Pulaski County notebook

County to add 31st, 32nd tornado sirens

Two more tornado sirens are headed to west Pulaski County.

Justices of the Peace on Tuesday night approved spending $56,000 on a siren for the Pinnacle Mountain State Park area and the Williams Junction area.

The money will come from the general fund, which can be used to pay for projects in most county departments.

The ordinance was approved 13-0, with Justices of the Peace Kathy Lewison, D-Little Rock, and Robert Green Sr., D-McAlmont, absent for the vote.

The sirens will be the 31st and 32nd under the county's jurisdiction.

JPs pass new way to fill committees

Two changes to county policy regarding the Quorum Court moved forward Tuesday, with one passing.

The two changes are in response to two county ordinances that do not accurately reflect county business and state law, officials have said.

Justices of the peace heard a first reading for, but did not approve, an ordinance changing how they are paid.

The ordinance, which will be read for a second time at the Quorum Court's June 23 meeting, sets a per-meeting rate of $500 for the agenda meeting at the beginning of each month and $500 for the full meeting at the end of each month. It also establishes a rate of $150 per budget committee meeting.

Total compensation for justices of the peace cannot exceed $11,550 in a calendar year, but $500 is still higher than the $462.75 that they previously made per meeting.

A second ordinance was passed Tuesday that changes how members of the Ways and Means Committee are selected.

The ordinance was read three times Tuesday night, with two votes approving the readings.

It passed 12-0, with Justices of the Peace Kathy Lewison, D-Little Rock, Donna Massey, D-Little Rock, and Robert Green Sr., D-McAlmont, absent for the vote.

The ordinance amends county policy to give the county judge discretion to appoint the members of the any Quorum Court committee.

The Quorum Court has a quarterly Ways and Means Committee of the seven most senior members of the Quorum Court, per county ordinance.

State law passed in the past few years requires that the county judge appoint committee members.

The ordinance will go into effect Aug. 24, 90 days after passage.

Three terms get OK on 2 county boards

Two people have been reappointed to Pulaski County boards, and a third has been appointed for the first time to the county Board of Equalization.

The Quorum Court approved the appointments Tuesday night 13-0, with Justices of the Peace Kathy Lewison, D-Little Rock, and Robert Green Sr., D-McAlmont, absent for the vote.

Sandra Prater, 60, was reappointed to the Pulaski County Bridge Facility Board, which oversees the Junction Bridge, for five more years.

Prater of Jacksonville is a former justice of the peace and state representative who lost an election bid in November to return to the Quorum Court. She is also a former nurse and current owner of Prater Auto Sales.

Edmond Bennett was reappointed to the Board of Equalization, which oversees property assessments, for another three years.

Bennett of Little Rock has worked as a consultant to the oil and gas industry, according to a statement of financial interest filings with the Pulaski County clerk's office. He is 82.

Willis Smith, 70, was appointed to the Board of Equalization for three years.

Smith is the founder of Willis Smith & Associates, a commercial appraisal business.

Pulaski County Assessor Janet Troutman Ward told the Quorum Court on Tuesday that Smith was on his way out of the business, leaving it to his son.

Metro on 05/27/2015

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