Tucker reflects on decade as top Clark County official 

Clark County Judge Troy Tucker will soon be saying goodbye to running local government as the county’s top official. Courtesy photo

By JOEL PHELPS | arkadelphian.com

Presiding over his penultimate quorum court meeting, Clark County Judge Troy Tucker recited an extensive list of road improvement projects completed during his decade in office.

Reminiscent of Johnny Cash’s song “I’ve Been Everywhere,” the list was long enough that, midway through, Tucker paused for his signature sip of Diet Coke.

“We’ve accomplished a lot,” Tucker said of his 10 years as the county’s chief executive, attributing the success to teamwork among county staff, elected officials, and the quorum court. He fought back tears as he thanked his administrative assistants over the years: Sandra Blanton, Cabb Batson, and Rhonda Cole.

Road projects were only part of the ledger. Under Tucker’s leadership, Clark County acquired real estate, renovated existing facilities, consolidated emergency dispatchers into a single 911 center, bought new heavy equipment for the Road Department, and constructed two new landfill cells. Voters also approved extending a half-cent economic development sales tax, and local trail systems were expanded with additional improvements planned.

Financially, the county leaves his tenure with $2.5 million in reserve funds.

The decade was not without challenges. Tucker noted that navigating the COVID-19 pandemic proved to be his most stressful obstacle, though county government operations never halted. He also cited the controversial 2025 ambulance service transition as a major hurdle during his final years.

Tucker, 63, chose not to seek reelection. His term expires Dec. 31, and County Judge-elect Bill Rogers will take the oath of office Jan. 1, 2027.

In other business, Tucker informed justices that Clark County must reimburse $1.6 million to the Arkansas Department of Finance and Administration. The payback comes after an unnamed local industry claimed state sales tax rebates on single-transaction purchase invoices exceeding $2,500.

The quorum court also:

• Advanced an ordinance regarding county government transparency to its third and final reading, set for the December meeting.
• Approved a resolution to purchase two new dump trucks for the Road Department, financed through Uplift Bank.
• Heard a report from Tucker that one landfill cell will reach capacity soon, which may necessitate a special meeting to accept construction bids for a replacement cell.