Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the County Budget And Administration topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Benton County Quorum Court Approves Fire-due Increase, Personnel Policy Revisions and Multiple Budget Adjustments
Summary
At its Dec. 18 meeting the court approved a special election to increase Rocky Branch Fire Protection Association dues, adopted personnel-policy revisions, confirmed planning-board alternates, approved several appropriations and passed resolutions including support for poultry producers; votes were recorded by roll call.
Benton County’s quorum court approved a package of ordinances, resolutions and budget adjustments at its Dec. 18 meeting, including a special-election ordinance for Rocky Branch Fire Protection Association dues, revisions to the county personnel policy, multiple appropriations and resolutions supporting poultry producers and confirming planning-board alternates.
Key votes and results included:
- Rocky Branch Fire Protection Association (third reading): the court approved an ordinance calling a special election on increasing annual fire-protection dues; roll call returned 13 yeas, 2 absent.
- Personnel policy (third reading): the court adopted language updates to the county personnel policy intended as clarifying changes; several justices asked county staff to revisit earned-hours caps in the coming fiscal year; vote recorded as 13 yeas, 2 absent.
- Appropriations and budget adjustments: the court approved multiple revenue-neutral transfers, a $91,114.15 appropriation for a technology upgrade in Circuit Court Division 3, reappropriation of rollover SHSGP/LETPP grant funds for bomb-squad equipment, and a collector-office headcount change to add a chief deputy (with attendant cleanup language in the 2026 budget). During one amendment the court approved adding purchase of a generator estimated at $67,179 to the ordinance as a revenue-neutral substitution for a previously proposed forklift.
- Resolutions and confirmations: the court confirmed two alternate appointments to the planning board of appeals, adopted a resolution expressing support for poultry producers in the Illinois River Watershed and urged a return to good-faith negotiations, and approved salary-administration policy waivers for three sheriff’s office personnel following finance-committee review.
- Vacancy declaration: the court declared a vacancy in Justice of the Peace District 15 following Justice Edwards’ departure; the resolution passed on a roll call vote.
Clerk and county staff provided detail from committee meetings and explained that most budget moves were revenue-neutral transfers; several justices asked for additional follow-up on long-term revenue implications related to growth and annexation. The court set follow-up Committee of the Whole discussions and scheduled the Jan. 29, 2026 quorum court meeting.
