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Quorum Court splits on meeting‑time change; adopts quarterly evening meeting option
Summary
Pulaski County justices debated proposals to move Planning Board meetings to evenings. A proposal to require monthly meetings to start no earlier than 5:30 p.m. failed on a tie; a separate ordinance to require quarterly 5:30 p.m. meetings passed and was sent to the full court with a due‑pass recommendation.
The Pulaski County Quorum Court engaged in extended debate over two competing ordinances that would change when the county Planning Board holds meetings.
Justice Rebecca Davis sponsored an ordinance (26I17) to require that monthly Planning Board meetings start no earlier than 5:30 p.m. Supporters said later start times would let working residents participate; opponents said mandating a single time risks excluding volunteers and public‑service shift workers and could be unduly prescriptive for unpaid boards. The court voted on the monthly‑time proposal and it failed on a 7–7 tie.
As a compromise, Justice Person introduced ordinance 26I27 to require a quarterly evening meeting at 5:30 p.m. in addition to the board’s regular schedule so that land‑use matters of countywide significance receive an evening forum. The court amended 26I27 and voted to send it to the full court with a due‑pass recommendation (final tally at the agenda meeting: 10 ayes, 3 nays, 1 present).
Planning staff said moving certain major site plans or countywide land‑use items to an evening quarterly meeting would be feasible but recommended the Planning Board and the quorum court set objective thresholds (for example acreage, project cost or other criteria) for what qualifies for an evening agenda. Several public commenters and members of the Planning Board urged more transparency and regular reporting to the court about significant planning applications.
