Faulkner County Reports

Garrett Ziegler ("an often-provocative former Trump White House staffer" and "scorched earth activist") tells all about Marco Polo & Hunter's Laptop

At its second meeting this month, the Committee quickly approved an Ordinance for a new position as peer support for the Faulkner County Adult Drug Court in the Circuit Court's 3rd District.

At its second meeting this month, the Committee approved two Ordinances: one that funded the Sheriff Department's Overdose Response Team and another for a new position as peer support for the Faulkner County Adult Drug Court in the Circuit Court's 3rd District. These positions are funded by grants.

County Judge Allen Dodson told JPs he will schedule a special Quorum Court meeting to discuss the proposed $19.2 million 192-bed jail expansion project he and Sheriff Tim Ryals unveiled at the September Courts & Public Safety meeting.

Treasurer Scott Sanson reports the August financials at the Quorum Court meeting.

At the September Courts & Public Safety Committee meeting, JP John Allison (R, Dist. 3) voiced his concerns about how to pay operational costs for a proposed animal shelter, while County Administrator Randy Higgins reminded JPs of the many times the "passionate" animal community has promised to raise funds for a shelter. Donna Clawson with Friends of the Faulkner County Animal Shelter discusses the funding that organization plans to provide.

Chair JP Maree Coats (R, Dist. 2), County Administrator Randy Higgins, and County Judge Allen Dodson bring the Committee up to speed on their plans for a proposed animal shelter on the Springhill flea market property the County purchased over 18 months ago.

After hearing four JPs on the Courts & Public Safety Committee say they would not vote on any new taxes to operate a proposed animal shelter, County Judge Allen Dodson made his position clear, as well. "I will veto any request for funding from County General for operations for the future," he said.

JP John Allison (R, Dist. 3) explains the long-standing problem of finding enough money to operate an animal shelter and repeated that he would not vote for any new tax for operations. JP Maree Coats (JP, Dist. 2) reviewed activity by the Community Animal Shelter Development Committee, where she served before she was elected as JP. Allison and Coats implored Faulkner County residents to "step up" and pay the voluntary animal shelter tax with their annual property taxes so the voluntary "animal fund" will have enough revenue to operate a proposed animal shelter. JPs Andy Shock (R, Dist. 10) and Jack Moss (R, Dist. 13) "echoed" Allison and Coats' position on "no new tax for operations."

Chair JP Maree Coats (R, Dist. 2) of the Courts & Public Safety Committee comments on efforts to scale back a proposed animal shelter project for the Springhill flea market property the County purchased over 18 months ago. 'We've got to start somewhere," she says.

Sheriff Tim Ryals says "the realities" of jail overcrowding mean letting non-violent offenders back out on the streets to make room we need for the "violent ones."

JP John Allison asks Sheriff Tim Ryals to confirm the current status of Arkansas' warning to Faulkner County about jail overcrowding, a situation the County has held at bay for several years now.

County Judge Alan Dodson explains the proposed 192-bed jail expansion project; Sheriff Tim Ryals fills in more details at the Courts & Public Safety Committee meeting.

Little Rock's Lorri Justice and Jennifer Lancaster from Saline County testify against SB9, legislation to alter the Arkansas Freedom of Information Act requested by Governor Sarah Sanders as part of the 94th General Assembly 2023 Special Session (First Extraordinary Session, 2023). Republican Senator Blake Johnson of Corning is the Committee Chair.

Author of the Arkansas FOIA treatise, Little Rock attorney Rob Steinbuch testifies against SB9, legislation to alter the Arkansas Freedom of Information Act requested by Governor Sarah Sanders as part of the 94th General Assembly 2023 Special Session (First Extraordinary Session, 2023). Republican Senator Blake Johnson of Corning is the Committee Chair.

Arkansas attorney and co-founder of the Arkansas Truth in Government Group Joey McCutchen testifies against SB9, legislation to alter the Arkansas Freedom of Information Act requested by Governor Sarah Sanders as part of the 94th General Assembly 2023 Special Session (First Extraordinary Session, 2023). Republican Senator Blake Johnson of Corning is the Committee Chair.