Quorum Court Tackles Tasks

Justices Of The Peace Set Busy Schedule For 2013

Doug Schrantz, left, Benton County Circuit Judge, swears in Benton County District 1 Justice of the Peace Mike McKenzie on Wednesday at the Benton County Courthouse in Bentonville. McKenzie was one of six freshmen justices of the peace who took their oaths along with the county’s nine returning justices of the peace.

Doug Schrantz, left, Benton County Circuit Judge, swears in Benton County District 1 Justice of the Peace Mike McKenzie on Wednesday at the Benton County Courthouse in Bentonville. McKenzie was one of six freshmen justices of the peace who took their oaths along with the county’s nine returning justices of the peace.

Thursday, January 3, 2013

— The new year for county government was ushered in Wednesday morning as the Benton County Quorum Court met for the first time in 2013 immediately after the justices of the peace took their oath of office.

In keeping with state law, each county’s quorum court must meet within five days of the beginning of the terms of the justices of the peace.

At A Glance

Power Of Quorum Court

• A county acting through its Quorum Court may exercise local legislative authority not denied by the Constitution or by law

• No county may declare any act a felony or exercise any authority not relating to county affairs

• A county may, for any public purpose, contract, cooperate or join with any other county, or with any political subdivisions of the state or any other states or their political subdivisions or with the United States.

Source: Arkansas Constitution

Much of Tuesday’s meeting was taken up with short discussions ranging from the court’s rules of conduct to the provisions of the state’s Freedom of Information Act. County Attorney George Spence briefed the justices of the peace on the provisions of the law regarding open meetings and records, including phone calls and email messages concerning county business.

While saying the law can be “irritating,” Spence advised justices of the peace it is also “one of the most important laws we have” in that it gives residents a means of monitoring the work of their government.

The justices of the peace set the day and time of the regular Quorum Court meeting — keeping the current schedule of meeting at 6 p.m. the fourth Thursday of each month — along with the day and time of the Committee of 13, which the justices of the peace plan to rename Committee of the Whole to accommodate the increase in the number of members from 13 to 15. That committee will continue to meet at 6 p.m. the second Tuesday of each month. Other committees meet as needed with the date and time set by the chairman.

While each of the Quorum Court’s six standing committees will be led by a justice of the peace with some experience on the court, two of the six new justices of the peace took an active role Tuesday. Barry Moehring, representing the newly created District 15, asked for additional information at several points during the meeting, and during the nominating process for committee chairmen and other posts, Moehring asked nominees to elaborate on their qualifications for and interest in the positions.

Justice of the Peace Susan Anglin was also an active participant, securing the post of the Quorum Court’s liaison with the Association of Arkansas Counties. Anglin told other justices of the peace her work with the Farm Bureau included monitoring legislation and she was interested in doing similar work for the county.

The justices of the peace will begin working as committees today when the Finance Committee holds its first meeting of the year at 6 p.m. in the County Administration Building. The Transportation Committee is set to meet at 6 p.m. Jan. 10, while a meeting of the Legislative Committee is scheduled for 6 p.m. Jan 15. The Quorum Court’s Public Safety Committee is set to meet at 5 p.m. Jan. 23. A meeting of the Quorum Court’s Personnel Committee will be held before the end of January, according to Shirley Sandlin, committee chairman.