Washington County Closes 2013 Books, Hears Transit Update

FAYETTEVILLE -- Washington County's 2013 spending is now officially closed.

Without opposition or discussion, the Quorum Court approved last year's final balance for the sheriff, road and other departments during its monthly meeting Thursday evening. They also heard an update on Ozark Regional Transit's new routes in Springdale and the smaller towns surrounding Fayetteville.

Last year's budget was the subject of hours of debate and questioning during the past two months. The justices of the peace were surprised to learn department heads often shuffled money between line items, which are chunks of the budget with specific purposes.

The justices generally agreed they want tighter control of those line items, though a minority warned their grip could get too tight. No changes were made, but the issue may come up during next year's budget decisions this fall.

Thursday night also brought an update on new regional transit lines.

This summer a new route through Springdale will bring access to Johnson for the first time, transit spokesman Jeff Hatley told the panel. To the south, Fayetteville service will reach the Washington County Detention Center on West Clydesdale Drive.

Meanwhile, another route will link West Fork, Greenland, Farmington, Prairie Grove and Lincoln to the metro area.

"We're doing a lot with the increased budget the Quorum Court gave us last fall," Hatley said.

The court also complied with a court order related to last year's denial of a cellphone tower construction permit near Prairie Grove.

Smith Communications, which wanted to build a 300-foot tower, sued the county after the decision.

U.S. District Court Judge Jimm Larry Hendren had told the court to repeat its reasons for denial in a letter specifically for that purpose. Last year, 10 justices were swayed by residents' concerns the tower would impact their view and quality of life, but their reasoning was recorded only in the meeting's minutes.

"This is a highly, highly condensed version of the minutes," county attorney George Butler told the justices.

Hendren will decide whether the county was wrong to say no.

NW News on 04/18/2014

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