BENTONVILLE -- Newly elected members of the Benton County Quorum Court already are focused on one looming question: Will voters approve the money for a new courts facility?
Debra Hobbs, Carrie Perrien Smith and Dustin Todd, all Republicans, won spots on the 15-member court in Tuesday's election. They will be sworn in Jan. 1.
The Quorum Court last month approved the second reading to set an election for a temporary one-eighth-cent sales tax. The tax would pay for a proposed $30 million courts facility. The county has adopted a building design and a location on Second Street in downtown Bentonville. The funding plan is set for a special election in March. The third and final reading will be held in December.
Todd said safety is his main concern when it comes to a courts building. Todd, a former law enforcement officer with Bentonville and the Benton County sheriff's office, will represent District 11. The district covers most of the northwestern corner of Benton County, including Gravette and Decatur. Bob Bland, the incumbent, didn't seek re-election.
"There are high-profile cases with lots of people coming in and out of buildings that aren't secure," he said.
Most of Benton County's judges are spread among buildings close to the downtown square and the Juvenile Judicial Center near the county jail. Circuit Judges Robin Green, John Scott and Xollie Duncan are in the main courthouse, Circuit Judge Brad Karren is across the street in the annex building, and Circuit Judge Doug Schrantz is in a building on Main Street. Circuit Judge Tom Smith is at the Juvenile Judicial Center.
Many of the older buildings that house the judges weren't designed to hold courtrooms, Todd said. There are sheriff's office deputies at those locations, and people entering must pass through metal detectors.
"A metal detector is not going to stop a crazy person from getting through that front door," he said.
Smith said there's a need for a new courts building, and she wants a facility that will serve the public for many years to come. Smith will represent District 5, which includes parts of Rogers east of Interstate 49 and south of Hudson Road. Mike Jeffcoat, who holds the seat until Jan. 1, was appointed to fill an unexpired term and wasn't eligible to run for the position.
"I would never be for building a Taj Mahal, but I am for something that we can grow into over the next 50 years," she said.
Smith also backs the temporary sales tax as the best way to pay for the building. The sales tax would be for 54 months, according to information from the county.
"A one-eighth-cent sales tax is a pretty small number," she said. "I'd rather have a sales tax than a property tax to pay for it."
Hobbs is against the proposed sales tax, saying residents already pay too much in taxes, but she said a new courts facility is needed. It's a subject that was discussed when she was on the Quorum Court more than a decade ago. She served on the Quorum Court from 2007-08 and was a state representative for three terms after that.
Hobbs said since the sales tax election already will be set when she takes office next year, all she can do is abide by what the voters want. She will represent District 3, which is in southwestern Rogers.
J.D. Hayes, the justice of the peace for that district, was appointed to the position and wasn't eligible to run for the seat.
All three new justices of the peace said getting the word out about the election and the need for a new courts facility is a priority.
Benton County Judge Barry Moehring said Thursday the county will hold between eight and 10 town hall meetings, and he will hit the civic group circuit to discuss the sales-tax election. That informational blitz will start early next year, he said.
Metro on 11/12/2018