Nov 25, 2025 Quorum Court

[00:00:04]

GOOD EVENING. WELCOME, EVERYBODY, TO THE QUORUM COURT MEETING FOR PULASKI COUNTY.

[Additional Item]

AND WE HAVE MARY LOUISE WILLIAMS HERE A LONG TIME QUORUM COURT MEMBER AND PROBABLY THE GREATEST ADVOCATE THAT WE HAVE IN ARKANSAS OR ANYWHERE IN THE COUNTRY FOR THE ACCOMPLISHMENTS OF MS. DAISY BATES. SO, IF YOU WILL, PLEASE.[APPLAUSE] SO IF YOU WILL, PLEASE PLEASE GIVE ME QUIET SO I CAN PREPARE PRESENT THIS.

SO THIS IS A PROCLAMATION OF PULASKI COUNTY DAISY GASTON BATES DAY.

AND WHEREAS DAISY LEE GATSON BATES WAS BORN ON NOVEMBER 11TH OF 1914, IN HUTTIG, ARKANSAS, AND SUFFERED UNTHINKABLE HARDSHIPS AS A RESULT OF JIM CROW POLICIES THAT PERPETUATED RACIALLY MOTIVATED VIOLENCE AND ATROCITIES COMMITTED UPON HER AND HER FAMILY MEMBERS. AND WHEREAS, SHE MARRIED LUCIUS CHRISTOPHER BATES IN THE EARLY 1940S, AND SOON THEREAFTER, THE COUPLE MOVED TO LITTLE ROCK, WHERE THEY OPERATED THE ARKANSAS STATE PRESS, 1 OF THE FEW WEEKLY AFRICAN AMERICAN NEWSPAPERS THAT SUPPORTED CIVIL RIGHTS.

AND WHEREAS, MS. BATES BECAME PRESIDENT OF THE ARKANSAS NATIONAL ASSOCIATION FOR THE ADVANCEMENT OF COLORED PEOPLE IN 1952 AND PLAYED A CRUCIAL ROLE IN DESEGREGATION IN ARKANSAS.

AND WHEREAS, DESPITE THE 1954 SUPREME COURT RULING IN BROWN VERSUS BOARD OF EDUCATION.

AFRICAN AMERICAN STUDENTS IN ARKANSAS TRIED TO ENROLL IN WHITE SCHOOLS WERE FREQUENTLY TURNED AWAY.

AND WHEREAS, AFTER CAREFUL VETTING, 9 STUDENTS WERE CHOSEN TO INTEGRATE LITTLE ROCK CENTRAL HIGH SCHOOL, WITH BATES ACTING AS THEIR LEADER AND MENTOR OF WHAT WOULD COME TO BE KNOWN AS THE LITTLE ROCK 9.

AND WHEREAS, ON SEPTEMBER 4TH, 1957, THE LITTLE ROCK 9 ARRIVED AT LITTLE ROCK CENTRAL HIGH SCHOOL, WHERE THEY WERE AGGRESSIVELY MET BY AN ANGRY AND VIOLENT MOB OF LOCAL SEGREGATIONISTS, AS WELL AS MEMBERS OF THE ARKANSAS NATIONAL GUARD, ORDERED BY GOVERNOR ORVAL FAUBUS TO BLOCK THE AFRICAN AMERICAN STUDENTS FROM ENTERING THE SCHOOL.

AND WHEREAS. AND WHEREAS 20 DAYS LATER, ON SEPTEMBER 24TH, THE LITTLE ROCK 9 WERE ESCORTED THROUGH A JEERING AND VIOLENT MOB OF SEGREGATIONISTS AND RACIST AGITATORS IN ORDER TO FINALLY ENTER THE SCHOOL TO ATTEND CLASSES.

AND WHEREAS, IN 2019, THE ARKANSAS GENERAL ASSEMBLY VOTED TO INSTALL A STATUE OF DAISY LEE GATSON BATES IN THE NATIONAL STATUARY HALL IN WASHINGTON, D.C., SERVING AS A TRIBUTE TO HER HER TO HER COURAGEOUS EFFORTS AND ABILITY TO ADVANCE CIVIL RIGHTS IN ARKANSAS. NOW, PURSUANT TO THE MOTION OF PULASKI COUNTY JUDGE BARRY HYDE, THE COUNTY OF PULASKI OFFICIALLY PROCLAIMED NOVEMBER 11TH, 2025, AS DAISY GATSON BATES DAY AND URGES ALL PULASKI COUNTY RESIDENTS TO HONOR AND REMEMBER THAT LEGACY AND THE PROFOUND IMPACT SHE HAD ON CIVIL RIGHTS, NOT ONLY IN THE STATE OF ARKANSAS, BUT THROUGHOUT THE NATION.

[APPLAUSE] AND I HOPE THAT YOU WILL. ALL OF YOU WILL REMEMBER THE PROCLAMATION AND THAT THAT YOU WILL NOT MISS GOING TO THE DAISY BATES HOUSE.

THAT IS HISTORY, RIGHT? YES. AND PLEASE VOTE.

AMEN. WE WANT EVERYBODY IN THIS ROOM TO VOTE DURING THE ELECTION TIME.

WE, OUR CHURCH HAS DONE A GOOD JOB. OKAY. AND THANK YOU.

AND I WANT YOU TO KNOW YOU'RE LOOKING AT SOMEBODY IN DECEMBER THE 10TH WILL BE 98 YEARS OLD.[APPLAUSE]

[00:05:12]

THAT'S WHAT I SAID.

GO AHEAD. THAT'S 20 MORE YEARS. NO. YOUR GRANDMOTHER, YOUR DISTRICT AND MY WIFE.

SHE WAS 10. 10.

THANK YOU.

[1. CALL TO ORDER]

MADAM CLERK, WHEN YOU'RE READY, PLEASE CALL THE ROLL. DID I BOTCH SOMETHING THERE? NO, I JUST HIT MY KNEE ON THE. OH. OH, SORRY.

TAKE A MOMENT, TAKE A MOMENT.

WE NEED THE PRAYER PLEDGE FIRST. UNLESS YOU WANT TO MIX IT UP, THAT'S FINE.

NO. USUALLY WE CALL BY OUR AGENDA. WE CALL THE MEETING TO ORDER, THEN WE DO THE INVOCATION, THEN WE DO THE PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE. OR THEY CHANGE.

THEY CHANGE IT UP. I JUST READ THE MENU, MADAM CLERK.

PLEASE PROCEED. CERTAINLY, MS. DAVIS. MS. CAPPS.

MS. LEWISON. HERE, MISS. MS. BLACKWOOD. HERE.

MR. PERSON. MS. MASSEY. MS. CURRY. MR. KEITH.

HERE. MS. WARD. HERE. MS. YOUNG-BAKER. MR. ROBINSON.

MR. MCCOY. HERE. MR. STOWERS. MR. ELLIOTT. HERE.

MS. MEDLOCK. 15 PRESENT, 0 ABSENT. THANK YOU, MADAM CLERK AND JUSTICE MCCOY.

YOU ARE CORRECT. I'M SORRY, I. I LOOKED AT CALL TO ORDER AND I READ THAT UP HERE AS ROLL CALL.

MEMBERS. JUSTICE MCCOY. NO WONDER YOU WERE AWARE OF THE AGENDA.

AS VOLUNTEERED TO DO OUR INVOCATION TONIGHT, AND THEN JUSTICE MEDLOCK IS GOING TO LEAD US IN THE PLEDGE.

IF YOU CAN STAND, PLEASE DO. DEAR HEAVENLY FATHER, THANK YOU SO, SO MUCH FOR WHAT YOU'VE DONE.

AND THANK YOU FOR WHAT YOU'VE PUT INTO MOTION HERE.

AND WE ASK YOU TO BE WITH US TONIGHT.

BLESS OUR DISCUSSION. WE WANT EVERYTHING DONE HERE TO GLORIFY YOU AND YOUR NAME AND YOUR KINGDOM.

WE JUST ASK YOU TO BE WITH ALL OF US AS WE LEAVE HERE TONIGHT.

GRANT US SAFETY IN YOUR SON'S NAME, WE PRAY. AMEN.

AMEN, AMEN. I PLEDGE ALLEGIANCE TO THE FLAG OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA AND TO THE REPUBLIC FOR WHICH IT STANDS.

1 NATION UNDER GOD, INDIVISIBLE, WITH LIBERTY AND JUSTICE FOR ALL.

THANK YOU. YEAH. MEMBERS IN YOUR PACKAGE THIS WEEK.

[5. APPROVAL OF MINUTES]

WHEN YOU'RE READY, I'LL ACCEPT A MOTION. SO MOVED.

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

YOU'VE HEARD THE SECOND. FOR THE APPROVAL OF THE MINUTES. ARE THERE ANY ADDITIONS OR DELETIONS TO THE MINUTES.

ALL THOSE IN FAVOR OF ADOPTION OF THE MINUTES INDICATE SO BY SAYING AYE.

AYE. ANY OPPOSED? NO MINUTES ARE APPROVED. MADAM CLERK, PLEASE READ FOR US THE

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

NOVEMBER 25TH, 2025, TO THE PRESIDING OFFICER OF THE PULASKI COUNTY QUORUM COURT.

WE YOUR COMMITTEE OF THE BUDGET, TO WHOM WAS REFERRED ITEMS 25-I-79 BEG LEAVE TO REPORT THAT WE'VE HAD THE SAME UNDER CONSIDERATION, AND HEREWITH RETURNED THE SAME WITH A RECOMMENDATION OF DO PASS RESPECTFULLY SUBMITTED.

DONNA MASSEY, CHAIR NOVEMBER 25TH, 2025 TO THE PRESIDING OFFICER OF THE PULASKI COUNTY QUORUM COURT.

WE YOUR COMMITTEE OF THE AGENDA TO WHOM WAS REFERRED ITEMS 25-I-74, 25-I-75.

[00:10:02]

THERE ARE THERE IS NO UNFINISHED BUSINESS. NO NEW BUSINESS IS AS FOLLOWS.

[25-I-74 AN ORDINANCE AMENDING ORDINANCE 24-OR-41 (2025 ANNUAL BUDGET, PULASKI COUNTY, ARKANSAS) TO APPROPRIATE TITLE II GRANT FUNDS FOR THE YOUTH SERVICES DEPARTMENT.]

ORDINANCE NUMBER 25-I-74. AN ORDINANCE AMENDING ORDINANCE 24-OR-41 2025, ANNUAL BUDGET. PULASKI COUNTY, ARKANSAS TO APPROPRIATE TITLE 2 GRANT FUNDS FOR THE YOUTH SERVICES DEPARTMENT.

JUSTICE WARD TO RECOGNIZE FOR THE MOTION. I RECOMMEND A DUE PASS.

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

YOU'VE HEARD THE SECOND FOR THE ADOPTION OF 25-I-74.

ARE THERE ANY QUESTIONS OR DISCUSSIONS REGARDING ORDINANCE 25-I-74.

THERE BEING NONE, MADAM CLERK, CALL THE ROLL FOR THE ADOPTION OF ORDINANCE 25-I-74.

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

MR. MCCOY. YES. MR. ROBINSON. AYE. MS. YOUNG-BAKER.

YES. MS. WARD. YES. MR. KEITH. YES. MS. CURRY.

AYE. MS. MASSEY. AYE. MR. PERSON. YES. MS. BLACKWOOD.

AYE. MS. LEWISON. YES. MS. CAPPS. AYE. MS. DAVIS.

AYE. 15 AYE'S, 0 NAYS. THANK YOU, MADAM CLERK.

JUSTICE WARD YOU PASSED YOUR ORDINANCE NOW, MADAM CLERK, PLEASE READ FOR US ORDINANCE 25-I-75.

[25-I-75 AN ORDINANCE REZONING THE WESTROCK MARINA LOCATED WITHIN THE LAKE MAUMELLE WATERSHED FROM (C)-CONSERVATION TO (NR)- NON-RESIDENTIAL AND THEREBY AMENDING THE OFFICIAL ZONING MAP OF THE LAKE MAUMELLE WATERSHED. ]

JUSTICE CAPPS. YOU'RE RECOGNIZED FOR THE MOTION.

MOVE FOR THE ADOPTION. SECOND. MEMBERS YOU'VE HEARD THE MOTION IN THE SECOND FOR THE ADOPTION OF ORDINANCE 25-I-75.

OTHER QUESTIONS OR DISCUSSION FOR ORDINANCE 25-I-75.

THERE BEING NONE, MADAM CLERK, CALL THE ROLL FOR THE ADOPTION OF 25-I-75.

MS. DAVIS. AYE. MISS CAPPS. AYE. MS. LEWISON.

YES. MS. BLACKWOOD. AYE. MR. PERSON. AYE. MS. MASSEY. AYE. MS. CURRY. AYE. MR. KEITH. YES. MS. WARD? YES. MS. YOUNG-BAKER. YES, MR. ROBINSON.

AYE. MR. MCCOY. YES. MR. STOWERS. YES. MR. ELLIOT.

YES. MS. MEDLOCK. AYE. 15 AYE'S, 0 NAYS. JUSTICE CAPPS YOU PASSED YOUR ORDINANCE. CONGRATULATIONS, AND MADAM CLERK.

NOW MOVE ON TO ITS 4TH.

THIS IS GOOD. YEAH, I KNOW, BUT IT SNEAKS DOWN IN THERE AND IT TURNS OFF.SO, MADAM CLERK, PLEASE READ FOR ORDINANCE 25-I-76, PLEASE.

[25-I-76 AN ORDINANCE AMENDING ORDINANCE 25-OR-20, THE COUNTY-WIDE LAND USE STUDY AND PLAN FOR THE UNINCORPORATED AREA OF PULASKI COUNTY, ARKANSAS. ]

THAT'S THE ORDINANCE THAT WE HAVE PULLED FROM THE AGENDA.

I'VE JUST UNDERSTOOD HIS CORRECTION OF A BACKWARDS TO BE BACKWARDS SO THAT ONE HAS BEEN PULLED.

AND, MADAM CLERK, PLEASE READ FOR US NOW. 25-I-77.

[25-I-77 AN ORDINANCE ESTABLISHING THE RATES OF TAXATION TO BE LEVIED ON TAXABLE REAL AND PERSONAL PROPERTY IN PULASKI COUNTY, ARKANSAS, FOR THE USE AND BENEFIT OF PULASKI COUNTY AND CITIES; TOWNS; AND SCHOOLS IN PULASKI COUNTY FOR THE TAX YEAR 2025.]

JUSTICE MASSEY YOU'RE RECOGNIZED FOR THE MOTION. I MOVE FOR THE ADOPTION.

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

ARE THERE ANY QUESTIONS OR COMMENTS ON 25-I-77? I THOUGHT I HEARD SOMEBODY MAKE A MAKE A SQUEAK THERE.

[00:15:02]

MS. MEDLOCK. AYE. MR. ELLIOTT. YES. MR. STOWERS.

YES. SORRY. MR. MCCOY. YES. MR. ROBINSON. AYE.

MISS YOUNG-BAKER. YES. MS. WARD. YES. MR. KEITH.

YES. MS. CURRY. AYE. MS. MASSEY. AYE. MR. PERSON.

YES. MS. BLACKWOOD. AYE. MS LEWISON. YES. MS. CAPPS. AYE. MS. DAVIS. AYE. 15 AYES. 0 NAYS. THANK YOU, MADAM CLERK.

AND JUSTICE MASSEY. YOU PASSED YOUR ORDINANCE 25-I-77.

SO, MADAM CLERK, PLEASE. NOW, WHEN YOU'RE READY, READ FOR ORDINANCE 25-I-78.

[25-I-78 AN ORDINANCE DIRECTING THE TREASURER’S OFFICE TO ESTABLISH A MONTHLY DISBURSEMENT OF $15,000 TO THE LAW LIBRARY BOARD, AND A TRANSFER OF THE REMAINING FUNDS FROM THE ADMINISTRATION OF JUSTICE FUND TO THE COUNTY GENERAL FUND IN ACCORDANCE WITH ACT 371 OF 2025. ]

TO THE LAW LIBRARY BOARD AND A TRANSFER OF THE REMAINING FUNDS FROM THE ADMINISTRATION OF JUSTICE FUND TO THE COUNTY GENERAL FUND IN ACCORDANCE WITH ACT 371 OF 2025. JUSTICE PERSON, YOU'RE RECOGNIZED FOR THE MOTION.

MOVE FOR THE ADOPTION. SECOND. MEMBERS YOU'VE HEARD THE MOTION.

YOU'VE HEARD THE SECOND FOR THE ADOPTION OF ORDINANCE 25-I-78.

ANY QUESTIONS OR COMMENTS REGARDING ORDINANCE 25-I-78.

THERE BEING NONE, MADAM CLERK, PLEASE CALL THE ROLL FOR THE ADOPTION OF ORDINANCE 250-I-78.

MS. DAVIS. AYE. MS. CAPPS. AYE. MS. LEWISON. YES.

MS. BLACKWOOD. AYE. MR. PERSON. AYE. MS. MASSEY.

AYE. MS. CURRY. AYE. MR. KEITH. YES. MS. WARD.

YES. MS. YOUNG-BAKER. YES. MR. ROBINSON. AYE.

MR. MCCOY. YES. MR. STOWERS. YES. MR. ELLIOTT.

YES. MS. MEDLOCK. AYE. 15 AYES, 0 NAYS. THANK YOU, MADAM CLERK AND JUSTICE PERSON.

YOU PASSED YOUR ORDINANCE 25-I-78. MADAM CLERK READ FOREST ORDINANCE 25-I-79

[25-I-79 AN ORDINANCE AMENDING ORDINANCE 24-OR-41 (2025 ANNUAL BUDGET, PULASKI COUNTY, ARKANSAS) TO PROVIDE FOR A 27TH PAY PERIOD FOR THE 2025 FISCAL YEAR. ]

JUSTICE MASSEY, YOU'RE RECOGNIZED FOR THE MOTION.

YES, I MOVE FOR THE ADOPTION. SECOND. MEMBERS, YOU'VE HEARD THE MOTION.

YOU'VE HEARD THE SECOND. ARE THERE ANY QUESTIONS ON ORDINANCE 25-I-79.

MADAM CLERK, PLEASE CALL THE ROLL FOR THE ADOPTION OF ORDINANCE 25-I-79.

MISS MEDLOCK. AYE. MR. ELLIOTT. YES. MR. STOWERS.

YES. MR. MCCOY. YES. MR. ROBINSON. AYE. MS. YOUNG-BAKER.

YES. MS. WARD. YES. MR. KEITH. YES. MS. CURRY.

AYE. MS. MASSEY. AYE. MR. PERSON. YES. MS. BLACKWOOD.

AYE. MS. LEWISON. YES. MSL. CAPPS. AYE. MS. DAVIS.

AYE. 15 AYES. 0 NAYS. THANK YOU, MADAM CLERK.

WHEN YOU'RE READY, PLEASE READ FOR ORDINANCE 25-I-80 MADAM CLERK.

[25-I-80 AN ORDINANCE AMENDING ORDINANCE 24-OR-41 (2025 ANNUAL BUDGET, PULASKI COUNTY, ARKANSAS) TO APPROPRIATE FUNDS FOR THE JUVENILE DETENTION DEPARTMENT IN ORDER TO REIMBURSE THE ARKANSAS DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION FOR OVERPAYMENT OF GRANT FUNDS. ]

JUSTICE LEWISON YOU RECOGNIZED. FOR THE MOTION MOVE FOR THE ADOPTION.

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

ARE THERE ANY QUESTIONS OR COMMENTS REGARDING ORDINANCE 25-I-80.

MADAM CLERK, PLEASE CALL THE ROLL FOR THE ADOPTION OF ORDINANCE 25-I-80.

MS. DAVIS. AYE. MS. CAPPS. AYE. MS. LEWISON. YES.

MS. BLACKWOOD. AYE. MR. PERSON. YES. MS. MASSEY.

AYE. MS. CURRY. AYE. MR. KEITH. YES. MS. WARD.

YES. MISS. YOUNG-BAKER. YES. MR. ROBINSON. AYE.

MR. MCCOY. YES, MR. STOWERS. YES. MR. ELLIOT.

YES. MISS MEDLOCK. AYE.15 AYES, 0 NAYS. THANK YOU, MADAM CLERK.

JUSTICE LEWISON YOU PASSED YOUR ORDINANCE 25-I-80.

YAY! MADAM CLERK, PLEASE READ FOR US NOW. ORDINANCE 25-I-81, AN ORDINANCE AMENDING ORDINANCE

[25-I-81 AN ORDINANCE AMENDING ORDINANCE 24-OR-41 (2025 ANNUAL BUDGET, PULASKI COUNTY, ARKANSAS) TO RECOGNIZE AND APPROPRIATE GRANT FUNDS FOR THE 10TH DIVISION CIRCUIT COURT.]

[00:20:05]

JUSTICE ROBINSON. YOU'RE RECOGNIZED FOR A MOTION.

MOVE FOR THE ADOPTION. SECOND. MEMBERS YOU'VE HEARD THE MOTION.

YOU'VE HEARD THE SECOND. CLERK. PLEASE CALL THE ROLL FOR THE ADOPTION OF 25-I-81.

MS. MEDLOCK. AYE. MR. ELLIOTT. YES. MR. STOWERS.

YES. MR. MCCOY. YES. MR. ROBINSON. AYE. MS. YOUNG-BAKER.

YES. MS. WARD. YES. MR. KEITH. YES. MS. CURRY.

AYE. MS. MASSEY. AYE. MR. PERSON. AYE. MS. BLACKWOOD.

AYE. LEWISON. YES. MS. CAPPS. MS. DAVIS. AYE.

15 AYES, 0 NAYS. THANK YOU, MADAM CLERK. JUSTICE ROBINSON, YOU PASSED YOUR ORDINANCE 25-I-81 MEMBERS THAT ADJOURNS OUR BUSINESS SECTION PORTION OF OUR MEETING. ARE THERE ANY ANNOUNCEMENTS?

[Announcements]

NOT 1. ISN'T THAT WHAT YOU SAID? YES, MA'AM. I THINK THAT'S WHAT I TOLD YOU, I THINK, YEAH, YEAH. JUST TO MAKE SURE EVERYONE ELSE KNEW, TOO.

I'M SORRY. I JUST WANTED TO MAKE SURE EVERYONE ELSE KNEW.

OKAY. ANY OTHER ANNOUNCEMENTS MR. MCCOY OR YOU'RE JUST OKAY? YOU'RE JUST HAPPY IT'S ON.

JUSTIN, HAVE WE GOT ANY PUBLIC COMMENT TONIGHT? NO, SIR. WITHOUT OBJECTION, WE'RE ADJOURNED. AMEN.

THANK YOU.

* This transcript was compiled from uncorrected Closed Captioning.