Nevada County Picayune and Gurdon Times Newspaper Archive

2001 County Budget Approved By JPs

Clark County's Quorum Court passed the annual operating budget for 2001 without any decreases in county taxes as supported by Justice of the Peace, Larry Thomerson.

The county general fund's budget for 2001 with the maximum appropriated amounts will exceed $3 million with more than $400,000 left unappropriated for the courts needs through out the year.

There were no supporters for Thomerson's suggestions of lowering the county general and county road fund mills. When Clark County Judge Floyd "Buddy" Manning asked for discussion, Thomerson said, "We tend to spend as much as they will give us."

The rest of the court proceeded in passing the budget with little regard for decreasing taxes.

Manning commented on the ballot counting troubles the county incurred during the Nov. 7 voting.

"Our ballot counting machine is old and the damp ballots made it difficult. We will be looking into purchasing a new machine," he said.

Clark County Sheriff Troy Tucker and the men and women under his leadership were the proud recipients of two pats on the back' from the quorum court.

All the men and women in law enforcement were honored with a resolution passed by the court praising their parts in making Arkadelphia, Gurdon and Clark County the lowest ranking cities and county of Arkansas in crime rates.

Tucker shared the honor with the cities of Arkadelphia, Gurdon, Caddo Valley, Amity and the Henderson State University police departments.

Secondly, a resolution sponsored by JP R.H. Dick' Batson was passed to permit the sheriff's office to enter into a local law enforcement block grant program.

The CCSO would receive $6,642 with a matching fund of $738 to be taken from already allotted funds. The block grant program requires the resolution to be passed before the sheriff's office would be considered for the grant.

The grants funds are available to the office through the Law Enforcement Division of the U.S. Department of Justice.

Clark County Prosecuting Attorney, Henry Morgan concisely expressed his confidence in newly appointed Deputy Prosecutor, Todd Turner.

JP Juanita Dot' Curry presented the newest visual aids, blueprints and decisions concerning the landscaping of the courthouse.

Twin Rivers Architects of Arkadelphia assisted with computer generated visuals of the landscaping proposed.

Curry presented for the court, the blueprint for the bridge. Dubbed "The Old Oak Bridge," marking the aged oak tree which stands by the bridge.

Curry is working with the Master Gardeners in Arkadelphia who have donated their time and talents to this project.