Quorum Court approves several grants and appropriations, including $200,000 specialty-court grant

The Benton County Quorum Court on Nov. 20 unanimously approved a series of resolutions and appropriation ordinances authorizing grant applications and transfers for recovery and criminal-justice programs.

The court authorized an application for a U.S. Department of Justice Bureau of Justice Assistance specialty-court grant of $200,000 that does not require a local match. "So this is a grant for $200,000, for a specialty court, so no matching funds," a justice summarized during the discussion. The court moved and approved that application by unanimous roll call.

Separately, the court approved an appropriation ordinance authorizing transfers and additional expenditures related to storm cleanup, including a $701,000 transfer tied to the county's portion of a disaster-related grant. Members also approved an appropriation to cover Benton County's share (about $15,300) for the Child and Family Advocacy Center and appropriated a Department of Agriculture grant and local match for debris removal in War Eagle and Clifty creeks.

Clerks recorded unanimous votes on the grant and appropriation items (typically 15 yays where recorded). Supporters said the grants would not require local matches in at least one case and that the appropriations address tornado and storm-related recovery work.

Items approved that evening must now follow standard grant-application and contracting procedures; staff will report back with grant award status and any required matching funds or local approvals.