Budget committee says OK to roof repairs, appraisal of undisclosed property

Raindrops keep falling on his head, but that doesn’t mean 9E Circuit Judge Blake Batson’s eyes will soon be turning red.

Leaks in the roof at the Clark County Court Complex have prompted the county’s Budget Committee to refer action to the full Quorum Court to appropriate money to make repairs.

The problem lies in the building’s flat roof and its outdated gutters. The internal gutter system has apparently rusted, making way for rainwater to seep onto office ceilings. Batson’s upstairs office has the leakiest ceiling, county Judge Troy Tucker pointed out in a Wednesday morning meeting.

Two companies that specialize in repairing flat roofs have provided Tucker with estimates to make repairs. One company, he said, would tear off and replace the roof, and the other determined it could simply add an overlay to fix the leaks. The company that would remove the roof provided an estimate of $59,000, just $1,000 more than the other estimate.

The five-member committee agreed to appropriate $65,000 from American Rescue Plan funding to begin the bidding process. Tuesday’s decision will require approval from the full Quorum Court.

In other actions, the committee gave its nod to a one-time $1,500 request by the Clark County Historical Association to aid in publishing costs of a book the group is working on, and in a somewhat related measure referred to the full court a $6,000 annual payment to the Clark County Arkansas Museum, matching what the City of Arkadelphia provides each year to the museum. If approved by the full court, stipulations for that payment could include a contract of services and an annual report to the court.

The committee also gave its stamp of approval for Tucker’s office to spend $1,000 for an appraisal on a property he’s “looking at” for use by the county. Tucker said he would give an update on that property at a later date. Asked what the property’s use would be for, the judge said he could not yet say publicly.