With the approval of the quorum court, officials are moving forward with a plan to expand Baxter County’s ownership footprint on the courthouse square with the purchase of a building located at 2 Seventh Street. The quorum court, with Justice Bill Lucas dissenting and Justice Kevin Litty absent, moved to purchase the property. The action came Tuesday evening during the quorum court’s regular monthly meeting.
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Building owner Kent Graham has offered the property to the county for $135,000. The structure is connected to the County Assessors Office, with the two sharing a common roof. The vacant building is assessed at $273,900.
In approving the purchase, the quorum court appropriated $135,000 plus closing costs from the hospital lease or contingency fund line item, action Colonel Lucas questioned, asking if other means of financing the project had been considered, including a bank loan. Justice Gary Smith responded saying if the county holds funds, it doesn’t provide services to the people with them. Judge Mickey Pendergrass added he believes increased revenue in 2019 will allow the county to replenish the contingency fund.
In other business, the justices approved a new full-time employee with the prosecuting attorneys office. The position was created by modifying a part-time hot check coordinator position into a full-time victim/witness coordinator slot.
The court also appropriated $970,000 from revenue generated from the special one cent sales tax for the expansion of the Baxter County Detention Center. The figure is an estimate of the amount of funding needed for the project until the end of the year. Judge Pendergrass said the project is about four weeks behind. Total project cost is $4.2 million.
The court also approved five resolutions of appointments and reappointments.
Deborah Chatman was appointed to fill the unexpired term of Bobbie Brown on the Baxter County Library Board of Commissioners, with Joe Miles reappointed to a five-year term.
Rick Williamson, Roger Buresh and Jeff Dean were reappointed to the Mountain Home Rural Fire Protection Board of Commissioners.
Robert Kilpatrick and Tommy Brasher were reappointed to the Rodney-Jordan Volunteer Fire Protection District Board of Commissioners.
Dion Standford and Hubert Remagen were reappointed to the Henderson Fire Protection District Board of Commissioners, with Christine Lydon appointed to fill the unexpired term of Jeff Oswalt.
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