County Cancels Meetings

Edwards To Send Finance Committee Proposal To Quorum Court

— Taxpayer money and other public financial issues managed by Washington County will be discussed at this month’s regular Quorum Court meeting without prior discussion at two Finance Committees created last month.

County officials canceled meetings Feb. 12 of what could have been two committees discussing the same issues.

County Judge Marilyn Edwards said the county’s finance issues will be discussed at the monthly Quorum Court meeting.

The Quorum Court and Edwards last month created the two committees after justices of the peace voted to create a Finance Committee of the Whole filled with all 15 justices of the peace. Edwards later chose to create a five-member Finance Committee.

Edwards said she would work next week to send out a compromise for Quorum Court members to review before the Feb. 21 meeting.

“We have got to be able to move forward and serve the taxpayers of Washington County,” Edwards said.

Justice of the Peace Eva Madison, who proposed the Finance Committee of the Whole, said she is optimistic about finding a solution to create one Finance Committee.

“I think it's probably a good move right now to not have finance meetings because there's so much uncertainty,” Madison said.

County judges can ignore the vote of a Quorum Court, if they feel that vote is against state law, both George Butler, county attorney, and the Association of Arkansas Counties said last month. However, state law is too vague regarding the legality of a committee of the whole that meets on a regular basis, the association also said.

Butler said the two committees were considered “de facto” meaning they must be accepted for all practical purposes, but could be seen as illegal or illegitimate.

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