After Second Discussion, Court Declines Sidewalk Grant
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by Janice Penix
After a lengthy discussion, members of the Johnson County Quorum Court voted during their monthly meeting Thursday, March 12, not to pursue a grant proposal for sidewalks near the Oark School.
Justices of the peace voted 4-6 against a motion to proceed with the grant application, with dissenting members stating they did not feel it was appropriate to obligate county funds for a new project after they had made such drastic cuts during this year’s budgeting process.
The issue was brought back to the Court for consideration by Justice of the Peace Ray Hobbs, who said he felt there was confusion about the grant application as well as the specifics of the project when it was first addressed during the Court’s February meeting. Hobbs also pointed out three members had been absent from that session. One justice of the peace, Katie Howard, was absent from Thursday’s meeting.
Hobbs said with the grant deadline approaching at the end of April, he felt the Court might want to reconsider whether to apply.
The grant from the Arkansas Department of Transportation (ARDOT) would provide funds for the construction of 10-foot-wide, ADA-compliant sidewalks from the Oark School to the Oark General Store. If the county received the grant, the state would fund 80% of the project, with the county responsible for 20% of the cost.
The county’s portion could be funded through in-kind work such as labor performed by county staff, County Judge Herman Houston said.
“We were asking (last month) for us to have time to budget for it next year,” Justice of the Peace Bethany Bean said. “The budget is so tight right now.”
Houston said the Court could utilize Local Assistance and Tribal Consistency (LATC) funds for the county’s portion of the project. However, numerous members of the Court said it would not be right to spend funds for a new grant project after so many department heads were asked to trim their budgets for the year.
In addition, members had no cost estimates before them for the engineering and design phase of the project, which would be the first step if they decided to proceed.
Justice of the Peace John Payne said after the project was initially proposed in February, he contacted an engineer at ARDOT to obtain additional information. Payne said in order to qualify, the county would have to construct the trail to state-required specifications, as well as to fund environmental studies. In addition, the path would include the construction of a bridge across E-Stepp Creek that would be approximately 85 feet long.
The county would be responsible for paying for the project up front, with the state reimbursing 80% of the cost.
Justice of the Peace Robert (Pete) Petersen said he also objected to obligating county funds for the project, the cost of which is unknown. A similar project completed by the city of Clarksville five years ago, Petersen said, resulted in the installation of a construction of a sidewalk from the Love’s Travel Center on Crawford Street to the existing Spadra Creek Nature Trail. The total cost for that project, according to Petersen, was $150,000, and he estimated if it was completed in the current economy, the cost would double.
Representatives from Oark School were also in attendance at the Court meeting. Tina South, Oark High School principal, told the Court while the school was in favor of the project because it would enhance safety for students who walk from the school to the store in the afternoons, she also understood members had a difficult task when deciding how to spend limited funds.
“It was brought to us at the school, and who are we to say we are against something like that,” South said. “When we’re talking about the safety of our kids, we’re an absolute yes. I will never say no to safety. It isn’t something the school can afford to do right now. We value our kids and their safety. As far as making the decision to do this, that is your responsibility. We recognize that, and we respect that. I understand that it’s hard to make decisions with money, versus your heart. But it is your decision to make, and I respect that.”
South said there are students who walk the route from the school to the store almost daily in the afternoons, especially during basketball season when many live too far to travel home between the end of the school day and the starting times for ballgames.
She said it is concerning for pedestrians to walk so close to the road, especially given the increasing number of vehicles that travel through the area.
“All the concerns are there,” South said. “It’s hard to put a value, a money stamp, on student safety. But I recognize that you’re charged with that responsibility to make the decision about how we can move forward with the money.”
Justice of the Peace Paula Ober, who is a teacher in the Lamar School District, said she empathized with the situation at Oark.
“I think about the safety of our kids every day,” Ober said. “You said the school can’t afford to do it right now, and I just don’t think we can afford it right now either, after asking our people to cut what they cut.”
Justice of the Peace Bryan Cooper agreed.
“All of us sat around this table at budget time, and we made some drastic cuts,” Cooper said. “One official offered to cancel his (department) trash service, and take his trash from the office to his house to have it picked up. I’m not saying there’s not a need for that, I’m just saying that we have made such drastic cuts, that we can’t afford to do this at this time.”
Hobbs said the state grants are available each year, and if the county decided not to pursue the project now, it was still an option in the future.
Voting for a motion by Van Hill to begin the grant proposal process were Hobbs, Hill, Payne and Kris Muldoon. Voting against it were Ober, Bean, Mike Estes, Larry Jones, Petersen and Cooper.
Sheriff Vacancy
Houston reported Sheriff Tom Hughes had sent a letter, which was forwarded to all JPs, resigning his office effective April 1.
A special called meeting will be held at 5:30 p.m. on April 1, at which time the Court will officially declare the vacancy and determine how to proceed with filling the position.
Other Matters
–The Court approved an ordinance appropriating $5,000 in alternative dispute resolution grant funds for the district court. The grant, which is through the Administrative Office of the Courts, provides funding for mediation for civil and small claims cases, according to a district court representative.
–Justices of the peace approved an ordinance appropriating $22,345 in Plains Pipeline Grant funds for the purchase of a side-by-side for the emergency management department. Klay Rowbotham, deputy director of emergency management, said the grant will fund 100% of the cost of the equipment.
–Members approved the transfer of $100,000 from the library investment savings fund to the library building fund to complete phase one of the library renovation project.
–The Court appropriated $42,000 in LATC funds to the sheriff’s office for the purchase of a vehicle.
–A written report from Prosecuting Attorney Jeff Phillips on the 2025 hot check fund was distributed to members.
–Houston reported last year’s audit had been received and mailed to all JPs. All discrepancies noted have been addressed, he added.
Read this story and others in the March 18 issue of The Graphic, available online and at businesses throughout Franklin and Johnson counties. Subscribe or donate here to support more hometown journalism.
