[{"_1":2,"_110":-5,"_111":-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",[32,75,87,98],{"_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",6468317,"mediaKeyId","5782430-fce6444b10c91ddb19ead2f4b72bce16","parentId",5782430,"title","Quorum Court approves ordinance restoring surplus salary amounts to reserves under 2025 budget controls","audioSeconds",53,"startMs",2855000,"endMs",2908000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=5782430-fce6444b10c91ddb19ead2f4b72bce16&start=2855&end=2908","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5782430-fce6444b10c91ddb19ead2f4b72bce16/thumbnail_2855000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6468317/Washington-County/Arkansas/Quorum-Court-approves-ordinance-restoring-surplus-salary-amounts-to-reserves-under-2025-budget-controls","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6468317-db5bfd86bf3a5df2011cf41bae74994e/orig.mp4?Expires=1771119823&Signature=mCU5m1Uef-Khhmaqo0jXvdlhqXqH4PGEosuffPhjU4OBTFCltLvxqVqVaZ~NqsebZYHQ60e6LBA96nCvFE0J4R1hgxHu87FCvYifibx~va8282mA5GktPCjRgaXYy~ZcmxUcTOAsXIfW5cnqfuSFSfK0bgDhu1lKTUGvyLcQRxpPFdNQSDuwovxjUILzthPtwGikA6kTBr5ulZJBXofy8lNxdUxgACBRZ1U-58kcWKqqueuACpdSXPehfquobyKQqujgnDYXLGnlWupa3LUH7UUS7PExkzfXLu8hd9d1K35dYkC-fUEMzVsHE-wlkz-PDFmNuxSXLfUsFvHG-31rOQ__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","Washington County","date","2025-09-19T12:41:36Z","article","The court approved an ordinance (Item 9.1) that deappropriates surplus amounts from full-time salaries in various departments and restores those sums to unappropriated reserves in accordance with 2025 budget controls.

Justice Ecki moved for passage and Justice Dennis seconded. No public comment was taken on the item at the meeting.

County staff previously provided the court with a packet outlining the departmental surpluses and the requirement to return those funds to reserves under the county’s 2025 budget controls. The clerk called the roll and the item passed on recorded votes.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","Washington County Regular Quorum Court Meeting 09/18/25","oneSentenceSummary","The Quorum Court passed an ordinance deappropriating surplus full-time salary amounts across departments and returning them to unappropriated reserves as required by the 2025 budget controls.","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},6468322,"Quorum Court tables ordinance to amend county planning board membership following state law change",150,2702000,2852000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=5782430-fce6444b10c91ddb19ead2f4b72bce16&start=2702&end=2852","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5782430-fce6444b10c91ddb19ead2f4b72bce16/thumbnail_2702000.jpg","/articles/6468322/Washington-County/Arkansas/Quorum-Court-tables-ordinance-to-amend-county-planning-board-membership-following-state-law-change","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6468322-071599673c870311b06f8bbac5d3666b/orig.mp4?Expires=1771119823&Signature=VU3aWFF-mDgn4O1OO55UvXv9LvsupyLhEGyqS57sGPmVp5L0YtvDRJNNDseqXQnCwzNsTEPx7sqdLB8HAC30Ivavf0xNF2uRJ3bsgZ3fy--segC4c6jtz1Y1A5Sk4yecYgnxLQ8o-FDzMERqagh9CkUQ4QfVcov~k8bPhyo1wbdBVjWCEgvwFvAa31nbg6AaI6J8pPdfPu7DqMRsc~PUuAwznUvJpGdZ9Q7fYCG~I4wDkQzfZzxAwlpC8YlWVg~YbGL9-4v1lfRmpS1FS0iaalfGLeyzYXc6K7i6-37yx1CwtreNChGEazXgBGg2rav8RhHVv~ExvL5DkibTiN1pcg__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Justice Rio Stafford moved to table indefinitely an ordinance that would have amended membership on the Washington County Planning Board to comply with a new state law requiring a majority of planning-board members to reside in unincorporated county areas.

Stafford told the court the measure would have added two seats representing unincorporated areas without cutting any current terms. He said the majority of the Quorum Court had earlier chosen a different approach — a judge-appointed replacement board — which had already removed one member (Joe Maynard) whose term had not been completed.

Several Justices spoke in favor of moving forward with the judge-appointed solution to avoid delaying planning decisions. Justice Lemming said he personally favored adding members to broaden representation but accepted the majority’s prior decision. Justice Rivera Lopez also said he supported the effort but noted past quorum issues at Planning Board meetings where lack of quorum delayed action.

The motion to table indefinitely was made by Justice Rio Stafford and seconded by Justice Rivera Lopez. After discussion the court voted: Ayes prevailed and the ordinance was tabled indefinitely. No further action was taken at the meeting.","An ordinance that would have added two unincorporated-county seats to the Washington County Planning Board was tabled indefinitely after discussion about alternatives and prior action by the court to replace the board by appointment.",{"_33":88,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":89,"_41":90,"_43":46,"_45":91,"_47":92,"_49":93,"_51":94,"_53":95,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":96,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":97,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6468328,"Quorum Court approves $665,500 transfer to build county fuel island after questions about costs and safeguards",508,3416000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=5782430-fce6444b10c91ddb19ead2f4b72bce16&start=2908&end=3416","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5782430-fce6444b10c91ddb19ead2f4b72bce16/thumbnail_2908000.jpg","/articles/6468328/Washington-County/Arkansas/Quorum-Court-approves-665500-transfer-to-build-county-fuel-island-after-questions-about-costs-and-safeguards","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6468328-455b10834cc729d0566b1dec0e148d78/orig.mp4?Expires=1771119823&Signature=Regcpx32PjSzWM~-4AzzewkzOpMpTHWFgCBrbg2WXhdS-r1pwgPT2Oq-eMudG9LSNneXf00eD7BmtQyhyQvYaBLczFqjC9-SERCHmatg5OD44qrLlecSzVR2knmMLJD0A26l8vkg2-SDoaQbILMps0AftRrqvKZQoesuq85XvH4wy0FthVerhp9ZbtTqcfD2g6R1OCkSzJuiO~mkNd9-puqzetUHws7I5eztEnbruyovtxLWYYkWNbPFwB~wCMFkM3rc95ZrtyzB4W9inQJXgBeZ-R6RrcNBIoFG67HVgizbvPU963uGVDsCqOC9PQMDQdWYnJraXogqkuXw8mVXkA__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The Quorum Court voted to transfer $665,500 in existing savings to build a new county fuel island, with funds moved into Buildings and Grounds for construction and related needs.

Justice Rio Stafford moved for approval of the ordinance, citing committee discussions that included a cost-savings analysis showing the county could save between $71,000 and $113,000 per year by operating a county-owned fueling system and bidding fuel annually. Stafford said the proposed funding breakdown was $400,000 from Buildings and Grounds, $200,000 from jail operations and maintenance, and $65,500 from the comptroller’s office.

Comptroller Sherman and staff had presented three years of fuel-use data at prior committee meetings, the ordinance sponsor said. “Depending on the fuel prices, the county could save between 71,000 and a $113,000 each year by shifting more of our fuel to a county owned system and bidding the fuel annually,” Stafford said.

Justices raised technical and environmental questions during discussion. Justice Koger asked whether tanks would be above ground or underground; Chief Mike Stewart said the current bid was for in-ground tanks but the county could pursue above-ground tanks if that proved cheaper. He said in-ground tanks were double-walled and required additional installation work (digging, certified gravel and sensors) while above-ground tanks could be more visible and less complex to install.

Justice Koger and others asked about annual registration fees, leak response and monitoring; Stewart said permit and monitoring requirements were part of the bid and that staff would follow up on details. Questions were also raised about controls on fuel use: Stewart said the system would use assigned fuel cards or pro keys tied to vehicles and that having on-site fueling would make misuse harder to conceal compared with offsite credit-card fills.

Several public commenters asked fiscal questions about using savings and about the county’s larger capital and operating commitments (including an ongoing jail expansion). One commenter asked for more detailed public accounting before moving forward; Chief Stewart and other staff answered that the $665,500 estimate covers the in-ground approach as bid and that above-ground options would likely be cheaper but require rebidding.

The motion to approve was made by Justice Rio Stafford and seconded by Justice Rivera Lopez. The roll call produced the following recorded votes: Justice Bruns — yes; Justice Wilson — yes; Justice Massengill — yes; Justice Rivera Lopez — yes; Justice Ecki — yes; Justice Dean — yes; Justice Washington — yes; Justice Koger — no; Justice Dennis — no; Justice Hires — yes; Justice Rio Stafford — yes; Justice Lemming — abstain; Justice Ricker — yes; Justice Pond — abstain. The ordinance passed.","The Washington County Quorum Court approved an ordinance to transfer $665,500 to construct a county-owned fuel island; Justices questioned tank type, environmental safeguards, oversight and whether the county should rebid for above-ground options.",{"_33":99,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":100,"_41":101,"_43":102,"_45":103,"_47":104,"_49":105,"_51":106,"_53":107,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":108,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":109,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6468331,"Washington County leaders release Arkansas State Police report alleging long-running misuse of sheriff’s office property and funds",2657,1804000,4461000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=5782430-fce6444b10c91ddb19ead2f4b72bce16&start=1804&end=4461","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5782430-fce6444b10c91ddb19ead2f4b72bce16/thumbnail_1804000.jpg","/articles/6468331/Washington-County/Arkansas/Washington-County-leaders-release-Arkansas-State-Police-report-alleging-long-running-misuse-of-sheriffs-office-property-and-funds","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6468331-18bf1e16422a3397cdb5457a51f36637/orig.mp4?Expires=1771119823&Signature=Ast4XiG51jQaUnU4fesJGrRoSReJiXEb7iDk-2ejU3CfY~cEhCx9FmJ1m-LCBOu7rhMnfx7MxswI4f7bL1uEe5ultQp~VzYY24CzgjCCpzXRdMO2y9C56Az9q-~xamZcOwWbQCfZ8XxxhEV5Ez494arfcbddCUMR982rqQNiWrVPmZkM2Z3dWyzizJQzr~KPFs-cBvcmw6mlzog9spR-nDeshTfTl0FTZu6AeUy3Efd7CG0v53nW5dhO3Jjo0MEuilYHnMjf9Lx~dgBOENo5uwusky83j1JfNrL7n9TyzqFRA2m9hi6Ya1VXOepPkFJ6ZohJbZuECQ6A8L7Mv7xW4w__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Washington County Judge Deakins told the Quorum Court on Sept. 16 that the county had posted an Arkansas State Police investigative file obtained via public-records request that alleges long-running misuse of county equipment and funds at the Washington County Sheriff’s Office.

The judge said the packet includes the State Police criminal-investigations division report and a county investigation, and he read excerpts that the county said show equipment purchased with taxpayer money was used on private property, cash from scrap-sales was kept outside county accounting, and internal controls were weak or absent.

The release matters because the county judge and state investigators recommended structural changes and noted potential civil remedies. “The special prosecuting attorney stated this investigation would be better handled as an illegal exaction case rather than a criminal case,” the judge said, quoting the prosecutor, and added that the prosecutor “did not exonerate anyone.” The judge told residents that “any citizen of the county can sue to address this violation in court” under Article 16, Section 13 of the Arkansas Constitution.

Chief Mike Stewart, who presented findings alongside County Counselor Baker, read passages attributing systemic problems to maintenance-shop practices, undocumented scrap-metal proceeds and untracked use of equipment. Stewart said investigators found instances in which county-owned equipment — including a skid steer purchased for roughly $104,000 — logged only a few hours of use at county facilities but many additional hours while located at an employee’s private property. The report also described missing or damaged tools and alleged that some scrap proceeds were handled outside required county deposits.

Investigators cited witness accounts that described restricted access to the maintenance shop, cash kept in personal vehicles or glove compartments (one reported amount was $2,510.32), and transfers or moves that discouraged reporting. The report also describes recycling of brass and vehicle parts with proceeds allegedly distributed informally, and the use of 3-09 inmates in scrap and equipment handling with related process concerns.

The presenters said internal sheriff’s-office inquiries were judged inadequate by the Arkansas State Police and by independent legal review. Stewart read the State Police conclusion that “this investigation underscores significant systemic issues within the sheriff’s office, emphasizing the urgent need for reform and enhanced accountability to safeguard public resources and uphold ethical standards.” He and the judge urged the Quorum Court and public to review the released records.

The report recommended several administrative changes, including centralizing maintenance, IT and human-resources functions under county departments, tightening purchasing-card and cash-handling procedures, auditing scrapyard transactions tied to implicated employees, and returning any misappropriated funds to the county treasury. The presenters also recommended reviewing compliance with the 3-09 inmate work program and suggested reassigning jail maintenance duties to Buildings and Grounds.

Judge Deakins emphasized the cultural element identified in the reports, saying witnesses described a “toxic” workplace where employees feared retaliation and where some leaders allegedly covered for one another. The judge and presenters declined to propose immediate personnel actions during the meeting; instead they presented the documents to the Quorum Court and said follow-up items would be considered in future public meetings or legal processes.

The sheriff’s office leadership and Sheriff Cantrell were repeatedly referenced in the reports and in public remarks, and the presenters said they had attempted to be collaborative with the sheriff’s office but had been rebuffed. Several parts of the investigative material were redacted in the county’s posted copy; the judge said redacted and unredacted materials had been released consistent with legal requirements.

The county judge and presenters said the documents were provided to the public after a FOIA request for the Arkansas State Police file; the county’s own investigation and the State Police report are now available on the county website’s reports section, the judge said. They encouraged citizens and Justices of the Peace to read the materials and to ask questions in future meetings.

No formal Quorum Court action or vote on employment or disciplinary measures was taken at the meeting. The county judge asked members to review the material and to be prepared to craft or support structural reforms and audits in later sessions.","At a September Quorum Court meeting, county leaders presented an Arkansas State Police investigation alleging improper use of county equipment and funds by Washington County Sheriff’s Office personnel and urged structural reforms and further review under Arkansas’ illegal-exaction process.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

Quorum Court approves ordinance restoring surplus salary amounts to reserves under 2025 budget controls

Quorum Court tables ordinance to amend county planning board membership following state law change

Quorum Court approves $665,500 transfer to build county fuel island after questions about costs and safeguards

Washington County leaders release Arkansas State Police report alleging long-running misuse of sheriff’s office property and funds