The Carroll County Quorum Court officially declared a vacancy in its District 1 seat at its regular monthly meeting on Tuesday, Oct. 21.
The District 1 seat had been held since July by David Blankenship of Eureka Springs, who died unexpectedly on Sept. 25 at the age of 65. Blankenship had been appointed to the District 1 seat by Gov. Sarah Huckabee Sanders after the retirement of longtime JP Jack Deaton.
The county has requested that Sanders again make an appointment to fill the seat.
In other business, JPs:
• approved the second and third readings of an ordinance amending the 1983 ordinance that established the Sylvan Shores Subordinate Service District, specifically amending the district’s method of financing;
• approved an appropriation ordinance transferring $11,924.21 from the detention center fund to the county general fund to reimburse the general fund for the purchase of an HVAC unit for the detention center building; • and approved the first reading of an ordinance moving the employee payroll compensation date following the end of a pay period.
JPs also heard from county extension agent Monty Rexwinkle and 4H Club members who described the program and its impact. County Judge David Writer had proclaimed Oct. 5-11 as National 4-H Week in Carroll County.
County Clerk Connie Doss gave JPs an update on a $50,000 grant that the county received in 2023 to enhance election security. Doss said grant funds were used to purchase three fireproof cabinets, three electric generators with solar panels, an equipment cart and a covered cargo trailer.
Doss also reminded JPs about the upcoming special school election in Green Forest, to be held Tuesday, Nov. 18. Early voting will be held Nov. 12-14 and Nov. 17 at 802 Broadway Ave. in Green Forest, which is a new early voting location.
In JP comments, District 4 JP Hunter Rivett pointed out that state Attorney General Tim Griffin recently issued an opinion that Arkansas cities and counties can enact wind-farm moratoriums under legislation adopted this year. Rivett noted that Carroll County — which adopted a moratorium on large-scale wind and solar-energy projects earlier this year — had been advised by the Arkansas Association of Counties that it could not legally do so.
District 6 JP Craig Hicks said the quorum court’s budget committee is wrapping up a proposed 2026 budget, saying he was encouraged by the budgeting process and the outlook for next year.
“It’s been really, really smooth,” Hicks said.
Hicks said in email Tuesday, Oct. 28, that the proposed budget presented to the quorum court will include 4 percent pay increases for all county employees, with the exception of detention officers and dispatchers. Those employees will receive raises of $1.25 per hour if the proposed budget is approved.
In what has become a rarity, no one addressed the court during public comments at the Oct. 21 meeting.
The next regular meeting of the Carroll County Quorum Court will be held at 5 p.m. Tuesday, Nov. 18, in the courtroom of the Eastern District Courthouse in Berryville.
