Quorum Court wastes
tax dollars in legal spat
Washington County residents deserve to know their government is wasting some of their tax dollars to stifle my small-business venture near Greenland. These officials have taken every opportunity to squash my plans to open a simple wedding venue, and in doing so, they have also squandered county resources on court fees, lawyers and staff salaries. They expected me to roll over. They expected me to give up. They expected me to give them what they wanted. But I have not. I will continue to fight this blatant display of bureaucratic power, and I appreciate the support of my fellow citizens, who like me, will not stand to see biased officials prevail.
I applied for a conditional-use permit in August 2016, two years ago. Two whole years ago! I needed this permit to open my venue, and the planning staff, which is generally in charge of these affairs, approved my request a few short months later. Unfortunately, the Quorum Court, made up of 15 justices of the peace from all over the county, did not heed the planning board's approval and eventually denied my proposal. So, I appealed their decision, which contradicted what the planning board, the professional experts in this area, chose.
Ultimately, Circuit Court Judge Mackie Pierce ruled in my favor, reversing the Quorum Court's decision, stating that "The Quorum Court denied the application without substantial evidence to support its decision." I thought I would then be free to pursue my business endeavor, but I was wrong.
Following Pierce's decision. County Judge Joseph Wood sought legal advice from the Association of Arkansas Counties to determine whether the county should continue fighting my permit. The association recommended the Quorum Court issue my permit and stop pursuing legislation against my proposal.
But the Quorum Court chose not to heed the advice. In June of this year, the Quorum Court chose to continue fighting my proposal to create a wedding venue, despite that the Greenland Planning Committee also voted, unanimously, in favor of my project.
I have heard the county is spending about $2,500 on the court transcript alone. But besides the money for a court transcript, the county will now pay for attorney fees, research, writing, briefs and other expenses associated with continuing to battle my wedding venue in court, adding up to tens of thousands of dollars. I ask the Quorum Court: Why, why do you continue to misuse the money of your tax base? Why do you use their money to dismantle a wedding venue?
Washington County residents, I urge you to consider this in the next election when many of these officials will be up for re-election. Think about how they have used your tax money, and decide who you truly think should oversee your hard-earned dollars.
Terry Presley
Huntsville
Commentary on 08/11/2018