FAYETTEVILLE -- Justices of the peace decided Monday to support Sheriff Tim Helder and begin the process of developing a plan for a special election over a sales tax to expand and operate the county jail.
"I think we need the court solidly behind this initiative," Helder said.
Next meeting
The Washington County Quorum Court will meet next at 6 p.m. Aug. 16 in the Quorum Courtroom of the courthouse at 280 N. College Ave.
Source: Staff report
Helder asked the Quorum Court's Jail, Law Enforcement and Courts Committee to informally support a 0.5 percent sales tax to build a 350-bed pod, to expand the booking area of the Washington County Detention Center and to operate the facility.
Plans are under way to present the sales tax request to the Quorum Court in the next month or so, Helder said.
The special election tentatively is set for February, justices of the peace said.
Helder was given the green light to talk with an architect and to develop a marketing plan to convince voters and other justices of the peace to approve the sales tax. The move comes as justices of the peace worry over continued crowding at the 710-bed Washington County Detention Center.
About 10 people a night have been sleeping on detention center floors recently, officials said.
County records presented to justices of the peace Monday show the detention center held an average of 638 inmates in July, a dip from 662 inmates held at the facility during the same time last year, but more inmates have special requirements that take up more bed space, officials said.
The expansion is likely to cost about $20 million for construction alone, Helder said. After the bond for construction is paid off, which is estimated at about three years, then half of the sales tax would sunset under Helder's plan. The rest, or a 0.25 percent sales tax, would continue and pay for jail operations, Helder said.
The plan would include hiring deputies to run the expanded detention center, Helder said.
Helder said he has looked at alternative options, including creating a regional jail with the state, but those options aren't a good fit for Washington County, he said. For example, a regional jail option would remove local control from Washington County officials, he said.
Justice of the Peace Ann Harbison, a Democrat representing southern Washington County, said the group should review other options to reduce the inmate population, including ways to lower bonds and prevent people from failing to appear for court dates. She said she thought justices of the peace should look at the sales tax but also alternatives.
But, several justices of the peace agreed with Helder. The general population continues to grow, Springdale plans to shut down its city jail in 2020 and the justice system continues to face obstacles in adjudicating people quickly, those justices of the peace noted.
Justice of the Peace Lisa Ecke, a Republican representing southeastern Springdale, said she preferred to support a sales tax initiative for the detention center, which is a state-mandated need, rather than a sales tax to buy property. Justice of the peace are expected to discuss putting a sales tax request for land conservation efforts on the November ballot during the next Quorum Court meeting.
In other business, the Personnel Committee approved a personnel policy handbook that will go before the Quorum Court for approval. The newest version adds elected officials have the authority to bring in new staff, among other clarifications.
NW News on 08/07/2018