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Forrest Abernethy
TUESDAY, November 14, 2017 / Vol. 3 Issue 46 / 75 cents
Council approves water commission
A few notes By Anita Tucker
Sales tax
Tuesday is the final day to vote on the proposed quarter-cent sales tax for Clinton. If approved, it should fund the fire department to the tune of $250,000 per year. The money that had been budgeted for the department, abut $106,000 per year, would stay in city coffers, most likely going to the water department. Polls close at 7:30 p.m. Nov. 14.
Who paid for that?
And while we’re talking about voting, JP Dell Holt dropped by with a reminder that the Arkansas Legislature approved a bill requiring campaign signs and materials to carry the words “paid for by” followed by the candidate, committee or person who paid for the material. The requirement applies only to items created after March 31, 2017.
Bienvenue
There was a French journalism team in Clinton last week. We know they talked to Dan and Peggy Eoff, not sure who else. One thing they wanted to know is how Van Buren County feels about Donald Trump’s presidency. We’ll let you know when we find out what they print.
Moving day
Clinton City Hall is moving a couple of doors down, to the former Beavers Family Dentistry building. The rent is a little less expensive, the mayor says, and it’s more office-like than the old place. They were planning to be moved in by October, so we’re thinking they’re a little behind schedule. We can understand that.
Rape arrest
Clinton police arrested a man on a charge of rape last week. The police department was closed Friday and the Voice has not yet seen the report.
Board upheld
County Judge Roger Hooper upheld the Van Buren County Equalization Board’s findings in the valuation of Southwestern Energy’s reserves. SWN argued earlier this month that the valuation was too high. If SWN wishes to continue its complaint, the next step is Circuit Court.
Time to rake – With around 80 percent leaf drop the last of fall color is still glowing on this country road near Crabtree. (Photo by Jeff Burgess)
The city of Clinton will once more have a water commission it was decided by ordinance at last week’s meeting. Mayor Richard McCormac said he has one more person to appoint and he will have his committee of five. So far, the commission is: Richard Hink, Matt Stewart, Darrell Allen and Mickey Parish. McCormac said he will reveal his final choice Wednesday. Their terms will be from eight years to two years. Councilman Shon Hastings questioned having the head of the department – Hink – also on the commission, but McCormac said he was not bothered by that. He said he is interviewing a couple of candidates for the department manager’s job. Hink was supposed to be an interim manager after Todd Burgess resigned. McCormac also said to those who question putting members on the commission who do not live in the city limits, it’s OK as long as they are on the Clinton Water System. Clinton had a wa-
ter commission previously, but it was abolished several years ago. Also concerning water, the council voted unanimously to release $75,000 to the department for engineering on the Honey Hills project. Hink also reported that tank maintenance on Highway 65 North is completed. The cost to refurbish the tank was $32,000, he said. It is required by the state Health Department every five years. Street and Parks department head Charles Wilson reported all was going well in his departments; Fire Chief D.L. Webb said his department helped the Culpepper Fire Department put out a structure fire; Police Chief John Willoughby said his officers have been busy but did not offer many details; and Zoning official Phillip Ellis said Casey’s convenience store is coming along, a slot car track has opened and he has fielded a few nuisance complaints. The City Council plans to meet Wednesday, Nov. 15, for budget talks.
County shortfall is still $79,700 The Van Buren County Quorum Court budget committee it still looking for $79,700 in cuts. When the committee’s work began, the county’s 2018 figures were over budget by about $500,000. At the Nov. 7 meeting, representatives of the 20th Judicial Prosecuting Attorney’s office came to answer questions about their budget request. One question they were asked is how much time does a Drug Task Force agent actually spend in Van Buren County? The county pays for one full-time position, including salary and benefits, as well as $2,000 in fuel costs. That position is currently held by Heath Jones, who is the nephew
of head Drug Task Force agent Johnny Sowell. Sowell said his agent calls him every morning in Little Rock and tells him where he is. He is in the county “97 percent of his time,” Sowell said. Then, asked Justice of the Peace Kevin Housley, “Why don’t they make more arrests here?” Sowell explained that it’s not that easy to make a drug arrest. It’s not like what you see on TV, he said. There are a lot of procedures that have to be followed or the case will be thrown out of court, he said. Sowell also pointed out that the 20th Judicial District has to provide its own “buy money” in drug cases because Van Buren
County no longer does. Next up was Sheriff Randy Gurley who said several of the towns in the county should be paying the sheriff’s department more. He said Clinton used to pay $25,000 per year, but that was cut to $12,000 several years ago. He also said going by the arrests and services the office provides to Fairfield Bay, it should pay $21,000 per year, and Damascus should pay $6,500. Neither of those towns currently pays the sheriff’s office anything. Gurley said that so far this year, the county jail has held 200 city prisoners for 2,980 days. He said a check of surrounding counties showed that the going rate is $45 a day to
hold them. Further, Gurley said, juveniles cannot be held at the Van Buren County Detention Center and must be transported to Faulkner County. The charge there is $90 per day to house a juvenile. He said Faulkner County has not been charging Van Buren County that. The sheriff also pointed out that when drug arrests are made now all confiscated money and items go to the prosecuting attorney’s office, which can share it with the county if it likes, but doesn’t have to. Gurley will be going before the Clinton City Council this week to talk about payment to the sheriff’s office.
Christmas lights
Clinton Parks manager Charles Wilson said last week he is starting to put up Christmas lights around town. We still wish we could find out the straight story about what happened to the lights that used to drape down the Courthouse and even better, we’d like to see them back.
Mobile office
Sen. John Boozman’s mobile office is coming to town. See the Calendar on Page 3.
Her majesty – Shirley School recently crowned their 2017 Junior and Senior Homecoming queens, Kallista Rushing (left), daughter of Josh and Shauna Rushing, and Ariel Privitt, daughter of Steve and Robin Privitt.
Clinton 55, Fouke 20
Ethen Drake looks for a way through the crowd in Friday’s win over the Fouke Panthers. This Friday, the Yellow Jackets host the first round of the playoffs. Football Fever, Pages 10-11.