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Pope County quorum court adopts juvenile probation appropriation, EMS fund transfer and fills sheriff vacancy
Summary
At its June 2025 meeting the Pope County quorum court unanimously adopted an ordinance appropriating $28,500 for juvenile probation, approved an EMS fund transfer, and passed resolutions filling a sheriff vacancy and declaring a justice of the peace vacancy; all measures passed on roll-call votes.
The Pope County quorum court on a unanimous roll call at its June 2025 meeting adopted an ordinance appropriating $28,500 for the juvenile probation department, approved a budget transfer for the EMS fund, and passed several resolutions including filling a vacancy in the office of sheriff and declaring a vacancy in Justice of the Peace District 11.
The actions were routine and carried with no recorded opposition at the meeting. The court’s roll-call votes recorded “Yes” from the justices present on each item. The clerk read titles before each vote and the court moved directly to roll call after brief introductions of the measures.
Why it matters: the appropriation directs $28,500 in grant funds to juvenile probation operations; the EMS fund transfer reallocates previously appropriated EMS funds (noted at the meeting as related to property/insurance on a new EMS vehicle); and the sheriff and justice-of-the-peace items set in motion personnel changes that will be forwarded to the governor where required.
Key votes and formal outcomes
- Ordinance appropriating $28,500 from the Circuit Court Juvenile Division Fund for the juvenile probation department: moved for adoption by Justice Tim Wittenberg; clerk read the ordinance title; roll-call vote recorded unanimous approval. Outcome: adopted.
- Ordinance to provide for the 2025 fiscal budget to transfer funds previously appropriated in the EMS fund for the EMS department: moved for adoption by Justice Bill Sparks; clerk read the title; roll-call vote recorded unanimous approval. Outcome: adopted. The transcript records the transfer as related to EMS property insurance on a new EMS asset; the exact transferred dollar amount was not specified in the meeting packet.
- Resolution declaring and filling a vacancy in the office of sheriff of Pope County: moved for adoption by Justice Tim Wittenberg; the resolution was presented with public congratulations for the outgoing sheriff and an endorsement of Blake Tarpley to finish the term; roll-call vote recorded unanimous approval. Outcome: adopted. The court’s minutes state the appointment paperwork will be processed and the court congratulated both outgoing and incoming officials.
- Resolution declaring a vacancy in the office of Justice of the Peace District 11: presented by Justice Blake Tarpley; the court adopted the resolution by roll call and noted the governor appoints replacements for district offices. The judge said a recommendation (Leo Cantu) will be submitted to the governor. Outcome: adopted.
- Resolution recognizing the Arkansas 250 commission and observing the state semi‑quincentennial (July 4, 1776–July 4, 2026): moved by Justice Bill Sparks; adopted by unanimous roll call. Outcome: adopted.
Other administrative notes recorded in open court
- The clerk noted notification of destroyed/retired EMS computers in accordance with county policy; the court acknowledged the notice (no vote required).
Speakers quoted in this article are those recorded in the meeting proceedings; all votes were taken on the record with roll-call responses read aloud by the clerk.
Ending: All listed ordinances and resolutions were adopted on unanimous roll-call votes at the June 2025 meeting; follow-up steps noted in the meeting include submission of the JP vacancy recommendation to the governor and standard administrative processing for the sheriff appointment.
