Nevada County Picayune and Gurdon Times Newspaper Archive

Leaders Moving Forward In Arkadelphia

Arkadelphia's leadership is showing as the city and county battle back from the March 1 tornado devastation.

Area leaders are working to get those in need the necessities they must have, including food, shelter and clothing. They are also working to rebuild those areas demolished by the F-4 tornadoes.

In fact, a week after the twisters, a task force was created to help accomplish these goals, and continue working for economic stability and progress.

The 2025 Task Force became the Arkadelphia 2025 Commission, granted legal powers by the 81st General Assembly.

According to State Rep. Percy Malone, everything is moving well at this time.

He said when the tornadoes hit, he called President Bill Clinton asking him to come and see the destruction and ask for help. He also contacted James Lee Witt, director of the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) to help. Rodney Slater, director of the Department of Transportation called Malone three times that day, offering assistance from the federal highway administration.

The first step, he said, was to organize, get volunteers and see what needed to be done to rebuild.

Because of his efforts when the tornadoes first hit, Malone was asked to chair the 2025 Task Force and, subsequently, the commission.

Several public meetings were held, with committees developed to work in different areas. These committees were for transportation for traffic flow, infrastructure and roads and bridges.

The commission also works to help with the unmet needs of those affected by the storms, having their homes damaged or destroyed. Malone said they are working with landowners, renters and landlords to help get people in better and more affordable housing.

A housing fair was held for those misplaced by the tornadoes. Malone said the commission is working to rebuild neighborhoods, complete with curbs, gutters and sidewalks.

The issue of the county courthouse also came up for the commission, and has become a major problem since.

First, Clark County Judge Grady Runyan said he would raze the courthouse as was his prerogative as judge. Then, he reversed this statement, saying, instead, he would work to get the courthouse renovated, restored and have the annex added.

This changed with the quorum court deciding to build a new structure altogether.

Malone said where the courthouse is built will determine how the city of Arkadelphia will build back.

In a recent meeting of the court, county attorney Taylor King said Runyan's earlier statements on not invoking the county's power of eminent domain was tantamount to nonfeasance of office and tying the county's hands in trying to acquire property to build a new courthouse.

King said nonfeasance differs from malfeasance of office in that nothing illegal was done. In face, nonfeasance means nothing was done, literally. Malfeasance, he said, is the committing of an illegal or unethical act by an official. Either, though, could result in the official being impeached.

Runyan had said he would not use eminent domain under any circumstances, but recanted and said if two-thirds of the court vote in favor of using eminent domain, he will sign off on it.

King said this is the proper procedure for using this resource anyway.

The first thing the court must do, he said, it to appropriate funds to hire an appraiser and see what the property along Third and Fourth and Main is worth.

Once the figure has been determined on each individual lot, the court must see if the owners will sell at this price or find out what they will sell for -- if they will sell at all. In any case, a special meeting of the court must be held to decide on the course of action it will take.

King said the preference is to negotiate with the owners and possibly swap land the county owns with them and move their homes. Next would be to try and buy the owners out on an agreed upon price.

The last resort, he said, would be to use eminent domain to obtain the land in question.

Brown Hardman was appointed to help the court work on seeing what it would take to get the property along First through Fourth streets on Main, with the court's committee, Bill Kirksey, Albert Neal and Bill Conine.

This group has agreed to hire an outside appraiser to set a value on the land, with Mike Pierce to be hired for the job. He will be paid $7,000 to see what the properties are worth.

Hardman said Pierce will be appraising property on First and Second on Main and Third and Fourth on Main. However, it will be about two weeks before he can free himself and make the appraisals.

Hardman said it may take longer than a week to get the property appraised, but when it's done, the court will call a special meeting.

The court's committee will approach the owners to see if they're willing to sell at the appraised price.

"I think it will ultimately rest with the judge and court," Hardman said. "I haven't heard anyone talk of value, only price.

"This decision will affect Clark County for the next 100 years."

Hardman was asked to do the appraisals, but turned the offer down, saying it would be best if an outside appraiser did the work.

With questions arising about why the courthouse should be built on Main Street, Malone said this is what the people want.

He said in the public meetings held, most have agreed this is the ideal location. However, Malone said wherever the quorum court wants to build, it will have the support of the 2025 Commission.

"I had five buildings downtown," Malone said. "Two on Main Street. Before the storm we all had investments built up over the years at the old dollars.

"The rent was lower on the old buildings. The property value in the downtown area had been on the decline and people were moving away.

"We had to make a decision where to rebuild and wondered where the courthouse would be. It's part of the community, and needs to be viable."

Malone said the people need to know what to do and can't wait indefinitely to make their decisions. With Arkadelphia being the county seat, he continued, the vote was made to recommend the Third and Fourth and Main location. "It was a decision needing to be made," he said.

"The people need to know what to do. This is an investment in Clark County, especially downtown, to help revitalize the area."

Runyan, though, said he doesn't want to invoke eminent domain, but will if the court votes to do so.

He argues this isn't the time for the county to be in acquisition mode, because the funds aren't on hand to build a new courthouse.

It would be horrible, he said, for the county to purchase two blocks and have to let them grow up because it can't afford to build. "People won't stand for a new tax," he said. "We can get ourselves in a serious position we don't need to be in. We can't ask for a new tax."

But, he agreed the Third and Fourth st