In a short meeting lasting approximately 40 minutes Tuesday evening, all items were approved by the Baxter County Quorum Court, with two items receiving opposition votes.
The largest item on the agenda, Ordinance 2026-47, appropriates $1,493,557.63 in reimbursable state and federal grant funds for the Baxter County Airport. During closing comments, Baxter County Airport Director Taylor Carmichael told the court he has been working to finish paperwork for the new hangars and thanked the community for the response to the Crosswinds Classic event last Saturday. Organizers estimated more than 4,000 attendees for the inaugural event.
An appropriation for $18,000 from the county’s general fund to the county coroner’s 2026 budget to purchase a new underwater body locating device saw District 3 JP Rick Steiner voting no. Steiner commented that during the presentation at the August meeting it was stated there was not a camera like this in Arkansas, he said he learned of 2 in Marion County. Steiner said “I don’t think this is an emergency that we need to buy this today, it should just be in the budget”. The item was passed 9-1.
Baxter County Historical and Genealogical Society President Kevin Bodenhamer gave a presentation regarding Phase I of the Casey House restoration. He thanked the court for its support and presented a full list of donors who have supported the current phase of renovations. Bodenhamer also gave a preview of items being considered for Phase II, including interior ceiling work, siding replacement as needed and window glaze repair. He also raised the question of whether future updates should include ADA compliance. The justices approved a $5,000 appropriation into the Casey House Restoration Grant Fund, with District 4 JP William Waldrop casting the only no vote.
The court also approved appropriating $215,000 from the sale of the Health Department Building to the Coroner’s Building Revenue Fund into the coroner’s building 2026 budget, and $3,752.56 from the Adult Drug Court Opioid Settlement Fund into the Adult Drug Court budget.
In other new business, justices approved an ordinance appropriating $29,890.71 in fees and reimbursements received in July to the sheriff’s office 2026 budget. An ordinance for $30,896.50 in county general revenue funds was approved to transfer to the sheriff’s office 2026 budget, and $45,000 from the Special Jail Fees Fund into the Jail Maintenance & Operations 2026 Budget.
Two resolutions were approved and enacted upon signing by Judge Kevin Litty. The appointment of Randy Coy and reappointments of John Vanderwerf and Debbie Rowland to the Norfork Volunteer Fire Department Board of Commissioners was passed as Resolution 2026-19 and Resolution 2026-20 approved the appointment of Russell Gillis to the Hand Cove Fire Protection District Board of Commissioners.
The Quorum Court also approved Ordinance 2026-48 amending Ordinance 2026-35 to correct a scrivener’s error in an appropriation account number during last month’s meeting.
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