The Fulton County Quorum Court meet in regular session Tuesday hearing an update from Office of Emergency Management Director Jeremy Langston.
Following the passage of minutes and the treasurer’s report, Langston reported as of July 13, FEMA had paid out a total of $119,486 to citizens in Fulton County who qualified.
“There is a little bit of relief for some of those folks. It’s not ever going to be near enough but it would stimulate someone’s economy and give them a little relief. The Disaster Recovery Center was set up from the last quourm court meeting and stayed for about 10 days. They’ve shut down all of the centers except for the ones in Baxter and Benton Counties,” Langston said.
He noted Fulton County residents impacted by the May 26 storms could still apply for assistance, but the window to act was rapidly closing.
“The application deadline for citizens still applying is rapidly approaching but I think just about all of the citizens in Fulton County who plan to reach out have reached out. If not, they need to hurry and speak up because the deadline is the second week of August,” Langston said. “The judge and I have a meeting with the public assistance folks with FEMA to see if we can get some dollars back for roads and clearing roads and handling some of the derbies. Also meeting with North Arkansas electric to see if we can combine with us to make this move faster. Other than that, everything is back to normal around here except for the disaster recovery.”
Judge Ken Crow said Governor Sarah Huckabee Sanders had petitioned the federal government for 100 percent funding. Langston said it was his understanding that had been granted.
The next item of business listed was personnel policy addendum, but the issue was tabled until the August meeting.
Crow turned his attention to the courthouse and the ongoing remodeling process.
“We have the sound panels that arrived to day but we haven’t had a chance to put them up to mitigate the echo in here but once we do it should he a lot better. We are waiting on conference table but we have the chairs in to make a conference room,” Crow said. “Downs stairs has been repainted and all the offices with the exception of the clerk’s office have gotten new floors. Once that is done the upstairs and downstairs will be completely squared away and then the next item is to choose what color to paint the outside.”
Crow said he had several paint samples and said it was important to get it right. He encouraged court members to come and view the samples prior to making any final decisions.
J.P. Carrie Andrews suggested the color stay as is.
The next item discussed was an appropriation for the sheriff’s department which related to the court’s decision to approve raises earlier in the year.
After brief discussion, the court voted to approve an appropriation in the amount of $10,846.
The court also approved a resolution to apply for a 50/50 matching grant for the Mammoth Spring Library in the amount of $15,000 with the Arkansas Rural Community Grant through the Arkansas Economic Development Commission.
The library currently has $15,000 raised to match the grant if received and intends to renovate and expand the library.
Once all business had been finalized, public comments were taken.
Fulton County resident Matthew Stevens spoke to the court about a recent proposal discussed, entertaining the idea of putting becoming a wet county on the ballot before voters.
Stevens, a father of seven, provided the court with a multitude of statistics and cost analysis regarding the detrimental effects ready access to alcohol has not only on tax payers, but on future generations.
“…with that in mind, any sales tax received for alcohol sales tax is dirty money where families and children are the victim. I completely agree going to a wet county will increase sales tax. But considering the facts I shared the actual cost will be much higher and immeasurable even when considering the damage that we’ve done to the future of families and children in Fulton County,” Stevens said. “Who among you would be willing to say, being a wet county will make stronger families in Fulton County? Who among you would be willing to say being a wet county will make our community safer? Who among you would be willing to say being a wet county is better for our children’s future in Fulton county?”
No response was made by the court to Steven’s presentation and the court adjourned.
The Fulton County Quorum Court meets the third Tuesday of each month at 6 p.m. at the Fulton County Courthouse.
Lauren is a an award-winning journalist who decided after 10 years of newspaper experience to venture out. Hallmark Times was born.
