Quorum Court approves economic development resolutions

story by Aric Mitchell
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Sebastian County Quorum Court members showed solidarity Tuesday night in unanimously voting for two resolutions designed to boost future economic development and infrastructure for Sebastian County.

The first resolution approved certain tax incentives for Golden Living as they move to expand their facilities and add new jobs to the area.

Golden Living requested the court endorse their expansion project as part of the Tax Back Program pursuant to Section 15-4-2706(d) of the Consolidated Incentive Act of 2003. In order for Golden Living to qualify for tax breaks on new construction, modification, and modernization of a facility, they are required to seek approval of the resolution through the Quorum Court and provide all necessary information for compliance. The vote, according to County Judge David Hudson, was “an endorsement for a positive project that will mean a lot to the citizens of Sebastian County.”

Golden Living announced March 30 it would at least 200 jobs to its administrative center in Fort Smith. The jobs, to be added within the next two years, are expected to boost administrative center employment to 875. The jobs will consolidate most of the company’s billing for its various subsidiaries in the 5-story, 318,000-square-foot Fort Smith building.

The company announced earlier in March it was moving its corporate headquarters operation to Plano, Texas — north of Dallas.

Also on the agenda, Quorum Court members issued an urgent plea via resolution for Congress to keep population criteria at current levels for all Metropolitan Planning Organizations. Under consideration at the federal level is a stipulation to require a population of 200,000 or more citizens in order to qualify for the MPO moniker and subsequent funding.

According to the resolution, a status change could negatively affect development projects within Sebastian County’s borders with regard to transportation planning. The goal of the MPO is to develop multimodal transportation programs in cooperation with state transportation departments, public transportation agencies, local jurisdictions, and through public participation.

Quorum Court members adopted the resolution asking Congress to “grandfather and fund existing MPOs under the new Surface Transportation Reauthorization Bill to allow a voice for regional elected officials to plan and program transportation projects for the region.”

In other business, the court passed more than $222,730 in appropriations to the 2011 budget. The largest expenditure — $80,000 — was designated for the improvement of the Greenwood Courthouse Building. The facility will also receive approximately $31,000 to hire two new part-time security positions. An additional $45,000 will be appropriated for improvements to Buckner Park. Funding for this final project will come from the General Fund, but will be grant eligible for the full amount.

The court also recognized the efforts of Gene Hester with an official outstanding performance commendation for 35 years of service. Hester works as county road superintendent.

The next monthly meeting of the Sebastian County Quorum Court will be July 26.