BENTONVILLE -- Benton County's justices of the peace took the first step Thursday in replacing Steve Curry, who resigned in May, by declaring his seat on the Quorum Court vacant.
The justices of the peace unanimously approved declaring the District 11 seat on the Quorum Court vacant. Curry, from Gravette, resigned the post representing most of the northwestern part of the county, to take a job as an over-the-road truck driver.
Township Offices
Arkansas code section 14-14-1310 provides for the filling of vacancies on quorum courts. According to the law. “All vacancies in elective township offices, including justice of the peace offices, shall be filled by the Governor.”
Source: Staff Report
Curry said at the time his new job would require he be away for long stretches of time and not allow him to fulfill his duties as a justice of the peace.
State law says when a vacancy occurs on a quorum court the remaining justices of the peace declare a vacancy by resolution. The resolution is sent to the governor who appoints someone to serve out the time remaining in the term. The person appointed is ineligible to run for reelection to that position.
The Quorum Court approved using a $2 million grant from the Walton Family Foundation for renovation of the county courthouse. The foundation has provided $2.9 million for the initial renovation project and has offered another $2 million for additional work if the county chooses to keep the circuit courts and related offices in downtown Bentonville.
The county has been considering a new courts building for the past few years and identified locations in the downtown area and on county property on Southwest 14th Street near thejail and Road Department.
The justices of the peace have voted in favor of keeping the courts in the downtown area and County Judge Bob Clinard said he's working on plans for a downtown facility. The discussion was moved to the Finance Committee, which is considering funding for the project.
Also Thursday, the justices of the peace approved an ordinance increasing the fees charged to cities for housing municipal prisoners in the county jail. The fee is set to increase from $40 to $45 beginning in 2016.
The justices of the peace also approved Thursday expressing support for a pilot program meant to increase public awareness and use of the county's convenience center for recycling and disposal of household waste material.
The county has hosted two countywide cleanup events where residents bring unwanted items to the three Road Department locations in recent years but is looking at ways to reduce the cost of that program. The pilot program promoting the convenience center will begin Jan. 1, 2016.
NW News on 06/26/2015