Moore seeks 11th term on Benton County Quorum Court

BENTONVILLE -- Kurt Moore is running for an 11th term on the Benton County Quorum Court.

Moore, 61, of Siloam Springs, filed as a Republican candidate for the District 13 seat on the Quorum Court. He is unopposed.

Moore has lived in Benton County since 1958 and has lived in District 13 since 1993. He has served on the Benton County Quorum Court since January 1999.

Moore said the Quorum Court has dealt with many issues in his time, but the one directly impacting the greatest number of rural residents was adoption of a new set of planning and land use regulations. The Quorum Court's Legislative Committee, on which Moore served, held lengthy public hearings in developing the land use guides the county now uses to manage growth and development.

Moore said the county's plans for a new $30 million courts building is currently taking center stage for the Quorum Court.

"It's been a long process," he said. "I know it's been talked about at least since 1996 when they talked about putting a new justice center out where the county jail is now. In 2008 I was on a committee looking for additional courtroom space. That's how we came up with the space the Judge Doug Schrantz is now in."

Moore said deciding how to pay for the $30 million building will be difficult.

"It's sorely needed," Moore said of the proposed new building. "I just think that making promises that all this can be done using current county funding may not be the right approach. Even though Benton County's revenues are growing, our needs are growing and our responsibilities are growing along with the population."

Justices of the peace are paid on a per meeting basis -- $230.51 for Quorum Court and Committee of the Whole meetings and $144.08 for other committees they are members of -- and serve two-year terms.