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Quorum Court to assume appointment authority for fair board elections; county library to leave White River Regional Library
Summary
After testimony from fair board officers and public comment, the Quorum Court voted to have an ordinance drafted giving it authority to appoint fair board officers; the court also adopted a resolution authorizing the county clerk to notify the White River Regional Library that Cleburne County Library is leaving the regional system.
Cleburne County's Quorum Court addressed governance issues for two civic institutions at its Nov. 20 meeting in Heber Springs.
Vice President Jay Strain, who said he had assumed the president's duties for the Cleburne County Fair Board following a resignation, and John Haste (who the minutes note is not a member) described confusion about the fair board's election process. After a lengthy discussion, JP Henegar moved that Mr. Haney draft an ordinance that would allow the Quorum Court to take over appointment authority for each fair board position and executive post. The motion was seconded by JP Evans and passed on roll call with unanimous ayes.
Judge Eric Crosby introduced and welcomed Denise Meli as the new director of the Cleburne County Library. Following that introduction, JP Martin moved to add and adopt a resolution authorizing the county clerk to write a notice that the Cleburne County Library is leaving the White River Regional Library; the court adopted the measure as Resolution 2025-10 on a unanimous roll call. Cleburne County Library Board Chairman Skye Wright was present to answer questions.
Public comment included a brief announcement from Mr. Haney that Cleburne County had prevailed in an Arkansas Supreme Court case, and a statement from Riley Hooten about her experience with the fair board.
What happens next: The court approved direction to have an ordinance drafted to change appointment authority for the fair board; the draft ordinance and any proposed appointments will return to the court for consideration. The county clerk was authorized to send formal notice to the White River Regional Library; the minutes do not record subsequent administrative steps or timelines for the library's actual withdrawal from the regional system.
The meeting was adjourned at 8:45 p.m.
