Pulaski County Quorum Court adopts NIMS resolution and a package of budget ordinances

The Pulaski County Quorum Court at its June meeting adopted a resolution to implement the National Incident Management System for county emergency responses and approved a package of budget ordinances and one appointment that the court said recognize and appropriate grant, reimbursement and donation funds across emergency management, youth services, crisis stabilization and sheriff's programs.

The actions formalize the county's acceptance and spending authority for several restricted funding streams and place one appointed member on a fire protection district board. Court members voted on each measure by roll call and approved them by recorded tallies of 14 ayes, 1 absent.

Members passed Resolution 25 I 42, described in the clerk's reading as "a resolution of the Quorum Court of Pulaski County adopting the National Incident Management System established by the United States Department of Homeland Security for all emergency responses by all departments and agencies of Pulaski County, Arkansas." Justice Massey moved the resolution; the roll call recorded 14 ayes, 1 absent and the resolution was adopted.

The court approved Appointment/Resolution 25 I 46 to appoint Richard Jezorhe (name as read by the clerk) to the Gravel Ridge Fire Protection District No. 9 for a term to expire Jan. 9, 2028. Justice Stowers moved the appointment; roll call recorded 14 ayes, 1 absent and the appointment was adopted.

The court adopted a set of budget ordinances that amend the county's annual budget (referenced in the clerk's reading as ordinance 24 OR 41 20 25). The ordinances and their stated purposes, as read into the record, are: - Ordinance 25 I 41: to recognize and appropriate fuel reimbursement funds for the Office of Emergency Management. - Ordinance 25 I 43: to recognize and appropriate Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) grama funds for the Youth Services Department. - Ordinance 25 I 44: to recognize and appropriate reimbursement funds for the Crisis Stabilization Unit. - Ordinance 25 I 45: to recognize and appropriate drone loss reimbursement funds for the Office of Emergency Management. - Ordinance 25 I 47: to recognize and appropriate donation funds for the sheriff's enforcement SWAT team. - Ordinance 25 I 48: to recognize and appropriate additional grant funds and transfer unspent funds for the sheriff's opioid response team grant.

Each ordinance was moved and seconded by the justices identified during the meeting and adopted by roll call with 14 ayes, 1 absent. The clerk read each ordinance number and purpose into the record before the court called the roll for adoption.

Discussion during the meeting was limited. Ordinance 25 I 48 (the sheriff's opioid response team grant) drew a short exchange: Justice Person asked to be added as a sponsor; Justice Davis said she had questions prompted by prior instances in which the county had to repay grant funds and said she wanted to confirm that the sheriff's department had provided the necessary information. Justice Curry and at least one other justice thanked the sheriff's department for the explanatory packet and said they found it showed compliance. The clerk then called the roll and the ordinance passed 14 ayes, 1 absent.

All other measures were presented, seconded and approved without extended debate. The court completed the business portion of the agenda and adjourned after a brief announcements period.

Votes at a glance Resolution 25 I 42 — Adopt NIMS for county emergency responses. Mover: Justice Massey. Outcome: Adopted (14 ayes, 1 absent). Resolution/Appointment 25 I 46 — Appoint Richard Jezorhe to Gravel Ridge Fire Protection District No. 9, term to expire 2028-01-09. Mover: Justice Stowers. Outcome: Adopted (14 ayes, 1 absent). Ordinance 25 I 41 — Amend annual budget to recognize/appropriate fuel reimbursement funds for Office of Emergency Management. Mover: Justice Stowers. Outcome: Adopted (14 ayes, 1 absent). Ordinance 25 I 43 — Amend annual budget to recognize/appropriate TANF grama funds for Youth Services Department. Mover: Justice Ward. Outcome: Adopted (14 ayes, 1 absent). Ordinance 25 I 44 — Amend annual budget to recognize/appropriate reimbursement funds for Crisis Stabilization Unit. Mover: Justice Lewis. Outcome: Adopted (14 ayes, 1 absent). Ordinance 25 I 45 — Amend annual budget to recognize/appropriate drone loss reimbursement funds for Office of Emergency Management. Mover: Justice Elliott. Outcome: Adopted (14 ayes, 1 absent). Ordinance 25 I 47 — Amend annual budget to recognize/appropriate donation funds for sheriff's enforcement SWAT team. Mover: Justice Ward. Outcome: Adopted (14 ayes, 1 absent). Ordinance 25 I 48 — Amend annual budget to recognize/appropriate additional grant funds and transfer unspent funds for the sheriff's opioid response team grant. Mover: Justice Massey. Outcome: Adopted (14 ayes, 1 absent).

The court recording shows repeated tallies of "14 ayes, 1 absent" for each measure. The clerk's readings of ordinance and resolution numbers and the roll calls are the official record of adoption and appear in the minutes.

Ending The court completed its business after the votes and moved to announcements; no further substantive agenda items were taken before the chair adjourned the meeting. The clerk's readings and the roll-call results in the minutes provide the formal record of each measure's adoption.