[{"_1":2,"_123":-5,"_124":-5},"loaderData",{"_3":4,"_26":27},"root",{"_5":6,"_17":10,"_18":19,"_20":21,"_22":10,"_23":-5,"_24":-5,"_25":10},"user",{"_7":8,"_9":10,"_11":10,"_12":-5,"_13":-5,"_14":15,"_16":-5},"roles",[],"isAuthenticated",false,"isPremium","planName","subscriptionStatus","featureFlags",{},"insightsBudget","isDevelopmentHost","userPreferences",{},"recaptchaSiteKey","6LcvOJcUAAAAAHsB-gPGfGktcRlKpH7OTIU_dMTD","isImpersonating","impersonation","affiliateStatus","isFreedomPortal","routes/v2/article/layout",{"_28":29,"_30":31},"notFound",true,"relatedArticles",[32,75,87,99,111],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":46,"_47":48,"_49":50,"_51":52,"_53":54,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":60,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":66,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},"mediaId",6552750,"mediaKeyId","5107415-1d3d213f3833c3ac7e491fbd1f43cb1f","parentId",5107415,"title","Committee rejects emergency ordinance to dissolve and reconstitute planning board to meet new state requirements","audioSeconds",2149,"startMs",1587000,"endMs",3736000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=5107415-1d3d213f3833c3ac7e491fbd1f43cb1f&start=1587&end=3736","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5107415-1d3d213f3833c3ac7e491fbd1f43cb1f/thumbnail_1587000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6552750/Washington-County/Arkansas/Committee-rejects-emergency-ordinance-to-dissolve-and-reconstitute-planning-board-to-meet-new-state-requirements","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6552750-302b8d548d76d9535cd3504509660dc7/orig.mp4?Expires=1771067095&Signature=MFJAJM~NHxA-A6Xl7-AkuGxQIIBsjM4Hq11vUMwNLmnlOG8lQzGDl6lD5ak-IuQekCFGBaap7YUYSV1cayY~EZDUSsbwZ-9LKmoVZ1DIsyADIGXzoVLU~q4iky4b7IXPfnwyDWDIxZ4iE73MmbTpNV4J~rqY8XnMQnAosEbmI6QT8AZWqKYoIrB8ZvIgYu5Y3VGnkxbe-oGPVcxwuBMrHgyGjXOBOSySfyvHW1A6k7q2UQcg9Jfp1RSavUwTow7nKoklvm0ByGcPyqOUpJJsGwrrxoL7PtvyuRR7HsA2mLcD07wMyzoAhYc7Hb7VAi06chydGu0fjsx0hTeA1V9i3Q__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","Washington County","date","2025-07-01T14:04:31Z","article","The County Services Committee considered an emergency ordinance (item 8.1) intended to bring Washington County’s planning board into compliance with a recent change in state law (referred to repeatedly in the meeting as Act 519). The ordinance would dissolve the existing planning board and reconstitute it to ensure a majority of members reside in unincorporated areas, as the new statute requires. After extensive debate, the committee voted the ordinance down by show of hands, with a recorded division of 4 in favor and 5 opposed.

County Attorney Lester summarized the statutory change: counties that maintain a planning board must ensure a majority of members are from unincorporated areas. Lester said he and staff recommended rescinding the existing board and starting a new one to comply, calling it the “easiest and best path forward.” Judge Deacon and other officials said they had consulted attorneys and the Arkansas Association of Counties about compliance options.

Opponents on the committee argued that dissolving the board was excessive. Multiple JPs suggested less-disruptive alternatives: amend the planning ordinance to increase the board size or add two unincorporated-area members, or allow the quorum court to serve as the planning board. Concerned JPs said changing the number of members in the zoning ordinance would require a public meeting and could not be completed in time to meet the Aug. 5 compliance date, while others said it was feasible to add members without dissolving the existing board.

Judge Deacon said the county has struggled to recruit planning-board members historically and warned the county could be out of compliance from Aug. 5 to December if it waited and did not act. Public commenters urged alternatives and criticized last‑minute timing: Sherry Main and Kenneth Lovett urged adding members and raising planning-board pay to encourage participation; Mary McKinney called for more transparent notice and criticized the emergency approach.

Outcome: The committee held a division by show of hands; the motion to adopt the emergency ordinance failed on a 4–5 vote. The chair indicated the matter will return to the court for further work.

Why it matters: The state law change imposes a new residency requirement on planning boards; how the county achieves compliance affects governance of zoning and planning decisions and who controls nominations and appointments. Committee members debated legal steps, recruitment challenges, and whether the county should change its planning and zoning ordinance instead of dissolving the current board.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","Washington County Services Committee Meeting 06/30/25","oneSentenceSummary","The County Services Committee voted 4–5 to reject an emergency ordinance that would have dissolved Washington County’s planning board and reconstituted it to meet a new state requirement that a majority of members live in unincorporated areas.","taxTitle","Washington County, Arkansas","taxId",4592,"location","headline","","shortSummary",{"_33":76,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":77,"_41":78,"_43":79,"_45":80,"_47":81,"_49":82,"_51":83,"_53":84,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":85,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":86,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6552753,"County services committee forwards 'good time' ordinance to full quorum court after debate on eligibility",569,851000,1420000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=5107415-1d3d213f3833c3ac7e491fbd1f43cb1f&start=851&end=1420","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5107415-1d3d213f3833c3ac7e491fbd1f43cb1f/thumbnail_851000.jpg","/articles/6552753/Washington-County/Arkansas/County-services-committee-forwards-good-time-ordinance-to-full-quorum-court-after-debate-on-eligibility","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6552753-4796419b881fe4dcea98786fe45c7bd5/orig.mp4?Expires=1771067095&Signature=RfxEgUnazkBdZBh8ThdgKgCCjsKWH0cIGEPEV0Yo63fHAx8BnfPAWDqLjM1Tz5PQnO9Lol1pRSlG5kbIbTTbSOl4rAZfm0rfJwLDfs4xl3mL9pPy3pXKN52jLGskDue-sv1pACwff9oVz8QIugZ0ty0sydj1fFunNU55CMj~axm1TURs3~ApDLUlrW5IGHI1f6wE0LGISEJnmcOlXiFQXMDKKqSh1JtkOs6dWSU0P~BEKbbEpuc1Cbnjet8OPsL8JQ69Tiazi0-szJN9b1srMbN~NG8YXq8pBYfe5U6RvPDBn2x639B3NJs0jZE-QokSW2zqcXMTqYqmJMCgFYF-xA__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The Washington County County Services Committee voted to forward an ordinance that would authorize meritorious or “good time” credits for inmates to the full quorum court with a do-pass recommendation.

Sheriff (name given in the meeting as \"Sheriff\") explained the ordinance is intended to bring the county into compliance with state law that requires a county ordinance authorizing good-time credits. He said the county currently has relatively few incarcerated people who would qualify for the credits—“Only 9, I think, currently that we have in custody that might benefit from this”—but that the ordinance is a needed housekeeping action to allow credits should they be earned.

Discussion among committee members addressed who should be eligible. Justice Brunz unsuccessfully moved an amendment to limit eligibility to “committed felons and committed misdemeanants;” the proposal died for lack of a second. Committee members also questioned classification and the process used to determine minimum and medium security placements; the sheriff said that the jail maintains written procedures and that criminal-history flags—escape, assault on an officer and similar violent charges—would preclude minimum or medium classification. The sheriff said criminal-history checks are performed through the Arkansas Crime Information Center (ACIC) as part of classification.

The committee took public comment. Sarah Moore of Fayetteville asked for clarification on how the ordinance would affect state‑sentenced individuals who pass through the county jail and whether adopting meritorious good time would increase the county's incarcerated population by encouraging misdemeanants to remain in custody to earn credit. A second citizen speaker urged clarity about whether people can opt in and seek consideration for good time credits.

Outcome: The committee passed the motion to forward the ordinance to the full quorum court with a do-pass recommendation. No roll-call vote with individual names was recorded on the transcript; the committee used a voice vote: “All in favor say aye… All opposed? The motion carries.”

Why it matters: The ordinance would formally authorize early-release credits for meritorious behavior and labor, aligning county practice with state law and clarifying eligibility and classification rules for corrections staff. The full quorum court will now consider the ordinance.","The County Services Committee voted to forward an ordinance authorizing meritorious 'good time' credits for inmates to the full quorum court with a do-pass recommendation.",{"_33":88,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":89,"_41":90,"_43":91,"_45":92,"_47":93,"_49":94,"_51":95,"_53":96,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":97,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":98,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6552746,"County officials propose larger, modern fuel island to improve emergency readiness and lower operating costs",559,4901000,5460000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=5107415-1d3d213f3833c3ac7e491fbd1f43cb1f&start=4901&end=5460","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5107415-1d3d213f3833c3ac7e491fbd1f43cb1f/thumbnail_4901000.jpg","/articles/6552746/Washington-County/Arkansas/County-officials-propose-larger-modern-fuel-island-to-improve-emergency-readiness-and-lower-operating-costs","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6552746-4d77e08d5751ccbea461468bd55e0f47/orig.mp4?Expires=1771067095&Signature=CnWgZw0cwzLgob2wVZUiS-LHpQjLy96dSMuXunbZJ45WEg4nenQpb8kQ5rOa-GfKMSuBDvgiHmJePr7XG~73m7GoTP0zgZApNsee555-CSo9ZxvwhGwi7CHuGKDhTGpxoxHIWQFLgHwCgc4OpwhIpHgoqn2byzUWYYM5vy0sjK5WofjKFeZtySWYnRBZkRVYNGaIeR4xxE0f8KRqVm~8F~yy5AIrFwB~NtXDDVfMIRpNdQB5WQyjPQyvy0aZA8t5U2J7WdfBxZr5CZp4F9cl8~shNzxQlbowt-BB~OMQj0sESf8WZ4Gw-mbmGBb2rpUWAHXBnShPkUUWstoIelyimg__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Washington County staff presented a proposal to replace the county’s aging fuel island and expand fueling capacity to serve county fleets and improve emergency readiness.

Michael Stewart, chief of staff, told the County Services Committee the current road-department fuel island is over 20 years old, restricts the county to a single leased fuel vendor and has had reliability problems. “We can only purchase through one vendor… we’ve run out of fuel this month because they weren't able to come to us,” Stewart said. The proposed upgrade would increase from two pumps to up to eight pumps, expand tank capacity (staff discussed a target of roughly 24,000 gallons at county sites), add cloud-based monitoring and allow the county to solicit competitive fuel bids and contracts.

Stewart and purchasing staff argued the change would yield operational savings, improve fuel-tracking (employee ID and vehicle mileage/hours at the dispenser) and provide a local source of fuel for first responders in emergencies. Purchasing staff highlighted recent successful procurement results—property-insurance premiums dropped substantially after competitive bidding—and said those savings could be reinvested in capital projects.

Committee members asked technical and fiscal questions. Justice Lemming urged stronger metering and tracking to reduce theft and recommended in-truck meter controls and tracking of diesel cans. Several members requested estimates of payback and return-on-investment; purchasing staff said they would work with the county's finance team to model estimated savings and break‑even timelines. The sheriff’s office confirmed deputies would still be able to use purchase cards offsite when necessary; the county pumps would be preferred when available.

Why it matters: Expanding fueling capacity and diversifying suppliers could lower fuel costs for county operations, improve vehicle-fleet tracking and ensure fuel availability for first responders during emergencies. The idea will move through normal budgeting and procurement processes; no ordinance or appropriation was approved at the committee meeting.","County staff proposed replacing an aging two‑pump fuel island with a modern facility of up to eight pumps, larger tanks and cloud-based monitoring to improve emergency readiness and reduce fuel costs.",{"_33":100,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":101,"_41":102,"_43":103,"_45":104,"_47":105,"_49":106,"_51":107,"_53":108,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":109,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":110,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6552742,"Public forum on industrial wind farms draws wide local participation; Act 945 and local controls highlighted",906,7374000,8280000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=5107415-1d3d213f3833c3ac7e491fbd1f43cb1f&start=7374&end=8280","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5107415-1d3d213f3833c3ac7e491fbd1f43cb1f/thumbnail_7374000.jpg","/articles/6552742/Washington-County/Arkansas/Public-forum-on-industrial-wind-farms-draws-wide-local-participation-Act-945-and-local-controls-highlighted","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6552742-0f868a1b7c78d1913f390cf689b44433/orig.mp4?Expires=1771067095&Signature=arEmX5bS-uZ0SwrGI-eLyOe8riyxfHnuKU9LaosSSrE4OzOfSVYvDnBogi4LmLEHRWgu6mbyLW0WX1dekaV-yNERylg-JmzOiSUSbmMixR0dT0V1eFK2qjjrby0bfOtuGUlnhOz5Zc7OBRocMmZzizDcsQuwRxZ03YO5gpKpHTP9mFCaxTHV9QqIF0S1WcLjqKZQ7EV0FoEFYZ1vg5Qur83YyBbjy-pDDqQvM7mNZpaHfxlpuqLCPhjbFgOQMQd-IVYZXDwDW1uOfIMXJQmUQMSTA1pMYlJY48jWDQT~UyKc5LZ7sYkcDv7Fdlzu4uQCmUtnOSk~DoMgkbN9he1j~w__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Washington County convened an open public discussion on industrial wind farms during the County Services Committee meeting. The session combined public comment and a presentation by Concerned Citizens of the Ozarks and drew remarks from county justices and attending residents from Lincoln, Prairie Grove and surrounding communities.

Several residents and groups opposed proposed turbine development near Lincoln and other locations. Common themes included concern about Washington County’s karst terrain, potential impacts to groundwater and wells, effects on wildlife (bats, birds and eagles), road damage from construction, and decommissioning liability if developers dissolve. Public commenters cited examples in other counties where turbines failed or were shut down; one speaker noted three collapsed turbines in Missouri in 2024 and current shutdowns affecting that project’s operations. Concern about nondisclosure clauses in lease agreements and limited public notice to neighbors who do not hold large acreage was a repeated theme.

Concerned Citizens of the Ozarks described the legislative response in Arkansas. A group representative summarized the Arkansas Wind Energy Development Act (cited in the meeting as Act 945), which places new disclosure and permitting obligations on developers and shifts aspects of siting and review to the Arkansas Public Service Commission. The speaker said Act 945 requires developers to provide community notice, public hearings, and certain setback standards (for example, multi-hundred- to multi-thousand-foot setbacks for certain sensitive uses); local jurisdictions may adopt rules, but they cannot be less restrictive than the statute.

Justice Rivera Lopez and other justices framed the issue in terms of energy production and climate: Rivera Lopez noted regional renewable-energy shares and argued for a frank discussion about long-term energy mixes. Justice Stafford, who attended an industry meeting in Cincinnati, summarized the developer’s stated approach: developers first sign agreements with private landowners, then undertake testing and, only with positive results and recruitment of landowners, would they seek conditional use permits from local government. The developer representatives, Stafford said, told attendees they would pay for road improvements required for construction and would not use eminent domain against unwilling landowners.

Presenters and commissioners urged increased transparency and community engagement. Angela Ussery of Concerned Citizens of the Ozarks provided a Linktree resource for Act 945 and related materials and said the group has compiled case studies and interviews documenting outcomes in other states. Public comments urged the quorum court to consider setbacks, financial assurances for decommissioning, tax-payment reliability and protections for residents who do not sign leases.

Why it matters: Wind projects raise overlapping land-use, environmental, fiscal and emergency-response questions for counties. Act 945 creates a state-level permitting structure but leaves local zoning and conditional-use processes relevant. The committee did not take action; officials encouraged continued public engagement and noted that any developer seeking a conditional-use permit would come before the planning and zoning process described by county ordinance.","Washington County held an open discussion on industrial wind farms. Residents and an organized group (Concerned Citizens of the Ozarks) urged caution, citing karst geology, groundwater, wildlife, property-value and decommissioning concerns; others and some justices discussed climate and renewable-energy considerations. County counsel and speakers",{"_33":112,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":113,"_41":114,"_43":115,"_45":116,"_47":117,"_49":118,"_51":119,"_53":120,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":121,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":122,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6552759,"Washington County juvenile detention report: 22 intakes in June, six minors charged with possessing handguns",228,292000,520000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=5107415-1d3d213f3833c3ac7e491fbd1f43cb1f&start=292&end=520","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5107415-1d3d213f3833c3ac7e491fbd1f43cb1f/thumbnail_292000.jpg","/articles/6552759/Washington-County/Arkansas/Washington-County-juvenile-detention-report-22-intakes-in-June-six-minors-charged-with-possessing-handguns","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6552759-84243c5d20b91fbf4722280d807d36a9/orig.mp4?Expires=1771067095&Signature=eVtoiuCtJjukKWvLyHK9362i0bW4kcUq1pNEhdIzD9Csr2M3S5pjvLeQNRWv5-SGZqFmAxlUv0xKYkr8mO0FGYU90pKxwB8FDX8bPs6qPcPpPkJaiZz7mEfpWBq9O9Mz4~PKvVAuoTLr93UtE3TMB1cDxltSbRGJxf1cCE7jW45pCSnh55MLzS1YK-E-qJCwNe8knjZc4c~kB7QXzjDJRiNwsXBV3BecdM1~C9DyOBdwYwns0Rl9qHG3X4NffRrafAPLK74ARPsrZA5X0a9mXSPYmkeqwoaJBOX9KpcG8pbcjEGxS7z~x3obF5ujb6PhrT~B1qURG8oRUdjyXAdWDA__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","At a Washington County Quorum Court County Services Committee meeting, Juvenile Detention Director Tinsley reported that the juvenile detention center recorded 22 intakes for the 26-day period covered in the June 2025 monthly report, with an average length of stay of 24.93 days and an average daily population of 8.71.

The highest single intake category was “minor in possession of a handgun,” which Tinsley said numbered six for the month. “Yes, sir. There were several this month. School is out. That doesn't make an excuse for that,” Tinsley said when Justice Rivera Lopez asked whether the incidents were isolated. “Those were six incidents.”

The report said the 22 intakes included youths from Washington and Madison counties, with 16 coming from division 3 and six from division 8. The juvenile detention center performed six transports during the reporting period.

Committee members questioned how youths were obtaining weapons. Tinsley said firearms are often stolen or sold among youths on social media: “A lot of times they're stolen… these kids sell them on social media to each other.” He and others on the committee discussed an additional concern that older gang members recruit juveniles because juveniles often face lesser sentences. “We see that a lot in this area,” Tinsley said. “The high ranking gang members will recruit these younger kids, and these younger kids will go out and do things… the punishment is not as severe.”

Committee members and Tinsley described local prevention efforts. Tinsley said detention staff try to engage youth in supervised activities during the summer—examples included a boxing club, kayaking trips and community service—to offer alternatives to street activity. Justice Rivera Lopez and others discussed Benton County’s “Youth Matters” framework as an example of a gang-intervention approach used nearby.

Why it matters: Committee members said the incidents and the detention population implicate public-safety and juvenile-rehabilitation strategies during the summer months, when school-based supervision is reduced. The committee asked staff to continue outreach and rehabilitation programming and to report on trends in subsequent monthly updates.

The juvenile detention report was submitted as informational business; there was no committee vote attached to the report.","Director Tinsley told the County Services Committee that the juvenile detention center logged 22 intakes for June 2025, with six incidents classified as minor-in-possession of a handgun. Committee members pressed staff on how youths obtained firearms and on gang involvement.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

Committee rejects emergency ordinance to dissolve and reconstitute planning board to meet new state requirements

County services committee forwards 'good time' ordinance to full quorum court after debate on eligibility

County officials propose larger, modern fuel island to improve emergency readiness and lower operating costs

Public forum on industrial wind farms draws wide local participation; Act 945 and local controls highlighted

Washington County juvenile detention report: 22 intakes in June, six minors charged with possessing handguns