WAVE YOUR HAND? AND WE HAVE OTHER OTHER MEMBERS OF THE COMMUNITY ARE HERE.
OUR PRESIDENT, WHO IS AUSTIN PORTER JR, IS UNABLE TO BE HERE.
HE SENT A TEXT AND HE'S STILL IN COURT.
AS YOU ALL KNOW, HE'S A HE'S AN ATTORNEY AND HE'S HANDLING HIS BUSINESS.
SO I'M HERE TO MAKE THIS PRESENTATION TO YOU ALL TO JUST BRING TO YOUR ATTENTION SOME ISSUES, LIFE THREATENING ISSUES THAT WE HAVE IN THE COLLEGE STATION COMMUNITY, AND WE ARE SEEKING YOUR SUPPORT TO HELP ELIMINATE THAT.
FIRST OF ALL, WE SUBMITTED A PETITION TO THE QUORUM COURT, AND I GUESS MY FIRST QUESTION IS, HAVE ALL OF YOU ALL SEEN IT? WE SENT IT ELECTRONICALLY A COUPLE OF WEEKS AGO.
SO HAVE HAVE YOU ALL RECEIVED THAT PETITION? AND IF NOT, WE DO HAVE HARD COPIES ON [INAUDIBLE].
WOULD YOU PASS THOSE OUT TO THE QUORUM COURT.
MEMBERS. SO THAT YOU ALL HAVE HARD COPIES OF OF THIS PETITION, BECAUSE IT'S GOING TO PLAY A CRITICAL ROLE IN IN WHAT WE'RE TRYING TO ACHIEVE.
[INAUDIBLE] WE'LL ALSO BE PROVIDING THIS PRESENTATION AND THE PETITION ELECTRONICALLY TO YOUR STAFF SO THAT THEY CAN DISTRIBUTE IT TO
[00:05:03]
YOU OTHERWISE.MY JP, MISS GREEN ALREADY TOLD ME THAT YOUR TIME IS VALUABLE, SO WE'RE RESPECTFUL OF THAT.
FIRST OF ALL, WE HAVE HOW MANY OF YOU HAVE VISITED OR KNOW WHERE THE COLLEGE STATION COMMUNITY IS? RAISE YOUR HAND. GOOD, GOOD.
FIRST OF ALL, WITH THE HELP OF PULASKI COUNTY, WE HAVE YOU ALL HAVE DONE A TRAFFIC STUDY FOR THE COLLEGE STATION AREA, AND AND WHAT HAS BEEN HAPPENING IS THAT AND REALLY SINCE THE BEGINNING OF THE AMAZON FACTORY COMING TO OUR COMMUNITY.
HERE'S MR. PORTER, WOULD YOU RAISE YOUR HAND? THANK YOU. I'M SORRY I'M LATE.
I'M JUST GETTING OUT OF A JURY TRIAL.
ALRIGHT. ANYWAY JUDGE HYDE COMMISSIONED A TRAFFIC STUDY TO BE DONE IN THE COMMUNITY, SO WE'D HAVE SOME DATA AND NUMBERS TO SUBSTANTIATE OUR ISSUE.
FIRST OF ALL, THE EAST WEST CORRIDOR IN COLLEGE STATION IS CALLED FRAZIER PIKE.
IT'S THE MAJOR STREET THAT GOES EAST WEST IN THE COMMUNITY, AND OUR NORTH SOUTH CORRIDOR IS THE BANKHEAD DRIVE, THE AIRPORT EXIT THAT YOU TAKE, AND BASED ON YOUR TRAFFIC STUDY, WE HAVE OVER 3000 VEHICLES GOING THROUGH OUR COMMUNITY EVERY DAY, AND THIS IS A COMMUNITY, A PRIMARILY RESIDENTIAL COMMUNITY, AND IT'S BECOMING A SAFETY HAZARD FOR FOR EVERYONE, AND THE MAIN REASON OF THIS, THE RED LINES THAT YOU SEE THAT REPRESENTS THE BANKHEAD DRIVE EXIT OFF OF INTERSTATE 440, AND IT COMES OVER TO FRAZIER PIKE, WHERE YOU CAN SEE THE CONTINUED RED LINES THERE, AND IT GOES OUT TO THE PORT AREA.
WE LOVE THE JOBS THAT'S BRINGING TO OUR COMMUNITY, BUT WE HATE THE TRAFFIC.
THE CITY OF LITTLE ROCK HAS BUILT A BRAND NEW EXIT OFF OF INTERSTATE 440 WITH THE PURPOSE OF HANDLING THAT TRAFFIC TO KEEP IT FROM COMING THROUGH COLLEGE STATION.
THAT'S THE YELLOW LINE THAT YOU SEE, BUT FOR REASONS UNKNOWN TO US THERE'S STILL OVER 3000 VEHICLES COMING THROUGH OUR COMMUNITY EVERY DAY, AND THIS IS YOUR YOUR QUORUM COURT HAS PASSED AN ORDINANCE TWO YEARS AGO, THREE YEARS AGO, IN 2021 THAT PROHIBITS HEAVY TRAFFIC FROM GOING TO OUR COMMUNITY.
THERE ARE SIGNS POSTED THERE THAT'S AT THE AT THE BANKHEAD EXIT AS YOU'RE ENTERING OUR COMMUNITY.
THERE'S YOUR ORDINANCE SIGN LOCAL DELIVERIES ONLY, NO THROUGH TRUCKS.
THESE ARE OTHER SIGNS THROUGHOUT THE COMMUNITY ON FRAZIER PIKE AND BANKHEAD DRIVE.
SO THE COUNTY HAS CLEARLY IDENTIFIED THIS AS A RESIDENTIAL AREA.
NO HEAVY TRUCKS, BUT THEY'RE BEING IGNORED, AND AND WE HAVE THIS SITUATION HAPPENING 24 HOURS A DAY.
THIS IS AT THE INTERSECTION OF FRAZIER PIKE AND BANKHEAD DRIVE.
THIS IS A DUMP TRUCK THAT'S COMING THROUGH OUR COMMUNITY.
IT'S FULL OF GRAVEL. HEADED TO THE TO THE PORT.
IT'S RIGHT IN FRONT OF OUR COLLEGE STATION ELEMENTARY SCHOOL WHERE LITTLE CHILDREN HAVE TO CROSS THAT STREET EVERY DAY, AND THIS, AND IT MAY BE A LITTLE HARD TO SEE SINCE THE LIGHTS ARE ON, BUT THIS IS ONE THAT TAKES THE CAKE.
THIS IS AN AMAZON TRUCK THAT WAS GOING THROUGH OUR COLLEGE STATION COMMUNITY ON OUR LITTLE NARROW STREETS THAT NEED IMPROVEMENT, AND HE GOT STUCK IN THE MUD AND HIS TRUCK IS CROSSING AND BLOCKING FRAZIER PIKE, AND IT WAS THERE FOR OVER SIX HOURS BEFORE THEY COULD GET IT OUT, AND SO YOU THINK ABOUT THAT, SOMETHING LIKE THAT HAPPENING.
SUPPOSE SOMEONE IN OUR COMMUNITY HAD A MEDICAL EMERGENCY HEART ATTACK WHERE SECONDS COUNT AMBULANCE TRYING TO GET TO THEM AND THEY RUN INTO THIS SITUATION, AND THIS IS THE DAMAGE THAT WAS CAUSED BY THAT SAME TRUCK AFTER THEY HAD GOTTEN IT OUT OF THE DITCH, YOU KNOW, IT RUTTED UP OUR COMMUNITY AND SO FORTH.
SO BECAUSE OF THIS SITUATION THAT HAS REALLY BEEN INTENSIFIED OVER THE LAST COUPLE OF YEARS SINCE SINCE AMAZON AND OTHER INDUSTRIES HAVE COME TO THE COMMUNITY, WE THE PROGRESSIVE LEAGUE, DECIDED TO TAKE SOME ACTION, AND WE'RE SOLICITING YOUR HELP, AND WHAT WE DID, WE PREPARED THIS PETITION TO PROTEST HEAVY TRUCK TRAFFIC, AND YOU HAVE HARD COPIES OF IT, BUT I JUST WANT
[00:10:07]
TO HIT A COUPLE OF THE HIGHLIGHTS AND THEN SOLICIT YOUR HELP.OBVIOUSLY, THIS IS A PETITION TO PROTEST HEAVY TRUCK TRAFFIC IN THE COLLEGE STATION COMMUNITY, LITTLE ROCK, PULASKI COUNTY, ARKANSAS, PARTICULARLY ON THE STREETS OF FRAZIER PIKE AND BANKHEAD DRIVE.
WE, THE UNDERSIGNED MEMBERS OF THE COMMUNITY WERE DEEPLY CONCERNED ABOUT THIS INCREASE IN HEAVY TRUCK TRAFFIC, AND IT POSES A SIGNIFICANT THREAT TO THE SAFETY AND WELL-BEING OF OUR RESIDENTS, BUT ALSO UNDERMINES THE TRANQUILITY AND QUALITY OF LIFE IN OUR COMMUNITIES.
SOME OF THE HAZARDS THAT WE'VE IDENTIFIED, FIRST OF ALL, THE SAFETY HAZARD.
THESE BIG TRUCKS COME DOWN THROUGH OUR COMMUNITY.
THEY'RE SPEEDING. THEY'RE BREAKING THE LAW THAT YOU ALL HAVE PUT IN PLACE, BUT MOST NOTABLY IN OUR COMMUNITY ALONG THIS ROUTE, THERE'S AN ELEMENTARY SCHOOL, THERE'S A DAYCARE, THERE'S RESIDENTIAL HOUSING, THERE'S A SENIOR CITIZEN FACILITY AT THE INTERSECTION OF BANKHEAD DRIVE AND FRAZIER PIKE AND SEVERAL CHURCHES ALONG THIS SAME ROUTE.
OF COURSE, THEN THERE IS THE NOISE POLLUTION.
THAT'S CAUSING A DISTURBANCE IN OUR COMMUNITY.
DIESEL TRUCKS PRODUCE DIESEL FUMES.
THE INFRASTRUCTURE DAMAGE THESE VEHICLES ARE DESTROYING OUR COUNTY ROADS THAT OUR TAXPAYERS PAY FOR THAT YOU ALL APPROPRIATE MONEY FOR, BUT THIS IS HAPPENING EACH AND EVERY DAY, AND THEN THE NEGATIVE IMPACT ON OUR COLLEGE STATION COMMUNITY, YOU KNOW.
OUR MOTTO OF THE PROGRESSIVE LEAGUE IS TO IMPROVE THE QUALITY OF LIFE OF OUR COLLEGE STATION CITIZENS, AND THAT IS REALLY DIFFICULT TO DO WHEN PROSPECTIVE RESIDENTS COME OUT AND THEY HAVE TO EXPERIENCE WHAT YOU'VE SEEN ON THE SCREEN ALREADY.
SO WE DID NOT WANT TO JUST BRING YOU ALL PROBLEMS WITHOUT OFFERING ANY SOLUTIONS.
I'M SURE YOU GET ENOUGH PROBLEMS FROM YOUR CONSTITUENTS EVERY DAY.
SO SOME OF THE SOLUTIONS THAT WE'RE REQUESTING DOWN HERE IN THE LATTER PART OF THE PETITION, WE'RE REQUESTING THE STRICT ENFORCEMENT OF THE EXISTING PULASKI COUNTY ORDINANCE 21-OR- 34, WHICH PROHIBITS THROUGH TRAFFIC TRUCKS OR COMMERCIAL VEHICLES IN OUR COMMUNITY.
SO WE'RE REALLY JUST ASKING YOU TO ENFORCE THE LAW THAT YOU'VE ALREADY APPROVED.
OTHER MEASURES, OF COURSE, IS TO PUBLIC NOTIFICATION OF THE DESIGNATED TRUCK ROUTES.
SO BASICALLY ASKING FOR MORE AND MORE SIGNAGE IN THE AREA.
WE'RE ASKING FOR INSTALLATION OF MORE TRAFFIC CALMING MEASURES, YOU KNOW, MORE SPEED BUMPS SIGNAGE IN ORDER TO MITIGATE THIS, HEAVY TRAFFIC, HEAVY TRUCK TRAFFIC.
WE'RE ASKING FOR COLLABORATION WITH THE LAW ENFORCEMENT AGENCIES TO CONDUCT MORE PATROLS IN THE COMMUNITY AND TO MAKE SURE THAT THESE TRUCKERS ARE COMPLYING WITH YOUR LAW, AND THEN WE'RE ASKING YOU ALL TO CERTAINLY ENGAGE US AS COMMUNITY STAKEHOLDERS THE BUSINESSES THAT ARE IN THAT AREA, I MEAN, THIS IS GOING TO TAKE A TEAM AND JOINT EFFORT TO ELIMINATE THIS HAZARD.
WHAT THE PROGRESSIVE LEAGUE DO NOT WANT TO HAPPEN IS FOR SOME CHILD OR SOME ADULT TO GET SERIOUSLY INJURED OR KILLED BECAUSE OF THIS SITUATION, AND THEN WE WANT TO REACT.
WE WANT TO DO SOMETHING ABOUT IT.
WE'RE TRYING TO PREVENT THIS FROM HAPPENING AND NEED YOUR HELP TO DO THAT.
WE HAVE I HAVE THE EXHIBIT A HERE OF THE PETITION, WHICH HAS OVER 500 SIGNATURES IN THAT WE'VE COLLECTED FROM RESIDENTS OF THE COMMUNITY, PEOPLE WHO ATTEND OUR CHURCHES, WHO VISIT THERE, BASICALLY ANYONE WHO COMES TO OUR COMMUNITY HAS A STAKE IN GETTING THIS PROBLEM RESOLVED AND ONE LAST THING.
I WANT TO PERSONALLY THANK THE HELP OF MY DAUGHTER, [INAUDIBLE]--WAVE YOUR HAND HERE--WHO CRAFTED THIS PETITION, AND ON BEHALF OF THE PROGRESSIVE LEAGUE, SHE CRAFTED IT.
IT WAS PRESENTED TO THE LEAGUE OFFICIALS, AND IT WAS APPROVED TO BRING TO THIS BODY FOR HELP AND RESOLUTION, AND I GUESS AT THIS TIME, I'LL ANSWER ANY QUESTIONS YOU ALL MAY HAVE.
[00:15:02]
YES, SIR. I SEE A FEW LIGHTS, SO I'M GOING TO TAKE A NOTE THAT I SAW YOU JUSTICE STOWERS.THANK YOU, MR. KEITH, AND THANK YOU, SIR, FOR BEING HERE.
I KNOW THAT YOU HAVE HAD A LABOR OF LOVE FOR THE COLLEGE STATION COMMUNITY FOR MANY YEARS, AND I BELIEVE THAT COLLEGE STATION IS A BRIGHT LIGHT AND A SHINING EXAMPLE OF HOW YOU CAN TAKE A COMMUNITY THAT HAS BEEN DOWNTRODDEN, AND YOU CAN LIFT IT UP AND MAKE IT INTO SOMETHING THAT IS A DIME AND A GEM, AND WE'VE SEEN THAT HAPPEN WITH, WITH COLLEGE STATION.
MY QUESTION IS AS FAR AS WHAT YOU'RE ASKING THE COUNTY TO ASSIST WITH.
YOU ALLUDED TO WE'VE ALREADY, YOU KNOW, PASSED ORDINANCES AND LAWS, WHETHER IT BE ON THIS LEVEL OR THE STATE LEVEL, DEALING WITH THESE THINGS, BUT THEN HOW DO WE ENFORCE THEM? RIGHT. HOW DO WE HOLD PEOPLE ACCOUNTABLE FOR THOSE? AND THAT THAT'S WHAT I WANTED TO ASK YOU ABOUT.
DO YOU FEEL THAT MORE CONCENTRATED PATROLS OF THE SHERIFF'S OFFICE WOULD, WOULD BE APPROPRIATE, AND I ALSO WANT TO ASK THE QUESTION, IS THE JURISDICTION OF THIS OF THIS AREA OF TRAFFIC, THIS AREA OF ROAD, IS IT ALL WITHIN THE UNINCORPORATED PARTS OF THE COUNTY, OR IS IT SOME OF IT IN MAYBE NORTH LITTLE ROCK? OKAY, AND GOOD, GOOD QUESTION, AND I'M GOING TO GO TO THIS SLIDE.
TWO THIRDS OF THE COLLEGE STATION COMMUNITY REMAINS IN PULASKI COUNTY, AND THAT'S FROM JONES STREET EASTWARD AND I CAN'T...
I DON'T KNOW IF I CAN SEE THAT OR WHERE'S MY CURSOR.
SHOULD HAVE BROUGHT MY POINTER. OKAY, HERE WE GO.
JONES STREET IS [INAUDIBLE] YEAH THERE IT IS.
RIGHT THERE. THERE'S JONES STREET.
WESTWARD IS PULASKI COUNTY FROM JONES, EASTWARD IS IN THE CITY OF LITTLE ROCK, AND BY THE WAY, WE PLAN ON MAKING THIS SAME PRESENTATION TO THE LITTLE ROCK CITY BOARD OF DIRECTORS, TOO, BECAUSE WE'RE GOING TO NEED THEIR HELP.
I WOULD, I WOULD AGREE, AND I CALLED YOU.
I HAVE A FRIEND NAMED DOYNE MATTHEWS, SO.
OH, OKAY. I'LL CALL YOU MR. DOYNE. ALL RIGHT, AND I WOULD CERTAINLY AGREE, AND YOU MENTIONED ENFORCING THE LAW.
I THINK THAT WILL BE A HUGE STEP IN ALLEVIATING THIS.
YOU KNOW, THESE TRUCK DRIVERS, THIS IS THEIR LIVELIHOOD, AND BUT THEY SEE THIS SIGN.
THEY KNOW WHAT NO THROUGH TRAFFIC MEANS.
I MEAN, AND SO IF THE LAW IS ENFORCED AND THESE TRUCKERS ARE GIVEN YOU KNOW, CITATIONS SAYING THAT THEY'RE BREAKING THE LAW AND THAT THEY NEED TO TAKE THE APPROVED ROUTE, LINDSEY ROAD, THE YELLOW THAT'S THERE.
I THINK ONCE YOU START GETTING IN THEIR POCKETS THAT'LL GET THEIR ATTENTION ` AND WITH TRUCKERS ARE PROFESSIONAL DRIVERS.
ANY CITATION GOES AGAINST THEIR DRIVING RECORD.
IF YOU'LL OBLIGE ME MR. CHAIR, ONE MORE QUESTION, AND THAT IS, HAVE YOU HAD COMMUNICATION WITH THE SHERIFF'S OFFICE TO THIS REGARD? YES. WE HAVE HAD COMMUNICATION WITH THE SHERIFF'S OFFICE.
WHAT WE'VE HEARD IS THAT, YOU KNOW, THEY THEY DON'T HAVE THE MANPOWER OR RESOURCES TO CONSTANTLY PATROL THIS AREA OF COLLEGE STATION. THEREFORE, A LOT OF THESE TRUCKERS GET AWAY WITH THIS VIOLATION WITHOUT THEM BEING AWARE OF IT, AND OF COURSE, IF WE SEE AN 18 WHEELER COMING THROUGH, IF WE CALL AND SAY THAT THEY'RE THEY'RE GONE BY THE TIME THE POLICE GET THERE.
I HAVE A--THANK YOU--I HAVE A PARTIAL SOLUTION TO THIS, AND IT MAY NOT.
I'VE GOT A QUESTION FOR ADAM OR JUSTIN OR HUTCH.
IS IT POSSIBLE THAT WE CAN DO ONE OF TWO THINGS? NUMBER ONE, EVEN THOUGH WE HAVE AN ORDINANCE IN PLACE AND WE HAVE SIGNS ALL OVER THE PLACE AND THEY'RE BEING IGNORED, IS IT
[00:20:02]
POSSIBLE THAT WE COULD EITHER CHARGE THE HAVE CAN WE PUT CAMERAS UP OUT THERE TO TAKE THE GET THE LICENSE PLATES OF THOSE TRUCKS WHEN THEY COME OUT, WHEN THEY COME THROUGH THERE AND SEND THEM A NOTATION AND LET THEM KNOW THAT YOU GOT TO PAY SO MUCH MONEY, SO MUCH OF A FINE FOR THAT TRUCK COMING THROUGH THERE, OR IF IT'S POSSIBLE TO HAVE THE SHERIFF TO PUT SOMEBODY DIFFERENT PEOPLE IN THERE, DIFFERENT HOURS, FIND OUT WHAT HOURS THEY'RE ACTUALLY COMING THROUGH THERE.IS THAT POSSIBLE? WITH RESPECT TO CAMERAS, THERE'S A STATUTE THAT SPECIFICALLY ADDRESSES ENFORCEMENT OF TRAFFIC PROVISIONS BY CAMERA, AND YOU HAVE TO HAVE SOMEBODY ON LOCATION THAT ACTUALLY OBSERVES IT, AND THEN THEY USE THE CAMERA AS AS EVIDENCE.
SO YOU'D STILL HAVE TO HAVE A PATROL OFFICER PRESENT.
I WILL OFFER WHAT MIGHT BE IT'S NOT A SOLUTION, BUT IT MIGHT BE HELPFUL.
THE COUNTY'S ORDINANCE THAT WAS ADOPTED CLASSIFIES A VIOLATION AS A MISDEMEANOR, AND SO IF SOMEBODY IS OBSERVED COMMITTING A MISDEMEANOR, YOU CAN TAKE THAT INFORMATION AND SWEAR OUT AN AFFIDAVIT OR WARRANT THROUGH THE PROSECUTOR'S OFFICE FOR A MISDEMEANOR, AND SO YOU MIGHT NOT HAVE THE PERSON'S NAME, BUT YOU WOULD AT LEAST HAVE THE COMPANY AND THE HOPEFULLY THEIR LICENSE PLATE.
OKAY SO THAT THAT MAY AT LEAST GET YOU A POINT IN THE RIGHT DIRECTION.
IT MIGHT GET SOMEBODY'S ATTENTION.
OKAY. ANYTHING CAN WE DO? IS IT POSSIBLE THAT WE CAN DO THAT.
WOULD THAT WE COULD PUT THOSE LIGHTS UP? THAT'S WHAT I'M ASKING YOU ALL.
I WOULD HAVE TO CHECK AND SEE IF THERE AREN'T ALREADY SOME IN PLACE, AND IF THERE AREN'T WHAT WHAT EQUIPMENT WOULD BE NEEDED, BUT IT'S POSSIBLE TO PUT THEM UP THERE, BUT USING THEM GETS A LITTLE STICKIER BECAUSE OF THE STATUTES THAT ARE IN PLACE THAT LIMIT HOW IT CAN BE USED.
I JUST WANTED TO TELL YOUR DAUGHTER, THIS IS FANTASTIC.
I HAD TO DEAL A LITTLE BIT WITH THIS IN MY DISTRICT, AND I DIDN'T KNOW THE LEGALITY OF IT BECAUSE THE COUNTY AND THEN THE CITY, NEITHER ONE WANTED TO PAY FOR THE SPEED BUMP, SO I DIDN'T KNOW HOW THAT COMES DOWN OR HOW THAT HAPPENS FOR A COUNTY ROAD, OR IF THAT WOULD HAVE TO BE DIFFERENT, LIKE ON A CITY ROAD.
WELL, THERE THERE ARE SOME SPEED BUMPS IN THE COMMUNITY, BUT THEY'RE ON THE CITY SIDE, ON THAT JONES STREET WEST, NO, EASTWARD TOWARDS THE PORT AND THE CITY OF LITTLE ROCK INSTALLED THREE SPEED BUMPS ALONG THAT ROUTE, AND AND THAT WAS A REQUEST THAT WAS MADE OF THE OF THE PROGRESSIVE LEAGUE. MATTER OF FACT, WHEN MAYOR FRANK SCOTT WAS FIRST ELECTED, YOU KNOW, HE DID THE COMMUNITY WALKS TO EACH WARD, AND WHILE HE WAS WALKING THE COLLEGE STATION WARD WITH THE PROGRESSIVE LEAGUE MEMBERS, HE ALMOST GOT RAN OVER BY SOMEONE.
SO HE EXPERIENCED FIRSTHAND THE TRAFFIC ISSUE, AND SHORTLY THEREAFTER, YOU KNOW, THEY INSTALLED THREE SPEED BUMPS BETWEEN THE ELEMENTARY SCHOOL AND THE PORT AREA, AND IT HELPED.
IT HELPED SOME, BUT IT DID NOT STOP THE TRAFFIC.
WHAT ARE THE RULES, ADAM? JUST THROW UP A SPEED BUMP IN THE COUNTY.
IT'S UNDER THE COUNTY JUDGE'S DOMAIN WITH RESPECT TO AND THE ROAD AND BRIDGE DEPARTMENT, AND SO THEY THEY'VE GOT RULES IN PLACE TO TYPICALLY THEY REQUIRE EVERYBODY ON A STREET WITHIN SO MANY FEET TO AGREE TO IT, BUT IT CAN BE USED FOR TRAFFIC CALMING.
I THINK JUSTICE CURTIS HAD THE CONSTITUENT WHO MIGHT HAVE WANTED TO CHANGE THAT.
HAVE WE LOOKED INTO THAT? BECAUSE NOW YOU ASKED ME TO REMEMBER SOMETHING FROM WE WANTED TO I THINK WHAT WE WANTED TO DO, SHE REQUESTED THAT WE REDUCE THE REQUIREMENTS FOR IT, AND AND I'LL BE HONEST WITH YOU, I DIDN'T THINK, AND MAYBE THAT'S A MAYBE THAT'S A FAULT OF MINE, BECAUSE I DIDN'T THINK RELAXING THE REQUIREMENTS TO GET THAT SPEED BUMP WHERE 1 OR 2 PEOPLE WOULD GET THE OPPORTUNITY TO CHOOSE WHERE A SPEED BUMP GOES.
I DIDN'T KNOW THAT THAT WOULD BE FAIR TO A COMMUNITY, SO I DROPPED THE BALL ON THAT, BUT I GUESS IT CAN BE BROUGHT TO THE IT CAN BE BROUGHT TO THE QUORUM COURT, AND NOW ONE OF 15 PEOPLE, YOU KNOW, WE CAN VOTE ON THAT IF THAT'S THE WILL OF SOMEBODY THAT THAT WOULD LIKE TO BRING THAT FORWARD.
[00:25:06]
I YIELD. THANK YOU.SORRY, I DID YIELD; I GUESS I DIDN'T SPEAK VERY LOUD.
OH, OKAY. I'M SORRY. I WAS WAITING FOR YOU, OKAY, JUST CHOMPING AT THE BITS.
THIS IS MY FIRST TIME TO EVER COME TO A MEETING LIKE THIS, AND IS IT MY LUCKY DAY? BECAUSE THIS IS SOMETHING I KNOW WAY MORE ABOUT THAN OTHER PEOPLE KNOW.
I LIVE AT GALLOWAY BEHIND LOVE'S TRUCK STOP.
YOU CANNOT TELL ME ABOUT TRUCK TRAFFIC AND TRUCK DRIVERS BECAUSE I KNOW.
WE CAN'T HEAR. MY OLDEST DAUGHTER GRADUATED FROM COLLEGE STATION ELEMENTARY.
SHE WAS IN THE FIRST GROUP OF GIFTED CHILDREN THAT WENT THROUGH THERE.
SHE COULDN'T HELP IT. SHE WAS BORN A GENIUS, AND, BUT I LOVE COLLEGE STATION.
YOU KNOW, I'M COUNTRY, AND SO Y'ALL ARE MY PEOPLE BUT I HAVE NOTICED WITH SOME.
I'M SORRY. WHAT AM I DOING WRONG? NO, YOU'RE DOING FINE. I HAVE NOTICED IT'S NORTH LITTLE ROCK, AND THEY HAVE SOME PEOPLE IN THESE LITTLE CARS THAT RIDE AROUND, AND IF SOMEBODY MESSES UP, I MEAN, IF THERE'S BLOOD INVOLVED, YOU KNOW, IF THERE'S MAJOR DAMAGE, THEN THEY CALL THE POLICE.
OTHERWISE THESE GUYS JUST ISSUE TICKETS AND DO ALL KINDS OF STUFF.
YOU MIGHT LOOK AT NORTH LITTLE ROCK.
I MEAN, YOU KNOW, THERE'S MORE THAN ONE WAY TO SKIN A CAT, AND UNTIL UNTIL THESE TRUCK DRIVERS AND THE COMPANIES THAT THEY DRIVE FOR REALIZE THAT WE MEAN BUSINESS.
THEY JUST BLOW US OFF, AND I HATE TO BE THE MEAN LADY, BUT I MEAN, THEY BLOW US OFF, AND SO IF IF YOU CAN GET THROUGH TO THEIR HEADQUARTERS TO SOMEBODY AND JUST SAY, OH, YEAH, WE'RE SENDING YOU A $50 TICKET BECAUSE OF SO AND SO, BELIEVE ME, THOSE TRUCK DRIVERS WILL LEARN TO READ, AND THAT'S ALL I HAVE.
THANK YOU. THANK YOU, JUSTICE DOUGAN.
I TURN IT OVER, OR--YOU YIELD.
THANK YOU. THAT WAS REALLY GOOD.
THIS IS NOT MY FIRST TIME HERE, AND THANK YOU FOR COMING ALSO.
I LIVE ON SHACKLEFORD, AND IT USED TO BE A DEAD END STREET, AND THEN THEY PUT A THOROUGHFARE RIGHT THROUGH IT, AND WE HAD EVERY LARGE TRUCK IN THE WORLD WAS COMING DOWN, AND WE HAD SIGNS SAYING, YOU CAN'T BE OVER A CERTAIN WEIGHT, AND THEY STILL WOULD COME.
SO WE KIND OF HAD LIKE A VIGILANTE GROUP OR SOMETHING THAT WE I SHOULDN'T.
IS THAT SOMETHING I COULD SAY THAT WE HAD OUR NEIGHBORHOOD ASSOCIATION AND WE WOULD GET OUT THERE AND IF A TRUCK CAME, WE'D TAKE THE LICENSE PLATES AND THE NAME, AND THEN WE ENDED UP GETTING DOWN THE STREETS.
WE GET THREE WAY STOP SIGNS, SO IF THEY'D GO REALLY FAST, THEY'D STILL HAVE TO, YOU KNOW, SLOW DOWN.
SO IT ACTUALLY WORKED A LITTLE BETTER.
I MEAN, IT WAS A NIGHTMARE FOR YEARS AND YEARS BECAUSE TERRI'S SCHOOL WAS IN MY BACK YARD, AND SO, YOU KNOW, YOU GOT ALL THESE LITTLE KIDS OUT THERE AND THESE TRUCKS COMING BACK REALLY FAST, BUT THAT'S WHAT THEY DID.
THEY PUT UP THESE THREE WAY STOP SIGNS AND SOME SPEED BUMPS, BUT I DON'T EVEN KNOW.
SO THANK YOU FOR WHAT YOU'RE DOING.
ALL RIGHT. THANK YOU, JUSTICE LEWISON.
THANK YOU. A FEW OF MY COMMENTS HAVE ALREADY BEEN PROPOSED.
FIRST OF ALL, I DON'T KNOW IF IT'S BEEN ANSWERED.
WHAT IS THE FINANCIAL PENALTY FOR SUCH VIOLATION? DO YOU HAPPEN TO KNOW, MISTER? I PULLED THE ORDINANCE UP JUST A MOMENT AGO.
LET ME GET BACK TO IT IF I CAN.
I THINK IT'S $100 FOR THE FIRST OFFENSE AND ANY SUBSEQUENT OFFENSE, SUBSEQUENT OFFENSE WITHIN A YEAR IS $250 FOR EACH.
OKAY, AND I THINK WHAT THE ULTIMATE GOAL IS TO I'M GOING TO USE THE PHRASE THE PATH OF LEAST RESISTANCE, BECAUSE AS SOON AS YOU DO, I GUESS IF YOU LOOK AT IT STRATEGICALLY, IF YOU DO SOMETHING EVEN IF EVEN IF THE SHERIFF WERE TO PUT SOMEONE OUT THERE A LOT, THAT MAY NOT STOP AT ALL.
SO I'M KIND OF THINKING, WHAT IS IT GOING TO ACTUALLY STOP? I AM A BIG FAN OF TRAFFIC CIRCLES.
[00:30:03]
I'M ASSUMING THEY'RE TAKING THIS ROUTE BECAUSE MAYBE GOOGLE OR SOME GPS IS TELLING THEM IT'S THE QUICKEST ROUTE.DO YOU KNOW THAT WAS THE ORIGINAL EXCUSE THAT WE GOT WHEN AMAZON FIRST OPENED AND THEY WERE MAKING MORE TRAFFIC STOPS, THE POLICEMEN WERE, AND THE DRIVERS WERE SAYING, HEY, GOOGLE SENT ME THROUGH HERE AND SO THROUGH SOME REALLY SERIOUS EFFORTS AMAZON AND SOME OF THE OTHER TRUCKING COMPANIES WORKED WITH THE NAVIGATION PEOPLE TO TRY TO GET THAT CHANGED.
OBVIOUSLY IT HADN'T CHANGED BECAUSE THEY'RE STILL COMING THROUGH, AND I THINK, YOU KNOW, WE'RE ALL CREATURES OF HABIT, AND AND THESE TRUCKERS HAVE FOUND THAT IF YOU TAKE THE BANKHEAD DRIVE, EXIT OVER TO FRAZIER TO GET TO THE PORT, YOU DON'T HAVE TO DEAL WITH A RAILROAD CROSSING THAT'S ON LINDSEY RD, OKAY, AND IT'S THE RAIL THAT BRINGS MATERIALS IN AND OUT OF THE PORT.
THE SAME GOES FOR THE WORKERS THAT WORK IN THE PORT AREA.
THEY HAVE THAT SAME MENTALITY, BUT, YOU KNOW, RIGHT NOW OUR FOCUS IS ON THE HEAVY TRUCK TRAFFIC, AND WE THINK THAT'S WHAT'S BEEN HAPPENING IS THEY LIKE TAKING THE CUT THROUGH THE COMMUNITY EVEN THOUGH IT'S VIOLATING THE LAW.
THIS PETITION IS LOOKS EXCELLENT.
I'VE SEEN SOME PETITIONS IN MY DAY, BUT IF YOU ALL HAVE ACTUALLY SAT DOWN AND CONSIDERED ALL THE OPTIONS OF WHAT YOU WANT DONE, AND THEN LET US KNOW EXACTLY WHAT YOU WANT.
ON THE FRONT HERE, USE TERMS YOU KNOW, COLLABORATE, COOPERATE, OTHER STUFF LIKE THAT, BUT AND OBVIOUSLY WE AS INDEPENDENT JUSTICE OF THE PEACE CAN FIGURE OUT IF AN ORDINANCE MAYBE NEEDS TO BE PASSED. WE CAN PUT OUR INDIVIDUAL BRAINS TOGETHER TO FIGURE OUT, BUT IF YOU HAVE SOMETHING IN SPECIFIC IN MIND YOU WOULD LIKE US TO DO THAT THAT WOULD BE GOOD TO KNOW.
SOON AFTER THIS MEETING ESPECIALLY.
WELL, DO YOU ALL HAVE ANY LEVERAGE OR AUTHORITY? SINCE YOU CREATED THE LAW, YOU PASSED THE LAW, DO YOU ALL HAVE ANY LEVERAGE TO ENFORCE THE LAW? I DON'T DON'T THINK SO.
WE'RE LEGISLATIVE BRANCH OF THIS COUNTY GOVERNMENT.
SO THAT'S WHY I TOLD MY COLLEAGUE, I SAID I WISH I COULD ENFORCE THE LAW, BUT BUT ANOTHER THING I'D LIKE FOR YOU TO ASK IS TO ASK YOU MY LAST QUESTION, IF YOU TALKED TO THE PORT AUTHORITY I WOULD THINK, OKAY, I WOULD THINK THEY COULD PULL SOME STRINGS SEND EMAILS OUT, YOU KNOW THERE ARE BIG DOG INVOLVED IN THIS TRANSACTION.
I THINK WHETHER IT BE AMAZON OR OTHER VENDORS OUT THERE.
SO I WOULD THINK THEY'D BE A GOOD MEDIUM TO GO THROUGH AND SEE WHAT THEY MIGHT BE ABLE TO.
MATTER OF FACT WE JUST RECENTLY HAD A MEETING WITH HIM, WITH THE GENERAL MANAGER OF AMAZON, WITH THE MANAGERS OF THE THERE'S A BIG 3M MINING MANUFACTURING FACILITY THAT SOME OF THESE TRUCKS ARE GOING TO AND FROM, AND, AND THE FIRST MEETING WITH THAT GROUP JUST WAS HELD A COUPLE OF WEEKS AGO, AND THE EFFORT IS TO WORK COLLABORATIVELY TO ALLEVIATE SOME OF THESE PROBLEMS AND ISSUES.
SO THAT IS AN ONGOING PROCESS THAT THAT WE'VE ALREADY STARTED TO TRY TO ALLEVIATE THIS.
YEAH, BUT BACK BACK TO WHAT THE QUORUM COURT CAN DO THOUGH.
AGAIN, I DON'T KNOW HOW MUCH INFLUENCE YOU HAVE WITH THE COUNTY SHERIFF ON THE PATROL SIDE, BUT I DO KNOW THAT OVER HALF, I THINK OVER HALF OF THE BUDGET THAT THAT YOU ALL ADMINISTER GOES TO THE SHERIFF'S OFFICE.
THE SPEED BUMPS THAT WERE MENTIONED THAT YOU SAID THAT WAS AT THE JUDGE'S DISCRETION OR WHATEVER, I THINK THAT WOULD BE A START TO HELP, YOU KNOW, MORE BIGGER SIGNAGE AND, AND AND MORE SIGNAGE TO ELIMINATE THE EXCUSE OF I DIDN'T SEE IT AND THEN MAYBE EVEN SOME SIGNS THAT, YOU KNOW, FLASH OR HAVE LIGHTS ON TO DRAW MORE ATTENTION OR SOME OF THE THINGS THAT THAT HOPEFULLY YOU AS THE QUORUM COURT BODY CAN, YOU KNOW, APPROPRIATE THOSE FUNDS OR TELL THE COUNTY GOVERNMENT ROAD AND BRIDGE OR WHOEVER TO TAKE CARE OF SOME OF THESE THINGS
[00:35:01]
AND THEN TO BE WILLING TO LISTEN TO US AGAIN AS WE COME BACK TO GIVE YOU UPDATES AND PROGRESS ON WHAT HAS BEEN DONE AND WHAT CAN CONTINUE TO BE DONE, I YIELD.ALL RIGHT. THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR THIS OPPORTUNITY TO SPEAK.
HOW ARE YOU, MISTER DOYNE? YES, MA'AM. I AM BLESSED TODAY, AND YOU ARE TOO.
ANYWAY IT'S GOOD TO SEE YOU, AND I'M GLAD TO SEE YOU ADVOCATING FOR YOUR COMMUNITY, AND I'M GOING TO BE EXPLICIT, I THINK THAT IN LOOKING AT THE LIST OF THE THINGS THAT WE COULD DO, THAT WE COULD DO AS THE COUNTY, I SEE IT REASONABLE THAT, NUMBER ONE, WE CAN SEE THAT YOU GET LARGER SIGNAGE.
OKAY. I THINK THAT WE CAN PUT THAT IN OUR BUDGET.
WE CAN CERTAINLY ALLOCATE MONEY TO DO THAT.
THAT IS ONE THING, AND I THINK THAT WE SHOULD MOVE TOWARD THAT, AND I'M PRETTY SURE THAT MISTER KEITH OR WHOMEVER WE HAVE, MISTER STOWERS THAT CAN TELL US HOW TO JUST ADVANCE TOWARD THAT.
ALSO, I DO SEE WHERE YOU HAVE IN ENHANCED ENFORCEMENT.
HAVE YOU TALKED WITH THE SHERIFF JUST YET? NOT YET. WE WANT YOU TO COMMUNICATE WITH THE SHERIFF ON THAT.
NOW, HE DOES HAVE A BUDGET, AND HE DOES NEED HE HAS HIS NEEDS AS WELL.
WHETHER OR NOT HE CAN SPARE SOMEONE AT THIS MOMENT, I DO NOT KNOW, BUT I'M PRETTY SURE THAT IT WOULD BE WORTH YOUR TIME TALKING TO HIM. DON'T YOU AGREE WITH THAT, MISTER BLACK? AND THEREFORE [CHUCKLING] EXCUSE ME, NO, I'M VERY SERIOUS ABOUT THAT.
OKAY, AND IT MAY BE THAT THE COUNTY MAY WANT TO SEE IF SOMEHOW OR THE OTHER, WE CAN SQUEEZE OUT SOME FUNDS FOR A COUPLE OF LAW ENFORCEMENT PEOPLE IN THAT AREA FOR AT LEAST TO KICK START THIS, YOU KNOW, TO KICK START IT. NOT SAYING THEY'LL BE THERE FOR FIVE YEARS, BUT MAYBE AT LEAST FOR A YEAR, TO KICK START IT SO THAT THE WORD WILL, THEY'LL GET THE MESSAGE, AND THAT MESSAGE IS, I'M SORRY, BUT YOU WILL GET A TICKET FOR THIS OR YOU KNOW, THERE WILL BE A WARRANT ISSUED, AND THEN NUMBER THREE, COMMUNICATION.
I THINK THAT AT THIS PARTICULAR TIME.
IT APPEARS TO ME PERHAPS THAT ROAD AND BRIDGE MIGHT WANT TO.
OUR ROAD AND BRIDGE DEPARTMENT WOULD WANT.
OR PERHAPS WELL, YOU KNOW, I WOULD I WOULD LIKE TO THINK THAT PERHAPS THEY WOULD BE CAPABLE OF GETTING OUT COMMUNICATION IN TERMS OF REINFORCING THE MEETINGS THAT YOU HAVE HAD WITH BRYAN DAY OF THE PORT AUTHORITY, COMMUNICATING WITH THE MANAGER OF AMAZON ABOUT THE IMPORTANCE OF GETTING THE MESSAGE OUT.
IN OTHER WORDS, COLLABORATION AND COMMUNICATION.
NOW I WITH AMAZON OUT THERE AND YOU'RE TALKING TO THE MANAGER OF AMAZON.
THEN I WOULD THINK THAT THAT MANAGER WOULD HAVE CONTACT CLOSER CONTACT WITH THOSE PEOPLE WHO FREQUENT THAT HIGHWAY OR SOME OF THEM, AT LEAST IN-LIEU OF AMAZON AND I'M THINKING THAT OUR ROAD AND BRIDGE DEPARTMENT.
WOULD ENCOURAGE OR AT LEAST INDUCE CONVERSATION BETWEEN THEMSELVES AND THE PORT AUTHORITY AS WELL AS AMAZON, AND I THINK THOSE ARE THINGS THAT WE CAN CONSIDER DOING.
SO MY QUESTION WOULD BE YOU'VE COME HERE.
SO WHERE DO YOU GO FROM HERE? DO YOU GO TO THE JUDGE OR JUST WHOM AND SHARE THIS INFORMATION AND ASK FOR ASSISTANCE FROM THE DEPARTMENTS THAT I JUST MENTIONED.
WOULD ANYONE LIKE TO ADDRESS THAT? IF WE WOULD JUSTICE MCMULLEN.
[00:40:10]
IS THAT OKAY? WELL, I WOULD PREFER, YOU KNOW, IF IF SOMEONE WOULD LIKE TO RESPOND TO IT NOW, I THINK IT WOULD BE, YOU KNOW, MORE MEANINGFUL THAN TO COME BACK TO IT LATER.HAVE YOU NOT SPOKEN TO THE COUNTY JUDGE AT THIS POINT? YES, MA'AM. WE HAVE SPOKEN WITH THE COUNTY JUDGE.
HE'S AWARE OF OUR INITIATIVE, AND I THINK THAT HE WOULD BE FULLY IN SUPPORT OF WHATEVER MEASURES THAT WE CAN TAKE COLLECTIVELY TO ALLEVIATE THIS PROBLEM.
HOWEVER, HE DID TELL ME THAT THE PROPER PROTOCOL WAS TO BRING THESE ISSUES TO THE QUORUM COURT BODY FIRST, TO MAKE SURE THAT YOU ALL WERE SUPPORTIVE OF US MOVING AHEAD AND THEN WE DO PLAN TO MEET BACK WITH THE JUDGE, WITH THE SHERIFF, AND THEN ALL OF THE SAME TYPE OF OFFICIALS ON THE CITY OF LITTLE ROCK SIDE, THE MAYOR, THE CHIEF OF POLICE, THEIR TRAFFIC DEPARTMENT AND SO FORTH.
ABSOLUTELY, AND IF THOSE PEOPLE ARE BEHIND YOU AND THEY CAN COMMUNICATE WITH, OF COURSE, BRYAN DAY, WHO'S WITH THE CITY, WITH THE PORT AUTHORITY AND COMMUNICATING AGAIN WITH THE MANAGER OF AMAZON, I THINK THAT THAT WOULD CERTAINLY IMPRESS UPON THEM THE IMPORTANCE OF THIS.
YES, MA'AM. THANK YOU, THANK YOU.
IS THAT IT, JUSTICE MCMULLEN? THANK YOU. YES. OKAY.
HOW ARE YOU DOING, SIR? YOU ALSO COULD CONTACT.
ARDOT. ARKANSAS DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION IS IS ON OUR LIST.
WE'RE HOPING TO GET THEM TO AGREE TO SIGNAGE ALONG INTERSTATE 440 THAT LEADS TO THE AMAZON PORTS DIRECTING INDIVIDUALS TO USE THAT LINDSEY ROAD AND THE [INAUDIBLE] ROAD INSTEAD OF BANKHEAD DRIVE.
SO THEY ARE ON OUR LIST TO CONTACT, TOO.
ALL RIGHT. THANK YOU. JUSTICE ELLIOTT.
I THINK MUCH OF WHAT HAS BEEN SAID UP HERE, YOU'VE ALREADY SAID THAT YOU ARE DOING.
SO I DO WANT TO SAY THAT I BELIEVE MOST OF US OR ALL OF US DO SUPPORT WHAT YOU ALL ARE TRYING TO DO.
I GUESS I ALSO HAVE A QUESTION.
DID YOU SAY THAT IN REGARDS TO SPEED BUMPS AND THINGS OF THAT NATURE? THAT'S A DISCRETION OF THE JUDGE, IS THAT CORRECT, TO THE ATTORNEY? THAT'S CORRECT. OKAY.
LET'S KEEP IT REAL, AND I THINK YOU ALL NEED TO HAVE A MEETING WITH HIM IF YOU HAVEN'T ALREADY.
YOU NEED TO HAVE A COME TO JESUS MEETING WITH HIM ABOUT THIS TO GET YOU SOME HELP.
THIS IS HER DISTRICT, AND SHE'S IN FAVOR.
SO WE DON'T WANT TO DISREGARD JUSTICE GREEN IN HER EFFORTS.
I THINK THEY'VE ABOUT COVERED IT ALL, BUT I'M JUST GOING TO GO AHEAD AND REITERATE.
THIS IS A GOOD PETITION, AND YOU OBVIOUSLY HAVE OUR SUPPORT, AND I DO FEEL LIKE SIGNAGE, BIGGER SIGNS, IF THAT'S IF WE NEED TO PUT SOMETHING TOGETHER OR IF YOU NEED TO GO TO THE JUDGE AND THEN PUT IT TOGETHER, BUT I THINK WE'RE ALL IN AGREEANCE WITH YOU NEED BIGGER SIGNAGE OR WHAT HAVE YOU AND SPEED BUMPS.
I MEAN, THEY'VE COME TO KNOW THEY NEED TO AVOID THAT.
SO IF YOU THIS IS A GOOD START, BUT IF YOU HAVE THE SIGNAGE AND THE SPEED BUMPS, THEY'RE GOING TO COME TO KNOW AND EVEN ENFORCEMENT, THEY'RE GOING TO COME TO KNOW NOT TO TAKE THOSE SIDE STREETS AS WELL.
WHICH BRINGS ANOTHER QUESTION.
THE RAILROAD, HOW OFTEN IS ARE THERE IS THERE TRAVELING ON THE TRAINS ON THE RAILROAD OR?
[00:45:01]
YES, AND IT'S FORTUNATELY OR UNFORTUNATELY, DEPENDING ON HOW YOU LOOK AT IT, SINCE THE RAIL SERVICE OUT THERE GENERATES INCOME FOR OUR COMMUNITY AT LARGE.IT'S PRETTY CONSTANT THROUGHOUT THE DAY, HOWEVER THEY DO, ACCORDING TO BRYAN, THEY DO TRY TO SCHEDULE THEIR BIG LONG RAIL MOVEMENTS WHEN IT'S LIKE 30, 40, 50 CARS.
THEY TRY TO SCHEDULE THAT FOR LATE AT NIGHT WHEN THERE'S LESS, YOU KNOW, VEHICULAR TRAFFIC ON THE ROADS, BUT THOSE TRAINS ARE CONSTANTLY MOVING, MOVING IN AND OUT. YOU KNOW, WE GOT WELSPUN THERE.
THERE'S ANOTHER BIG INDUSTRY LPAC THAT'S BUILDING A BUILDING THERE.
THEY'RE GOING TO BE USING RAIL.
SO IT'S KIND OF A GIVE AND TAKE ON, ON THAT SITUATION, AND I MEAN, I GUESS THAT JUST IS WHAT IT IS.
CORRECT. SO THEY'LL JUST HAVE TO YEAH IT'S ONE OF THOSE CATCH 22 THINGS.
YES, MA'AM. SIGNAGE AND SPEED BUMPS I THINK, AND I THINK WE'RE ALL IN SUPPORT OF THAT.
I'M GOING TO ASK YOU IF YOU'LL HOLD STICK AROUND TO THE END OF THE MEETING.
IF YOU FEEL SO COMPELLED, CAN YOU HELP US OUT WITH THAT? I CERTAINLY WILL, OKAY, AND AND BEFORE I TAKE MY SEAT, JUST A COUPLE OF QUICK THINGS, I DO WANT TO AGAIN ACKNOWLEDGE OUR PRESIDENT OF THE PROGRESSIVE LEAGUE, OUR EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR.
WE HAVE SEVERAL CITIZENS HERE.
THIS WAS A TEAM EFFORT WITH OUR CHURCHES AND INDIVIDUALS TO COLLECT THESE, AND I WASN'T JOKING WHEN I SAID FIVE OVER 500 SIGNATURES OF PEOPLE WHO LIVE, WORK OR VISIT OUR COMMUNITY AND SO PEOPLE ARE CONCERNED, THEY ARE SUPPORTIVE OF WHAT WE'RE TRYING TO DO, AND WE JUST WANT, AGAIN, TO PREVENT SOMEONE FROM GETTING SERIOUSLY INJURED OR KILLED BECAUSE WE DIDN'T DO ANYTHING.
DID YOU HAVE ANY ANY COMMENTS? NO. SO MAY, IT PLEASE THE QUORUM COURT, AGAIN, MY NAME IS AUSTIN PORTER JR.
I'M THE PRESIDENT OF PROGRESSIVE LEAGUE, AND I JUST GREW UP IN THE COMMUNITY.
PRESIDENT OF THE PROGRESSIVE LEAGUE.
MY DAD LIVES IN THE SAME HOUSE, RIGHT ACROSS RIGHT ON FRAZIER PIKE.
THANK GOD WE DIDN'T HAVE THE BIG TRUCKS BACK THEN OR MAY NOT HAVE BEEN AROUND TO BE HERE TODAY.
SO THIS IS A PROBLEM THAT WE HAVE WITH THE TRAFFIC, AND WE'RE HOPING THAT WE GET SOME SOLUTIONS.
THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR YOUR TIME.
THANK YOU. WE APPRECIATE THAT PRESENTATION.
REAL QUICK, I SKIPPED ITEM FIVE ON OUR AGENDA.
IS THERE A RECOMMENDATION? SO MOVED. SECOND.
A MOTION WAS MADE WITH THE SECOND THAT WE APPROVE OUR MINUTES FROM OUR LAST MEETING.
ALL THOSE IN FAVOR, CAN YOU SIGNIFY BY SAYING AYE? AYE. THOSE OPPOSED? OUR MINUTES HAVE BEEN APPROVED FROM OUR LAST MEETING.
I AM NOT AWARE OF ANY UNFINISHED BUSINESS.
WE'LL MOVE RIGHT INTO OUR RESOLUTIONS.
AMY, WOULD YOU PLEASE READ RESOLUTION 24-I-22? A RESOLUTION OF THE QUORUM COURT OF PULASKI COUNTY TO REAPPOINT MR. JOHN "JACK" LARRISON TO THE PULASKI COUNTY BOARD OF EQUALIZATION FOR A THREE YEAR TERM TO EXPIRE MAY 2027.
JUSTICE LEWISON MOVE FOR THE ADOPTION.
SECOND. I'M GOING TO ASK JUSTICE LEWISON IF SHE'LL RESTATE THAT.
WE'RE GOING TO SEND IT TO THE FULL QUORUM COURT WITH A DO PASS? [INAUDIBLE] ALL RIGHT, AND DID SOMEBODY MAKE A SECOND TO THAT? SECOND. YEAH. ALL RIGHT SO A MOTION WAS MADE AFTER DELIBERATION WITH THE SECOND THAT WE'LL SEND 24-I-22 TO THE FULL QUORUM COURT WITH A DO PASS RECOMMENDATION. JUSTICE LEWISON, WOULD YOU LIKE TO EXPLAIN? I WOULD LIKE IF MR. LARRISON WOULD COME UP HERE SO WE CAN INTRODUCE HIM, AND HE CAN KIND OF TELL THAT THE BOARD OF EQUALIZATION DOES [INAUDIBLE], AND
[00:50:03]
I WOULD LIKE TO SAY I HAVE KNOWN THIS GENTLEMAN.HE LIVED, AND WE ALL LIVED IN THE SAME SUBDIVISION.
THAT'S RIGHT, THAT'S RIGHT. LIKE 45 YEARS AGO, AND HE KNEW THE BIG TRUCK PROBLEM COMING THROUGH.
SO I APPRECIATE ALL YOU HAVE DONE, AND WOULD YOU JUST EXPLAIN WHAT THE BOARD OF EQUALIZATION BOARD DOES? WHAT THE BOARD DOES IS WHEN PEOPLE HAVE GET THEIR REAL ESTATE TAX BILL IS THIS CAN EVERYBODY HEAR ME? CAN YOU STEP A LITTLE CLOSER? YEAH. I THINK YOU'RE OKAY.
WHEN PEOPLE WHEN THE TAX BILLS GO OUT, YOUR REAL ESTATE TAX AND PERSONAL PROPERTY TAX TAX STATEMENTS GO OUT AND YOU DON'T LIKE FOR WHATEVER REASON THE RESULTS OF THAT, YOUR REMEDY OF COURSE OF APPEAL IS THROUGH THE BOARD OF EQUALIZATION, AND IT'S THE DUTY OF THE BOARD TO HEAR TO HEAR THE COMPLAINTS MADE BY PROPERTY OWNERS AND TO BALANCE THAT OUT WITH EQUITY AND FAIRNESS WITH OTHER PROPERTIES IN, IN THE COUNTY.
OKAY. THANK YOU, MR. LARRISON. QUESTIONS? THERE SEEMS TO BE NO QUESTIONS.
THANK YOU FOR SHOWING UP TONIGHT.
AMY. WOULD YOU PLEASE CALL THE ROLL? 15 AYES. WE WILL SEND 24-I-22 TO THE FULL QUORUM COURT WITH A DO PASS RECOMMENDATION.
[24-1-22 A RESOLUTION OF THE QUORUM COURT OF PULASKI COUNTY TO REAPPOINT MR. JOHN "JACK" LARRISON TO THE PULASKI COUNTY BOARD OF EQUALIZATION FOR A THREE YEAR TERM TO EXPERE MAY 2027. ]
AMY, PLEASE READ 24-I-23.[24-1-23 A RESOLUTION OF THE QUORUM COURT OF PULASKI COUNTY TO REAPPOINT MS. LEIGH SPANN TO THE PULASKI COUNTY BOARD OF EQUALIZATION FOR A THREE YEAR TERM TO EXPHtE MAY 2027.]
JUSTICE DAVIS.MOVE FOR THE ADOPTION TO THE FULL QUORUM COURT.
JUSTICE DAVIS, WOULD YOU LIKE TO EXPLAIN? I DO, [INAUDIBLE] OKAY.
I'M SO SORRY. WOULD YOU LIKE TO SAY ANYTHING.
OR ARE YOU GOOD? [INAUDIBLE] PERFECT. OKAY.
THANK YOU. AMY, WOULD YOU PLEASE CALL THE ROLL? 15 AYES.
[24-1-24 AN ORDINANCE AMENDING ORDINANCE 23-OR-47 (2024 ANNUAL BUDGET, PULASKI COUNTY, ARKANSAS) TO RECOGNIZE AND APPROPRIATE REIMBURSEMENT FUNDS FOR THE CRISIS STABILIZATION UNIT. ]
AN ORDINANCE AMENDING ORDINANCE 23-OR-47 2024 ANNUAL BUDGET, PULASKI COUNTY, ARKANSAS, TO RECOGNIZE AND APPROPRIATE REIMBURSEMENT FUNDS FOR THE CRISIS STABILIZATION UNIT.JUST A NOTE, EVERYBODY'S MIC IS ON RIGHT NOW, IF YOU HADN'T NOTICED.
MOVE FOR THE ADOPTION TO THE FULL QUORUM COURT SECOND.
JUSTICE DAVIS, WOULD YOU LIKE TO EXPLAIN OR I BELIEVE JUSTIN CAN EXPLAIN.
RIGHT. RIGHT, BUT WE GOT MISS DOUGAN UP HERE.
THE CSU IS THE CRISIS STABILIZATION UNIT.
BEEN AROUND FOR ABOUT THREE YEARS.
FOUR YEARS? FIVE? BEEN AROUND A LONG TIME.
THE STATE WE CAN PROVIDE BRICK AND MORTAR.
THE STATE PROVIDES THE FUNDING, AND UMS PROVIDES THE SERVICE.
WHAT IT'S SUPPOSED TO DO IS LESSEN THE PEOPLE GOING TO JAIL FOR BAD NIGHT, YOU AND YOUR SIGNIFICANT OTHER GET INTO IT INSTEAD OF GOING TO JAIL, YOU CAN GO HERE TO COOL OFF, ON YOUR MEDICATION, HAVE A SHOWER, AND MAYBE EVERYTHING'S FINE.
THAT'S CLOSE. YEAH, THAT'S CLEAR AS MUD.
YEAH, IT'S PEOPLE IN MENTAL CRISIS.
[00:55:07]
YEAH. JUSTICE BLACKWOOD.ANY OTHER QUESTIONS? THERE BEING NONE.
AMY, WOULD YOU PLEASE CALL THE ROLL ON 24-I-24.
15 AYES, WE WILL SEND 24-I-24 TO THE FULL QUORUM COURT WITH A DUE PASS RECOMMENDATION.
AMY, WOULD YOU PLEASE READ 24-I-25 AN ORDINANCE AMENDING ORDINANCE 23-OR-47 2024 ANNUAL BUDGET.
[24-1-25 AN ORDINANCE AMENDING ORDINANCE 23-OR-47 (2024 ANNUAL BUDGET, PULASKI COUNTY, ARKANSAS) TO RECOGNIZE AND APPROPRIATE GRANT FUNDS FOR THE PROSECUTING ATTORNEY'S DEPARTMENT. ]
PULASKI COUNTY, ARKANSAS TO RECOGNIZE AN APPROPRIATE GRANT FUNDS FOR THE PROSECUTING ATTORNEY'S DEPARTMENT.I MAKE A MOTION WE SEND THIS ITEM TO THE FULL QUORUM COURT WITH A DO PASS RECOMMENDATION.
JUSTICE STOWERS, WOULD YOU LIKE TO EXPLAIN? YES, SIR. FIRST OF ALL, LET ME START BY SAYING THAT OUR PROSECUTING ATTORNEY, WILL JONES, WAS NOT ABLE TO ATTEND THIS EVENING DUE TO A CONFLICT.
ESSENTIALLY, THIS IS A PRETTY SMALL GRANT $3,000 AND SOME CHANGE, AND IT'S GOING TO BE USED TO OFFER CONFLICT RESOLUTION BENEFITS TO SCHOOLS AND SCHOOL RESOURCE OFFICERS TO HELP RESOLVE CONFLICTS WITH THERAPEUTIC AND COUNSELING INTERVENTIONS AND EFFORTS TO RESOLVE YOUTH INTERACTIONS WITHOUT CITATIONS AND WITHOUT COURT INVOLVEMENT. SO I PRAY FOR A GOOD VOTE ON AT LEAST GETTING THIS TO THE QUORUM COURT, AND THEN IF THERE'S QUESTIONS, DEBATE CONCERNS WITH THE PROSECUTOR HERE, WE CAN ADDRESS THEM.
THEN I'D LIKE TO KNOW MORE AND I DON'T KNOW IF I GOT A SECOND ON MY MOTION OR NOT.
YOU DID. DO YOU HAVE A QUESTION? I'D LIKE TO [INAUDIBLE]. OKAY.
AMY, WOULD YOU PLEASE CALL THE ROLL ON? WE CAN'T TURN OUR LIGHTS ON.
I'M LOOKING. THAT'S WHY I'M LOOKING UP AND DOWN.
SO SHE WANTS TO BE RECOGNIZED.
OKAY. WELL, YOU KNOW THAT THAT ALMOST SOUNDS TOO GOOD TO BE TRUE, BUT I'M ASSUMING, THOUGH, THAT IT WILL BE A VERY GOOD I MEAN, A VERY MEANINGFUL PROGRAM, BUT YOU HAVE JUST ABOUT SHARED.
ALL THAT YOU KNOW AT THIS TIME.
I GUESS THAT'S WHY YOU'RE DEFERRING US TO HIM WHEN HE COMES AND GIVE US A CHANCE TO TALK.
DO YOU KNOW IF THE SCHOOLS ARE ALSO FOR THE LITTLE ROCK OR JUST FOR THE PULASKI COUNTY SCHOOLS? DO YOU KNOW THAT? YEAH, I DO NOT KNOW AN ANSWER TO THAT QUESTION.
SO THAT THAT WOULD BE A GOOD ONE TO ASK MR. JONES TWO WEEKS FROM TONIGHT.
ARE THERE ANY OTHER? WERE THERE ANY OTHER QUESTIONS, JUSTICE MCMULLEN? NO, THANK YOU VERY MUCH.
OKAY. AMY, WOULD YOU PLEASE CALL THE ROLL ON 24-I-25? 15 AYES.
WE WILL SEND 24-I-25 TO THE FULL QUORUM COURT WITH A DO PASS RECOMMENDATION.
AMY, WOULD YOU PLEASE READ 24-I-26 AN ORDINANCE AMENDING ORDINANCE 23-0R-47 2024 ANNUAL BUDGET.
[24-1-26 AN ORDINANCE AMENDING ORDINANCE 23-OR-47 (2024 ANNUAL BUDGET, PULASKI COUNTY, ARKANSAS) TO TRANSFER FUNDS FROM THE E911 CAPITAL ACCOUNT INTO THE E911 OPERATING ACCOUNT, AND TO APPROPRIATE THOSE FUNDS INTO THE E911 OPERATING SYSTEM DEPARTMENT. ]
PULASKI COUNTY, ARKANSAS, TO TRANSFER FUNDS FROM THE E-911 CAPITAL ACCOUNT INTO THE E-911 OPERATING ACCOUNT AND TO APPROPRIATE THOSE FUNDS INTO THE E-911 OPERATING SYSTEM DEPARTMENT.YES. MOVE TO THE FULL QUORUM COURT WITH A DO PASS RECOMMENDATION.
[01:00:06]
JUSTICE ROBINSON, WOULD YOU LIKE TO EXPLAIN? I THINK I WILL LET HUTCH EXPLAIN THIS, SO DON'T MAKE IT TOO CONFUSING.YES, SIR. THIS IS AN ACCOUNT WE'VE HAD A CAPITAL ACCOUNT WE'VE HAD SINCE BEFORE I GOT HERE, ACTUALLY, AND OCCASIONALLY YOU'VE HAD TO PULL MONEY OUT OF IT WHEN WE'VE HAD TO DO A 9-1-1 UPGRADE OR WHATEVER POPPED UP.
WE'RE GETTING READY TO START THIS MOVE OUT TO JACKSONVILLE 9-1-1.
I DON'T ANTICIPATE USING ALL THAT MONEY OR NEEDING ALL THAT MONEY, BUT WE MOVED IT OVER.
THERE'S SOME UPGRADES WE'RE DOING, AND THEY CALL IT FURNITURE.
IT'S THE CONSOLES WE'RE PURCHASING.
THAT THE SCREENS AND THE ACTUAL SAP GOES INTO AND THINGS LIKE THAT.
SO WHEN THOSE BILLS COME IN, I'LL NEED SOMETHING TO PAY IT WITH.
YES. HOW MUCH IS THIS GOING TO COST US? DO YOU KNOW TOTAL TO MOVE THIS 9-1-1 CENTER UP THERE? WITH THE UPGRADES AND EVERYTHING.
FROM WHAT I'VE SEEN, THE ESTIMATES I'LL PROBABLY USE ABOUT 300,000 OF THAT, ROUGHLY.
THAT'S ALL IT'S GOING TO COST TOTAL TO MOVE THE WHOLE CENTER.
WELL, THAT'S WHAT I KNOW ABOUT WHAT THAT WE'RE RESPONSIBLE FOR.
SO PULASKI COUNTY'S ONLY GOING TO BE RESPONSIBLE FOR 300,000.
I DON'T KNOW, BUT A ROUND ESTIMATE.
WHAT I'M DEALING WITH RIGHT NOW.
YES MA'AM. THAT'S WHAT I'M DOING.
THAT'S ALL WE'RE GOING TO BE RESPONSIBLE FOR TO MOVE THAT 911 CENTER COMPLETELY UP THERE.
LET ME REPHRASE WHAT I, WHAT I SAID.
WE'RE IN THE PROCESS OF GETTING ALL THIS TOGETHER.
WE HAVE TO ORDER THE, THEY CALL IT FURNITURE.
IT'S THE CONSOLE THAT THE SAP GOES INTO.
WE'RE UPGRADING SOME OF THE EQUIPMENT, ANTICIPATING THAT I NEEDED THAT MONEY APPROPRIATED FOR THAT.
THE NUMBERS I'VE SEEN SO FAR ARE RIGHT AROUND $300,000 OUR SHARE.
RIGHT. SO COULD IT BE A LITTLE MORE THAN THAT? YEP. COULD IT BE LESS THAN THAT? YEP. NO, NO. RIGHT.
JUST AN ESTIMATE. IS WHAT YOU'RE SAYING, RIGHT? YEAH. THAT'S WHAT I'M TRYING TO GET AT.
HUTCH, I HAVE A QUESTION FOR YOU.
YES, MA'AM. ARE THERE OTHER COSTS THAT WE CAN ANTICIPATE, OR WILL THIS BE THE BULK OF THE COST FOR THE MOVE? NO, THERE COULD BE OTHER COSTS.
I MEAN, ARE YOU TALKING ABOUT JUST THE PHYSICAL MOVING OF THE EQUIPMENT? EVERYTHING. WELL, WE DON'T KNOW EVERYTHING YET, BECAUSE YOU'RE STILL GOING TO BE GOING INTO AN AGREEMENT.
THAT'S WHERE THIS HAS COME FROM.
THERE'S HARDLINE AND THERE'S CELLULAR.
IT'S DIVIDED UP BETWEEN ALL THE ENTITIES, THE CITIES AND THE COUNTY.
IT'S DONE LIKE THAT NOW TO CONTINUE TO BE DONE THAT WAY.
THERE'S A PHONE BILL EVERY MONTH THAT'LL HAVE TO BE REFIGURED RIGHT NOW THAT GETS PAID THROUGH MY OFFICE, THROUGH A SPREADSHEET ABOUT THIS LONG I HAVE TO DO EVERY MONTH THAT DIVIDES IT UP BASED ON POPULATIONS THROUGHOUT THE COUNTY AND THE CITIES.
WHEN THESE CONSOLIDATIONS ARE DONE, THAT SPREADSHEET IS GOING TO CHANGE, AND I GOT MY FINGERS CROSSED SOMEBODY ELSE IS GOING TO TAKE THAT OVER BECAUSE I REALLY DON'T LIKE DOING IT. I DON'T HAVE A MAGIC EIGHT BALL WITH ME, SO I DON'T KNOW ALL THE NUMBERS, THIS IS THE BULK OF THE COST.
THERE ARE OTHER COSTS THAT WILL KIND OF BE REDISTRIBUTED.
WELL, YOU'RE GOING TO HAVE YOU ALREADY HAVE PERSONNEL COSTS WITH IT.
SO YOU'RE GOING TO HAVE PERSONNEL COSTS WHEN YOU WHEN YOU CONSOLIDATE.
RIGHT. PROBABLY SOMETHING I'M MISSING.
THERE'S A LOT OF BILLS THAT THAT ARE BUDGETED FOR EVERY YEAR.
YOU'LL STILL HAVE A BUDGET EXCEPT WE'LL BE SPLITTING THE COST.
SO DID WE JUST RECENTLY SPEND MONEY FOR UPGRADES? YOU UPGRADED A RECEIVER OUT AT THE SHERIFF'S OFFICE, WHICH WILL WORK WITH WHAT YOU'RE DOING OUT HERE OR WHERE WILL IT? IT WILL GO ALL.
IT'S NOT GOING TO GO. IT'S STILL GOING TO BE USED HERE, BUT IT'LL WORK WITH WHAT THE, THAT WASN'T, THAT WAS PART OF THE RADIO SYSTEM, IF YOU REMEMBER, THAT WAS GOING WITH WHAT'S THAT SOFTWARE?
[01:05:06]
WHAT? THE GIS AND ALL THAT GOES.OKAY, SO IT WILL SAVE US MONEY EVENTUALLY.
EVENTUALLY, ACCORDING WE MET WITH THE STATE YESTERDAY.
THE STATE IS ORDERED THE CONSOLIDATIONS.
THROUGH ECONOMY OF SCALE, THIS SHOULD GET CHEAPER.
SO THERE'S GOING TO BE LESS EMPLOYEES, RIGHT? WELL, NOT NECESSARILY THE, THE MANAGER OUT, AND THIS THIS HAS NOTHING TO DO WITH THIS ORDINANCE, BUT THE MANAGER OUT THERE AT JACKSONVILLE HAS MET WITH THE EMPLOYEES OUT HERE AND OFFERED ALL OF THEM LIKE, HEY, ALL YOU GOT TO DO IS APPLY. WE NEED PEOPLE.
WELL, THAT'S THE SAME THING THE SHERIFF'S OFFICE HAVE.
THEY HAVE VACANCIES AND DISPATCH RIGHT NOW.
THERE'S ALWAYS MONEY SPENT ON 9-1-1.
Y'ALL JUST DON'T KNOW ABOUT IT BECAUSE THERE'S A BUDGET.
YOU APPROVE A BUDGET EVERY YEAR FOR IT.
OKAY. ACTUALLY, YOU APPROVED TWO BUDGETS FOR IT EVERY YEAR.
WOULD YOU PLEASE CALL THE ROLL ON 20? HOLD ON. SORRY.
SO THEY ARE DOING THE VERY BEST THEY CAN FOR THOSE EMPLOYEES AND HAVE BEGGED THEM TO APPLY.
BECAUSE THEY DON'T WANT TO HAVE TO HIRE OUT.
THANK YOU. ACTUALLY ON NET, THEY'LL NET MORE MONEY IN JACKSONVILLE BECAUSE OF THE BENEFIT PACKAGE.
IF AN EMPLOYEE LEAVES HERE AND GOES OUT THERE, THEY'LL NET MORE.
THEY'RE ALSO WHAT THEY'VE OFFERED THEM.
LIKE MISS DAVIS SAID, IS IF YOU HAD X NUMBER OF YEARS SENIORITY HERE, THAT MEAN YOU MIGHT BE THE SUPERVISOR THERE, BUT THEY'RE LETTING YOU CARRY YOUR TIME I LIKE THAT, SO THAT'S GOOD THERE.
IT'S A SHE, BUT THEY'RE DOING EVERYTHING THEY CAN DO.
OKAY. THANK YOU. NOT MAKING THEM WAIT ON THE HEALTH INSURANCE.
YOU KNOW, YOU HAVE LIKE, A 90 DAY PAUSE THEY IMMEDIATELY HAVE RECOVERED.
ANYTHING ELSE? ALL RIGHT. OKAY.
THANK YOU. YOU KNOW--CAN YOU SPEAK IN YOUR MICROPHONE, PLEASE? YES. YOU KNOW, THERE SEEMED TO HAVE BEEN SO MUCH I MEAN, SUCH A CONTROVERSIAL SUBJECT.
WHEREAS, YOU KNOW, I JUST, YOU KNOW, GOT THE I KNOW THAT WE'RE VOTING TONIGHT, AND THAT'S THE ONLY REASON I'M BRINGING IT UP IS BECAUSE IT WAS SUCH A CONTROVERSIAL SUBJECT THAT DIDN'T SEEM TO BE AGREEMENT THAT THE BEST SOLUTION WAS CHOSEN.
WELL, UNFORTUNATELY, THE STATE HAS PASSED A LAW AND SAID THIS IS WHAT WE'RE GOING TO DO.
THE STATE HAS PASSED THE LAW, WHAT DID YOU SAY, MISTER? THE STATE HAS PASSED THE LAW TO PUT 9-1-1 UNDER ALL COUNTY JUDGES ACROSS THE STATE AND ORDERED THE COMMUNITY, THE COUNTIES, AND THE CITIES TO CONSOLIDATE BEFORE JANUARY 2025.
YOU KNOW, I, RIGHT, I REALIZE THAT, THAT IT IS A STATE LAW, BUT THERE SEEMED TO HAVE BEEN SUCH DISAGREEMENT IN TERMS OF THE LOCATION, YOU KNOW, OF THE SOLID CONSOLIDATION, AND SO THAT'S WHERE I WOULD BE VERY RELUCTANT TO APPROVE IT TONIGHT BECAUSE I AM WONDERING, YOU KNOW, IF EVERYTHING EVERYONE WAS BROUGHT TO THE TABLE IN THE END.
WELL, WE'VE BEEN HAVING THESE MEETINGS FOR A COUPLE OF YEARS NOW, BUT SOME PEOPLE CHOOSE NOT TO ATTEND, AND I BELIEVE THERE WAS A REASON NOT SO MUCH AS CHOSE NOT TO ATTEND, BUT PERHAPS THEY WERE INVITED.
[01:10:02]
SAT AT THE TABLE WITH THEM A FEW TIMES.WELL, I'M SORRY, I DON'T HAVE, RIGHT A FEW TIMES, HUTCH.
THEN THEY QUIT. FOR SOME REASON, I DON'T HAVE MY NOTES WITH ME, SO I'M REALLY NOT IN A POSITION TO ADDRESS THAT INTELLIGENTLY. I'M SORRY.
I'M JUST TELLING YOU I WAS THERE.
SO. I MEAN, I'M JUST TELLING YOU, YOU DON'T HAVE TO BELIEVE ME.
THAT'S ALL RIGHT. I WOULD YOU KNOW WHAT? IT'S NOT THAT I DON'T BELIEVE YOU.
COULD YOU TELL ME WHY THEY ELECTED NOT TO ATTEND? I DON'T THINK THEY WERE GETTING THEIR WAY, AND IT MADE THEM MAD, AND THEY DECIDED NOT TO ATTEND.
OKAY, SO CAN CAN WE CAN WE REIN THIS BACK IN? I KNOW WE STARTED DOWN THE WRONG PATH WITH OTHER JUSTICES, BUT I DON'T KNOW THAT THIS IS THE RIGHT FORUM TO.
ALL RIGHT, HERE'S THE THING, AND Y'ALL CAN OBVIOUSLY VOTE ANY WAY YOU WANT, RIGHT.
WE'RE GOING TO BE CONSOLIDATING WITH JACKSONVILLE, AND THAT'S FINAL.
YES, MA'AM, AND IF Y'ALL DON'T APPROVE THIS MONEY, WE'LL COME BACK TO THE STATE AND COME BACK TO JACKSONVILLE.
IF WE'RE NOT CONSOLIDATED BY 2025, THEN WE DO LOSE 9-1-1 FUNDING.
OKAY, AND IS THERE ANY REASON THAT I'M SURE A DECISION.
IN OTHER WORDS, IF WE DON'T GET THIS PASSED TONIGHT, IT IS STILL 2024.
WHOEVER WROTE THAT LAW THAT PUT THIS UNDER THE COUNTY JUDGE, GOD, I'D LOVE TO MEET THEM.
JUST FIVE MINUTES IS ALL I ASK FOR.
OKAY. WE DON'T HAVE NEAR TO DEAL WITH, SO WE GOT TO DEAL WITH THIS NOW.
ALL RIGHT. THANK YOU. AMY, WOULD YOU PLEASE CALL THE ROLL 24-I-26? 14 AYES. 14 AYES.
WE WILL SEND 24-I-26 TO THE FULL QUORUM COURT WITH A DO PASS RECOMMENDATION.
IT IS A LATE FILING, IF I'M CORRECT, AND WE SUSPEND THE RULES.
MOTION TO SECOND. TO SUSPEND THE RULES TO HEAR 24-I-27.
AMY, WOULD YOU PLEASE READ? 24-I-27.
AN ORDINANCE AMENDING ORDINANCE 23-OR-47 2024 ANNUAL BUDGET, PULASKI COUNTY, ARKANSAS, TO RECOGNIZE AN APPROPRIATE DRUG COURT GRANT FUNDS AND VETERANS TREATMENT COURT GRANT FUNDS FOR THE 11TH DIVISION [INAUDIBLE] COURT.
I MOVE THAT WE SEND THIS TO THE FULL QUORUM COURT WITH A RECOMMENDED DO PASS.
SECOND, AND WE DO HAVE JUDGE JAMES HERE.
IT'S KIND OF SELF-EXPLANATORY, BUT SHE MAY WANT TO GIVE US SOME ADDITIONAL INFORMATION.
RECEIVED GRANT MONEY TO HELP WITH DRUG COURT AND VET COURT.
MOST OF THIS MONEY IS GOING TO GO TO OFFICE SUPPLIES, WHICH BASICALLY IS FOLDERS FOR OUR PARTICIPANTS SO THEY KNOW WHERE TO BE IN TREATMENT, WHERE TO BE, AND PROBATION, THINGS OF THAT NATURE, AND THE OTHER THING IS GAS MONEY TO HELP OUR PEER SPECIALIST WHO GOES AND HELPS OUR, OUR PARTICIPANTS WHO GO VISIT PEOPLE IN JAIL.
HE GOES, TAKES PEOPLE TO REHAB.
HE DOES A LOT OF THOSE THINGS.
SO WE GOT IT'S NO EFFECT ON Y'ALL'S BUDGET.
IF WE USE IT ALL UP, WE DON'T GET ANOTHER.
IT'S NOT ME TRYING TO MANAGE A CHECKBOOK.
JUSTICE BLACKWOOD, CURRY, MCMULLEN.
YOU WANT TO BE ADDED AS A SPONSOR? OKAY. YES, YES.
EVERYBODY, ALMOST EVERYBODY WANTS TO BE ADDED AS A SPONSOR.
ALRIGHT. AMY, WOULD YOU PLEASE CALL THE ROLL ON 24-I-27.
[01:15:18]
14 AYES. 14 AYES.WE WILL SEND 24-I-27 TO THE FULL QUORUM COURT WITH THE RECOMMENDED DO PASS.
IS THERE A RECOMMENDATION? SO MOVED. SECOND, OUR OFFICIAL MEETING HAS ADJOURNED.
ARE THERE ANY ANNOUNCEMENTS? I HAVE AN ANNOUNCEMENT.
[Announcements ]
MY ANNOUNCEMENT IS TRAINS ARE ON THAT TRACK ALL THE TIME.I WORK LESS THAN A FEW HUNDRED YARDS FROM THAT TRAIN TRACK, AND I AM LATE FOR WORK A LOT OF TIMES, AND THE TRAIN GOES BACK AND FORTH AND IT'LL SIT, THEN BACK AND FORTH, THEN IT'LL SIT.
SO, YES, THAT WAS A COMPLAINT.
ALL RIGHT. ANY OTHER ANY OTHER ANNOUNCEMENTS? PUBLIC COMMENTS.
[Public Comment ]
THANK YOU FOR RECOGNIZING ME.I JUST WANTED TO RECOGNIZE MY FORMER COLLEAGUES.
I KNOW SOME OF YOU ALL HAVE BEEN UNDER SCRUTINY AND UNFAIRLY ATTACKED, BUT I WANT TO SAY THAT WE APPRECIATE YOUR ALL 15 OF YOU ALL TIME IN SERVICE. YOU WERE ELECTED BY YOUR DISTRICTS TO DO A JOB, AND I HOPE, AND I KNOW THE MAJORITY OF YOU ALL THAT I KNOW PERSONALLY, WHEN YOU VOTE, YOU'RE VOTING YOUR CONSCIENCE AND THE WAY YOU BELIEVE THE MAJORITY OF YOUR DISTRICT, YOUR CONSTITUENTS, WANT YOU TO VOTE.
WITH THAT BEING SAID, DON'T ALLOW ANYONE TO CONTROL YOUR VOTE ON THE QUORUM COURT.
YOU DO YOUR JOB. THE PEOPLE WILL PUT YOU BACK IN THERE.
NOT NECESSARILY. WELL, NOT NECESSARILY, [CHUCKLING] BUT PEOPLE, IF YOU CONNECT YOURSELF WITH THE RIGHT PEOPLE, GET THE WORD OUT, AND I UNDERSTAND SOME PEOPLE GET DONE DIRTY, BUT I'M A FIRM BELIEVER IN KARMA, AND PEOPLE WILL REAP FOR WHAT THEY SOW, AND I'M SEEING IT.
PEOPLE ARE REAPING FOR WHAT THEY SOW, WHAT THEY DID TO ME.
JUSTICE DOUGAN, WELCOME TO DISTRICT TEN, PULASKI COUNTY QUORUM COURT, IF I CAN DO ANYTHING TO HELP YOU, REACHING OUT TO SOME OF THE LEADERS.
YOU HAVE MY CONTACT INFORMATION.
I HOPE YOU WILL SERVE US PROUD, AND THANK YOU FOR WILLING TO STEP FORWARD TO FINISH OUT MY TERM.
I'M SPEAKING ON BEHALF OF DISTRICT TEN, MY BASE, MY SUPPORTERS.
NEED ANY HELP, LET ME KNOW, OKAY? THANK YOU SO MUCH.
YOU'RE WELCOME. THANK YOU, THANK YOU.
THERE'S NOTHING ELSE TO CLAIM OUR ATTENTION.
WE ARE ADJOURNED.
* This transcript was compiled from uncorrected Closed Captioning.