Benton County commissioners approve appointments, budget adjustments and bond amendments

The Benton County Commission met Oct. 21 and approved a slate of appointments, budget appropriations and bond amendments tied in part to a Community Development Block Grant and planned events facilities.

Commissioners elected Rosanne Ward as chairman pro‑tem after nominations and a recorded vote; the board then approved the meeting agenda and a series of routine items including minutes and a public utilities report. The commission approved multiple resolutions to appoint members and budget small appropriations, and passed several grant‑related budget entries.

The mayor told commissioners the county has received a CDBG grant that helped prompt consideration of bond funding for projects described as an events complex, including a Farmers Market and civic center. The project engineer and architect presented conceptual plans for the events complex during the meeting.

During the resolutions segment, commissioners debated and voted on numerous items. Notable votes included RESOLUTION 20191021‑07, which involved budgeting funds within the sheriff’s account: an amendment to remove $175 in miscellaneous funds (to return that amount to the general fund) failed on a roll call vote (6 Ayes, 9 Nays) and the original resolution passed on roll call (12 Ayes, 3 Nays). RESOLUTION 20191021‑15, an appropriation from the unassigned general fund balance to cover a 27th pay period, passed on roll call with 14 Ayes and 1 Pass.

Two bond resolutions introduced under "any other business" were amended to reduce each listed amount from $8 million to $6 million; the amendments and the amended resolutions were approved by roll call. Commissioners also approved appropriations for a Healthy & Active Built Environment Grant ($20,000), a USDA grant ($12,000) to reimburse for a patrol vehicle, and several smaller appropriations for the coroner, animal shelter and courtroom security.

Sheriff Kenny Christopher raised a concern about identifying reimbursement or new money to cover the $175 removed from the Drug Court fees during discussion of RESOLUTION 20191021‑07.

Votes at a glance

- RESOLUTION 20191021‑01: appoint Janet Higdon to the Insurance Committee and Doug Vickers to the Law Enforcement Committee. Outcome: approved (voice vote). - RESOLUTION 20191021‑02: appoint Angela Jones to the BCAS Board for a four‑year term. Outcome: approved (voice vote). - RESOLUTION 20191021‑03: budget $775 ROI fees within coroner/medical examiner budget. Outcome: approved (voice vote). - RESOLUTION 20191021‑04: budget $20,000 Healthy & Active Built Environment Grant in Fund 171. Outcome: approved (voice vote). - RESOLUTION 20191021‑05: budget $12,000 USDA grant to reimburse patrol vehicle. Outcome: approved (voice vote). - RESOLUTION 20191021‑06: budget $91,893 from property sale. Outcome: approved (voice vote). - RESOLUTION 20191021‑07: budget $7,439.90 in sheriff’s budget. Amendment to remove $175 failed (6 Ayes, 9 Nays); original motion passed (12 Ayes, 3 Nays). - RESOLUTION 20191021‑08 through 20191021‑15: assorted appropriations (animal shelter, estate, Victim Assistance remittance of $13,814.51, Drug Court remittance $4,795.12, tobacco grant balance $1,988.22, health department pay for performance, courtroom locks, and more). Outcome: approved (voice or roll call as noted above); RES 20191021‑15 passed on roll call 14 Ayes, 1 Pass. - RESOLUTION 20191021‑16 and RESOLUTION 20191021‑17: amended to change references from $8 million to $6 million; amendments and amended resolutions approved by roll call.

The meeting adjourned after the votes and additional business. The clerk certified the minutes as a complete copy of the Oct. 21, 2019 meeting.

Ending: The commission scheduled follow‑up through usual committee channels; no additional public hearings were announced during this meeting.