By JOEL PHELPS | arkadelphian.com
Justice Jenna Scott wants more pay for jail staff at the Clark County Detention Center, and Justice Michael Ankton wants money set aside to live-stream quorum court meetings. While the two were vocal about their wishes, their votes were outnumbered 9-2 when it came to approving the county’s 2025 budget.
Ahead of giving its nod Monday to a $6.8 million budget for the upcoming year, the Clark County Quorum Court OK’d an annual base pay increase of $2,000 for all full-time county employees, excluding jailers, who will receive half that amount — the reason given that jail staff got a $4,000 salary increase last year. Still, Scott maintained her stance that any raises should be equitable across the board.
“The point of [the increase] last year was to get [jailers] up to reasonable pay,” Scott said, voicing her objection multiple times as the matter was brought to a roll call vote. “The jailers’ pay is out of line,” she protested.
Ankton’s issue with the budget was the omission of funds allocated for a livestream service — an initiative he introduced in early 2023 as a newly elected justice, but one that has yet to be settled. Ankton questioned whether the budget included funding for his endeavor; Budget Committee chair Garry “B.J.” Johns referred the question to outgoing Justice David Forthman, whose recommendation was to inquire with media programs at Arkadelphia’s two universities. “That way the county doesn’t take on the burden,” Forthman offered. Ankton wasn’t happy with the answer.
“This will be the second or third time a budget has been sent to the committee,” Ankton replied. “Now it’s not in here again for another year. I’m sorry, but that’s unacceptable. I’m disappointed.”
Without further discussion, the 2025 budget was adopted in a 9-2 vote.
Caddo Valley mayor speaks out on 911 merger
While the City of Caddo Valley bowed to a 911 consolidation that proposed a $30,000 buy-in from the city, Mayor Joe Jackson reminded justices of the effect the price will have on the city.
The Valley’s city council formally accepted the terms in a special-called meeting Nov. 22, days after the mayor addressed his concerns to the quorum court. But, Jackson pointed out, sacrifices were made in order to cough up the cash necessary to be included in Clark County’s dispatching services.
Because the Caddo Valley Police Department doesn’t have the money available, Jackson said the sufficiently-funded fire department will pay half the cost, with the remainder coming from cutting health insurance benefits for the city’s two elected part-time positions — the mayor and recorder/treasurer.
The mayor reiterated his opposition to how the county’s 911 board will be set up, with Caddo Valley getting a single vote on the nine-member panel — Arkadelphia and Clark County will each have three votes on the board, leaving only one vote apiece for Caddo Valley, Gurdon and Amity; Caddo Valley’s cost share is 5% while Gurdon and Amity will pay 2.5% of the total cost not covered by state funds.
“If we start upping the ante going down the road,” Jackson said, “I would ask that every one of y’all remember what I have said.”
911 center delays; EDCCC appointments
In other business, justices:
• Heard Judge Tucker say that the new 911 dispatch center, slated to go online by Dec. 17, will have a delayed start date due to a delay in the arrival of essential equipment.
• Adopted, with an emergency clause, an ordinance obligating $816,948 in remaining funds from the American Rescue Plan Act, appropriating $100,000 to courthouse windows; $1,000 to a real estate survey; $250,000 to a self-insured fund; $100,000 to property maintenance; and $365,948 to the purchase of AWIN radios.
• Approved Tucker’s recommendation to appoint personal injury attorney/former justice of the peace Austin King and florist shop owner David Goodman to the Economic Development Corp. of Clark County. King and Goodman will replace Tim Kauffman and Eric Hughes, whose terms expire at the end of the year.
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