BENTONVILLE --Benton County officials expect to have preliminary plans for a new courts building for review next week.
County Judge Bob Clinard told the Finance Committee he can present the plan for a downtown courts building to the justices of the peace either Monday or Tuesday. A Public Safety Committee is set for Monday and the Committee of the Whole will meet Tuesday. The justices of the peace asked Clinard for a presentation Tuesday so all of the justices of the peace can take part in the discussion.
What’s next
Items recommended for approval by Benton County’s Finance Committee are referred to the county’s Committee of the Whole, which will meet at 6 p.m. July 14, for more discussion and then to the Quorum Court, which is set to meet at 6 p.m. July 23, for a final vote.
Source: Staff report
Clinard's offer came during the Finance Committee's discussion of the need for a bond underwriter for the project. Representatives from Stephens, Inc., discussed their qualifications for that work with the panel. Clinard and Brenda Guenther, comptroller, said the county will need to put out a request for qualifications for an underwriter to help with the details of funding the project.
The county is working on a new building in downtown Bentonville to house the circuit courts, prosecutor, public defender, circuit clerk and other related offices. The Finance Committee has discussed a range of funding options for the project, which carries an estimated price of $25 million.
The committee also discussed questions about the timing of a public vote on a possible sales tax increase to pay for a bond issue to finance the project. To have the question on the March 1 primary election ballot the county would need to finalize plans and adopt an ordinance calling for the vote in December.
"It may seem like a long time until December but it will be here sooner than we think," Tom Allen of District 4 and chairman of the committee, said Tuesday. Allen said the county needs to get the basic details of the project set as soon as possibl.
"We haven't decided anything yet, we haven't decide we're going to do it yet," he said. "I will feel better about going to my constituents after we have plan and a location picked. I'm very encouraged by Judge Clinard's report that we can have something soon."
Citing the length of Tuesday's meeting, Allen delayed a vote on a longevity pay plan to increase the base pay of employees after they complete five years, 10 years, 15 years, 20 years, and 25 years with the county. The plan was recommended for approval b the Job Evaluation and Salary Administration Program Committee and the Personnel Committee. Allen said the proposal will be on the agenda for the next Finance Committee meeting.
The Finance Committee also endorsed requests for reorganizations in the Road Department and the Juvenile Probation and 9-1-1 Administration offices. The panel also recommended approving three requests for wage adjustments. Personnel requests from the Sheriff's Office were heard by the panel but referred back to the Personnel Committee.
NW News on 07/08/2015