Quorum Court approves Ordinance 26‑06 to cover 911 consolidation costs and reallocate ARPA funds to regional water project

Faulkner County’s Quorum Court voted unanimously to adopt Ordinance 26‑06, moving to appropriate funds to cover the county’s share of costs arising from the recent consolidation of 911 services and to reassign certain American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) appropriations to a regional water treatment project.

The ordinance, sponsored by the Budget & Finance Committee, addresses two main items: a reconciled payment tied to the consolidation of the county’s 911 center with the City of Conway, and the reallocation of ARPA‑obligated funds originally tied to projects that will not fully expend their appropriations.

County administrators and committee members told the court the consolidated 911 operation reported an excess expense of approximately $658,932.10 for the period under review; under the existing interlocal agreement Conway pays 52% and Faulkner County 48%. That split leaves Faulkner County’s share at about $316,287.41. County staff also reported that, as part of the consolidation, seven full‑time positions and two salary lines previously paid from county funds were transferred to the city (administration estimated the transferred cost at roughly $564,981). Justice Laoski noted that when those personnel and ongoing responsibilities are considered, the reconciled payment “is a pretty fair trade.”

On the ARPA side, county officials explained that when local projects did not consume their full appropriations by the ARPA obligation deadline, the county pre‑identified eligible projects to receive leftover funds rather than return them to the federal government. The Conway Corporation water treatment project — a joint effort to bring raw water from the Grizzle Ferry pipeline to a new regional treatment facility — was identified as one such eligible recipient. Administrator Randy Higgins said the aim is to spend the funds locally in compliance with Treasury guidance: “We don’t want to send that money back to Washington DC. We want to spend it right here.”

Tom Anderson, the county’s road and ARP administrator, characterized recent ARP expenditures as modest for the reporting period — roughly $61,000 — mostly for engineering on the Conway pipeline work. He told the court that the funds proposed for transfer to Conway Corporation are primarily for planning and engineering work associated with the regional water project.

Several justices pressed for clarity about long‑term cost and rate impacts. Justice Pearson asked whether Conway Corporation had committed to passing any savings to existing customers; county staff said the primary stated benefit is expanded water capacity that would serve a broad footprint of the county, but the county did not present a rate‑reduction guarantee from the utility.

A roll‑call vote recorded every present member voting yes and Ordinance 26‑06 passed. The court’s official roll call on the motion listed Allison, Coast, Kendrick, Knight, Lion, Meeks, Moss, Pearson, Shock, Strain, Tyler and Yorgi as voting yes.

The court’s authorization allows staff to finalize the appropriation and obligate the funds in accordance with ARPA rules and the terms of the interlocal arrangements. County administrators said they will continue to monitor spending and report back on progress and any remaining unspent balances.