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Commissioner Rocky Presson defends newspaper column as resident disputes figures; patrol car funding raised
Summary
At the Dec. 19 meeting, resident Mark Florence disputed figures in a Camden Chronicle article attributed to Commissioner Rocky Presson. Presson said he authored the piece and had researched it; Commissioner Rachelle Hill raised concerns about lack of regular funding for patrol car replacement.
During the citizens forum at the Dec. 19 Benton County Commission meeting, resident Mark Florence said he disputed a Camden Chronicle article attributed to Commissioner Rocky Presson and said the story's fund-balance figure was incorrect.
Commissioner Rocky Presson told the commission he was the sole author of the piece, that he had conducted research and that he believed the information needed to be in the public record. The minutes record Presson's defense but do not include supporting documentation or an independent correction to the figure cited by Florence.
Commissioner Rachelle Hill used the public comment portion of the meeting to note the county's upcoming budget season and said the county lacks a regular funding mechanism to replace and rotate patrol cars. Hill said the county needs a way to acquire, use and replace police vehicles on a recurring schedule; the minutes do not record a staff response with a funding plan.
The exchange did not produce a formal motion or follow-up assignment in the meeting minutes. The commission proceeded to routine business afterward.
