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In My Opinion: Respectful Engagement Matters More Than Agreement
Editorial/Opinion In My Opinion Respectful Engagement Matters More Than Agreement by Megan Wylie In a recent editorial, I noted that after three years of coverage of the proposed data center project in Clarksville, residents are still waiting for clear answers to basic questions about scope, resources and long-term impact. That concern remains. But a recent…
Read MorePublic Meeting About Data Center Set For July 13
LOCAL GOVERNMENT COVERAGE – DATA CENTER A public meeting aimed at providing information about the proposed data center project in Clarksville will be held Monday, July 13, at the Walton Fine Arts Center on the University of the Ozarks campus. The meeting will begin at 7:30 p.m., or immediately following the Clarksville City Council meeting…
Read MoreArea Fourth of July Events
COMMUNITY COVERAGE Area Fourth of July events include: Friday, July 3 –5 p.m.-Coal Hill VFW Freedom Festival, Coal Hill VFW* –6:30 p.m.-Fourth of July celebration, West Side Park, Ozark* Saturday, July 4 –Independence Day –8 a.m.-noon-250 Fourth of July celebration, Johnson County courthouse square –6 p.m.-Altus Fourth of July celebration, city park* –6 p.m.-First Baptist…
Read MoreClarksville Sets July 13 Hearings On Two Data Center Bond Proposals
LOCAL GOVERNMENT COVERAGE -DATA CENTER Clarksville officials will hold two public hearings July 13 at city hall on proposed industrial development revenue bonds tied to data center projects planned within the city. The hearings involve separate proposals for SF ARK1, LLC and Hatchbo LLC under Arkansas Amendment 65 and Act 9 authority, according to…
Read MorePublic Meeting About Data Center Set
LOCAL GOVERNMENT COVERAGE -DATA CENTER A public meeting designed to assist the public in obtaining facts about the data center or centers being built in the Clarksville community has been set for Monday, July 13, at the Walton Fine Arts Center at the University of the Ozarks. The meeting will begin at 7:30 p.m., or…
Read MoreAfter Three Years Clarksville Deserves Real Answers
Three years ago, The Graphic started covering the proposed data center project in Clarksville. Since then, we have filed Freedom of Information Act requests, reviewed permit filings, attended public meetings, and reported on utility agreements, zoning ordinances, environmental permits, and infrastructure discussions. Despite being met with resistance, we’ve done our part. Now it’s time for…
Read MoreLocal Government 101: Emergency Clauses
If you regularly attend local government meetings, you have probably heard officials mention an “emergency clause” before voting on an ordinance or resolution. While the term may sound dramatic, an emergency clause is simply a legal mechanism that allows certain government actions to take effect immediately instead of waiting for the normal effective date required…
Read MoreOpinion: To Spend Or Not To Spend, That Is The Question
Clarksville’s decision last week on how to allocate more than $2 million in permit fees from the data center project was about more than dollars. It showed two different ways of thinking about public money. On a 3-2 vote, the City Council approved a plan to spend the full $2,090,375 across several departments, including streets,…
Read MoreLocal Government 101: Public Comment
Public Comment, Your Three Minutes At The Microphone Anyone who has attended a public meeting has likely wondered when, or if, they are allowed to speak. Public comment is one of the most visible parts of local government and one of the most misunderstood. A person approaches the podium, states their name, delivers remarks and…
Read MoreCouncil Approves Disbursement Of Data Center Permit Fees
by Janice Penix The Clarksville City Council approved the disbursement of over $2 million in permit fees from the data center project to various city departments during its monthly meeting Monday, April 13. Mayor David Rieder told aldermen that city staff members met to determine the areas of greatest need, and the resulting proposal would…
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