[1. CALL TO ORDER] [00:00:03] I'D LIKE TO WELCOME EVERYBODY TO THE JUNE QUORUM COURT MEETING FOR PULASKI COUNTY. AS IS OUR CUSTOM, JUSTICE PERSON IS GOING TO LEAD US TONIGHT IN OUR INVOCATION, AND THEN JUSTICE MEDLOCK IS GOING TO LEAD US IN THE PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE. SO ALL THOSE WHO CAN STAND, PLEASE DO. HEAVENLY FATHER, THANK YOU FOR BRINGING US HERE TODAY. THANK YOU FOR ALLOWING US TO DO THE BUSINESS OF THE COUNTY. DEAR LORD, THANK YOU FOR BRINGING US TOGETHER TO LOOK OVER OUR COUNTRY. LOOK OVER OUR STATE. DEAR LORD, THESE BLESSINGS THAT WE ASK IN YOUR NAME. AMEN. AMEN. AND TO THE REPUBLIC FOR WHICH IT STANDS, ONE NATION UNDER GOD, INDIVISIBLE, WITH LIBERTY AND JUSTICE FOR ALL. CERTAINLY. JUSTICES, MY REQUEST THIS EVENING IS THAT WHEN I CALL THE ROLL AND WHEN WE TAKE OTHER VOTES, THAT YOU PLEASE USE YOUR SPEAKING VOICE SO THAT I MAKE SURE THAT I RECORD THE VOTES CORRECTLY. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. 11 PRESENT. 3 ABSENT. THANK YOU, MADAM CLERK. AND NOW, MEMBERS, I'M GOING TO REMIND YOU THAT ALL MICS ARE HOT. ALL YOUR MICS ARE HOT. WHEN WE GET TO THE BUSINESS OF THE NIGHT, I WILL TURN THEM OFF AND I'LL RECOGNIZE YOU. WE'VE HAD SOME TROUBLESHOOTING DONE BY OUR IT DEPARTMENT AND FOUND THAT WHEN YOU HIT YOUR LIGHT AND IT DOESN'T LIGHT UP ON MY CONSOLE, IT'S BECAUSE YOUR MIC IS ALREADY HOT. THE MIC OVERRIDES THAT, SO WE'LL SHUT THEM OFF WHEN WE START TONIGHT'S BUSINESS. YOU'LL USE YOUR LIGHT AND YOU'LL BE RECOGNIZED IN HOPEFULLY THE ORDER THAT THEY LIT UP. ANY QUESTIONS? THANK YOU. GREAT. IN YOUR PACKAGES, THIS MONTH, YOU SHOULD HAVE RECEIVED THE MINUTES FROM OUR LAST MONTH'S MEETING. [5. APPROVAL OF MINUTES ] WHENEVER YOU'RE READY, I'LL RECOGNIZE THE MOTION. SO MOVED. SECOND. YOU'VE HEARD THE MOTION. YOU'VE HEARD A SECOND. ARE THERE ANY ADDITIONS OR DELETIONS FROM THE MINUTES FROM LAST MONTH'S MEETING? MADAM CLERK, PLEASE CALL THE ROLL FOR THE ADOPTION OF THE MINUTES FOR LAST MONTH'S MEETING. 11 AYES, 3 ABSENT. THANK YOU, MADAM CLERK. NOW, READ FOR US, PLEASE, THE AGENDA COMMITTEE REPORT. [6. COMMITTEE REPORT: Agenda Committee ] JUNE 23RD, 2026. TO THE PRESIDING OFFICER OF THE PULASKI COUNTY QUORUM COURT. WE, YOUR COMMITTEE OF THE AGENDA, TO WHOM WAS REFERRED ITEMS 26-I-39, 26-I-40, 26-I-41, 26-I-43, 26-I-44, 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, CURTIS A. KEITH. CHAIR. THANK YOU, MADAM CLERK. WE HAVE NO UNFINISHED BUSINESS. WE MOVE ON TO NEW BUSINESS. AND SO I'LL REMIND YOU AGAIN. I'M GOING TO TURN ALL YOUR MICS OFF EXCEPT THE TABLES AND MY MIC. AND I'LL RECOGNIZE YOU WITH YOUR LIGHT. [26-I-43 A RESOLUTION OF THE QUORUM COURT OF PULASKI COUNTY ENCOURAGING THE COUNTY JUDGE TO EXEMPT PUBLIC SAFETY POSITIONS FROM THE COUNTY HIRING FREEZE IMPOSED BY EXECUTIVE ORDER. ] [00:05:05] MADAM CLERK, READ FOR US, PLEASE, WHEN YOU'RE READY, RESOLUTION 26-I-43. A RESOLUTION OF THE QUORUM COURT OF PULASKI COUNTY, ENCOURAGING THE COUNTY JUDGE TO EXEMPT PUBLIC SAFETY POSITIONS FROM THE COUNTY HIRING FREEZE IMPOSED BY EXECUTIVE ORDER. JUSTICE LEWISON, YOU'RE RECOGNIZED FOR THE MOTION. ARE THERE QUESTIONS OR COMMENTS REGARDING RESOLUTION 26-I-43? I SEE NO LIGHTS. MADAM CLERK, PLEASE CALL THE ROLL FOR RESOLUTION 26-I-43. 12 AYES, TWO ABSENT. THANK YOU, MADAM CLERK. JUSTICE WARD ACTUALLY IS WHO SPONSORED THIS AND HER RESOLUTION HAS GOT PASSED IN SPITE OF HER ABSENCE. [26-I-46 A RESOLUTION OF THE QUORUM COURT OF PULASKI COUNTY CERTIFYING LOCAL COUNTY GOVERNMENT ENDORSEMENT OF DEWAFELBAKKERS, LLC TO PARTICIPATE IN THE CONSOLIDATED INCENTIVE (TAX BACK) ACT OF 2003. ] NOW, MADAM CLERK, PLEASE READ FOR US RESOLUTION 26-I-46. A RESOLUTION OF THE QUORUM COURT OF PULASKI COUNTY CERTIFYING LOCAL COUNTY GOVERNMENT ENDORSEMENT OF THE WAFFLE BAKERS, LLC TO PARTICIPATE IN THE CONSOLIDATED INCENTIVE TAX BACK ACT OF 2003. JUSTICE ELLIOT. YOU'RE RECOGNIZED FOR MOTION. YOU'VE HEARD THE SECOND. ARE THERE ANY QUESTIONS OR COMMENTS REGARDING RESOLUTION 26-I-46? THERE BEING NONE. MADAM CLERK, PLEASE CALL THE ROLL FOR THE ADOPTION OF RESOLUTION 26-I-46. 13 AYES AND ONE ABSENT. THANK YOU, MADAM CLERK AND RESOLUTION 26-I-46, JUSTICE ELLIOT. CONGRATULATIONS. YOU PASSED THAT. MADAM CLERK, ON THE SECOND READING, PLEASE READ FOR US ORDINANCE 26-I-29. [26-I-29 AN ORDINANCE AMENDING ORDINANCE 17-OR-12 (PULASKI COUNTY PERSONNEL POLICY) AS AMENDED TO MAKE TECHNICAL CORRECTIONS IN ACCORDANCE WITH ACT 848 OF 2025 AND TO COMPLY WITH THE RECOMMENDATIONS OF THE AAC (ASSOCIATION OF ARKANSAS COUNTIES). ] AN ORDINANCE AMENDING ORDINANCE 170-OR-12 PULASKI COUNTY PERSONNEL POLICY, AS AMENDED, TO MAKE TECHNICAL CORRECTIONS IN ACCORDANCE WITH ACT 848 OF 2025 AND TO COMPLY WITH THE RECOMMENDATIONS OF THE AAC (ARKANSAS ASSOCIATION OF COUNTIES). THANK YOU, MADAM CLERK. NOW, PLEASE READ ORDINANCE 26-I-39. [26-I-39 AN ORDINANCE AMENDING ORDINANCE 25-OR-52 (2026 ANNUAL BUDGET, PULASKI COUNTY, ARKANSAS) TO RECOGNIZE AND APPROPRIATE GRANT FUNDS FOR THE YOUTH SERVICES DEPARTMENT. ] AN ORDINANCE AMENDING ORDINANCE 25-OR-52 2026 ANNUAL BUDGET. PULASKI COUNTY, ARKANSAS. TO RECOGNIZE AND APPROPRIATE GRANT FUNDS FOR THE YOUTH SERVICES DEPARTMENT. AND JUSTICE MASSEY, YOU'RE RECOGNIZED. YES. I MOVE FOR THE ADOPTION. SECOND. SECOND. YOU'VE HEARD THE MOTION. YOU'VE HEARD THE SECOND. ARE THERE ANY COMMENTS OR COMMENTS? COMMENTS OR QUESTIONS? EXCUSE ME. FOR ORDINANCE 26-I-39. THERE BEING NONE, MADAM CLERK, PLEASE CALL THE ROLL FOR THE ADOPTION OF ORDINANCE 26-I-39. 13 AYES, ONE ABSENT. THANK YOU, MADAM CLERK. JUSTICE MASSEY, YOU PASSED YOUR [00:10:01] ORDINANCE. 26-I-39. MADAM CLERK, NOW READ FOR US ORDINANCE 26-I-40. [26-I-40 AN ORDINANCE AMENDING ORDINANCE 25-OR-52 (2026 ANNUAL BUDGET, PULASKI COUNTY, ARKANSAS) TO RECOGNIZE AND APPROPRIATE GRANT FUNDS FOR THE COURT APPOINTED SPECIAL ADVOCATES (CASA) DEPARTMENT. ] AN ORDINANCE AMENDING ORDINANCE 25-OR-52 2026 ANNUAL BUDGET. PULASKI COUNTY, ARKANSAS. TO RECOGNIZE AND APPROPRIATE GRANT FUNDS FOR THE COURT APPOINTED SPECIAL ADVOCATES (CASA) DEPARTMENT. JUSTICE CAPPS, YOU'RE RECOGNIZED. JUSTICE CAPPS ISN'T HERE. JUSTICE DAVIS, YOU'RE RECOGNIZED FOR A MOTION. I MOVE FOR THE ADOPTION. SECOND. THE MOTION. YOU'VE HEARD THE SECOND. ARE THERE ANY QUESTIONS OR COMMENTS REGARDING ORDINANCE 26-I-40? MADAM CLERK, PLEASE CALL THE ROLL FOR THE ADOPTION OF ORDINANCE 26-I-40. 13 AYES, ONE ABSENT. CONGRATULATIONS, JUSTICE DAVIS, YOU PASSED JUSTICE CAPPS' ORDINANCE HERE. [26-I-41 AN ORDINANCE AMENDING ORDINANCE 25-OR-52 (2026 ANNUAL BUDGET, PULASKI COUNTY, ARKANSAS) TO RECOGNIZE AND APPROPRIATE ACT 442 911 RURAL ENHANCEMENT GRANT FUNDS FOR THE OFFICE OF EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT. ] MADAM CLERK, WHEN YOU'RE READY, PLEASE READ FOR ORDINANCE 26-I-41. AN ORDINANCE AMENDING ORDINANCE 25-OR-52 2026 ANNUAL BUDGET. PULASKI COUNTY, ARKANSAS. TO RECOGNIZE AND APPROPRIATE ACT FOR 42911 RURAL ENHANCEMENT GRANT FUNDS FOR THE OFFICE OF EMERGENCY SERVICES. JUSTICE CURRY, YOU'RE RECOGNIZED FOR THE MOTION. MOVE FOR ADOPTION. SECOND. MEMBERS, YOU'VE HEARD THE MOTION. YOU'VE HEARD THE SECOND. ARE THERE COMMENTS OR QUESTIONS REGARDING ORDINANCE 26-I-41? THERE BEING NONE, MADAM CLERK, PLEASE CALL THE ROLL FOR THE ADOPTION OF ORDINANCE 26-I-41. 13 AYES, ONE ABSENT. CONGRATULATIONS, JUSTICE CURRY. YOU'VE PASSED YOUR ORDINANCE 26-I-41. THANK YOU. [26-I-44 AN ORDINANCE AMENDING ORDINANCE 25-OR-52 (2026 ANNUAL BUDGET, PULASKI COUNTY, ARKANSAS) TO APPROPRIATE CONTINGENCY FUNDS (FUND 1807) TO THE QUORUM COURT BUDGET FOR A REQUESTED FORENSIC FINANCIAL AUDIT. ] MADAM CLERK, NOW, PLEASE READ FOR ORDINANCE 26-I-44. AN ORDINANCE AMENDING ORDINANCE 25-OR-52 2026 ANNUAL BUDGET. PULASKI COUNTY, ARKANSAS. TO APPROPRIATE CONTINGENCY FUNDS FUND 1807 TO THE QUORUM COURT BUDGET FOR REQUESTED FORENSICS FINANCIAL AUDIT. JUSTICE CURRY, YOU'RE RECOGNIZED FOR THE MOTION. MOVE FOR ADOPTION. SECOND. MEMBERS YOU'VE HEARD THE MOTION. YOU'VE HEARD THE SECOND. ARE THERE ANY QUESTIONS OR COMMENTS REGARDING ORDINANCE 26-I-44? YES. LET ME GET THESE OFF AND THEN BACK ON. JUSTICE BLACKWOOD, YOU'RE RECOGNIZE FOR THE QUESTION. I WOULD LIKE TO MAKE A MOTION THAT WE POSTPONE THIS FOR 30 DAYS SO THAT WE CAN GET SOME ADDITIONAL BIDS OUT, SINCE WE ONLY HAVE THE ONE BID. AND I THINK THAT THAT WOULD BE HELPFUL AND MAYBE WE COULD READDRESS THIS. SO, A COMMENT, JUST ADDITIONAL INFORMATION FOR FOLKS IS THAT YOU'RE TALKING ABOUT PROBABLY AT LEAST 60 MORE DAYS BEFORE YOU COULD POSSIBLY BE IN A POSITION TO AWARD A CONTRACT. SO ARE THERE QUESTIONS OR COMMENTS REGARDING. JUDGE, THERE WAS NO SECOND? SECOND. I THOUGHT YOU GOT A SECOND. OH SHE DIDN'T. SHE JUST GOT IT. OH, SORRY ABOUT THAT. OKAY. SO I WOULD. YEAH. AND SEE IF WE CAN'T GET SOME MORE BIDS IN ON THIS. AND YOU KNOW, BECAUSE THERE'S SOME QUESTIONS ABOUT THE COST, HOW EXPENSIVE IT IS AND TRYING TO, YOU KNOW. [00:15:06] OKAY. THEN I MAKE A MOTION THAT WE THROW THIS BID OUT AND THAT WE START THIS OVER. SO LET ME HELP YOU, I THINK. OKAY. I THINK BASED ON WHAT YOU WANT TO DO, THE PROPER MOTION IS THAT YOU DENY FUNDING. OKAY. CAN I MAKE A MOTION THAT WE DENY FUNDING? MEMBERS, YOU'VE HEARD THE MOTION. IS THAT WHAT I DO? IT'S A MOTION. IS IT MR. PARLIAMENTARIAN. IS THAT NOT A PROPER MOTION? A MOTION TO DENY FUNDING? WELL, THE MOTION IS TO APPROVE FUNDING, IS IT NOT? YES IT IS. BUT I MEAN, WE'RE TALKING ABOUT A PARLIAMENTARY MOTION. SO YOU KNOW WHAT? YOU'RE RIGHT. SO ACTUALLY YOU JUST NEED TO VOTE NO. OR STICK TO THE ORIGINAL MOTION, WHICH WAS TO POSTPONE FOR 30 DAYS, WHICH. THAT'S WHAT I WANTED TO DO. TO POSTPONE FOR THREE. YES. CORRECT. OKAY. SO WOULD YOU PLEASE RESTATE YOUR MOTION? OKAY. I MAKE A MOTION THAT WE POSTPONE THIS FOR 30 DAYS SO THAT WE COULD PUT OUT MORE BIDS. GREAT. THAT'S A PROPER MOTION. UNDERSTAND THAT WE CANNOT, BY STATE PROCUREMENT LAW, ADVERTISE FOR MORE BIDS WHEN WE ALREADY HAVE A BID IN PLACE. SO THAT'S MY POINT. SO QUESTIONS. LET'S MOVE ON, MR. COMPTROLLER. I THINK THAT MISS CURRY WAS FIRST ON THE BUTTON. YES. THANK YOU. FIRST OF ALL, WE HAD QUESTIONS WERE NOT ANSWERED AT THE LAST MEETING. AND OUR COMP CONTROL IS HERE TONIGHT. AND I'D LIKE FOR A COUPLE OF THINGS. I KNOW THAT WE TALKED ABOUT, SUCH AS THE LENGTH OF TIME, POSSIBLY. AND JUST GIVE A LITTLE ADDITIONAL INFORMATION TO THE GROUP ON THE BID PROCESS. WELL, THE BID PROCESS, THERE WAS OVER 400 INVITATIONS SENT OUT. WE HAD. WHERE DID SHE GO? ONE COMPLETED THE APPLICATION. BASED ON THE BILLABLE HOURS THAT THE COMPANY THAT RESPONDED, YOU'RE LOOKING AT 90 TO PROBABLY 120 DAYS. THEY DIDN'T PUT AN ACTUAL TIMELINE IN THERE, BUT WE LOOKED AT WHAT THEIR PROJECTED BILLABLE HOURS WERE. THEY HAVE NOT DONE A COUNTY FORENSIC AUDIT IN ARKANSAS, BUT THEY'VE DONE OTHER FORENSIC AUDITS IN ARKANSAS. THEY'VE DONE OTHER COUNTY FORENSIC AUDITS, NOT JUST A COUNTY IN ARKANSAS. BUT THEY'VE DONE. LET ME TELL YOU WHAT THEY SAID. WHILE WE HAVE NOT COMPLETED A FORENSIC INVESTIGATION FOR AN ARKANSAS GOVERNMENT ENTITY, WE HAVE COMPLETED CONFIDENTIAL FORENSIC INVESTIGATIONS FOR VARIOUS ENTITIES THROUGHOUT ARKANSAS. WE HAVE ALSO COMPLETED FINANCIAL STATEMENT AUDITS WITHIN ARKANSAS. OUR FORENSIC INVESTIGATIONS TEAM HAS EXTENSIVE EXPERIENCE IN SERVING GOVERNMENT ENTITIES ACROSS THE UNITED STATES AND ROUTINELY COMPLETES 30 PLUS GOVERNMENT FORENSIC INVESTIGATIONS ANNUALLY. WE ARE CONFIDENT THAT THIS EXPERIENCE IS DIRECTLY TRANSFERABLE TO THE SERVICE REQUESTED. JUST ONE OTHER CLARIFICATION. I KNOW THAT THERE WAS SOME QUESTIONING AROUND FULL AUDIT, WHICH I BELIEVE THE RFQ SAID, AND THAT'S. FORENSIC. FORENSIC AUDIT, RIGHT? OF ALL ACCOUNTS. ALL ACCOUNTS, ALL DEPARTMENTS. RIGHT. SO I WANT TO MAKE SURE WE WERE CLEAR ON THAT. YES. IT'S EVERYTHING. I YIELD. JUSTICE KEITH, I THINK YOU WERE NEXT. YEAH. THANK YOU, JUDGE. AND I'M JUST CURIOUS. WE'RE GOING TO KICK THE CAN DOWN THE ROAD. AND KICKING THE CAN DOWN THE ROAD WE'RE GOING TO RE-ADVERTISE. WHAT IF WE DON'T GET ANYONE FOR THE NEXT RFQ TO ACTUALLY CONSIDER DOING THIS? WHAT IF THIS INITIAL COMPANY DECIDES THAT, HEY, I WAS READY TO DO IT, BUT BECAUSE OF THE WAY YOU'RE DOING THINGS, WE NO LONGER WANT TO PARTICIPATE IN THAT, SO WE DON'T GET ANYONE NEW THAT'S WILLING TO TAKE IT ON. THEN WHAT DO WE DO? OR WHAT WOULD WE DO? MAYBE THAT'S NOT A QUESTION FOR HER. NO, THAT'S NOT UP TO ME. IF YOU DON'T HAVE ANY BIDS, YOU DON'T HAVE ANY BIDS. RIGHT. THAT'S MY WHOLE POINT. SO WHAT IF WE DON'T GET ANYONE TO RESPOND? HAVE WE CONSIDERED WHAT WE WOULD DO AT THAT POINT? [00:20:12] I MEAN, BECAUSE IF WE SENT 400 INVITATIONS OUT AND WE ONLY GOT TWO PEOPLE TO RESPOND AND ONLY ONE PERSON. YEAH. ONE PERSON. SO WHAT'S GOING TO CHANGE, AND THEN FLIP THIS AROUND AGAIN. WHAT IF THIS SAME COMPANY IS THE ONLY COMPANY THAT RESPONDS AGAIN. AND WE'RE GOING TO SAY, WELL, NOW WE KICK THE CAN DOWN THE ROAD. WE GOT 60, 90 DAYS THAT WE'VE TRIED IN GOOD FAITH TO GET SOMEONE ELSE AND WE STILL END UP WITH YOU. HOW DOES THAT PUT THE COUNTY IN ANY BETTER SHAPE? IF WE'RE DECLARING OR IF WE'RE IMPLYING THAT THERE'S MONEY MISSING IN THE COUNTY, I THINK THE LONGER WE GO WITHOUT DEALING WITH THIS ISSUE, THE GREATER CHANCES OF, IF THERE'S SOME IMPROPRIETIES OR WHATEVER GOING ON FOR THAT TO CONTINUE. WITH THAT, I YIELD. PATRICIA. I'M SORRY. JUSTICE YOUNG-BAKER. WELL, I, AGREE WITH YOU, CURTIS 100%, BECAUSE THE OTHER ISSUE THAT I HAVE IS THAT WHEN ALL THIS STARTED IS THE EXECUTIVE ORDER, A HIRING FREEZE WAS PUT IN PLACE. SO THIS AFFECTS OTHER DEPARTMENTS AS WELL REGARDING THEIR HIRING. SO WE DON'T NEED TO CONTINUE TO PUT OFF SOMETHING THAT A LOT OF US WAS IN FAVOR FOR AND WANTED SO THAT WE COULD HAVE TRANSPARENCY, BECAUSE I THINK THAT'S WHAT IT WAS ALL ABOUT. PEOPLE WERE BELIEVING THAT THERE WASN'T TRANSPARENCY. THERE WERE SOME THINGS GOING ON. SO I FEEL LIKE WE ASKED FOR A FORENSIC AUDIT. THE JUDGE STOOD UP AND SAID, LET'S GET THIS DONE. WE NEED TO GET THIS DONE. AND JUSTICE MASSEY, YOU'RE RECOGNIZED. THANK YOU. ACTUALLY, I THINK MY QUESTION WAS ANSWERED. YOU DID SEND OUT 400 REQUESTS. IS THAT CORRECT? OR HOW MANY WAS SENT OUT? 64. WAS SENT OUT. AND YOU ONLY GOT A RESPONSE FROM. TWO. FROM TWO. THANK YOU. SO I THINK THAT DEMONSTRATES THAT THIS IS KIND OF HIGHLY SPECIALIZED. AND THIS IS KIND OF AN OPPORTUNITY FOR ME TO JUST MAKE A COMMENT FOR YOU. I THINK IT WAS THREE MONTHS AGO TODAY OR PRETTY MUCH THREE MONTHS AGO TODAY THAT WE WERE GOING TO BE BROKE. THERE'S OVER $70 MILLION IN THE BANK TODAY, FOLKS. SO FIGURE THAT OUT FOR YOURSELVES. ARE YOU NOT DONE ANY MORE? PRESSURE LIGHT. SO JUST FOR TRANSPARENCY SAKE. JUSTICE MASSEY, YOU'RE RECOGNIZED. I'M SORRY. THANK YOU. FOR TRANSPARENCY SAKE, SINCE SOME PEOPLE DOUBT THAT, IS THERE A WAY FOR US TO SEE WHO THESE WERE MAILED TO OR OR SOME. YES. SEE WHO THIS WAS MAILED TO? YEAH, IT'S ABOUT 500 PAGES. BUT SHE SAYS YES. AND I MEAN, I JUST KIND OF WANT TO GLANCE TO GET. TO SEE. OKAY. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. JUSTICE CURRY, YOU'RE RECOGNIZED. YES. THANK YOU. I'D JUST LIKE TO SAY THAT, BECAUSE OF THE PRESSURE THAT'S BEEN PUT ON THE QUORUM COURT, AND I AGREE WITH THE COMMENTS THAT HAVE BEEN MADE TONIGHT REGARDING THE URGENCY. SO WHERE'S THE URGENCY NOW? IF WE DON'T MOVE, IT WILL NOT HAPPEN. IT WILL CONTINUALLY BE DELAYED. SO I THINK IT WOULD BE PRUDENT FOR US TO ACT AS A LEGISLATIVE BODY, TO DO WHAT WE NEED TO DO TO GET THE AUDIT DONE. I YIELD. THANK YOU, JUSTICE CURRY. AND JUSTICE MEDLOCK, YOU'RE RECOGNIZED. WELL, I GUESS I JUST REALLY WANTED TO MAKE A COMMENT ABOUT THE PROCESS. I MEAN, IF YOU MAILED OUT OVER 400 INVITATIONS, I CAN'T IMAGINE MANY MORE COMPANIES THAT EVEN OFFER THAT SERVICE. SO I DON'T SEE HOW THEY COULD BE HAND PICKED PER SE. AND THEN WITH THE ONES THAT FELT COMFORTABLE ENOUGH TO RESPOND, I THINK I'M GOOD WITH IT PROCEEDING ON AS WELL. I YIELD. JUSTICE KEITH, YOU'RE RECOGNIZED. AND THIS IS JUST A QUICK QUESTION. SO WHAT DO WE DO WITH THIS MOTION TONIGHT? BECAUSE I KNOW WE'RE ASKING FOR THE LIST OF INDIVIDUALS THAT WE ACTUALLY SENT THE INVITATION TO. [00:25:01] SO WHAT DO WE DO WITH IT? OH, SO WE'RE NOT DELAYING.THE INFO. SO DO WE. ARE WE STILL GOING TO VOTE? SO WE'RE GOING TO DEAL WITH THE MOTION ON THE FLOOR? OKAY. ALL RIGHT, I YIELD. THANK YOU. ANYONE ELSE WANT TO WEIGH IN? I'VE HEARD A RUMOR FROM SOME OF THE COURT THAT SOME DEPARTMENTS DON'T WANT TO BE AUDITED. LADIES AND GENTLEMEN, I WOULD SUGGEST THOSE ARE EXACTLY THE DEPARTMENTS THAT YOU WANT TO MAKE DARN SURE AUDITED. AND BY THE WAY, THE JUDGE'S OFFICE WILL BE FIRST BECAUSE I WANT THAT REPORT DONE BEFORE THE END OF THE YEAR. MADAM CLERK, PLEASE CALL THE ROLL FOR. THE MOTION ON THE FLOOR IS TO LAY UPON THE TABLE FOR 30 DAYS. YES, SIR. 13 NAYS, ONE YES, ONE ABSENT. I'M SORRY. 11 NOS. ONE YES. AND ONE ABSENT. SORRY. 12 DAYS HAVE PASSED OUT. THANK YOU, MADAM CLERK. I AGREE WITH YOUR MATH AND I'M GLAD TO CHECK ANY TIME. AND THERE'S NO HURRY. I APPRECIATE YOUR EFFORT AND I APPRECIATE THE PRESSURE OF YOU BEING THE PERSON THAT HAS TO DO THIS. SO MEMBERS, THAT MOVES US BACK UP FOR THE MOTION ON THE FLOOR IS FOR THE ADOPTION OF ORDINANCE 26-I-44. ANYBODY NEED THAT REREAD? IT'S THE APPROPRIATION TO FUND THE FORENSIC AUDIT FOR PULASKI COUNTY GOVERNMENT. I HAVE NO LIGHTS LIT. SO MADAM CLERK, PLEASE CALL THE ROLL FOR THE ADOPTION OF ORDINANCE 26-I-44. 12 AYES, ONE ABSENT, ONE PRESENT. THANK YOU. THANK YOU MADAM CLERK. JUSTICE CURRY, YOU PASSED YOUR ORDINANCE 26-I-44. MEMBERS, WE HAVE LATE FILING, SO I'LL ENTERTAIN A MOTION TO SUSPEND THE RULES. SO MOVED. SECOND. MEMBERS, YOU'VE HEARD THE MOTION. YOU'VE HEARD THE SECOND. MADAM CLERK, WILL YOU PLEASE READ FOR US THE LATE FILED ORDINANCE 26-I-470? RESOLUTION OF THE QUORUM COURT COUNTY DECLARING THE OFFICE OF JUSTICE OF PEACE DISTRICT 13 VACANT. MEMBERS, ANY COMMENTS OR QUESTIONS REGARDING ORDINANCE 26-I-47? MOTION. MOTION. NEED A MOTION? I'M SORRY. I WAS EXPECTING YOU TO TELEPATHICALLY DELIVER THAT TO EVERYBODY. YOU FAILED THAT TEST. SO. JUSTICE MCCOY, YOU'RE RECOGNIZED FOR THE MOTION. MOTION. SECOND. YOU'VE HEARD THE MOTION. YOU'VE HEARD THE SECOND. APOLOGIZE FOR THE STUMBLE THERE, MISTER MCCOY. MEMBERS, YOU'VE HEARD THE MOTION. YOU'VE HEARD THE SECOND. ARE THERE ANY QUESTIONS OR COMMENTS REGARDING ORDINANCE 26-I-47. THERE BEING NONE. MADAM CLERK, PLEASE CALL THE ROLL FOR THE ADOPTION OF ORDINANCE 26-I-47. [00:30:34] 13 AYES, ONE ABSENT. THANK YOU, MADAM CLERK. AND LET THE RECORD REFLECT THAT IT WAS UNANIMOUS DECISION ON THE ADOPTION OF ORDINANCE 26-I-47. CONGRATULATIONS, JUSTICE MCCOY. SO ALSO UNDER THE LATE FILING IS ORDINANCE 26. I'M SORRY. IS RESOLUTION 26-I-48. MADAM CLERK, PLEASE READ IT FOR US. A RESOLUTION OF QUORUM COURT OF PULASKI COUNTY ACKNOWLEDGING SUPPORT RAISING THE CAP OF ALLOWABLE INTAKE OF FUNDS FROM $500,000 TO $2 MILLION FOR THE OAK GROVE FIRE PROTECTION DISTRICT, NUMBER 25. THANK YOU, MADAM CLERK. JUSTICE ELLIOTT, YOU'RE RECOGNIZED FOR A MOTION. YOU'VE HEARD THE SECOND. ARE THERE ANY QUESTIONS OR COMMENTS REGARDING THIS RESOLUTION 26-I-48? I'VE GOT A QUESTION. I HAVE A RESOLUTION THAT DEALS WITH MONEY. YOU'RE RECOGNIZED, MR. MCCOY. JUSTICE ELLIOT OR SOMEONE ELSE COULD EXPLAIN A LITTLE BIT MORE. I'D APPRECIATE IT. MR. ELLIOTT. I HAVE SOMEONE HERE FROM THE OAK GROVE FIRE DEPARTMENT, JOHN MCNALLY. IS HE HERE? THANK YOU. GREAT. MR. THIS IS A RARITY BECAUSE WE DON'T USUALLY HAVE SPEAKERS. I MEAN, I'M JUST ASKING. I UNDERSTAND, MR. ELLIOTT. IT'S A LATE FILING, SO NO ONE'S HAD A CHANCE TO SPEAK. SO JUST RECOGNIZE THAT THIS IS GOING TO OPEN UP ALL ANY OTHER LATE FILINGS TO DISCUSSION. I GOT YOU. THANK YOU. DO I STILL HAVE THE FLOOR JUDGE? YEAH. YOU LET YOUR FRIEND IF IF PAUL WOULD LIKE TO JUST GIVE US A DESCRIPTION. I THINK THAT WOULD SUFFICE. WELL, I CAN DO THAT. YEAH. OKAY. THANK YOU. THANK YOU, SIR. THANKS FOR COMING. THANK YOU. WE MAY CALL YOU BACK, SO DON'T LEAVE YET. YEAH. THIS IS. THE RESOLUTION WOULD RAISE THE CAP FOR ALLOWABLE INTAKE OF FUNDS FOR THE OAK GROVE FIRE PROTECTION DISTRICT, NUMBER 25, AS REQUESTED BY THE FIRE DISTRICT. AND VOTED UPON BY THE RESIDENTS IN AN ELECTION HELD IN DECEMBER 25TH. AND WHAT THEY'RE DOING IS JUST WHAT I SAID. WHAT I KNOW ABOUT THEM WAS THAT MONEY WAS HALF A MILLION AND I'D LIKE TO MOVE FOR THE ADOPTION. AND OKAY, I THINK I'VE ALREADY BEEN SAID WHAT YOU SAID FROM 500,000 TO 2 MILLION. WELL, THE COMMUNITY ELECTION WAS HELD ON 122, 225. THAT'S ALL I CAN TELL YOU. THANK YOU, MR. ELLIOTT. I THINK THAT WAS A VERY GOOD JOB. SO THIS ISN'T A NEW TAX, RIGHT, MR. ELLIOTT? NO. WELL, AND NO, IT'S NOT. NOT REALLY. NO, IT'S JUST RAISING THE CAP IN CASE THEY WANTED TO. RIGHT. SO QUESTIONS OR COMMENTS ON THE RESOLUTION. I HAVE A QUESTION. I'M SORRY, YOU'RE RECOGNIZED. MISS MEDLOCK. SO AND I GUESS I'M DIRECTING THIS TO TO JUSTICE ELLIOTT. SORRY, I THINK YOU'RE JUST, I JUST, YOU'RE VOICING YOUR CONCERN AND THEN WE'LL SEE WHERE WE GO FROM THERE. DEBATE IS IN THE AGENDA COMMITTEE. SO THIS WAS VOTED ON BY THE RESIDENTS. THEY WANTED THIS. SO HE SAID, FROM WHAT I UNDERSTAND, IN DECEMBER OF 25 THEY VOTED AND THEY WANT THIS INCREASE. SO AND WHERE DOES THIS MONEY COME FROM? COMES FROM THE RESIDENTS WHO LIVE WITHIN THAT. OKAY. PERFECT. I JUST WANTED TO MAKE SURE I UNDERSTOOD. THANK YOU. I YIELD ANY OTHER QUESTIONS OR COMMENTS FOR MR. ELLIOTT? I DO. YOU'RE RECOGNIZED, MISS DAVIS. CAN WE HAVE MR. MCNALLY EXPLAIN THIS? IT WAS NOT EXPLAINED VERY WELL. IF HE COULD JUST DO IT MORE THOROUGHLY. THERE WERE A FEW MORE QUESTIONS, I THINK. WE CAN DO THAT IF YOU WANT, BUT YOU ACTUALLY HAVE THE SAME THING IN WEST PULASKI COUNTY FOR WEST PULASKI FIRE. [00:35:06] OKAY, I JUST SIR, WOULD YOU LIKE TO COME FORWARD AND LET'S OPEN THIS DOOR? YEAH. OPEN THIS DOOR. FIRST OF ALL, PLEASE STATE YOUR NAME AND YOUR POSITION FOR THE RECORD, PLEASE. MY NAME IS JOHN MCNALLY. I'M THE TREASURER FOR THE BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS FOR THE OAK GROVE FIRE DEPARTMENT. HAVE BEEN SINCE 2015. AND SO WHAT WHAT WAS THE QUESTION? SO BACK IN. WELL, LET ME START WITH, IT'S BEEN OVER 20 YEARS SINCE WE'VE RAISED THE CAP ON ALLOWABLE INTAKE OF FUNDS. AND SO RIGHT NOW WHERE WE'RE AT WITH OUR BUDGET, WE CAN'T EVEN IF WE WANTED TO INCREASE THE FIRE DUES, BECAUSE THAT WOULD PUT US OVER THE THRESHOLD OF 500,000. SO THE COMMUNITY CAME TOGETHER AND WE VOTED TO RAISE THE CAP FROM 500,000 TO 2 MILLION, WHICH IT'S NOT A NEW TAX OR AN INCREASE. WE'RE JUST MAKING THE TOTAL AMOUNT WE CAN RECEIVE LARGER BECAUSE ITS COSTS ARE GOING UP. FIREFIGHTING IS IT'S EXPENSIVE WORK TO TO MAINTAIN. SO IT'S DEFINITELY NOT A, NOT A NEW TAX, BUT WHEN THE FIRE DUES DO INEVITABLY GO UP, IT WILL ALLOW US TO RECOGNIZE THE GAINS FROM THAT. SO, SO TO SAY IT'S NOT A NEW TAX. WHAT IT DOES IS OPEN THE DOOR FOR THE PEOPLE IN THAT FIRE DISTRICT TO INCREASE THE TAX ON THEMSELVES SHOULD THEY SO CHOOSE. CORRECT, SIR. THANK YOU. ANY ANY OTHER QUESTIONS FROM THE COURT? THERE BEING NONE. THANK YOU SIR. THANK YOU GUYS. MADAM CLERK, PLEASE CALL THE ROLL FOR THE ADOPTION OF RESOLUTION 2026-I-48. MISS DAVIS. YES, MISS LEWISON YES, MISS BLACKWOOD, I MR. PERSON. YES, MISS MASSEY, I MISS CURRY I MR.. KEITH. YES. MISS WARD. YES. MISS YOUNG-BAKER. YES. MR. MCCOY. YES. MR. ELLIOTT. YES, I SORRY, MISS MICROPHONE GOES IN AND OUT. 12 EYES, TWO ABSENT. THANK YOU, MADAM CLERK. JUSTICE ELLIOTT, YOU PASSED YOUR RESOLUTION. THAT TAKES CARE OF OUR BUSINESS AGENDA. YOU'RE RECOGNIZED. MISS BLACKWOOD, MR. MCCOY. MRS. BLACKWOOD. THANK YOU. I WOULD LIKE TO MAKE A MOVE TO DISCHARGE THE AGENDA COMMITTEE FROM FURTHER CONSIDERATION OF ITEM 26. I 45, AS AMENDED. CAN YOU READ FOR US THE TITLE, OR DOES THE CLERK HAVE THAT TITLE THAT THAT ORDINANCE IN HER HAND? YES, I HAVE IT. OKAY. SO SO WE JUST GET THE NEEDS A SECOND. YEAH. SO IS THERE A SECOND FOR THIS MOTION? SECOND. SECOND. SO THERE'S A COUPLE OF SECONDS. SO CAN WE HEAR THE TITLE NOW? SURE. DOES ANYBODY HAVE THIS IN THEIR POSSESSION? 545. IT'S I 2645 AS AMENDED. THAT WAS IN OUR PACKET LAST MONTH. LAST MONTH. I HAVE IT RIGHT HERE. YOU SAID DISCHARGE THE AGENDA COMMITTEE. THIS RESOLUTION. I MOVE TO DISCHARGE THE AGENDA COMMITTEE FROM FURTHER CONSIDERATION OF ITEM 26-I-45. OKAY. ALL RIGHT. YOU HAVE THAT? I DO HAVE IT, YES. OKAY. YOU READY? READ IT FOR US, PLEASE. MADAM CLERK, AN ORDINANCE ESTABLISHING A 12 MONTH TEMPORARY MORATORIUM ON THE APPROVAL OF HIGH IMPACT, UTILITY INTENSIVE INDUSTRIAL USE AND HIGH INTENSITY DIGITAL INFRASTRUCTURE FACILITIES IN THE UNINCORPORATED AREAS OF PULASKI COUNTY. PENDING DEVELOPMENT OF A COMPREHENSIVE CONDITIONAL USE PERMIT AND NOTICE OF INDUSTRIAL IMPACT AND INTENT REGULATORY FRAMEWORK DECLARING AN EMERGENCY AND FOR OTHER PURPOSES. THANK YOU, MADAM CLERK. SUCH A MOTION IS IMMEDIATE CONSIDERATION. THERE'S NO DEBATE OR DISCUSSION. NO. BECAUSE THIS IS KIND OF RARE. PLEASE DO. THANK YOU. SO A MOTION TO DISCHARGE OFFICIALLY CALLED TO DISCHARGE. A COMMITTEE IS USED TO TAKE MATTER OUT OF THE COMMUNITY'S HANDS AND BRING IT DIRECTLY BACK TO THE MAIN ASSEMBLY FOR AN IMMEDIATE VOTE. THE MOTION IS CLASSIFIED AS AN INCIDENTAL MOTION AND REQUIRES A SECOND, WHICH YOU'VE RECEIVED. [00:40:05] THIS IS NOT SOMETHING THAT'S COVERED IN OUR PROCEDURAL ORDINANCE. AND THIS WE HAVE TO DEFER TO ROBERT'S RULES OF ORDER. THE ORDERING REQUIREMENTS FOR THIS MOTION DEPEND ON WHETHER PRIOR NOTICE WAS GIVEN WITH ADVANCE NOTICE. IT'S A MAJORITY VOTE WITHOUT ADVANCE NOTICE. IT REQUIRES TWO THIRDS VOTE. YOU DID NOT RECEIVE ADVANCE NOTICE, WHICH COULD HAVE BEEN AN ORAL NOTICE THAT WAS GIVEN AT THE PREVIOUS MEETING, OR A WRITTEN NOTICE GIVEN INTO THE CALL OF THE AGENDA. NEITHER WERE PROVIDED. SO THE VOTE THRESHOLD ON THE MOTION TO DISCHARGE IS TWO THIRDS. SO YOU HAVE TO DISPENSE WITH THE MOTION TO DISCHARGE. IF THE MOTION TO DISCHARGE PREVAILS, THEN THE ITEM WOULD COME BEFORE THE BODY FOR IMMEDIATE CONSIDERATION. SO THANK YOU, MR. PARLIAMENTARIAN. I COUNT ON YOU TO HE JUST CAN'T. SHE JUST CAN'T GET ENOUGH OF THE SHOW. THANK YOU FOR KEEPING ME ON TRACK. MADAM CLERK, PLEASE CALL THE ROLL FOR THE ADOPTION. JUDGE HYDE THE MOTION PERSONAL. I'M SORRY. IT'S DEBATABLE. OH, SO THE MOTION ON THE TABLE TO DISCHARGE IS DEBATABLE, BUT ONE, BUT NOT THE OTHER. CORRECT. SO ARE THERE QUESTIONS OR COMMENTS ON THIS MOTION? WELL, I'D LIKE CLARIFICATION BEFORE YOU BEFORE THEY SO WE WE'RE VOTING ON HER MOTION ON THE MOTION, NOT THE ACTUAL. THAT'S CORRECT. OKAY. JUSTICE MCCOY YOU'RE RECOGNIZED PROCEDURAL QUESTION, I GUESS. YOU SAY TWO THIRDS. IS IT TWO THIRDS PRESENT OR TWO THIRDS OF THE BODY? AND IF YOU COULD BE SPECIFIC WITH THE NUMBER OF VOTES. TEN VOTES. TEN VOTES. OKAY. IT'S IT'S NOT THE MEMBERS PRESENT. IT'S THE 15 MEMBERS. EVEN THOUGH YOU HAVE A VACANCY, IT'S STILL 15. TEN IS THE TWO THIRDS THRESHOLD I YIELD. MISS WARD, YOU'RE RECOGNIZED. OKAY, QUESTION. SO IF WE VOTE ON THIS TONIGHT, WHICH WE HAD ASKED TO POSTPONE, IF WE VOTE ON IT TONIGHT, IT'LL BE THROWN OUT IF WE DON'T PASS. SO IF YOU FAIL TO PASS THE MOTION TO DISCHARGE, IT WOULD STILL BE ON THE AGENDA COMMITTEE IN TWO WEEKS. OKAY. I JUST WANT TO PROTECT IT. OKAY. THANK YOU. JUSTICE MEDLOCK, YOU'RE RECOGNIZED. THANK YOU. SO AGAIN, JUST FOR CLARIFICATION, IF IT PASSES THEN IT'S BACK ON THE TABLE. IF THIS MOTION PASSES, THEN WE WILL IMMEDIATELY TAKE THE VOTE ON THE APPROVAL OF THAT ORDINANCE OR THE DEFEAT OF IT. IF IT'S DEFEATED, IF IT'S APPROVED, THEN OBVIOUSLY IT BECOMES AN ORDINANCE. BUT IF IT'S DEFEATED, THEN IT IS NOT ON YOUR AGENDA FOR THE AGENDA COMMITTEE. IT COULD BE ADDED TO THAT AGENDA AT A LATER TIME, BUT IT'S NOT THERE, CORRECT? I YIELD. ANY OTHER QUESTIONS? EVERYBODY UNDERSTAND WHAT WE'RE DOING? YOU'RE ONLY VOTING ON THE MOTION TO TAKE FROM THE TABLE OR TO TAKE FROM THE AGENDA COMMITTEE AND IMMEDIATELY VOTE UP OR DOWN ON THAT ORDINANCE. YES. I JUST. YOU'RE RECOGNIZED. IT'S A PROCEDURAL. SO IF THIS MOTION PASSES, THEN WE GO INTO TALKING ABOUT. WE DON'T EVEN TALK. I GUESS THE MORATORIUM. NO DEBATE? NO. THANK YOU. RIGHT. SO IT'S JUST LIKE WHEN YOU EXPUNGE A VOTE. OKAY? IF YOU EXPUNGE A VOTE THAT PREVIOUSLY FAILED AND THAT ITEM COMES BACK TO THE BODY FOR IMMEDIATE CONSIDERATION, THERE'S NO DEBATE, THERE'S NO DISCUSSION, YOU VOTE IT UP OR DOWN. SO IF YOU PASS THE MOTION TO DISCHARGE FROM COMMITTEE, WHICH IS SAYING THAT WE ARE REMOVING THE COMMITTEE'S CONTROL OF THAT ITEM, AND WE'RE PUTTING IT ON THE FLOOR FOR A VOTE, YOU WILL IMMEDIATELY VOTE UPON IT. THERE'S NO DEBATE, NO DISCUSSION. IT'S AN UP OR DOWN VOTE. YOU'RE RECOGNIZED, JUSTICE WARD. THANK YOU. SO IF WE JUST VOTE. HEY, THIS IS MY LIFE, OKAY? YEAH. I JUST WANT TO UNDERSTAND. YES, MA'AM. SO IF WE VOTE TO GO AHEAD AND RUN THE MORATORIUM VOTE TONIGHT. IF IT DOESN'T PASS, IT'S WIPED OUT? THAT PARTICULAR ORDINANCE WOULD BE. [00:45:03] BUT IT WOULD NOT PREVENT YOU FROM INTRODUCING THE LEGISLATION COMMITTEE. YEAH. THANK YOU. HEY, STOP ACTING LIKE I'M DUMB. OKAY. DID WE NOT AMEND THAT MORATORIUM? YEAH. AND I DID SAY AS AMENDED. AS AMENDED. OKAY. THANK YOU. I YIELD. EVERYONE CLEARLY UNDERSTAND WHAT WE'RE DOING? I THINK SO. YES. WE'RE READY. JUSTICE MCCOY. MADAM CLERK, THE MOTION'S ON THE FLOOR. WOULD YOU PLEASE CALL THE ROLL FOR THE APPROVAL OR DISAPPROVAL OF THE MOTION. MISS BLACKWOOD'S MOTION THAT IS CURRENTLY ON THE FLOOR? YES. AYES, FOUR NAYS, TWO ABSENT. YOU WERE CUT OUT. PLEASE RESTATE THAT. NO, I HAVE SEVEN FIVE. I'M NOT QUESTIONING YOUR COUNT, BUT YOUR MIC DIDN'T COME LIVE AS QUICK AS YOU TALKED. WAIT A MINUTE. MADAM CLERK, PLEASE TAKE YOUR TIME TO RECOUNT THE TALLY THERE. I WASN'T QUESTIONING YOUR TALLY. I WAS QUESTIONING YOUR MICROPHONE NOT BEING HOT WHEN YOU BEGAN SPEAKING. I SAID EIGHT AYES, BUT I'D LIKE TO GO BACK OVER AND CALL THE ROLL AGAIN, IF THAT'S OKAY. SO MEMBERS, THIS TIME WHEN YOU VOTE, SAY YOUR AYE AND SAY YOUR NAME. AND COUNTY ATTORNEY. IF WE COULD, DURING THE VOTE, IF WE COULD HAVE SILENCE IN THE AUDIENCE. SO SILENCE IN THE AUDIENCE OR I'LL SEND YOU OUT. AND YOU ALL PULL THE MICROPHONES INTO YOUR FACE, PLEASE. 7 AYES, 5 NAYS AND 2 ABSENT. THANK YOU, MADAM CLERK. JUSTICE BLACKWOOD, YOU FAILED TO PASS YOUR MOTION. THAT COMPLETES THE BUSINESS PART OF OUR AGENDA TONIGHT. AND SO FOR THE BAR, WE RECOGNIZE THE OPPORTUNITY FOR ANNOUNCEMENTS. [Announcements ] I WANT TO ACKNOWLEDGE MY COLLEAGUE WHO HAS BEEN DILIGENT IN WHAT SHE'S TRYING TO DO, ACTUALLY BELIEVE IN IT. I'M ACTUALLY FOR A MORATORIUM. [00:50:03] BUT I ASKED FOR MORE TIME FOR A REASON, AND WHOEVER CAN AGREE WITH IT, ME ONE MORE TIME. THAT'S OKAY. YOU KNOW, THAT'S FINE. I'M NOT HERE FOR EVERYBODY TO AGREE WITH ME. HOWEVER, FOR THE LAST COUPLE DAYS, I'VE HAD TWO MEETINGS IN THE LAST COUPLE OF DAYS THAT HAVE BEEN ENLIGHTENING WITH THE VERY PEOPLE THAT I ASKED TO SPEAK WITH. INDIVIDUALS WHO ARE EXPERTS IN THIS FIELD. I HAVE REACHED OUT TO MUNICIPALITIES OUTSIDE OF ARKANSAS. I'M IN INFORMATION GATHERING STAGE. AND THAT IS THE REASON WHY I WANTED MORE TIME. AND SO I WANT MY COLLEAGUES TO KNOW THAT, YOU KNOW, I'M FOR A MORATORIUM. HOWEVER, I WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT I'M ABLE TO MAKE INFORMED DECISIONS, SO I YIELD. ANY OTHER ANNOUNCEMENTS BY THE COURT? JUSTICE MCCOY, YOU'RE RECOGNIZED FOR AN ANNOUNCEMENT. I ECHO JUSTICE PERSON'S, EXCUSE ME, SENTIMENT. I FULLY EXPECT THIS BODY TO PASS THE MORATORIUM NEXT MONTH IS MY HOPE. THAT'S IT. I JUST WANT TO MAKE A COMMENT, ALSO. YOU'RE RECOGNIZED FOR AN ANNOUNCEMENT, JUSTICE CURRY. I'D LIKE TO SAY WE ARE FOR MORATORIUM. THAT'S HOW I PERSONALLY FEEL. BUT I WANT TO MAKE SURE. AND I'VE ALSO REACHED OUT AND TALKED WITH SOME PEOPLE THAT KNOW WHAT'S GOING ON. I DON'T WANT IT TO BE TAKEN FROM CHAT GPT AND ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE. I WANTED TO MAKE SURE THAT WE'RE COMPARING ORANGES AND ORANGES AND APPLES AND APPLES AND NOT APPLES AND ORANGES. SO I WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT I HAVE RIGHTEOUSLY UNDERSTAND WHAT I'M VOTING FOR. AND WE WANT TO SUPPORT OUR COLLEAGUE THAT IN THE DISTRICT THAT SHE SERVES. AND I HOPE THAT WE CAN HEAR FROM THE ADVISORY COMMITTEE AS WELL ON WHAT YOUR COMMUNITY WANTS TO SEE, EVEN WITH WHATEVER DECISION IS MADE. THANK YOU. FOR WHAT EVERYBODY'S DOING. THANK YOU. I YIELD. THANK YOU. ANY OTHER ANNOUNCEMENTS? JUDGE. JUSTICE MEDLOCK, YOU'RE RECOGNIZED. TO DO OUR DUE DILIGENCE AND UNDERSTAND EVERY AVENUE OF THIS MORATORIUM, EVEN AS AMENDED, BECAUSE WE UNDERSTAND AND WE HEAR WHAT EVERYBODY IS SAYING. AND IT'S NOT THAT WE'RE AGAINST THE MORATORIUM. WE JUST WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT WE'RE NOT GOING TO INADVERTENTLY HINDER SOMETHING THAT DIDN'T NECESSARILY NEED TO BE HINDERED. SO WE ARE TRYING TO DO OUR DUE DILIGENCE. THANK YOU. I YIELD. ANYONE ELSE? ALL RIGHT. MEMBERS, THAT CONCLUDES OUR ANNOUNCEMENTS. BRINGS UP PUBLIC COMMENT. OUR FIRST ONE IS INDIA JACKSON. IF I MISPRONOUNCE ANY OF THESE NAMES, PLEASE FORGIVE ME. [Public Comment ] PLEASE STATE YOUR NAME FOR THE RECORD. OOPS. I GOT TO TURN IT ON. HELLO. I'M INDIA JACKSON. JACKSON, WE GIVE THREE MINUTES FOR PUBLIC COMMENT. AND SO WHEN YOU HEAR THE ALARM GO OFF, YOUR THREE MINUTES ARE UP AND TRY AND BRING IT TO A CLOSE. OKAY. COPY THAT. THANK YOU MA'AM. THANK YOU. OKAY, SO WE ALL KNOW THE IMPLICATIONS OF HAVING A DATA CENTER. POLLUTION, HEALTH ISSUES FOR ANIMALS AND HUMANS ALIKE, HEARING LOSS AND MAJOR INCREASE IN UTILITIES WHICH HAVE ALREADY STARTED TO TAKING PLACE SO FAR. AND KANSANS HAVE BEEN SHOWN TIME AND TIME AGAIN THAT OUR LOCAL GOVERNMENT, WHO WE VOTED IN DOESN'T CARE. BETWEEN THE PASSING OF ACTS 851 AND SB 307, GIVING THESE DATA CENTERS AND UTILITY COMPANIES FREE RANGE TO DO WHATEVER THEY WANT TO THE CITY, NOT GIVING A MORATORIUM AND APPROVING REGULATIONS THAT NO ONE AGREED ON. THESE ACTIONS WILL NOT BE FORGOTTEN. SO NOW IT'S YOUR TURN. WHAT WILL YOU SHOW US? WE NEED A MORATORIUM. KNOW THAT WHATEVER YOU DECIDE WILL BE REMEMBERED. AND WE DO NOT FORGET. YOU ARE HERE TO REPRESENT THE PEOPLE OF PULASKI COUNTY. NOT THE CORPORATIONS, NOT THE DATA CENTERS, NOT THE UTILITY COMPANIES. [00:55:05] SO TAKE A LOOK AROUND THIS ROOM. THESE ARE THE PEOPLE WHO VOTED YOU IN TO BE THEIR VOICE. AND WE ARE SAYING THAT WE WANT A MORATORIUM. THESE COMPANIES HAVE THESE DATA CENTERS. THESE COMPANIES HAVE GUARANTEED NOTHING BUT THEORIES AND EMPTY PROMISES. AS FAR AS WE KNOW, NOTHING HAS SHOWN THAT WHAT THEY'RE SAYING IS ACTUALLY TRUE. WE'VE HEARD FROM OTHER AREAS AND ALL THE OTHER STATES. HEY, Y'ALL NEED TO FIGHT THIS. YOU NEED TO FIGHT THIS BECAUSE PEOPLE THAT ARE IN THESE SITUATIONS, THEY'RE TALKING, THEY'RE CONVERSATING. AND WE JUST WANT YOU TO KNOW THAT WHATEVER YOU DECIDE, YOU ARE HOLDING THE LINE FOR US. YOU ARE OUR LAST STANCE ON THIS. SO PLEASE REMEMBER THAT YOU SPEAK FOR US AND NO ONE ELSE. THANK YOU. THANK YOU, MISS DAVIS. [APPLAUSE]. MISS DAVIS WAS WALKING OUT. I'M SORRY. JANICE PITTS. IS MISS PITTS STILL HERE? GOOD EVENING. GOOD EVENING. MY NAME IS JANICE PITTS AND I AM A RESIDENT OF THE SWEET HOME HIGGINS COMMUNITY, WRIGHTSVILLE. THERE HAS BEEN A LOT OF CONTROVERSY GOING ON WITH THE ISSUES ABOUT THE DATA CENTERS, AND THAT IS HEAVILY WEIGHED WITHIN OUR COMMUNITIES. SO I'M HERE TO ASK FOR SOME SINCERE TRANSPARENCY OF THE DISADVANTAGES THAT WE ARE FACING. WE WOULD LIKE TO HAVE SOME MORE ANSWERS TO OUR QUESTIONS ABOUT THE DISADVANTAGES, BECAUSE WE KNOW THAT THERE ARE QUITE A FEW. IF SOMEONE COULD TALK TO US ABOUT IT, BE MORE TRANSPARENT. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. OKAY. THANK YOU. THANK YOU, MISS PITTS. [APPLAUSE]. MISS WINONA HUGHES. MIC]. GOOD EVENING. MY NAME IS DAMITA RILEY AND I AM A RESIDENT OF RICEVILLE. BEEN THERE ALL MY LIFE. WE HAVE SOME CONCERNS WITH THE QUORUM COURT. NUMBER ONE IS, WHY WERE WE NOT NOTIFIED OF THE DATA CENTERS? WE'RE ON THE BACK END OF THE NEWS. NUMBER TWO, WE KNOW THAT THESE DATA CENTERS HAVE SOME ADVERSE REACTIONS TO OUR COMMUNITY, OUR WAY OF LIFE, OUR HEALTH. NOT ONLY FOR US, BUT FOR OUR CHILDREN AND OUR CHILDREN'S CHILDREN. IT WILL TAKE OUR LAND VALUE DOWN. IT WILL POLLUTE OUR LAND. IT WILL POLLUTE THE AIR THAT WE BREATHE. WHY WOULD YOU CONSIDER TWO DATA CENTERS WITHIN TEN MILES OF EACH OTHER? WHY WOULD YOU DO THAT TO RICEVILLE HIGGINS SWEET HOME? [APPLAUSE]. EVERYTHING IN BETWEEN RED OAK. WHY WOULD YOU EVEN CONSIDER DOING THAT TO OUR COMMUNITY? NOT ONE DATA CENTER, BUT TWO. THAT IS A DOUBLE HIT FOR US, AND WE'RE NOT GOING TO STAND FOR IT. [APPLAUSE]. I DON'T KNOW WHAT WE CAN DO NOW, BUT WE WANT YOU TO HEAR US AND HEAR US PLAIN. WE'RE NOT GOING TO BE QUIET. WE'RE NOT GOING AWAY. WE'RE NOT. SO DO YOU WANT THIS IN YOUR NEIGHBORHOOD? DO YOU WANT THIS NEXT DOOR TO YOU? DO YOU WANT THIS IN YOUR PARKS? [APPLAUSE]. WE DON'T HAVE PARKS LIKE YOU GUYS HAVE PARKS. THE SOUTHEAST PULASKI COUNTY HAS ALWAYS BEEN FORGOTTEN. ALWAYS. EXCEPT WHEN IT COMES TO SOMETHING NEGATIVE, TO LAYING DOWN IN OUR COMMUNITIES. [01:00:03] YOU BRING IT DOWN. YOU. YOU KNOW US THEN. YOU KNOW WHERE WE ARE THEN. LET'S BRING THE DATA CENTERS DOWN THERE TO THEM. WHAT ABOUT GOING OUT IN ANOTHER DIRECTION? WE DIDN'T GET ONE. WE GOT TWO. EVERYBODY SAY YOU WANT THIS MORATORIUM. YOU SHOULD ALREADY KNOW ABOUT THE DATA CENTERS BECAUSE THE INFRASTRUCTURE IS ALREADY COMING IN. SO YOU CAN'T TELL ME THAT YOU WANT TO KNOW MORE ABOUT IT. YOU SHOULD ALREADY KNOW. BECAUSE YOUR VOTES APPARENTLY HAVE BEEN YAY. NOW, I DON'T KNOW ABOUT YOUR PLANNING COMMISSION. THE PLANNING COMMISSIONERS ARE RECOMMENDING THE DATA CENTERS TO YOU, OR WHAT? BUT WE KNOW ENOUGH ABOUT THE PROCESS TO KNOW THIS IS BULL CRAP. [APPLAUSE]. WE KNOW ENOUGH ABOUT THE PROCESS. AND YOU'RE NOT FOOLING US. SO WE ASK YOU AGAIN. WHY WOULD YOU CONSIDER AND PUT TWO DATA CENTERS WITHIN TEN MILES OF US? NOT 1, 2. WE HAVE FARMLAND DOWN THERE. THAT WATER EMISSIONS THAT'S COMING, THE COOLING, THAT STUFF, THAT WATER GOES INTO THE GROUND. WHERE'S THE WATER GOING TO GO AFTER THE COOLING OF THE. WHATEVER THE COOLANTS ARE COOLING. WHERE IS IT GOING TO GO? IT'S GOING TO THE ARKANSAS RIVER. THAT'S OUR DRINKING WATER. YOU DON'T HAVE ENOUGH PURIFIERS. FOR LACK OF A BETTER WORD. YOU DON'T HAVE ENOUGH PURIFIERS TO KEEP UP WITH HUNDREDS AND THOUSANDS OF GALLONS OF WATER TO PURIFY FOR OUR DRINKING WATER. YOU ALL ARE PLAYING WITH HEALTH. SO PLEASE WRAP IT UP, MA'AM. OKAY. WE DON'T WANT CANCER. WE WANT CLEAR WATER, JUST LIKE YOU. WE DON'T WANT IT IN OUR BACKYARDS. I DON'T KNOW WHAT YOU CAN DO TO BACK IT UP, BUT BACK IT UP. THANK YOU, MA'AM. [APPLAUSE]. IS THERE A DEMETER RILEY? NO, SIR. I'M SORRY. OH, THAT WAS HER. NO. JAMES RUSSELL. AND PLEASE, PLEASE, PLEASE IN THE AUDIENCE, EVEN WHEN PEOPLE ARE SPEAKING, THE RULES CALL FOR YOU TO BE QUIET. AND IN RESPECT TO THOSE SPEAKERS, LET'S BE QUIET. IT'S MR. RUSSELL, THE THIRD. YES, SIR. YOU HAVE THREE MINUTES, SIR. THANK YOU. I'LL TRY TO USE THEM. MY NAME IS JAMES RUSSELL. I'M A RESIDENT OF PULASKI COUNTY. I AM HERE TO SPEAK IN FAVOR OF THE MORATORIUM ON THIS. NOT ONLY FOR THE REASONS THAT HAVE BEEN LISTED HERE. THE TOLL ON HUMAN LIFE, THE FURTHER CONDEMNING AND INFRINGING UPON PEOPLE WHO ARE ALREADY ECONOMICALLY DISADVANTAGED. THESE ARE ALL PROBLEMATIC ENOUGH IN THEMSELVES. I WANT TO SPEAK TO ANOTHER PROBLEM, WHICH IS THE FACT THAT CURRENT LEGISLATION IN THE STATE OF ARKANSAS DOES NOT ACTUALLY HAVE A ROBUST ENOUGH MECHANISM FOR DEALING WITH ADVANCED AI DATA CENTERS. CURRENTLY, WHAT WE HAVE ON THE BOOKS DEALS WITH BLOCKCHAIN. BLOCKCHAIN TECHNOLOGY CRYPTOCURRENCY AND OTHER NON-FUNGIBLE TOKEN TRACKING. NONE OF THAT DEALS WITH DATA IN THE FORM OF EYE TRACKING, DATA ANALYTICS, OR ANYTHING ELSE. IT IS TREATING THINGS AS THOUGH ALL DATA IS EQUAL WHEN IT COMES TO A COMPUTER. IT IS NOT. THIS IS FUNDAMENTALLY THE EQUIVALENT OF TRYING TO SAY THAT A SELF STORAGE UNIT WOULD BE SUFFICIENT FOR NUCLEAR WASTE STORAGE. IT WOULD BE LIKE SAYING THAT WASTEWATER FROM A NUCLEAR FACILITY COULD BE RUN THROUGH A MUNICIPAL POWER PLANT. IT IS TRYING TO TREAT SOMETHING AS THOUGH IT IS ALL EQUAL WHEN IT FUNDAMENTALLY IS NOT. I URGE YOU TO CONTINUE EDUCATING YOURSELVES ON THE DIFFERENCE IN THE TECHNOLOGY AND THE DIFFERENCE IN HOW THE LEGISLATION CAN REACT TO IT, BECAUSE WE AS A STATE ARE NOT READY TO DEAL WITH THE CONSEQUENCES. THEREFORE, WE AS A COUNTY SHOULD NOT ALLOW THIS TO PROGRESS. WE MUST PROTECT OUR RESIDENTS FROM CORPORATE EXPANSION, AND WE MUST PROTECT THEM FROM INJUSTICES. THANK YOU. [APPLAUSE]. ALICIA ANN. MY NAME IS ALICIA. I'M AN OCCUPATIONAL THERAPIST AT DAISY BATES COLLEGE STATION. WE ARE TOLD THE MASS OF $6 BILLION AVAILED DIGITAL CAMPUS IS A HISTORIC MILESTONE FOR ARKANSAS. BUT LOOKING PAST THE GLOSSY CORPORATE PRESS RELEASES, WE SEE A COMPLETE VIOLATION OF CONCERNS OF CONSTITUENTS RIGHTS AND A TOXIC [01:05:02] LACK OF TRANSPARENCY. WE MUST CALL THIS WHAT THIS IS, A COORDINATED BETRAYAL BY PULASKI COUNTY JUDGE BARRY HYDE. WHILE OUR FAMILIES WERE LEFT IN THE DARK, JUDGE HYDE WAS BUSY BEHIND CLOSED DOORS, CHAMPIONING THIS AS A GENERATIONAL INVESTMENT. HE HELPED PAVE THE WAY FOR SPECIAL EXEMPTIONS THAT CARVED OUT LOOPHOLES THAT AND ATTEMPTED TO GRANDFATHER A VOW INTO THE MORATORIUM. HE TRADED OUR PEACE, OUR WATER AND OUR HEALTH FOR CORPORATE ALGORITHMS. JUDGE HYDE DIDN'T ACT ALONE, HE PARTNERED WITH JAY CHESSHIR OF THE LITTLE ROCK CHAMBER OF COMMERCE, WHO SPENT THREE YEARS TREATING OUR NEIGHBORHOODS LIKE PRIVATE COMMODITIES TO QUIET BROKER THIS DEAL BEHIND CLOSED DOORS. NOW, TO COVER THEIR TRACKS, THEY HAVE DEPLOYED ENTERGY TO SPIN A WEB OF CORPORATE DECEPTION. ENTERGY STANDS BEFORE US, TELLING BOLD FACED LIES, CLAIMING THAT IT'S NOT GOING TO COST US ANYTHING. THEY EXPECT US TO BELIEVE THAT A VEIL WILL PUT 100% OF THE BILL, BUT THEY COMPLETELY LEAVE OUT THE IDEA THAT ENTERGY IS ALREADY BUILDING MASSIVE POWER PLANTS IN JEFFERSON COUNTY, AND EXISTING TAXPAYERS WILL BE FORCED TO PAY FOR THAT INFRASTRUCTURE UPFRONT THROUGH HIDDEN RATE RIDERS. THEY ARE LOCKED IN SECRECY. PROPRIETARY CONTRACTS. Y'ALL SIGN NDAS. THE PHYSICAL FOOTPRINT OF THE DEAL REVEALS EVEN A DARKER TRUTH. IT'S ENVIRONMENTAL RACISM. ACROSS THE UNITED STATES, UNPERMITTED DATA CENTERS AND HEAVY INDUSTRIAL HUBS ARE OVERWHELMINGLY DUMPED INTO BROWN AND BLACK NEIGHBORHOODS. HISTORY IS REPEATING ITSELF RIGHT HERE. THE MASSIVE CAMPUS SITS DIRECTLY RIGHT OF WRIGHTSVILLE, ADJACENT TO DAISY BATES ELEMENTARY SCHOOL. BOTH OF THE DATA CENTERS ARE GOING TO BLACK ELEMENTARY SCHOOLS. WHY IS THAT? WHY NOT ON COLONEL GLENN? [APPLAUSE]. RIGHT. DATA CENTERS DEMAND MASSIVE POWER, RELYING ON INFRASTRUCTURE THAT PLACES NOISE AND POLLUTION RIGHT AT OUR CHILDREN'S BACK DOOR. THIS STAINS THE LEGACY OF DAISY BATES. BUT THE CORRUPTION DIDN'T STOP THERE. BLED TO THE WRIGHTSVILLE COMMUNITY TOWN HALL. A VAIL WAS A NO SHOW, AND IT WAS. THEN MAYOR DEREK RAINEY HANDED THE MICROPHONE OVER TO ANGELA TALBOT, WHO WEAPONIZED HER POSITION TO COMPLETELY SILENCE THE COMMUNITY. MISS TALBOT CONFISCATED OUR QUESTIONS, FILTERED WHO DECIDED TO ANSWER THEM OR NOT? JUSTICES POSSESS FULL LEGAL STANDING TO VOTE YES FOR THE MORATORIUM. OH, MA'AM, THAT'S YOUR THREE MINUTES. PLEASE WRAP IT UP. I'LL BE HAPPY TO. YOU ARE NOT DEFYING STATE LAW. YOU ARE FULFILLING YOUR CONSTITUTIONAL MANDATE TO SAFEGUARD THE PUBLIC HEALTH, SAFETY AND WELFARE OF YOUR CONSTITUENTS. VOTING FOR THIS TEMPORARY PAUSE ENSURES THE COUNTY CONTROL OF THE INFRASTRUCTURE, RATHER THAN LETTING OUTSIDE TECH DEVELOPERS DICTATE COUNTY TERMS. [APPLAUSE]. WE SHOULD GET HER. SHE SHOULD GET HER FACTS STRAIGHT. J. SHAWN WALKER. AM I PRONOUNCING THAT CORRECTLY? NO, SIR. YOU'VE ALREADY HEARD ME HAVE ABOUT THREE MINUTES TO SPEAK. MY NAME IS J. SHAWN WALKER. I AM A RESIDENT OF THE PULASKI COUNTY DISTRICT. I JUST WANTED TO CLARIFY AND JUST UNDERSTAND THAT WHAT WE MAKE, WHAT WE MAKE IN OUR FUTURE WILL GO ON TO, WE WILL GO ON TO PASS TO EVERYONE ELSE WHO MAY OR MAY NOT EVER SEE RIGHT. WE HAVE TO BE CONSIDERATE OF OUR FELLOW MEN, RIGHT. AND IN THAT IN THAT REGARD, THE AI DOES NOT GIVE EVERY PERSON THE ADVANTAGE THAT, SAY, AT HOME WOULD OR A COMMUNITY CENTER OR JUST EVEN A SHOPPING OR A SHOPPING MALL IN THAT IT ONLY BENEFITS THOSE WHO DO NOT EVEN LIVE IN OUR STATE. NOW, I JUST WANT TO ALSO THANK YOU. I WANT TO THANK THAT YOU ALL REMEMBER THAT THIS IS ARKANSAS. THIS IS OUR NATURAL STATE. THIS IS OUR STATE THAT WE HAVE TO DICTATE HOW WE HOW WE ESSENTIALLY TREAT THIS STATE AND HOW WE GIVE IT TO THE PEOPLE WHO WILL COME AFTER US. WE HAVE TO WE HAVE TO MAKE A PATH FOR THOSE PEOPLE WHO ARE NOT WHO NOT WHO ARE NOT IN THIS WORLD ALREADY. AND WE HAVE TO WE HAVE TO THINK BEYOND JUST OURSELVES AND BEYOND JUST WHAT COULD BE, WHAT COULD BE. WE I'M SURE THAT EVERYONE KNOWS ABOUT THE ASBESTOS AND EVERYONE KNOWS ABOUT THE LEAD. THIS IS JUST THE SAME WAY WE RUSH INTO THOSE THINGS. AND NOW WE ARE STILL DEALING WITH THE CONSEQUENCES OF BUILDING AND INGRAINING THAT INTO OUR LIVES. [01:10:01] PEOPLE DYING FROM THOSE ACCIDENTS, BECAUSE WE RUSHED TOO QUICKLY AND DIDN'T CONSIDER HOW THIS COULD AFFECT PEOPLE IN THE FUTURE. I JUST. I HAVE NOTHING MORE TO SAY. I JUST WANTED TO ADD THAT YOU ALL AS JUDGES, THAT YOU ARE SERVANTS OF THE PEOPLE, RIGHT. AND THAT IT SHOULD BE AN HONOR THAT YOU ALL SHOULD TAKE. AND JUST REMINDER THAT WE PUT YOU ALL IN THIS POSITION. AND I HOPE THAT Y'ALL DON'T TAKE THAT FOR GRANTED, BECAUSE WE ALL TRUST YOU FOR THAT. [APPLAUSE]. THANK YOU. THANK YOU, MR. WALKER. CLECO JUNIOR TELLEZ. BACK AT IT AGAIN. HELLO. HELLO. ALRIGHTY. MY THREE MINUTES START RIGHT NOW. YEAH, THEY'VE ALREADY STARTED, SIR. YOU'RE UP. THERE WE GO. OKAY, I'LL. I'LL FINISH UP. I MADE THAT MAP BECAUSE APPARENTLY PULASKI COUNTY AND AVAIO DON'T WANT TO KNOW LET US KNOW WHAT WAS GOING ON IN THAT AREA. IT IS A MILE AWAY FROM DAISY BATES. IT WAS 1.6 MILES AWAY FROM THE COMMUNITY CENTER WHERE WE HAD THE MEETING. AND I DON'T KNOW, I'M. I JUST WANT TO LET YOU GUYS KNOW THAT I DIDN'T EVEN SHOW UP AT THAT MEETING AT WRIGHTSVILLE. NOT EVEN A REP OR ANYTHING. AND IT'S GOING TO IMPACT THAT AREA. AND YEAH, I JUST NOW WE HAVE TRILLIONAIRES NOW AND THE GUY THAT, THAT, THAT BECAME A TRILLIONAIRE, HE BUILT A DATA CENTER OVER THERE IN MEMPHIS AND. SIR, BACK AWAY. AND YEAH, I MEAN, JUST LOOK AT OUR NEIGHBORS IN MEMPHIS, WHAT THEY'RE DEALING WITH. AND YOU THINK THEY'D THROW SOME MORE MONEY INTO MAKING PEOPLE MORE COMFORTABLE OR DOING SOMETHING ABOUT IT? BUT NO, THESE GUYS DON'T LOOK AT US WITH RESPECT. THEY DON'T RESPECT US. THE PEOPLE OF WRIGHTSVILLE, ENOUGH TO SHOW UP AND, YOU KNOW, HEAR OUR CONCERNS. THEY. I DON'T BLAME YOU FOR NOT SHOWING UP. AND BECAUSE THEY'RE A CORPORATE INTEREST, THEY DON'T WANT TO GET SUED. THEY DON'T WANT THE THEY DON'T HAVE TO DEAL WITH US BECAUSE THEY'RE DEALING WITH YOU GUYS. AND I THINK IT'S A SHAME THAT YOU GUYS STILL, YOU KNOW, ARE DEBATING THIS OR STILL WANTING OPINIONS AND THIS AND THAT WHEN ALL OF US. THAT'S THREE MINUTES. SO TRY AND WRAP IT UP FOR ALL OF US DID OUR HOMEWORK HERE. I DID MY HOMEWORK HERE. I JUST WANT YOU GUYS TO KNOW THAT THE NEXT TIME YOU GUYS VOTE ON THIS, I HOPE YOU GUYS CHANGE YOUR MIND AND ACTUALLY PASS IT THROUGH BECAUSE AT THIS POINT, YOU'RE JUST MAKING US EVEN YOU KNOW, A LITTLE MAD. YOU'RE MORE ANGRY THAN WE SHOULD BE WHEN YOU. THANK YOU SIR. I APPRECIATE YOUR COMMENTS. HAVE A NICE EVENING. [APPLAUSE]. ALRIGHT, SO. PERRY DOUBLEDAY. HELLO, EVERYBODY. HELLO. GOOD EVENING. THANK YOU FOR HEARING ME. I HAVE A LITTLE BACKGROUND MUSIC I WANT TO PLAY FOR YOU BEFORE I GET STARTED. MY NAME IS PERRY DOUBLEDAY. I'M A RESIDENT OF LITTLE ROCK, ARKANSAS. OKAY. DID EVERYBODY HEAR THAT? THAT'S A DATA CENTER. THAT'S WHAT PEOPLE LISTEN TO 24/7. THAT'S MY BACKGROUND MUSIC. DAISY BATES SCHOOL. THE CHILDREN WON'T BE ABLE TO HEAR TO LEARN. WHAT'S YOUR PHONE? CLOSER TO THE MICROPHONE. OKAY. SO THIS IS WHAT WE'RE TALKING ABOUT. PUTTING IN NEIGHBORHOODS AND PUTTING NEXT TO SCHOOLS. THIS WAS PULLED TOGETHER EARLIER BY RICK MCCLURE OF MALVERN. WHO'S THE ONE THAT PUT THE BILL 1799 THROUGH ON THE FACT THAT MUNICIPALITIES AND CITIES HAVE NO RIGHT TO SAY ANYTHING ABOUT WHAT GOES INTO THEIR CITIES AND MUNICIPALITIES. SO WE KNOW THAT THE COMPANIES WERE INVOLVED AT THAT TIME. WE KNOW THE DNAS WERE STARTING TO BE SIGNED AT THAT TIME. WHEN DID YOU ALL KNOW IT? WE DIDN'T KNOW IT UNTIL THIS YEAR. WE DIDN'T KNOW WHAT WAS GOING ON WITH OUR NATURAL STATE UNTIL THIS YEAR. AND THERE YOU GO. YOU KNOW, I AGREE WITH WHAT EVERYONE HAS SAID. YOU'RE LOOKING AT BRIAN DAY. YOU'RE LOOKING AT JACK THOMAS WORRIED ABOUT MONEY. JAY CHESSHIR. JAY TOWNSEND. YOU KNOW, THE LITTLE ROCK BOARD OF DIRECTORS JUST TURNED OVER 380 ACRES, TURNED IT OVER WITHOUT SAYING WHAT A DATA CENTER IS, WHAT IT WILL DO, HOW MUCH WATER IT NEEDS, HOW MUCH ELECTRICITY IT NEEDS, AND WHAT IT WILL DO TO US. WE, THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF ARKANSAS, OUR NATURAL STATE. THAT IS BEAUTIFUL THAT I GREW UP HERE CAMPING AND FISHING AND EVERYTHING OUTDOORS THAT ALL OF US HAVE AVAILABLE TO US FOR NOW UNTIL WE DON'T DO ANYTHING. THE ARKANSAS STATE CONSTITUTION, ARTICLE TWO, SECTION ONE, ALL POLITICAL POWER IS INHERENT IN THE PEOPLE. [01:15:03] AND GOVERNMENT IS INSTITUTED FOR THEIR PROTECTION, SECURITY AND BENEFIT. AND THEY HAVE THE RIGHT TO ALTER, REFORM OR ABOLISH THE SAME IN SUCH MANNER AS THEY THINK PROPER. WE'RE TELLING YOU WHAT WE THINK IS PROPER RIGHT NOW. WE THINK Y'ALL ARE Y'ALL PROTECTING US, THE PEOPLE THAT LIVE HERE AND THE NEXT SEVEN GENERATIONS. AS HE SAID, THERE YOU ARE. THANK YOU DESHAWN. YOU KNOW, TAKE CARE OF US. YOU ARE HERE TO REPRESENT US. WE DID VOTE YOU IN AND WE'LL ALL BE BACK TO VOTE AGAIN. THANK YOU VERY MUCH. [APPLAUSE]. MR. MIKE POE. IS MIKE POE STILL HERE? ALL RIGHT, GUYS. OKAY, SO I'D LIKE TO START BY LETTING YOU GUYS KNOW IF YOU DIDN'T KNOW ALREADY, IT'S FIFA SEASON. OKAY. SO IF YOU SEE THIS, THIS IS A RED CARD. THAT'S A PENALTY CARD. ALL RIGHT. IF YOU SEE THIS, THAT'S A NEW CARD THAT THEY'RE NOT REALLY TECHNICALLY USING. IT JUST IT'S A POSITIVE. WE ALL KNOW THAT GREEN MEANS GO AND RED MEANS STOP. BUT TODAY RED MEANS STOP LYING. OKAY. SO WE NEED YOU GUYS TO JUST ACKNOWLEDGE THAT THESE PEOPLE ARE SPEAKING AGAINST THE DATA CENTER, NOT FOR IT. THERE IS NOT ONE CITIZEN I'VE EVER SEEN AT ANY OF THESE MEETINGS COME AND SPEAK FOR THE DATA CENTER. NOT ONE. THE ONLY PEOPLE FOR THE DATA CENTER IS ENERGY. BIG COAL, BIG GAS, BIG OIL AI, PEDO, FASCISTS. LIKE THE LIST GOES ON AND ON AND ON. THESE ARE THE PEOPLE THAT YOU ARE PROTECTING, AND THESE ARE THE PEOPLE THAT YOU ARE DECIDING TO REDLINE AN ENTIRE BLACK COMMUNITY IN FAVOR OF THEM AND THEIR DOLLARS. [APPLAUSE]. I WAS FIGHTING IN THAT COMMUNITY 30 YEARS AGO AGAINST 3M, AND WE PUT THEM ON PAUSE AND WON $32 MILLION FOR 16 FAMILIES WITH THE WORK WE DID. AND THEN AGAIN, 15 YEARS LATER, WE DID THAT AGAINST THE LAST COAL BURNING POWER PLANT, WHICH WAS BUILT HERE IN ARKANSAS AND HOPE, THE TURK POWER PLANT. AND WE PAUSED THAT ONE TOO. WE NEED YOU GUYS TO HELP US PAUSE THIS ONE. ALL RIGHT. WE NEED YOU GUYS TO MAKE THE RIGHT DECISION. I DON'T WANT TO TELL YOU GUYS THAT THAT YOU KNOW, ALL THE BAD THINGS THAT ARE GOING TO COME BECAUSE THOSE START TO SEEM LIKE THREATS. NOBODY HERE IS THREATENING YOU GUYS. LIKE NOBODY HERE IS GOING TO MESS WITH YOU AT KROGER. BUT THE THING IS, THIS IS GOING TO EXIST WITH YOU. WHETHER YOU ACKNOWLEDGE IT OR NOT. YOU MAY BECOME A PARIAH AT YOUR CHURCH, AT YOUR COMMUNITY, IN YOUR OWN FAMILY. THANKSGIVING, CHRISTMAS. LIKE THIS IS ALL ACROSS THE COUNTRY RIGHT NOW AND ALL ACROSS THE COUNTRY, THE PEOPLE THAT SIDE WITH HUMANITY ARE VOTING AGAINST THIS, AND THE PEOPLE THAT SIDE WITH CURRENCY AND MONEY AND REDLINING THEIR OWN PEOPLE. I'M LOOKING AT YOU, ALL OF THE BLACK PEOPLE THAT ARE ON THIS JP BOARD RIGHT NOW. [APPLAUSE]. I'M LOOKING AT YOU. I GET TO SAY THAT BECAUSE MY COUSINS, MY SAME AGE, HE'S A SUPERSTAR. HE'S A BLACK MAN. I'VE BEEN FIGHTING FOR HIM MY WHOLE LIFE. BEEN FIGHTING FOR BULLIES SINCE I WAS IN PRESCHOOL RIGHT HERE. BELL ELEMENTARY, STEVENS PULASKI HEIGHTS. I FIGHT. AND I'M NOT HERE TO FIGHT YOU ON THIS. YOU GUYS WILL WIN. BUT YOU DON'T UNDERSTAND THAT YOU JUST MIGHT WIN THIS. AND THIS IS GOING TO BE THE WRONG THING TO WIN, BECAUSE YOU WON'T WIN ANYTHING AFTER THIS. I PROMISE YOU THE COMMUNITY IS GOING TO FOLLOW YOU. HISTORY IS GOING TO FOLLOW YOU. THAT'S ALL I GOT TO SAY. THANK YOU. [APPLAUSE]. THANK YOU. ANYBODY ELSE? WENDELL GRIFFIN. IS HE STILL. YEAH, HE'S STILL HERE. GOOD EVENING. THANK YOU. JUDGE. MY NAME IS WENDELL GRIFFIN. I KNOW I HAVE THREE MINUTES. I HAVE TWO MINUTES AND 50S NOW. I WISH PEOPLE HAD PUT A PAUSE IN 2023 WHEN THEY DECIDED TO PUT DATA CENTERS IN. I WISH THE COUNTY PLANNING DEPARTMENT HAD PUT A PAUSE IN DECEMBER OF 2024, WHEN THEY PROVISIONALLY APPROVED THE SITE PLAN. I GOT THAT WITH AN FOI REQUEST. I WISH THEY'D PROVISIONALLY PAUSED A SITE PLAN THAT CROSSES THREE FEDERALLY PROTECTED STREAMS FOR A WHILE. I WISH THEY HAD PAUSED WHEN THE PLANNING BOARD APPROVED A REVOCATION OF A BILL OF ASSURANCE FOR EIGHT PLATTED LOTS ON HIGHWAY [01:20:01] 145, ON ROUTE 145. THAT'S IN THE EIGHT PLATTED LOTS THAT WERE OWNED BY A FAMILY SINCE 1912. WELL, IF YOU HAD A FIRE AND SOMEBODY SAID, LET'S PAUSE, LET'S THINK ABOUT WHERE WE'RE GOING TO PAUSE THE FIRE. I HOPE YOU WOULDN'T HAVE TO WAIT IF THERE WAS A FREIGHT TRAIN HEADING TOWARD. I HOPE YOU WOULDN'T PAUSE TO THINK ABOUT WHETHER OR NOT YOU PAUSE TO PUT THE LIGHTS DOWN ON THE FREIGHT TRAIN, BUT YOU DON'T HAVE ANY PROBLEM BEING IN A HURRY TO DECIDE TO LET THE BIGGEST INDUSTRIAL FACILITY IN THE HISTORY OF PULASKI COUNTY AFFECT THE MOST VULNERABLE AREA OF PULASKI COUNTY. SHAME. SHAME. [APPLAUSE]. I'M ABOUT DONE. LET ME SAY THIS. THERE'S GOING TO BE A HISTORY OF THIS BODY, AND THE HISTORY WILL BE WHETHER OR NOT YOU TOOK CARE OF PROTECTING THE PEOPLE OR YOU LET THIS PEOPLE, THE PEOPLE BECOME PREY. LIVE WITH THAT HISTORY BECAUSE THE PEOPLE WILL HAVE TO. BUT IN THE MEANTIME, PLEASE REMEMBER THE PEOPLE YOU ARE PAUSING FROM ARE THE PEOPLE WHO ARE REMEMBERING THAT YOU DISREGARDED THEM WHEN THEY ASKED YOU TO CARE FOR THEM. WE WILL NOT FORGET. [APPLAUSE]. THAT LEAVES MISS KATHY WELLS. IS SHE STILL HERE? YES, SIR. HELLO, KATHY. GOOD EVENING, JUDGE. BACK AGAIN. DOOR'S ALWAYS OPEN, KATHY. YOU KNOW THAT. I DO KNOW THAT. I'M KATHY WELLS, I'M PRESIDENT OF THE COALITION OF LITTLE ROCK NEIGHBORHOODS. I WANTED TO CALL TO YOUR ATTENTION THIS CONDITIONAL USE PERMIT OF DECEMBER 24TH, SIGNED BY JIM GRANER, APPROVING THE AVAIO PROPOSAL WITH A COUPLE OF CONDITIONS. HE SIGNED NO NDA, BUT HE TOLD NO ONE. WE ONLY GOT THIS FRIDAY IN AN FOI. HE BROKE THE BASIC GOVERNMENT, SOCIETY RULE IN THIS COUNTRY. HE BROKE THE DO RIGHT RULE. HE BROKE FAITH WITH THE PUBLIC WHOSE WELFARE HE'S SUPPOSED TO PROTECT. HE TARNISHED THE REPUTATION OF COUNTY GOVERNMENT. WE'VE GOT A PUBLIC HEARING COMING UP IN TWO DAYS, AND HIS APPARENT JOB NOT YET PULLED DOWN, IS TO PRESENT THE OFFICIAL REVIEW OF THIS PROPOSAL FROM WENDELL GRIFFIN ABOUT ESTABLISHMENT OF DATA CENTERS IN INCORPORATED AREAS, SAFETY REGULATIONS. HOW CAN ANYONE ACCEPT ANYTHING HE SAYS? HE'S CREATED MISTRUST IN COUNTY GOVERNMENT REGARDING DATA CENTERS. HE'S ALREADY ISSUED THEIR PERMIT. HE'S TAKEN HIS POSITION. HE IS NO HONEST BROKER TO THE ISSUE ON THE TABLE, NOR HAS HE INVITED THE SPONSOR, WENDELL GRIFFIN, TO SPEAK AT THIS HEARING. THAT'S GOING TO BE ONE SIDED. IN EFFECT, YOU NOW HAVE A SUPPORTER FOR THE PROPOSAL IN GRANER AND A CRITIC IN GRIFFIN TO FILL IN GAPS OF COUNTY OVERSIGHT. THE QUESTION NOW BEFORE YOU IS WHICH SIDE DO YOU CHOOSE? I HOPE THE AMORY LOVINS GUIDEBOOK SENT PREVIOUSLY AIDED YOU IN SORTING OUT THIS ISSUE. WE COME TO THE POINT IT CANNOT HURT TO TAKE THE TIME IN A MORATORIUM TO FURTHER STUDY DETAILS AND TO ADD THESE OVERSIGHT REGULATIONS. NOW AS A SHIELD. NOW WHILE YOU GATHER MORE INFORMATION. BESIDES THAT, PERMIT APPLICATION PENDING WITH THE ARMY ENGINEERS IS MOVING SLOWLY, AS THEY ALL DO. IT MAY WELL NOT BE DECIDED BEFORE THE END OF ANY MORATORIUM ANYWAY. THANK YOU IN ADVANCE FOR YOUR CONSIDERATION. I PRESENT THESE TO YOUR STAFF, MR. BLAGG, SO THAT YOU ALL MAY HAVE COPIES. [APPLAUSE]. THANK YOU, MISS WELLS. MEMBERS WITHOUT OBJECTION. WE'RE ADJOURNED. THANK YOU. * This transcript was compiled from uncorrected Closed Captioning.