Members of the Baxter County Quorum Court refused to lend their official support to the passage of Issue 3 on the statewide General Election Ballot in November during their monthly meeting Tuesday. According to backers of the proposal, its purpose is to make changes to the State Constitution that will encourage economic development and job creation.
Eddied Majesty with the Mountain Home Chamber of Commerce made a presentation to the court at its August meeting to explain the proposal.
The justices who spoke on the issue Tuesday said there was no consensus on the court to lend official support to the measure and that voters would have a chance to study the issue, make up their owns minds and register their approval or disapproval of the measure in the voting booth in November.
Because Baxter County Judge Mickey Pedergrass was a patient in Baxter Regional Medical Center after having heart surgery, the justices voted to have Leon Alexander, District 11 Justice of the Peace from Norfork, chair Tuesday’s meeting. Alexander explained that there are provisions in place to ensure that the county’s business is conduction in the absence of Judge Pendergrass. Alexander asked those attending the meeting to keep Judge Pendergrass and his family in their prayers.
Among the provisions of Issue 3 will be one to remove the cap on what are referred to as “Amendment 82 general obligation bonds” that would enable the state to be in the running for what are known as “super projects” which could mean bond issues running in the hundreds of millions of dollars.
In addition, local governments would be permitted to appropriate money to private groups, such as chambers of commerce, for economic development projects and services. The latter feature is of particular importance for governmental entities that pay local chambers to serve as the economic development arm for the entity.
A Pulaski County Circuit Court Judge ruled last year that the practice violated the current Arkansas Constitution in a case brought against the city governments of Little Rock and North Little Rock.
While the case was brought in Pulaski County, officials statewide have been watching it closely since many governments follow the same practice. The City of Mountain Home, for example, pays $15,000 yearly to help fund “Focus Mountain Home” which was formed in 2012 to help build the local economy.
The passage of Issue 3 would make clear that these type of activities were permitted.
In other business, the justices approved placing slightly more than $11,500 in the budget of the Road and Bridge Department. The funds came from the sale of three vehicles, the oldest being a 1993 model. Also approved was the placement of slightly more than $40,000 in the line items for maintenance contracts within the Road and Bridge budget. The money came from the sale of road material and signs during July and August.
The justices approved re-appropriating $10,000 into a newly created line item in Animal Control’s budget that will permit the purchase of a vehicle. Alexander said the money was in the County General Fund. Alexander said that Judge Pendergrass had gone on the internet and found vehicles suitable for Animal Control.
The court authorized the county to enter into a grant agreement with the Federal Aviation Administration that will provide funds to install runway edge lights at the county-owned airport. The FAA will supply slightly more than $133,000 and the Arkansas Department of Aeronautics $14,800 to fund the improvements.
The justices approved several appointments and re-appointments to fire protection district boards during its meeting.
Steven Obenauf and Mike St. Romaine were re-appointed to the 101-Gamaliel Fire Protection District Board of Commissioners for three-year terms.
Kevin Lorenz was appointed to a three-year term on the Grover Township Fire Protection District Board of Commissioners and Ronnie Langston was appointed to complete the three-year term of Donna Hinton on the Norfork Fire Protection District Board of Commissioners. Hinton’s term is due to end in August next year.
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